As promotion for a program at my day job we've been making pins.  Because I was bored and we had left over pin supplies I made a few featuring my art.  What does this mean? This means I have six pins that I'm giving away for free.




Here's the rules:

1.Respond to this thread and answer the following question: Who is your favorite artist?
2. You must live in the U.S. to enter.  
3. If you win you must send me your mailing address.  If you don't want to do that, don't enter.  

Winners will be selected at random.

Not sure when I'll close this contest, but winners will be notified by note.

-Ratgirl

I'd like to thank all my wonderful watchers for the birthday wishes and the many llamas I've been sent.  Due to your generosity he's upgraded to Albino.  Also a very special thanks to tinylittlefractures for the deviant upgrade.  

Lots of love and hugs.

Kate

Hey all,

Unfortunately I was just wrangled into designing some tattoos for a family member, so I won't be taking anymore commissions for the time being.  If you are already on the list, don't worry your commissions are my top priority.  Once I finish my current commissions I will open it up again and notify everyone.  Also a few people contacted me about commissions and I responded with a price quote and asking if they wanted on the list- If you did not get back to me after that you are not on the list.  For those few who did this if you contact me now to confirm I will put you on this list.  

Current list

Alphena-2 commissions

Commission Status: Closed
Commission Info: [link]
F.A.Q.: [link]

Since I've started getting a few commission requests I am setting up a list so that A) You know where you are in the cue to give you an idea of how long you'll be waiting B) so that I can put a cap on how many commissions I'm accepting and not run myself down.  I'll be taking 7 commission slots at a time.  I do them in order of requests received.  If you want more than one commission it'll take up two slots.  First come first serve.  It you have questions about commission prices go here [link]

!. kickxdrumxheart (In progress)

2. lemurofevil

3.~tiny-littlefractures

4.Alphena

5.Alphena



Commission status: Closed [link]
FAQ: [link]

I've been getting quite a few questions lately and instead of answering the same questions over and over I've decided to do an F.A.Q.  If you have any questions that haven't been answered here respond to this thread with them.    

General FAQ
Q: Do you take requests or art trades?
A: I generally do not accept requests or art trades.  While I understand that people would like there charcters drawn or see my approach to a certain commercial character, I don't have the time to take art trades.  I also find accepting these would be unfair to anyone who commissions me, since they are paying good money. Please don't send me notes asking about requests or trades. If you really want me to draw something for you I am available for commissions. [link]

Q: Do you use a tablet?
A: Yes.  I have a Wacom Graphire.4 tablet.  Its small and getting up there in years (I'm not sure if they make this tablet anymore).  I'm using a Bamboo pen with it since my original pen broke.  

Q: What programs do you use for digital coloring?
A: I  use Photoshop CS3 to color my work.   

Q: What size do you work?
A:  I work in various sizes when working traditionally.  When I color digitally I scan my images in at 300 DPI.

Q: Can you teach me how to draw?
A: Sorry but no.  Take some drawing classes at your local community college and practice, practice, practice!

Q: Can you critique my work?
A: No.  Critiques can be time consuming and I found people can be really sensitive about there work.  Its too much hassle for me.  


Commissions

Q: How much do you charge for commissions?
A: Commission information can be found here [link]

Q: How long is the turn around on commissions?
A: This depends on a few factors.  Where in line you are on the commission list and what type of commission you want.  A pencil commission is going to take less time than an inked or color commission.  Pencil sketches- Once I do a rough sketch and receive the commissioners okay I estimate about a week- color one to two weeks.  I will give you an estimated time until completion upon receiving payment.  

Q: Do I get the original drawing when I commission you?
A: Yes, absolutely.  

Q: Can I make prints of the work I commissioned from you?
A: Prints can be made for personal use.  You may not make prints to sell without my permission.


Commission Status: Open [link]

Since I live in a tiny apartment and all my drawings are pilling up, wasting valuable space, so I'm selling  some.     I'll be accepting paypal only.  First come first serve.  Shipping will be added to this, $2 for U.S. residents $5 for outside U.S.  If interested send me a note with the subject heading the title of the sketch you're interested in.  

[link] Berries- $15 (Cardstock)

[link] End Game- $15 (Cardstock)

[link] Poison Ivy- $20 (Bristol Board)

[link] Peeta- $10 (Cardstock)

[link] Eliza Dolittle- $15 (Bristol Board)

[link] Mellark- $10 (Cardstock)

[link] In the Cave $15 (Cardstock)

[link] Gale Hawthorne $10 (on sketchbook paper).


Commission info: [link]
Commission Status: Open

In an attempt to keep myself active art wise I've decided to start doing daily sketches on my blog. [link] I won't be posting many of these sketches here on deviantart, so if you're interested go check out my blog.  

[link]

I feel like a bad DA user since I haven't posted anything in a little while. To be fair I have been extremely busy lately, mostly with art related stuff, but still busy.  I had my thesis show (it went swimmingly) and should have some photos up on my blog [link] pretty soon.  I also graduated from college so now I'm officially over qualified for my day job.  I just entered a piece into Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts and hoping it gets in and possibly wins me some moola.  On top of all that I'm apartment hunting (with very little success) and working a lot of extra hours.  Once I get the whole living situation settled I'm going to start some new pieces and hopefully start posting again.  Thanks for staying with me.

Art school is hard. Senior year of art school is harder.  Don't let anyone tell you its easy, because the dark circles that have been my constant companions these past few weeks will kick your ass.  Anyway I've finished all my thesis drawings, they are framed and ready for hanging.  Now I have time to actually sleep and once I've refueled I can start some more artwork that doesn't have a due date.  Anyway I've been keeping up with my real blog [link] lately so you should all check it out so the only person reading isn't my relatives.

Okay so I'm about to gush and kind of brag in the following.  Just a warning,  

Today was amazing.  It was drawing/printmaking career day at Kendall and our visiting artists were Ethan Murrow and Dominic Cooper.  Ethan's work is also showing in Kendall's gallery at the moment.  Mr. Murrow is super down to earth and a great presenter.  If you don't know his work then you need to go check out his website [link] like right now!  I've been drooling over his work for the past couple of years and was extremely excited when I found out he was coming to Kendall for a talk.   Imagine how geeked out I was when my professor informed me two days ago that I was one of only 15 students selected to go to lunch with Ethan Murrow!  I'm kind of surprised I didn't spontaneously combust.  

Anyway the day started off with pastries, juice, and Murrow talking to us about how he got where he's at now.  It was pretty interesting and I got a little bit of insight into artist residencies.  After Murrow Dominic Cooper talked for a bit and then both artists did a Q & A session.  Following that we headed over to the gallery space where they fed everyone pizza and Ethan gave a gallery talk where he talked about his drawings and his process a little bit.  Once that was done myself and 12 other students went to lunch with our two visiting artists.  We went to San Chez, an amazingly delicious restaurant.  At first I was initially stuck sitting in the middle of the table,  no where near Ethan or Dominic, but then my professor offered up her original seat to any of the students who wanted it and I totally jumped on that- now I was sitting directly next to him.  Myself and four other students ended engaging in some wonderful conversations with Ethan and had an overall good time that was rather informative.  I left the restaurant feeling inspired and with a big grin on my face.  I went to work in my studio filled with energy and plugged away on my drawing.  It was quite the perfect day.

Yes I finally succumbed to it.  I have finally created a Twitter.  I feel a bit dirty about it, but alas what's done is done.  Please go follow me on there so I feel like it was worth my while [link] .  Also there is a new entry over at my real blog, [link] that you should check out.

I just logged onto DA a few moments ago and was so happy that I got a Lady Gaga icon as opposed to Twilight.  I spent the entire day in Chicago where I dodged unruly children, ate the most delicious of crepes (if you are ever in Chicago be sure to visit the Crepe and Coffee Palace!), and saw the most epic of mustaches.  On the train back I started working up sketches for some pieces I want to do- something that's pretty, after six large scale creepy fairy tale drawings I need a break.  Anyway I'll hopefully have some stuff finished over the weekend.

Also I want to thank everyone for visiting.  Less than two months on here and I've surpassed the 1,000 view mark-not too shabby.  Also thanks to those who sent me some Lamas, one can never have too many lamas!

Alright so basically I'm going to be hitting the financial straits fairly soon and I need to push some of this art out the door for a little moola.  Below are some of the pieces that have been collecting dust and are eagerly awaiting a new home.  Purchases can be made directly through etsy, but if you don't want to deal with that just send me a note and we can discuss your other options.  

  $20

$15

$25

$35


All these pieces can be found [link]

Or if you're interested in a commissioned piece similar to any of these.

I decided to open up a free account with cafepress, so now you can find a few products with my art on it to purchase or a print if you like.  There isn't too much up yet, but take a look.   [link] also still open for commissions!

Commission Info

Here is what you receive: Original drawing via mail, please include your shipping and handling with you payment(U.S.- $3, outside the U.S. $6).   The final commission will be shown here on my deviant gallery with a Commission watermark- you will be sent the un-watermarked higher res image by email.


Single Character-Sketch- $25 + $10 per additional Character
Ex:

Single Character  Inked- $35 + $10 for each additional character


Single Character + digital color- $45 + $15 for each additional character





Note on additional characters:  This is the price for if you want more than one character in a specific drawing. Example:[link] doesn't mean you can order one commission with two characters and then come back a week after that commission has been finished and ask for another character at the additional character price; it is now a new commission and starts at the base price. You may only request up to two additional characters per drawing (three characters in total).  

These commission do not include backgrounds.  I may include a very simple background if I deem it necessary for the piece.   

Coloring is all done digitally. Payment is due upon my accepting the commission- if you are put in my cue, payment is due when I inform you that I'm beginning your commission. I accept paypal only.  If you are interested in a commission send me a note with the title Commission.  Please be very descriptive of what you want, especially if it's an original character; reference images of these characters are extremely helpful and should be sent to me if possible.  

Commission Status: Open

Welcome to Rat Girl Studios currently home to the artwork of Kate Wheeler.  I'm currently working on uploading much of my current work and will hopefully have everything up by the end of the week.  I am currently open for commissions, so anyone interested should either email me at ratgirlstudios@gmail.com or leave me a note.  Also feel free to check out my blog at www.ratgirlstudios.wordpress.com in the mean time.