Thursday, January 01, 2015

New Website

nataliemalan.com

Please join us at my new website: http://nataliemalan.com

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Free DIY LDS Chalkboard Printable from Elder Uchtdorf's Creativity talk

http://www.4shared.com/zip/VUNi6tE-ce/nataliemalan_Uchtdorf_Quote_Pr.html 
Just a free download for anyone else who also happens to love Elder Dieter F Uchtdorf's talk on creativity.  It says:

"Remember you are a spirit daughter of the most creative Being in the Universe.  Creativity does not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. elevate, extend, beautify, create, smile, cultivate, develop, improve - Elder Dieter F Uchtdorf"

It's not a direct quote form the talk by but a compilation of ideas from within it.  We're using these as birthday gifts for the women in our LDS congregation this year.   Surprise!!!  They print as a 5x7 (and an 8.5x11 sheet of the tags) - and just a quick note if you print at Costco or Sams Club make sure you turn of their auto color correction!!  It's just a little box you have to unclick somewhere.  The tags are sized for a 2 inch punch.  Mine is by Marvy Uchida and was from Hobby Lobby, Joann, Michaels or somewhere like that.


Sorry I haven't posted any recent work.  I've been busy enjoying our sweet little kids while they are little and have lots going on lately with church and life in general.   I've been working on bunches of freelance for Cricut, Cuttlebug, & Petite Lemon and not posting any images.  Sorry about that.  ;)  Maybe I'll get better about posting this year.  No promises.

Monday, February 28, 2011

The Activity Day Answer

My most recent magazine illustration is now out!  You can find it in the March 2011 Liahona Magazine.  Thanks tons to my two wonderful models!!!
Here's the article with text.  And if you want to see the original web posting click here.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Shutterfly Card Freelance

This year I got the chance to design some cute card patterns for Shutterfly. I love their fresh, fun designs, and it has been really fun to see my prints around different places. They even have address labels to match. I took Penny to go see Santa, and when I was standing in line to pic up my prints, I looked over and there was one of the cards I designed right up by the register. I don't know why it was shocking to me; I've been a freelance designer/illustrator for 8 plus years now, but for some reason happy little greeting cards with other people's kids on them made me really happy.

I've also made some really cute photo books in the past, but I'm excited to print up some cards this year. If you sign up for their emails you'll get some great deals too. They send them out all the time.

I know if you're reading this on my facebook, you've already seen this print, but today I found an offer from Shutterfly for 50 free cards to bloggers, (but hurry! it expires today!) so here I sit, blogging away. I'll let you know how it all turns out. In my laziness, I had determined not to send out cards this year - until I got a great shot of Penny and Santa; and now the tables have turned. Add in 50 free cards, and that convinced me even more. Happy Holidays!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Chloe's Closet - Making Memories



A line I worked on for Making Memories that was exclusive to Michaels Crafts.

Your Story - Baby Kit

Some papers for the Provo Craft baby "Your Story" line.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

"Maria's New Dress" Friend Magazine Illustration

Yikes! So much to catch up on!!! One word: DEADLINES. They are my life now. I love it though. I've never had so much fun work in my life! The problem is that I get too busy working on the next thing to post anything, but I'll start with this since it's out right now! If you have a copy of the Friend Magazine for February 2010, I have an illustration for "Maria's New Dress." Thanks Sophia for modeling for me! I need to pick up a copy of the magazine myself; I don't have an image with type to post yet.

::Update::
Thanks Helena! She sent me the link of it on the church website where they had the final pdf. I had no idea it was reversed in print.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Liahona illustration

Another fun illustration for the "Liahona" and the "Friend." I've done two others since my last post as well, but I'll have to keep looking for my files! I've been busy illustrating and designing. I can't wait until some products I've designed come out to WalMart and Target! Fun! Super busy, but fun. But I always have a good time illustrating for church magazines. I'll have to post all the changes this project went though (making the girl younger and younger, and younger still).

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Cameron


Another pencil drawing, this time of a little boy named Cameron. He was showing me a bunch of bugs in the yard outside of my work. And eating pizza. I left that part off his face. He was running around being a boy, flapping his arms, and "getting all the bugs away" for me. I think he saw me bolt when a bee came too close.....

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Book Binding


I wanted to start posting a few books on my blog, but I'll try to keep it mostly illustration based. These are just two japanese (technically they are stab) bindings that I did with some 8.5 x 11 paper and satin ribbon. For more bookbinding posts check out this book blog.

Friday, May 18, 2007





I started making some tags and paper patterns, and tried to make a digital epoxy. It's just a clear png that can go over any one inch picture to make it look like an epoxy. I also made a new brush just for fun. If anyone has ideas to improve the epoxy and make it look more real, let me know. I'd love to hear them.

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Friend Magazine - April



A small and fast illustration for a children's magazine called, "The Friend." My model for the dog had just gotten a bath the day before and only gets picked up when he needs a bath so he was growling the whole time, and I think he scared my little model. She opted to pose with a stuffed dog, and then I drew them like they were together. This style is really fast, this took about four hours or less from start to completion. Art direction by Brad Teare.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

icons




Some icons done for a software company. They were to represent things like big and small, fast and slow.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

painter



Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Introducing...





Tuesday, January 09, 2007

bear attack article



This was a fun project about a little girl that gets attacked by a bear. They were debating a bit about the age group and if it was ok to show the bear, or if a scared little girl and a big bear shadow would do the trick. I was happy to do such an exciting story.

I called Hogle Zoo to try and get some reference of a bear and felt like a stalker. "Do you have any black bears? No, not stuffed teddy bears. Real ones? Are they out today by chance (it was snowing)? What kind of cage are they in? Do you think I get good pictures of them in that kind of cage?" I couldn't find any scrap of a black bear from behind at this angle. Not that is was absolutely necessary, but I get stubborn. Apparently grizzly bears are more photogenic. Finally someone mentioned the Bean Science Museum at BYU, and I called and asked if they had any black bears (not grizzlies), and if they were standing. Art direction was by Eric Johnsen.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

development



A recent project for a local developer who wanted a concept drawing for a new community. They needed a concept design integrating a community with walking paths and parks into the existing and future commercial areas surrounding it, so that the area could be rezoned.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

pencil



Another drawing of my friend. For some reason they always scan funny. There's a nice posting by William Whitaker on the concept art forum for anyone interested in a realist approach to painting. Click here for the link.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

pre-k


The robot dog and little girl were just for fun. I think I was having flashbacks to the Jetsons.

These are also for a younger crowd. The two girls are so that ESL students can talk about the differences between the two after coloring them in.


Here's one for the little people. I wanted to post some vector work, but it's all pre K age. This one is designed to be colored, cut out, and taped to a paper plate to make a frog puppet. Guaranteed to entertain for at least 4.67 minutes, or your money back.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

flash

My friend Maryn has always been a big fan of drawing in flash and since I love illustrator, I thought I'd give it a try. I almost hate to admit it, but she's right. It is "blazingly fast." I think it will be fun to sketch around in.