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Help me make a calendar!

SAJ-2022-calendar-cover

Okay, die hard SAJ fans (all four of you), I need some opinions. I’m finally trying to make a real calendar out of my banner illustrations. Not the usual edges of illustration around boxes as a free printable (like I’ve done in the past) but full 8×10 illustrations imported into calendar program (like shutterfly but cheaper) so I don’t have to manually typeset number by number of each month. (It’s a lot of work and as you know I make a ton of mistakes!)

I’m not sure it’s a good idea because I want to have this printed and I’d love to recoup my costs by selling it BUT I’m not sure anybody is going to want a calendar that is so personalized. SAJ and her two teenagers and boyfriend aren’t exactly in demand as characters. But I have all these illustrations and I want to make something out of them. I need your thoughts. I am also working on a SueBea (based off my mom) calendar as well and I think that might be more marketable but what if I made a calendar out of these images… what do you think?

SAJ-January

I do like this one (above) and I think it works.

SAJ-February

I like this one (above) too.

SAJ-March

I love this one (above).

SAJ-April

And I like this one (above).

SAJ-May

I don’t love this one (above). It looks like I phoned it in but it is funny. Maybe I need to make the dogs show up more.

SAJ-May2

I do like this one too (above).

SAJ-July

I don’t like this one (above). I love flowers but the smile is too simplistic. I should draw a better face.

SAJ-August

I like this one but it’s pretty personalized. I don’t know, I guess everyone needs to read books about how to be kind to themselves… it could work.

SAJ-September

This one I dont’ like. I like the flowers but it’s too personal to us and our trip to New York. Will people wearing masks still be relevant next September? I hope not.

SAJ-November

I made this one today (above) and I love it! I think it could work for anyone.

SAJ-December

Eeck. Don’t love this one, though I remember loving it when I made it. I need to make a new December banner anyway so maybe I’ll come up with something new for this one.

What do you think? Should I keep working on this or maybe just print one for myself and go back to the old freebie formatting?

 

Thanks you guys

3 Comments

  • Cathy

    Oh I will totally pay for this calendar when it comes out! Love your illustrations. Maybe the family ones might not work (it doesn’t match my family but I still like them cuz I feel like I sort of know you hah!) But your tweaks sound like you can make it work. I say go for it. I’d buy a SueBea one too for my Mom!

  • Jeela

    Hi, as someone who has read your blog for years and used your calendar as well, I missed your calendar this year! Your drawings and bright colors have decorated my fridge for years and have helped me keep up with lessons and Dr’s. appointments. I would prefer the style you’ve always done, since it would be one page per month. So happy you’re doing a calendar again this year. Thank you!

  • Gingermog

    I’m really late commenting on this but like the others I’ve always loved that you do calendars you can print out, so kind of you but its also a good idea to make some money from all the beautiful banners you create. you must have a books worth by now. I don’t necessarily think its an issue that the banners feature you and the girls, so much beautiful art work and illustrations in magazine feature women in different situations. I really love your illustrations in nature. I’ve been looking at the art work of of Jessica Courtney -Tickle (yes this is her name, did she marry a Mr Tickle I wonder?) recently and much of her beautiful work is based on female characters. I bought a print of hers a while back at an illustration show.

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