Enter 3 artbook giveaways + a visit with Bethalynne Bejema of EttaDiem

Saturnine by Bethlynne Bajema

  ART ENVY

I have a bad case of it. How about you? 

Quill by Bethlynne Bajema

I firmly believe I am supposed to be wealthy someday ...... so that I can support talented artists whose work needs to get "out there". It is truly mind blowing just how many undiscovered underfunded creative people there are in this big big world. These are folks who need to be creating full time, not worrying about mundane stuff... okay,okay .... rant over. Thankfully our featured artist, Bethlynne Bajema should arrived any minute to pull me off my soap box.

This talented artist is one half of the genius that is Etta Diem, my absolute favorite Steampunk-illo shop on Etsy. Bethalynne and the equally brilliant Myke Amend share a world where "All items are 75% guaranteed to not devour you in your sleep (restrictions apply)" 

Cthulu meets Hidden City by Bethlynne Bajema

Airships, monsters and dark mysterious ladies....What's not to love?

A sneak peek at The Black Ibis by Bethalynne Bejema

 

Bethalynne recently launched a fundraising effort to finance her graphic novel series, The Black Ibis. So what is The Black Ibis? I'll step aside and let the artist explain.

BB: The Black Ibis is a graphic novel told in nine books. Each book takes you a little deeper into a dark fairy tale that is based upon my own love of the idea that there exists a world beneath the world. This idea that sometimes a door is not just a mundane door but an entrance to someplace we reserve for our dreams. 

The story, at its heart, is a simple one. It revolves around one sister trying to find her sister who has become lost. She must follow the same path her sister has set out on, going a little farther into this underground world of dark cabarets and strange theaters as she attempts to catch up to her sister ... who is falling faster down this path in her desire to finally find a performer known as the Black Ibis. The story is absurd at times, illustrated in my particular style and filled with my legion of wonky characters and enigmatic performers. Two tarot decks accompany the story, the Sepia Stains tarot and the Black Ibis tarot, which offer illustrations of the Black Ibis underworld on each card. More about the story and samples of the tarot and artwork can be found here.

Using Kickstarter.com, Bethalynne is seeking investors for Book One.  You can find out more about this exciting project on her Kickstarter page as well as in this short video (created by Evelyn Kriete) which beautifully showcases a number of characters from the story.

The idea is to print Book One in time for the May World Steam Expo . With 7 fundraising days to go I am thrilled to announce that Bethalynne has achieved her minimum financing goal....  

And guess what? One of you helped!

The Black Ibis project

We just don't know which one  ... yet.  

I've made a $10 donation in one of your names. On 4/21 one random reader will be picked from those who leave a comment on this blog over the next week. That lucky person will be credited with  helping this gorgeous graphic novel come to fruition. This means they will get their name &/or doodle added to the graffiti wall on the back of Book 1. You can read more about your potential 15 minutes of fame (plus the other cool donor swag) on Bethalynne's Kickstarter page. Go ahead & check it out - I'll flip through this gorgeous issue of Insects & Angels till you return

Insects & Angels Magazine

What is Insects & Angels? Another fab project from this ingenious artist! This magazine is filled with all sorts of eye candy and dark goodies.
BB: Insects & Angels is a very loose concept magazine. Each issue has a general theme that focuses mostly on art and photography that embodies dark fantasy, neo-Victorian, dieselpunk, steampunk, and gaslight genres for that theme, but honestly anything the editors find visually appealing is included in the issues and the blog. This magazine and site is a labor of love by its creator and therefore has no other function than being able to collect together a body of striking artistic work and offer it in a neat little package to the world. 

And they are looking for submissions, by the way. If you think this is your kind of scene, click here for details - but be quick you only have until 4/20 to apply for the next issue.

 

BB: At Insects & Angels we are fans and creators of dark fantasy.We have the places we prefer to visit and take a bit of tea.. We are looking for artwork, fashion, photography, music, and general things of interest as they pertain to the neovictorian, dieselpunk, gaslight, dark cabaret, and steampunk sub-genres –and any type of unbranded dark fantasy that fits so nicely among those subjects. We want your antique flying machines and mad scientists. We want your tinker box dictators and steam powdered submarines. We want your modernized Victorian fashions and the dapper gentleman. We want your alternative histories...

The Moon Card, from Bethlynne Bejema's Black Ibis project

Fun stuff, eh? Ok, reign me in... I know I am all over the place today.  I am just too dang excited! Put your feet  up & grab a cuppa. I'll go get us some fresh baked no-cal virtual cookies (with extra chocolate). By the way, if anything catches your eye, feel free to touch & click on through. There is lots of great info to be had.

The Pale by Bethlynne Bajema

Okay, I'm back -  Bethalynne, who are some of your favorite artists?

BB: My absolute favorite artist is Brom  

politely nicked from Bromart.com

and following a close second is Joachim Luetke. Brom because he does straight up dark fantasy and also writers. Luetke because he's just multi-awesome. He creates small stories to go with much of his work and has these labyrinth like websites. His website has always been one of my favorites. I've also gotten into Aya Kato in the last few years. Her work is incredibly beautiful.

Any other favorite websites?

BB: I don't really have any real favorite sites. When I have free time online I spend too much time on Wikipedia hitting wonky links to see just how far I can get from my original inquiry. Yup, I'm lots of fun at parties too

Do you listen to anything when you are creating? 

BB: NCIS is almost always on the tv in my room but only because I love the show. But I know every episode I can just sit and ignore it and work. 

What are you watching / reading right now?

BB: As far as actually watching something that I'm enjoying, my mate and I are watching Deadwood for the first time. Love that show. I love to, I love to read but haven't had any time lately. 

The Sunday Girl by Bethlynne Bejema

Now for my latest go-to question: If you could have any superpower what would it be? And would you use it for good or eeeevil?

BB: Superpower? Hmm... super brain, without the giant cranium look. I'd probably use it for both good and bad depending on my mood -but not evil bad, more like mischief bad. Luckily I'd be too busy trying to know everything to pay attention to the world. 

Thanks so much for popping by Bethalynne. And congrats on the fundraising efforts. I can't wait to see the book!

The Angel Balm II by Bethalynne Bejema

And thank you, Visitors, for popping by today.  Please do leave a comment. Many featured artists have shared just how much they appreciate your feedback. Sometimes they get so bogged down with  creating & marketing  that  honest thoughts from real people can help pull things into perspective.

Plus your comment gets you an entry into three great giveaways! 

  Wait! Did I just say 3? Why, yes I did!

Random Drawing # 1:

On 4/21 one random winner receives credit for helping The Black Ibis #1 get published. Plus their doodle and/or name will be added to the graffiti wall on the back page of this new graphic novel. Click here & check out Pledge $10 section for details.

Random Drawings #2 & #3
One week later, on 4/28, I will select 2 other winners to receive copies of Bethalynne's previously published books.

The first name drawn receives a copy of Bethalynne's first book ever, Sepia. 

One of the lovely ladies featured in Gloomy Sunday

And the next winner takes home the 40 page dark pinup collection Gloomy Sunday. 

So what are you waiting for? Get typing! All 3 giveaways are open worldwide. Simply leave a comment before 1 a.m. on the drawing dates to enter. Please remember to add your contact info if it is not in your profile in case you win.

Want to find out more about this talented artist and her many incredible projects? Check out the following links (There are a bunch. This gal really gets around)

BethalynneBajema.com

The Black Ibis Project on Kickstarter

Insects & Angels

The Sepia Stain Tarot

EttaDiem.com

EttaDiem on Etsy

Bethalynne on FaceBook

Twitter

Also check out Overbury Ink's feature which has loads of juicy details on the Black Ibis books including an excerpt.