Essentials 2014 holiday window—from start to finish!

Visit Essentials in downtown Northampton to see what I did for their 2014 holiday window display! See below to learn how this window display came together!

And if you are visiting my blog for the first time—welcome! Learn more about my work and books at www.studiojjk.com!

Essentials is a FANTASTIC gift shop in downtown Northampton. I'll be transforming their window for the holiday shopping season! Stay tuned! #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 3:33pm PST

You might not be able to decipher what's going on here, but this rough sketch is clear to me. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:21am PST

More after the jump! Click on...

An army of acrylic paints stands at the ready! #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:30am PST

I'll be painting with brushes that are larger than those that I typically work with. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:33am PST

This is Austin, my studio assistant. For the past year, he's helped me keep my studio up and running—everything from mailings to website updates. Austin is the absolute best. Now he's helping me prepare the surfaces I'm using for the window display. (Canvases and foamcore board.) #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:51am PST

Ralph can't help but art direct. He gives me his two cents everyday. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:52am PST

Zoe is helping lay down the burnt-sienna under-painting on some of the penguins. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 9:09am PST

Lucy is using the blowdryer to speed along the drying process for the under-paintings. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 3:03pm PST

In college, our painting teachers would set up elaborate still lifes filled with white cloth. I'll never forget how bewildered I was to learn that there could be multiple colors found in white and that there could be warm and cold shades of white. I bring that lesson into my illustration work. Here, I am laying down a cold, blue white for an under layer of a character. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:51am PST

On top of the cold, blue white, I painted warm, yellow white. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 11:43am PST

Two sisters, two very different marks. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:58pm PST

Skin tones for the elves. Naples Yellow, Cadmium Red Medium, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Red Iron Oxide, Buff Titanium #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 11:49am PST

All hail the Christmas pug. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:04pm PST

Late-night penguins. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:36pm PST

The characters are starting to burst out of their foamcore confines. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:50am PST

I've been having a lot of fun painting with gold and silver paint. (Metallics don't reproduce in books, so I never get to use them.) #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:12pm PST

The window install happens today! Here are some props that my daughter made—letters to Santa. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:57am PST

#JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:41am PST

Northampton. #JJKEssentialsWindow @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:19am PST

It's about to get real. #JJKEssentialsWindow #theyputglitterinspraypaint @essentialscolette

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 11:32am PST

The #JJKEssentialsWindow is up!

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:05pm PST

The #JJKEssentialsWindow is up!

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:05pm PST

The #JJKEssentialsWindow is up!

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:06pm PST

The #JJKEssentialsWindow is up!

A photo posted by Jarrett Krosoczka (@studiojjk) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:06pm PST