Project 31 of 365

Flower Patch

Playing with digital colors. No textures this time. Fun just to dabble. Roger that.

Wee! A Writing Spree!

I'm behind on my 365 project because I've been deep in writing land. I have completed my children's chapter book, 11 chapters, and decided to forgive myself for my illustrating lapse.

Clip Clop Karate Chop
Project 28

I still think horses are hard to draw...all those extra limbs and hooves that have to be shaped just right. Still working it.

 

Three Floating Heads
Just a doodle - Project 29

Love the Bear
Project 30

While I was doodling a cartoon bear face, my daughter asked me, "What's the bear's name?" Everything needs a name! So I asked her what his name should be, and she said, "Love." There you have it. Love, the bear.

Project 27 of 365

You Complete Me.

On a skull and bones kick, so thought I would stick with it. A great Valentine, no?

Project 26 of 365

Afro Circus Polkadot

Took my kids to Madagascar 3 this afternoon, and they loved it! Naturally, there were requests for the Afro Circus Polkadot song, and I obliged. I downloaded the song by Cotton & Gin (a remix), and it's been playing on repeat all...day...long.

While I researched skulls--let's see, there's one for the Jolly Roger, one for hazardous materials...and...what?

Afro, afro, afro circus!

Project 25 of 365

Palomino

I just finished working on chapter 7 of my children's chapter book and will be starting on chapter 8. Three more chapters to write before editing!

Back to the art front...I need to start thinking about my horses in action. Upright horses would be funny.

Project 24 of 365

Standing Horse

Today, I worked feverishly on my children's chapter book. I completed chapter 6 and started chapter 7. I didn't want to quit, but alas, life interjected itself, and I had to step away. I think I'm really finding my groove. As I've gotten to know my characters more intimately, I'm now excited to write about them and tell their story. I'm over half way done!

Horses play a small part (minuscule, really) in the book I'm writing so maybe that's why I'm a little obsessed right now. I'm not doing a picture book...but I would like some pictures included. Maybe at chapter sections? If so, there would be around 12 or 13 pictures, plus the cover needed.

Tomorrow, I'll throw some color on this guy and see what happens.

Until then, g'night!

Project 23 of 365

Just a Bunny

I played around with just painting it digitally but, ultimately, I couldn't get away from adding texture. So it changed from solid digital color to a partial collage. It's a process.

Project 22 of 365

Bunny
Character Idea

I'm currently writing a children's chapter book, and the very first chapter written no longer fits. I am wondering if I can take this chapter and turn it into a stand alone picture book...There is a lot of dialogue, so it will take some work to make the illustrations compelling. While waiting for my daughters at their piano lessons today, I thought about the stuffed animal in my story...a lop eared bunny rabbit.

Catching up on Projects!

Elephants

Projects 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

Doesn't take too many days of being off schedule, for whatever the reasons, before the days slip on by. I suddenly found myself 4 creative projects behind on my 365 challenge. Decided to buckle down and sketch some elephants to get my mind back in the game.

Project 16 of 365

Simply the Best
Thank you card

I need to send out a few thank you cards, so I took this opportunity to pilfer my studio and create a card that would also be a notch in my project belt. I used scrapbook paper, stamps, decorative tape, dimensional metallic paint (dots!) and recycled card stock.

A Weekend of Mini Collages

Neigh

Project 13 of 365

Buzz

Project 14 of 365

Caw

Project 15 of 365

I love making these minis. They are small and quick...and most important, not precious! This kind of freedom lets me play and explore without the stress of being a perfectionist. I see the mistakes and chalk them up to lessons learned. I see what's working and now have a reminder for the future.

Project 12 of 365

Horse
Shadowed with black and white

Horse Sketches

The top picture is shadowed with black and white, while Horse, Project 11 of 365, is shadowed with green and yellow (with minimal use of black and white). Nice to see the comparison. Project 11 is definitely warmer, but, IMHO, not necessarily better. Just different.

I worked on some more horse sketches today. I'd like to get a feel for facial expressions and anatomy so I can create a unique character. Not feeling it yet...

Project 11 of 365

Horse

Tonight, I decided to dabble in digital collage. I experimented with using contrasting colors for my shadows and highlights...in this case green for the shadows and yellow for the highlights. I couldn't get away from my usual black and white entirely and used these colors sparingly to punch up certain areas.

Tomorrow, I will go back and add my usual black shadows and white highlights so I can see the difference more clearly.

Project 10 of 365

Woof

I made it to double digits! Yippee!

I still need to get a schedule together...it would be great if I could get up before the kids, work on my writing and artwork, then get on with the flow of the day. If only I were a morning person. If only...

Another quickie collage on recycled beer box divider cardboard. I looked up other three to five letter animal sounds for other ideas and came up with a list:

1.) Snake - hiss

2.) Bee - buzz

3.) Chicken - cluck

4.) Frog - croak

5.) Cow - moo

6.) Donkey - bray

7.) Baby chick - peep

8.) Crow - caw

9.) Fish - blub

10.) Coyote - howl

11.) Lion - growl

12.) Sheep - bleat

13.) Horse - neigh

14.) Rooster - crow

15.) Doves - coo

16.) Cricket - chirp

17.) Hummingbird - hum

18.) Goose - honk

19.) Person - talk

Other sounds that a relatively short and worth considering for this project: purr, bark, sing, ribbit, squeak, whinny, cackle, gobble.

Now, if I ever get stuck...I have a healthy list to ponder.

Recycled elements: cardboard, music sheets, magazine paper

Project 9 of 365

Tweet

Another quick collage on recycled cardboard. It's small, simple and fun!

Recycled elements: cardboard and scrap paper

Project 8 of 365

A Room of My Own

It's late so I chose art prompt number 5*, "Allow yourself to sit at your worktable for five minutes. Sometimes just getting to the table is the challenge, the rest is easy."

I combined this with a project from Melissa Sweet's Drawing Book for Kids. The book was a freebie from the SCBWI conference and has been sitting on my desk. I flipped through it and chose a project of creating quick sketches of objects in my room. Easy enough.

* Cloth Paper Scissors magazine (Jan/Feb 2012, page 80).

Project 7 of 365Illustration Friday: Faded

Bye Breezy

Bye Breezy - detail

LETTER

Great. It’s about time. It’s weird how over the past

two weeks life’s gotten much more exciting. I’m

still trying to figure out why John was kissing

my hand. Anyway it’s been raining here and I’m

getting mad because I want to sun bleach

my hair. After all, I am a Californian. So when are 

you coming back? To California of course. Well

I gotta run. Since it’s been so long you’ll have

to fill me in on your adventures. It’s been live.

Bye, Breezy

 Today, I used Project 6: Just Relaxing as my inspiration; the second part of Cloth Paper Scissors' (Jan/Feb 2012, page 80) art prompt number 23. "Create a doodle on a piece of paper and then use it to create a piece of art."

After reading about Breezy's adventures with hand kissing and hair coloring, her thoughts faded into the night.

Project 6 of 365

Just Resting

Just a quick sketch and some brainstorming while I watched a movie tonight. To get inspired, I reviewed the art prompts mentioned in the Cloth Paper Scissors magazine (Jan/Feb 2012, page 80). I was inspired by number 23, "Create a doodle on a piece of paper and then use it to create a piece of art."

Project 5 of 365

Happy Hour!

Doing an illustration a day is hard (insert whine)! Today, I ran around doing chores and running errands so I could get ready for ladies night. I knew I wouldn't be up for creating art when I returned from happy hour at the Parlor...so, after enjoying my Huckleberry Press cocktail, I doodled on my bar napkin. That's gotta count for something, right?

Quick Collages

Meow

I wanted a quick collage since I didn't meander down to my studio until 10:00 tonight. I had already created four other animals (bear, duck, pig, and owl) on recycled cardboard dividers from a case of beer.

Project 3 of 365

Birdhouse Sketches

I jumped right into collage mode, and spent some time creating a birdhouse face. I was trying to be quick and didn't wait long enough for my crackle paint layer to fully dry. My haste really showed...no matter how hard I tried to turn it into an interesting texture, it just looked bad.

So, I went back to the drawing board and put pencil to paper. Good thing I did because I still don't know where I want to go with this image. I've had this idea for awhile...a birdhouse luring a bird into it's mouth. I want it to appear innocent and charming...oh look! What a cute birdhouse. But the hole into the birdhouse is a mouth. Hmm. Is the bird going to make a home or is the bird going to be breakfast?

A question, and illo, for another day.

Project 2 of 365

Baby is Back.

Baby is Back. - Detail

GUEST CHECK

I love you so much baby

Even know you can be a bitch

I still love you

Cause I know who you really are

So please bring her back baby

We can have a great life together

But it's up to you

I love you baby

Have a merry x-mas

Love Austin

I found this note in the ditch by my mailbox a couple years ago and have been inspired by it since. I am intrigued by the use of "baby" and the multitude of emotions layered in this short note...pleading, love, insults,  ambivalence...all written on a restaurant guest check. What a story! Who is baby? Did she get this note and toss it in the ditch? Or was Austin too proud or embarrassed to give it to her?

Recycled elements: guest check "love" note, ticket stub, magazine paper, stationary, parking stubs and other memorabilia.

Project 1 of 365Illustration Friday: Sight

Lady Sunshine

Lady Sunshine - detail
"You will bring sunshine into someone's life."

I marched right downstairs to my studio to crank out the first piece for my personal 365 project. I grabbed the first thing that was on my desk and dove right in. A crown and a blank face with hair I'd assembled some time ago. Perfect starter material.

I didn't want to fuss or think too much and then stall out on my first piece. Like Melissa Sweet said in her session at the Western Washington SCBWI conference last April, "Nothing is precious." That is a great reminder to dive in and enjoy the process and toss that dread of ruining something right out the window.

So I did. Who cares if it's too busy or not the right color palette. Who cares if the lips don't look right or the nose if off kilter. I decided to have fun and go with my mood. I'm not sure why this regal lady is in an old barn wood frame...and I don't care. I had fun and put something on that blank piece of paper. Welcome, Lady Sunshine!

As for Illustration Friday's theme this week, sight...I figure you need light for sight...and Lady Sunshine is here bringing sunshine into someone's life. A nice start to a year long project.

Recycled elements: paper scraps, paper doily, music sheets, Christmas card, letter from mom.

365 Project

This morning, I was thinking about the Western Washington SCBWI conference that I attended last April. Melissa Sweet was a guest speaker and had mentioned in one of her sessions that she had taken on a 365-day project of illustrating the weather; her creative warm up for the day.
I liked the sound of that idea, whether as a warm up for my illustrating or writing. To just put something on that blank canvas, ANYTHING, everyday, would not only limber up my mind for bigger ideas or create seeds of inspiration, but it would also help to create a good habit. I could certainly use more of those.
I have a friend on Facebook who is a photographer and is part of the 365 Project. They tout "Document a year of your life by taking a photo a day." How about we follow Melissa Sweet's idea in combination with the 365 Project, and make art everyday? A simple sketch, paint to paper, words, a creative journal entry? Anything goes, everyday, for one year.
I found another creative website dedicated to this idea called, Make Something 365 & Get Unstuck by Noah Scalin. If you'd like to share your project, you can do so on his blog. For all you Creative Cuppers, who want to participate, share here! It's your project, your rules.
Guess I better get to my studio and start creating a good habit. I'll be back shortly with Project 1 of 365.

Cheers!

Super Phil and His Robot

Phil and His Robot
Super Phil Series

The conference is tomorrow and even though I didn't get to the 'A Backyard Circus' series...I got quite far and made great progress. I put my nose to the grindstone these past couple months and put a serious dent in updating my portfolio.
I finished the last piece today; the third image in my series called Super Phil. In this illustration, Super Phil abandons his rocket boots for something more reliable, a robot! And it works!
Now, I'm off to print my latest illustrations and labels, arrange my portfolio, gather all my paperwork, notebooks, business cards, and whatever else I need for the ensuing weekend.
Happy dance!

Super Phil Series...In the Works!

Red Cape
Super Phil Series

Rocket Boots
Super Phil Series

Still working it, right up to the deadline. I just finished updating two of my three illustrations for my Super Phil series. He's a groundhog that loves adventure and innovation. He wants to be a super hero, and starts off with a red cape and mask.

Then, he invents his own rocket boots in hopes of flying high enough to pick the cherries from the neighboring tree. By the time he's done fine tuning his rocket boots, there is only one cherry left and some serious competition.

The third image is my robot image and it's next in line. Mere days left before my portfolio is due to display at the SCBWI Western Washington Annual Conference.

Wish me luck!

Made My Bed

Made My Bed

Updated this image for my portfolio. The teddy bear makes a nice addition. Onward and upward! Still have a few working days left to get things done before the conference.

Grimm with a Twist...in Color!

One Kiss
The Hedgehog Prince - Vignette 2

How Shall I Kiss You?
The Hedgehog Prince - Vignette 3

I've been sitting at this computer none stop it seems...MY BACK! I have to get these done by tomorrow so I can enjoy my Easter weekend with my family. They need to be mailed out on Monday.

Two more to go...tomorrow I must prevail!

I have to go rest now...MY BACK!

Grimm with a Twist

Smack-a-roo!
The Hedgehog Prince - Vignette 4

Working away on my Master's Class assignment (SCBWI Western WA Annual Conference) of creating 5 vignettes depicting a popular Grimm's fairy tale, with a twist. I played off The Frog Prince with a hedgehog prince. Not so easy to kiss!

I've finished my second roughs and am now adding color to the finals. This is my first one done! Four more to go before I can mail off next week!

Another Oldie, But a Goodie

On Top of the Weather

I've always liked this image...even back when it was called Ticket to Ride. So out of this world, whimsical, yet so carefree. Although, it is a little ominous with the door ajar. This go around I turned off the lights. Someone's home, but they're not downstairs. Do they know the door is ajar as they ride on the breeze?

First Ballet

First Ballet

I have recently updated First Tango for my portolio and now have added this new piece, First Ballet.

Maybe I should do a third dance illustration. First Hoedown? Something country would be fun!

Postcard

I just finished side one of my post card for the upcoming conference. I am able to bring 200 to place beside my portfolio for the juried exhibit. I'd like to make the postcard double sided, but will work on a second image if time prevails. I still have lots of other projects to work on before the April deadline.

The original illustration was called "Clean Up at the Gulf" and was a donation piece for Ripple, an art for charity blog.

Project: Update Portfolio Before Conference!

Sunblock
Updated!

One has to learn to live with the rain if one lives in the Pacific Northwest! And if one has pale sensitive skin, one needs to stay out of the sunshine too. This image was made for my friend, who should wear SPF 150.

Jokes aside, I like the concept of this image and wanted to update the paper collage for my portfolio. I digitally fixed the face and hand and labeled it done.

Sunblock
Original - 2006

Updating Old Stuff

Black Bird Pie
Updated!

Black Bird Pie
Original - 2009

Getting ready for the SCBWI Western Washington conference coming up this April. I'm currently updating some images in my portfolio to show my latest and greatest in the juried exhibit.

I'm behind my own schedule, of course. I tried to be realistic, but since I've been traveling and have had guests over the past two weeks, I haven't been able to carve out creative time like I wanted.

Playing catch up!

Lost Monkey
Updated!

Lost Monkey
Original - 2009

Inspired by Cupcakes

Last week, a friend and I flew to San Francisco for a get-away. I consider her a connoisseur of cupcakes; she knows all the hot spots. We stopped by Sprinkles in the Stanford Shopping Mall while out shopping. Then, at a pivotal point of our SF "Walking Tour 2012", we took a break at Kara's Cupcakes and indulged in some chocolate therapy. While there, I picked up a couple brochure cards that had pictures of their cupcake creations. I thought my girls would love to cut out the pictures...then I thought, Heck, I'd like to cut out the pictures!

Once home, I wished I had grabbed more from the stack. But the two cards I collected will make about ten cards or so...depending on how many cupcakes I put on each one. Fun cards for all the upcoming birthdays on my calendar!

Happy Day Card

Happy Day Card
detail

Recycled: Kara's Cupcakes brochure