Studio Friday: 3 Wishes

The challenge: If you had a magic wand what 3 creative issues would you solve? Maybe they are space issues that you are experiencing in your studio or issues about creating itself?

Three Wishes

The first thing I dream about is space...a lot more space than what I have now. Good lighting is a must too. Natural light during the day and efficient lighting for the evenings. I also dream about a variety of creative supplies. Enough to choose from and inspire creative exploration. If I had a fourth wish, I'd have nice furniture allowing for perfect organization.

Three Wishes was inpsired by Gilbert Ford's work. I just became familiar with his style while looking through UC Berkeley's Centennial Edition of California magazine (issue March/April 2007). After I saw his image in the magazine, I was inspired to just draw, using a ball point pen. This is a good way of not getting hung up on mistakes and to go with the flow.

I'm currently away from my home studio and all my supplies (computer and Wacom tablet included). I drew the image in pen on a piece of scratch paper (printed on one side) and took a digital picture of it. The flash accentuated the printed side causing it to show through on my image side. I did have access to a laptop that had Photo Effects and a roller-ball mouse. What a challenge coloring the image with a roller-ball mouse!

The exploration of creating in a new environment with new materials and different tools allowed for a completely different style to emerge. Very different than my usual digital collage. A refreshing change!

Studio Friday: Seven Deadly Sins (Sloth 2)

Sloth

Earlier, I posted my entry for Studio Friday's challenge of one of the 7 Deadly Sins, sloth. Just recently, I've started illustrating monsters to represent each sin and am now backtracking to posts for challenges I've already done. Sloth is my fourth illustrated sin. Check out all the sins here.

Inspire Me Thursday: WordsStudio Friday: Seven Deadly Sins (Gluttony)

Inspire Me Thursday challenge: "This week, let’s take a look at words. Words found in the pages of a book, on a sign, in a handwritten note. Let the words inspire you..."

On Inspire Me Thursday's website this week was a blurb about The Visual Dictionary, which has photographs of signage, ads, and other things. This reminded me of the photos we took while in Prague several years ao. We laughed quite heartily at the two below. Indeed, these are inspiring!

Sign for Ice Cream Shoppe

Ad for Sausage Brand

Studio Friday challenge: "Gluttony is the excess of eating or drinking. What are you gluttonous about while in your studio?"

Gluttony

Gluttony is my third monster representing the Seven Deadly Sins (see them all here). The photographs above inspired me to create Gluttony...a combination of Cream & Dream and shoving food into one's mouth set the tone.

I try not to bring little snackie things into my studio, but sometimes they find their way there. Small sweet or salty treats are hard to resist!

Studio Friday: Seven Deadly Sins (Envy)Illustration Friday: Remember

The Challenge: "What do you desire that you are lacking and someone else has? If you could have it would you really want it or is it just a notion? How come you want to have it? What can you do to still that desire so that there is no need to be envious of any thing or anybody?"

Envy

Remember the Seven Deadly Sins? They are lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. I've decided to create a monster for each cardinal sin just for fun. See them all here.

Studio Friday: Seven Deadly Sins (Greed)

The challenge: "What is it you are greedy about or feel greedy about? Is it material or is it a behavior? Are you greedy for emotions? Do you hoard? How do you want to change for the better? It can be small steps or do you rather take a big step to change?"

Fabric Galore!

I think I could be classified as a fabric junky even though I don't sew nearly as much as I used to...I will save old clothes in hopes of reconstructing them one day or cutting them up for block quilts. I buy fabric that is appealing even though I don't have a project in mind, and keep the tiniest scraps for some unknown reason! Needless to say I have bins and bins of all types of fabric, some never touched, some old apparel, and some projects not finished.

I have to pat myself on the back and say that I did take a big step forward by going through my beloved bins and sorting out things I know I'll never use...mostly the old clothes and bits and pieces that are too small for anything. I donated the old clothes (bulky jeans, outdated skirts), tossed away the scraps and freed myself of a full garbage bag of stuff I haven't looked at twice in 5 years! Felt good to unload...

...and make room for new....shhhhh!

Illustration Friday: Total

Girls Night Out
"In total control!"

Girls Night Out started as a seed idea for Illustration Friday's word communicate before I dropped off the illustration planet for several weeks. Life happens! Now I'm back and have decided to finish Girls Night Out for Illustration Friday's word this week, total.

Each girl in the image represents one of the four basic temperaments as identified by Hire Success. The cast in order of appearance:

Type "C" personality, or details, details, is an analytical thinker that likes consistency, factual information, and precision. They are thoughtful and loyal people that like to figure things out.

Type "B" personality, or the Socializer, loves to party, be the center of attention, and perform for others with their high energy. They are positive and outgoing!

Type "D" personality, or always there when you need them, is a great listener and supportive of others. They have great compassion, which draws people to them, as does their happy and balanced outlook.

Type "A" personality, or the leader, is a strong person that takes risks while deligating to others in their efforts to lead the flock. They like to share their ideas and then move on!

Woodside Library Art Installation

The Woodside Library at 3140 Woodside Road in Woodside, CA is hosting my artwork for the months of March and April 2007.

Today I hung 28 pieces throughout the library and need to print, frame, and apply hanging hardware to 7 more to be installed next week. While hanging my artwork, the Library Branch Manager inquired if I'd be interested in hanging my artwork at the Atherton Library for July and August...I will have to check my schedule since I may be installing at the Sequoia Hospital during that time. Looks like I will have a busy summer!

If you're in the Woodside area, stop in and take a gander!

Woodside Library's Reading Room

Computer Area

In the Stacks

End of Each Row

Illustration Friday: Gravity

Alioth's Star

Alioth's Star detail

I just finished this image, Alioth's Star, for Illustration Friday's word this week, gravity.

Originally I named this piece, My Own Place, but decided to change it to Alioth's Star since that is the name of the star about to be plucked from the sky within the Big Dipper.

Here are some interesting links relating to constellations:

Want to name your own star? Name A Star can help you for as low as $28.95! What a bargain. Or is it?

If you want some real facts before purchasing, click here.

The Big Dipper (or Plough, the British name) is a small star group within the Ursa Major or The Big Bear. The names of the stars in the Big Dipper are: Alkaid, Mizar, Alioth, Megrez, Phecda, Merak, and Dubhe.

Illustration Friday: Crash

Party Girl

I decided to continue exploring the collage fashion figure, as in Coffee Break, for this week's Illustration Friday word, crash. Party Girl is an all digital collage.

I used to tease my friend that everytime she wore a "prom" dress she'd get completely blitzed. You can dress her up, but you can't take her out! She told me this funny story about her office Christmas party. She swears she only had one glass of champagne (probably on an empty stomache) and blacked out! Her boss had to carry her out to the car to have her driven home. Luckily he is a good friend of hers...so funny and great inspiration for this image.

Cheers!

Coffee Break

Coffee Break

A friend of mine is creating an online business and needed an image for her website and requested my doing a pro bono project for her. She wanted object oriented artwork like Luc LaTulippe's style. However, Adobe Illustrator isn't my strong suit so I opted to create the image she wanted staying true to my collage style. Collaging is what I do!

I think I captured the young, technical savvy, multitasker with a sense of humor and good fashion, who can still-enjoy-a-cup-of-coffee type woman! If my friend likes the style then I'll continue to "play in the sandbox" as she likes to say...and if not, then she'll need to find an Adobe Illustrator master who wants to participate in her project, free of charge. Either way, I had fun exploring this new style.

Enjoy!

Super Phil's Red Cape (Scene 3)

Super Phil's Red Cape

This is the last image of three scenes depicting Super Phil, the ground hog. This little project is for my portfolio submission to SCBWI's art grant, called Don Freeman Memorial Grant-in-Aid. It's due the end of this week. Wish me luck!

Illustration Friday: Red

Super Phil and His Robot

Okay, here is the second scene of three. Here, Super Phil, the ground hog, has just assembled his "Punxtahawney Robot" kit and it works! In this case red light means go!

Illustration Friday: 80s

Mary Queen of Scots

I'm currently reading Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George, which inspired me to illustrate an image of Queen Mary during the 1580s. She spent the last 18 years of her life imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth and was finally beheaded for treason in 1587.

Since I'm not that far into the book just yet, I did some research at wikipedia and found some interesting tidbits. Like the silver box, marked with 'F' where the incriminating casket letters were found. I added an inscription on the brick wall (to the right of the figure) that reads, "In my end is my beginning", a quote from Queen Mary. Her history is fascinating and makes for a good story.

Tea Party Invitations

Tea Party/Bridal Shower Invitation

The bride-to-be requested a tea party for her bridal shower party theme. The party is next month and the dress code is pearls, gloves, and big hats. Should be fun!

Bridal Shower Invitation: Inside

Illustration Friday: Buzz

It's Me.

I wanted to do a black and white collage to round out my portfolio...but that phone just wanted to stand out!

Christmas Portrait

La Familia

I was commissioned by a good friend to do a family portrait for a Christmas gift to his wife. I originally had some problems getting the children to look like children and not little adults. With the help of my Creative Cup critique friends, I got some pointers to youngen the youngsters:

1.) Big heads, narrow shoulders
2.) Eyes dropped down, make wider apart, and a bit smaller
3.) Big cheeks, big forehead, narrow chin!
4.) shorten the nose

I know it seems like a recipe for drawing an alien...but when you're done, it looks like a kid! I matted it, framed it, and now it's ready to go under their Christmas tree!

Illustration Friday: Help

Snowman and Bird

It's been quite awhile since I made an entry! I've been busy with a book cover project for The Berkley Publishing Group (Penguin Books), a commissioned family portrait collage, and the predictably hectic Christmas shopping and decorating.

I was in the mood to work on a Christmas image and had this snowman cut out and ready to go. The snowman is being quite helpful by holding up the bird's house. Stick arms never get tired. Snowman and Bird is a cut paper and digital collage.

Bird Detail

Snowman and Bird Version 2

I created this second version showing a more helpful snowman...using his scarf to hang the birdhouse. Industrious!

Illustration Friday: Clear

Gobbler with Cobbler
Turkey started to clear the table but found a piece of distraction.

I'm getting ready for the next holiday! Gobbler with Cobbler is a digital collage and will be my Thanksgiving image for cards this year. I don't usually do cards for this holiday...but since this image is done, why not?

I decided to make it fit Illustration Friday's theme, clear, this week. Clear has so many different meanings that clearing the table didn't seem like a far stretch for the Gobbler...

Graphic Artists Guild Postcard

Graphic Artists Guild postcard

My postcard was finally printed, mailed and delivered today. The image I chose is titled Waiting For Inspiration and is a paper and digital collage illustration. I created it as a self promotional piece.

As a featured artist on the Northern California GAG website, I was given the opportunity to use my artwork in a GAG sponsored mailing. The postcard was mailed to publishers, GAG members, and other industry professionals and was an awesome marketing effort. It markets my work as an illustrator and invites members and the industry community to monthly luncheons held at Lulu's restaurant in San Francisco.

I was an active volunteer on the GAG luncheon committee for a brief while. Just recently I have found a new position as the featured artist postcard coordinator. I worked with PsPrint, an online print service, and received excellent customer service and final product. I'm already looking forward to the next featured artist's postcard.

Illustration Friday: Smoke

In the Pink Dragon's Lair

I was going to make an intense looking Chinese dragon...but came across this cool pink paper and...voila! A floating pink dragon roasting marshmallows. I can never stay too serious! In the Pink Dragon's Lair is an all paper collage with digital effects. Charred marshmallow anyone?