Eye See Change

                    Field guides are great for inspiration!  Last week at the library

                 I checked out one on moths.  Moths are great symbols for change and 

                 transformation.  Scratching out a rough sketch of the girl 

                 I added the moths over her eyes.  It just wasn't working. 

                 The acrylic paint detailing wasn't right on the wings and the color

                 did not stand out the way I envisioned. In the end the moths 

                 were decoupaged.   This was a fun experiment.  

                 Acrylics work well with pastel.

Watching Katy Perry videos

while doing this.  Her style influenced the hair and lips, don't cha think?

Dive Deep

  Here it is, advanced screening for you!  Had a great time working on this, 
even worked outside for a bit. Working with India ink, watercolor, stamps, 
and glitter stars.  Fun stuff.
  Thought I would work in blue's since Lilla's surprise feature was a 
shades of blue color study.

  This work was for an online class by illustration agent Lilla Rogers. 
http://www.lillarogers.com
  See previous posts for cool links/ if you want to check out other work I have
done for this class.
  Here is my own little surprise feature.  The color palette I chose plus 
Color heads!  Fun people and critters inspired by color blobs. 

Which one is your favorite?

So Simple

  Okay, so the Lilla Rogers (https://twitter.com/lillarogers http://lillarogers.com)
assignment for MATS Bootcamp this month is to create an editorial illustration
about meditation.  I did many sketches and decided on this one for my final.
Tending to be a little ADD, I thought I should read the assignment again.
Going back over Lilla's tips made me change my mind and reevaluate.
More than once she stated to keep it SIMPLE.
  There is so much going on in this sketch, and this one is even more simplified
than the previous sketch.  I think subconsciously I pulled in every aspect of my life
that I can't let go when I meditate.  Interesting how the drawing worked therapeutically,
like meditation!  It had to be done to melt away those issues, so I could get on with a
clean and powerful image.
  I have a new sketch I am working on now.  Feel a little pressured due to lost time.
Final illustration is due the 25th.  I wanted create this one traditionally and digitally
and pick the best one, but maybe not enough time.  We'll see.
  Monday we get a surprise tip from Lilla which is always helpful and inspiring.
Not sure what you will see next week,  a little surprise of my own!
 
 

 

    *Pray for the release of the girls in Nigeria.* 

  #BringBackOurGirls

                                                 

My Favorite~Vintage Dolls!

  Lilla Rogers Assignment Bootcamp is back in session this month.

Was thrilled to find the mini assignment inspiration is DOLLS!!!

I have a pretty big collection of cool vintage dolls, one of my favorite 

things to search for at flea markets and antique stores.  It was so fun to
 draw/paint them.  I tried many different medias and papers, as Lilla suggested.  

  Here are some samples.  You can see I went in a lot of directions.

I just wanted to experiment.  No idea what the final will be and I am

so curious.  Having a lot of ideas to choose from should be helpful.

 First I drew Lilla's dolls.

                                       

  

                                            Then I sketched these 1930's Cupies I love!

Next I tried markers to do these more modern dolls~Dawn, Little Kiddle and Flatsey!

Haven't used markers in years (that explains the dry look!) and it was kind of neat.

               I then tried Lilla's idea for an exercise-paint one doll three different ways (which I also
           did for Practice, Love post in April).  Amazing results after three tries.  This is the last one.
           No way can you see the others!  Let's just say Jumbo student grade oil pastels are not
           made for detailed work;0)  This one is done in gauche and watercolor.

           
 Painted this one on canvas paper
 (which I love due to the texture)
with gauche, watercolor, & water soluble crayons.        

 My favorite! 

                                          Cupie face I created with oil pastel and watercolor.
                                                   Fun to work with the resist technique.

                                           Concentrated on this little curly top head with India
                                        ink and watercolor.  The print on her dress inspired the
                                        background.  This gave me another idea, but you will
                                               have to wait until next time to see the results!
             

Who let all these cats in here?

  Tuesday was my last art class of this series.  Played around with acrylics for the
first time in a year and it was so eye opening.  Traditional art methods are so enjoyable to me.
It could be the feel of a real brush, pigment in my face~whatever it is, I love it.
I have also realized that to get a really great portfolio piece much planning should
go into it in the beginning stages.   The drawing has to be right too.  How little
details and setting the stage involve so much thinking!  Why are artists/illustrators
given so little credit?  It really is work!

Granny didn't expect this kind of behavior.

  What it is with cats lately? Here are some more.
~Painted with acrylics on Canson canvas paper,
inexpensive and less intimidating than real canvas.

(I added a little pastel and charcoal pencil to Minnie.)

Minnie anxiously awaits her visit to Dr.Vetty.
{Nod to Norman Rockwell.}