After Life Drawing

 

    While I sit here occasionally sipping my Red Truck Red Wine I am about to confess
something that you may find a bit gross.  I myself find it mildly disgusting.  If you get
squeamish and are sensitive you might want to refrain from reading the rest of this post.
So here it is...Last week I drew dead things.
    It all started when I found the cutest baby mouse on my driveway.  One of the cats
must have just gotten to it.  The poor thing was a bit damp, but the ears were so large and
the feet so vulnerable that I just couldn't let it be.  I picked it up and brought it into my
studio and laid it upon a tissue.    I went and washed my hands carefully, and grabbed
some rubber gloves.
    Something called me to draw this mouse.  Why should his or her sweet life be wasted?
So as I drew this precious creature acquired a personality.   I believe his name is Rosco.
He was a busy guy.  He worked on the hillside for his dad, gathering seeds...until he met
upon an untimely death by the likes of Monkey or Naya.

I drew the bottom mouse first, the top mouse second and the laying down pose last.
Amazing improvement huh?

 What a surprise it was to see a little grey brown short tail mole on the sidewalk the next day.  

Perhaps the killer thought it would please me to find another. 

Sadly it did.  

The thing is, when you draw from life animals move too much.  It is really hard to 

capture the essence of the subject so quickly.  

I remembered reading about a museum that keeps

preserved species of birds for scientists and artist to study and draw 

(a branch of the Natural History Museum in Cincinnati, OH).  This interested me. 

Being able to study the mouse and mole so closely was amazing, if but a bit creepy.  

I grew up in the country and my father and brothers were hunters and trappers, so

I have seen much worse.  It only really bothered me when I took a lunch break

and came back to it.  Ewww!  I'm not sure if I will ever do this again, 

but that museum is sort of calling my name...

I better get a heavy duty mask and gloves!

Practice definitely does make perfect, as I drew each got better.  
Notice the numbers first to fourth. He was actually sort of pose able,
as you can see in sketch number 3.   Mr. Knuckles is not at all like his name.
He is rather generous, inviting other ground dwellers into his
abode for ice tea and scones. 

 

The guilty party/ies??? Monkey Man is a bit older, although he does look a bit evil, doesn't he?

Here is Naya, training for the hunt.  

Not the sharpest tack in the box but extremely cute and a skilled huntress.  

P.S.  If you want to try to draw a dead thing but it makes you ill, maybe start 

with a beetle or bug. They can be found near outdoor lights.

Also, I am going to have a busy summer vacation so my postings may be 

sporadic, please bear with me.  I will be back to posting on Saturdays in September.

I'll give a shout out on Twitter and Facebook when I do post.

Have a safe and fun-filled summer!!!

Storyboarding

                                          

                                          Working on textile prints so I created a few storyboards

                                        for inspiration.  It's a great way to fuel inspiration.  I never

                                        copy ideas, but use various art and design to spark creativity.

                                        I like to mix current trends I find online with vintage sources.

                                        Those sweet hankies from the 50's always have the greatest 

                                        flowers.  Trend boards can be done for illustration also. 

                                        Sometimes I find vintage photos for inspiration and mix

                                        in color swatches and fun three dimensional elements that 

                                        add interest to the board.  Gathering items and creating 

                                        storyboards helps to create the feeling you want. 

                                        Plus, it's pretty fun to do!

                         

Sunset Romance at the Bug Juice Bar

    I finished my promotional brochure.  
The idea to create a tri-fold with several illustrations 
instead of just one appealed to me.  Recently someone told me 
these get eaten in the post office machines.  The postal worker 
didn't say anything so I am hoping they will arrive in one piece.   

                                                      (Everything looks out of order but this is how I had to design 
                                                        it for a tri-fold . When folded it all makes sense.)

The sticker design in the middle
 was used here at the bottom and wrapped
around to the front so Joey and Enid
were on the front. ( The placement now
is actually where the address goes.)

Joey waiting at the local Bug Juice Bar for Enid.  Where is she?

Finally Enid arrives.  There was a hawk causing a disturbance

on the Upper East Hillside!  

Joey presents Enid with her birthday gift; 

charmed by her talented nose.

The Elephant Shrews or Rufous Sengi are fascinating creatures.

Have fun checking them out here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzj6cex6pgA

Getting Grapes

    Working on character sketches of animals a lot lately.

Wanted to update my portfolio website but hit a few snags

so I am posting this one here for now. 

Author/Illustrator Will Terry has some great videos & classes. 

I watched this one about character design and 

my sketches immediately improved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWxdLNLKJvk

He also has an online academy, check it out here:

http://folioacademy.com/viewcontrib.php?who=wterry

Shout out of thanks to Will!!!

So tired, busy weekend. 

                                                        :)Good night >.<

                  

Fais de beaux reves...

    I stumbled on these india ink and watercolor 

paintings I did a few months ago.  Playing around 

with different media is really fun and a great way to

fuse inspiration.  Hand cut and purchased rubber stamps

helped to create a dreamlike world for this little gal.  

Stickers, gems, flowers and other kid-like goodies like 

glitter can really make my heart beat faster.  

Silly but true.

So from this I was inspired to paint these two, 

which are a little more serious and sophisticated.  

Like the way they came out a little ghost like?  

India ink sort of gives that look.  Still not super confident with it.  

Memories of high school calligraphy class and pools 

of flubbed ink may have instilled the fear!  Maybe it's just my antique pens. 

Love them, but maybe it's really time to find another method.  Micron pens work well 

but it's hard to get the varied line quality.  Pentel brushes are a bit testy and tend to go 

a bit too bold for my style.  I know I have asked before on twitter but anyone know an alternative?

Until next week, sweet dreams....u-u zzzzzZZZ

Times are hard for dreamers.

I watched Amelie today.  
Sweet, quirky film with surprisingly few stars 
on Netflix, but what do they know about great art?  

Very inspiring film in many ways.

It's a bit hard to draw 

while reading subtitles but came up with this

girl...not really sure what her story is.  

Perhaps she is preparing to write a mysterious

note to a handsome young man, or maybe digging

into her water lily bag for her sketchbook. 

There must be a bench around here somewhere.

Who could resist sketching in a quaint 

little village such as this? 

Pas moi.

Pop! goes Easter

    Last Saturday I was cleaning like Housewife Dementia

(my friend Krissy's alter ego) and neglected to post.  Here is

a little belated apology in the form of a Easter card sketch I 

did on Easter Monday...

    When I create a character sketch I have been drawing 

that character in different poses.  This is an important element 

in children's book illustration. 

Check out the what is going on at the little girl's feet!  

Another fun technique to use in illustration is to have a "secondary story".  

I wanted to add color, it being spring and Easter, 

but my time has been devoted to working on print patterns. 

(You may be interested to know her dress is a jelly bean 

print, which may be hard to tell without color.)

The color addition will have to go on the back burner until next year I suppose.

Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Easter!