Illustrated Tiara

Happy Valentine's

2012-02-14T19:18:00.000-08:00

Ever have a drawing that you reALLY like.. and think it NEEDed to be painted but worried that you'll ruin it?
.. happens to me alot..

but I'm glad I just Did it.. cause I don't think it came out too bad...
<3

trying to climb..

2012-01-31T17:01:00.000-08:00

..from the depths of 'not-drawing-land'

and I must say... Friends are certainly the biggest inspiration I have...

and I've been experimenting with those red and blue pencils.

of course..

2011-12-04T04:46:00.000-08:00

of course, whenever inspiration finally hits me,
its holiday-season.. and I need to spend my free-time preparing for that instead of painting...

in the process of transferring this to paint it..

mission

2011-05-21T18:56:00.001-07:00

I'm going to attempt to paint in the next few days. wish me luck. I haven't managed to sit at home in awhile..
was supposed to post the first one on the 10th! see how I'm slacking!!

Promise.

2011-04-23T15:15:00.000-07:00

I'm still alive. Still working and all, its just that my camera died again.
Well, not 'died' but its having some 'lens' issues with focusing so I was trying to fix it and its not fixing
and considering I had just got the LCD screen fixed last Sept, I'm kind of aggravated!
I would have bought a whole new camera instead of trying to save this one.
but you live, you learn.

Just bought a nice sketchpad with 140 lb sheets of watercolor so I'm definitely excited about that one.
I also picked up some blue and red prismacolors since I always see people work with them. and I wanted to experiment.
Here's some 10 minute sketches I did, on regular drawing paper from a perspective book. hopefully more soon

As I said, these were quick studies and practice runs. we all know I want to practice male figures more so this was one that intrigued me.
It started as a crouched pose but spinning the canvas around as I was drawing, I noticed it felt more powerful, to me, this way. I also toggled with the colors to portray a forceful/angry? space.

character design

2011-03-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

in no ways a completed work... I know exactly what I'd like to do if I put this figure into a real scene. etc. but decent enough to get the general feel of the character.

Sunday-draw-time

2011-03-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, inspiration hits me.
yes, proportions are off.
yes, I can still see things I'd like to improve.
yes, I still like it.

oh, and this has been 'shaded' for a while now, never got around to posting....

Thought I just about quit again

2011-02-13T15:18:00.000-08:00

Character comp since I've just about submerged myself in all things fantasy.

Mermaid idea, non-traditional take on it. Just a line sketch, hope to take it further.

Yes. I know.

2011-01-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

So, I was just sketching along from a horrible horrible reference photo, and slowly but surely it became a character design...
which then evolved away from one of my own characters to one of which I have been reading.
so, this would be based on George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice & Fire character Robb Stark.
Then I proceeded to mess with it in photoshop alittle (the head was smaller and kind of threw it off, but in re-sizing it I think it added a few more years on the face. haha) The sword, of course, is way too light, as well as a few other nuisances.. but altogether I kind of liked doing it.... maybe I could add a bit more detail that would bring it closer to the actual character, but it didn't really begin as any particular character...
maybe I'll mess with coloring it one of these days...

enjoy...

Practice, practice.

2011-01-29T07:55:00.001-08:00

So, I was looking at the little portrait I did and got a visual, added on to it and transferred a line drawing over onto watercolor..
decided to experiment a little with the way I apply it and the colors I use.
I enjoy how it came out, but I know what I would do different if I started aLL over...

on a roll I guess...

2011-01-23T12:13:00.001-08:00

haha. Still working

If I were...

2011-01-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

If I were a famous artist, what would I be famous for?
1. Extended periods of absense.
2. Unfinished work....

hmmm, I should really be famous. Those are good fashionable traits...

Anywho, the months have been crazy, between holiday vacations and the inevitable job thing...
I have a sketch-in-progress to add to all the other in-progress works...
I know, I know... I should finish something already and I promise.. I'm going to try, especially after this job-thing gets situated...

Working title would be "Had He Fell" For those it isn't clear, its a play off the myth of Odysseus

2010-10-28T13:50:00.000-07:00

Seeing as October is my birthday month, I find it perfectly acceptable to be too busy to really update this thing! riiight!?
Not to say I haven't been working on anything.
One assignment and a few personal things...
in addition to setting aside one because I'm not really enjoying how it is turning out.
Anywho, here is a beginning stage step thing of a new thing I am working on....

addition

2010-09-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

so I've finally managed to start sketching the rest of the image I'm working on. I can already tell that perspective is going to be off, but I'm not going to mind that at the moment.
haha, so horrible of me, I know.
I'm working on this figure and I want to add in at least one more... but who knows I might do more...
this is totally just a sketch and not done, but you get the idea.

working on it..

2010-09-12T11:04:00.000-07:00

so, since I got my camera fixed, I've been taking some snap-shots and trying to get ideas for drawings and paintings.
I take a handful and pick out whichever one seems to have or be capable of having a narrative.
sooo, this is the one I'm starting now... there will be more to it as I keep planning but I hope it starts to come together nicely..
its really early in the stages, so forgive a lot of the mistakes. A lot of filling in to do.

something alittle close to finished?

2010-08-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, finally! I paint. yes sir-ee.
Although I do like how it looks and all, I am really disappointed in the water/background.
I did it first, didn't like how it was looking so I went over it which just resulted in it looking and being overworked.
oh well. here we go, camera phone image with somewhat fixed lighting...
can't wait til I get my camera fixed... its in the shop as I type.

Ridiculous...

2010-08-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

So, this is transferred onto watercolor paper for painting.... but I'm completely scared to touch it with the two cheapo paintbrushes I have.... so maybe I'll wait to buy more? haha... we'll see how it goes.

I've changed the thing she's sitting on, simplifying it dramatically.. as well as added some things to the upper left to help balance it a bit.... buuut whatever...

I had a different assignment due a couple weeks ago, nothing special, but it helps me to post something else...

Total freehanded transfer.

2010-07-30T07:32:00.000-07:00

Armed without tracing paper or my lovely new lightbox... which I left 9 hours away from me and would really be useful with the 6 sketches I have in my sketchbook that I want to paint but don't want to completely re-draw.......

anywho. got my paints in the mail. bought some watercolor paper and a palette, and picked up a handy dandy Micron Pigma Brush to test out a watercolor and ink look inspired by William Stout. Though for now I am taking it very easy on the ink... lol.
I really like the brush, even though an ink and nib/brush has a more traditional feel to it, the Micron feels a little 'safer'?
whatevers!
sooo, I figured I'd take a picture of the inked drawing transferred onto watercolor paper.. and in slightly better lighting..
painting to come soon!! can you believe it?!

Sometimes, you know...

2010-07-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

Did a doodle/sketch... hoping to paint it.. why?
Because I got my paints in the mail!! woohoo... watercolors and oils...
now let's just hope I can work up the courage to give the oils a swing again...
Buut, I realized I didn't get my palettes mailed.. or any surfaces... :(
sooooo come friday, payday, I will grab some.....
in the meantime... here's a doodle I hope to finish....
bare with me, quality sucks because its night and my phone doesn't take great pics at night...
better coming soon because..... camera soon? suggestions for a good, but not expensive, one are welcome!
toggling it in photoshop really messed up the quality....
FORGIVE ME!

July is not over yet..

2010-07-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

though this heat!
BUUT, thank goodness for the sun and parks! I could sit in the sun for a good while (and a bit longer)
Here's a doodle I did while tanning at WSq... I had flyfishing on the brain...

one month and I felt I needed to post something..

2010-07-14T16:22:00.000-07:00

Sooo, Tool and A Perfect Circle... yes.
They bring on inspiration to take me back to my 'surrealist' roots.
You know what I'm talking about... those times when you draw a doodle, and add a doodle on top of that, and another, until you've mingled each nonsensical, sensical piece together... because somehow it makes sense....
because the thought process and the brain flows in a line no matter which way you try to go...
because each thought is connected, whether its connected by something that isn't much...
anywho.
sketch doodle.... not finished... and at the rate I go... probably never will be.

Sooo not done...

2010-06-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

... but then again, when do I ever finish anything?
Soo, when I start liking something I go through a phase of obsession. It dies down after a while (mostly because I tire myself out of it.)
At the moment, I really love Layne Staley (1967-2002).. lead vocals in a band called Alice in Chains way back from when.
He just seems to have it all, aside from his addiction, the creativity, the kindness, etc.
So I started a drawing of him and I don't think it does him justice at all. AT ALL! This man was beautiful!

So I messed with it in photoshop just because it helps a little to see how photoshop handles its 'effects'
Hopefully my obsession lasts long enough for me to go back into the drawing and really mess with it...
its really making me wish I had either a. charcoal or b. paints.. because these line strokes are starting to irritate me when I need to darken a huge area...
blahhh.
whatever.
\

ok, I think

2010-06-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

still not done, but whatever.

Alittle somethin something..

2010-06-08T18:09:00.001-07:00

Decided that I should give you more than just photography so I am putting up a little tidbit of something I am starting... this is not done and I hope to keep working on it... but this is what it looks like so far....
again, apologies for the camera phone picture of it... give me another week or two and I WILL have either a camera or a scanner.. not that you care.. but whatevs.

Enjoy.

Hmmm...

2010-06-06T14:28:00.000-07:00

So, I am pretty darn settled in and doing good where I'm at...
this means that the camera purchase I so desperately need will hopefully take place soon. Aren't you excited? After really looking at the drawing below, I noticed how horrible the photo of it looks!
I'm also working on getting a scanner... soo maybe in the next month or two I should have one... which will hopefully get me inspired to do more art work....

Of topic of pencil work... I have used my camera phone for several new self-portraits.. edited in photoshop... figured I'd post.

Going for simple but still photo-like

Somewhat going for simple... but turned out looking a little inspired by "The Crow"

There's so many neat variations I went through on photoshop with some of these, I wish I saved them all to show... but I didn't. Oh well.

I need...

2010-05-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

I need a scanner... and a camera.. yea, those would be nice.
A real camera... not a camera phone.. but it'll have to do for now.

I've been more likely to draw women since I'm a consistent model for myself.. but I really want to get into the male figure and face and all. So, I've taken to looking for photo reference via the internet.. tell you what though.. its tough to find a male posing nicely and not looking like some really demented sex machine. haha.
Here's some drawing of a dude, based on a Jared Padalecki image.
I like Supernatural, what can I say? And I've always had a thing for the darkside, but this is not 'fanart' for that show. haha!

annnnd the photoshopped version... yes, I know... I should lay off.. but its better than doing it with just a photo, right?

Almost a month too long..

2010-05-14T20:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, crazy business has kept me from doing some art.
This includes working two jobs and not having a permanent place to rest my head.
Lo-and behold, I am now in one great working job and one great place. I feel very hopeful of art coming up soon..
especially since I have a bit more motivation around me...
... I'm living in the city of artists, and a few of my closest friends are amazing artists,
Let's see if I can start to experiment and make this blog come more to life.

Anywho, assignments...
I was to take this photo:

and clothe the individuals... so I just some basic drawings and threw them into photoshop to merge better with their background:

albeit, its nothing like the original and I wish I had more time to do it... perhaps even my paints to physically do it, but for some reason, I think it the juxtaposed-ish styles look neat, and it intrigues me to experiment alittle... though I doubt if I will.....

No.. not again..

2010-04-22T18:14:00.000-07:00

yup, no personal artwork to show. oh well..
but now that I've had time to sit down and relax and play catch-up with my blogroll, I decided to share with you few who actually read this some of the interesting things I've come across...

First, just a thought.

Marcus Stone or any other artist from the past.
I was seriously looking at this work and wondered why I was drawn to it. Why do these 'old-school' type of people always tend to throw me into awe.
Is it the costume? Do I wish people painted people in these old fashioned elegant costumes? Was the past so much more beautiful... I find myself answering 'no'. When I try to replace the figures with more modern ones, I still think I would be delighted, because its the light touch and style he brings to them. The everyday actions, but some thought..

whatever, right?

This is an idea I wanted to paint for a while but never got around to it... a very intimate moment. I'm not crazy about the technique or style, because it doesn't seem to say what I'd think... so maybe there's still opportunity for me anyways...
Michael Klein

Last but not least a sculptor.

Robert Cannon

I want this stuff in my house (when I have one)

Where, what?

2010-03-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

Where am I going? What am I doing?
I'm really not sure. I've been attempting to try to just 'let go' of any inhibitions I might have in doing artwork.
I've long since learned I'm not the biggest perfectionist and you know, I don't mind.
Instead, I think I'm starting to let my own soul sing into whatever I am doing... try to get lost in it.
Afterall, artwork for me is a type of therapy maybe? and not a contest. Everyone can be an artist.

Anywho, more messing around in photoshop with drawing. Hey, at least I'm drawing... maybe sometime soon I can physically paint something... just no space for that sort of thing.
Trying to get more acquainted with backgrounds, though they remain subtle.

Persephone...
though, I really wish I had some male models....

Self-portrait -> Sketch

2010-03-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

So, I did some more of the picture editing with one photo and then I did a sketch of a photo and colored it in photoshop...
just random really. I've been sketching a little more so that's good, but been busy.

First, the drawing while nice or whatever in photoshop, I still view as a conceptual idea. I don't really like the color choices perse, but am enjoying the limited palette.

The photo... I wouldn't know where to begin.

Art Books

2010-03-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

I'm reading a book called
"The Practice and Science of Drawing" by Harold Speed."

It caught my attention simply by the word 'science' because I tend to understand things in terms of understanding why I'm doing something.
Though some parts drag on, I find it rather informative and begs you to take a deeper look at some of the qualities of drawing, breaking it down into lines and masses.

It gives many examples of line work and masses that make you go 'awe'. It motivated me to try and let loose and try not to be too precise.. which is what inspired my last sketch, which I rather liked.
Its emphasis on schools leaving out the mass studies of objects caught my attention because although I might have had one exercise of it, no one ever emphasized it... besides a friend.
It definitely gets better as you read further into it. It begins kind of sounding arrogant, but loses that quality soon.
It details rhythm better than anyone has really explained to me.
I'm hoping to get a bit out of it once I finish, but as usual I fear that it won't stick with me. I've had a lot of inspiration from things in the past, but always seem to start forgetting to put it into action.
I think that's what makes master works so impressive. They have so much more in them than just a nice picture. Their composition, line work, angles, rhythm, tone, etc were all taken into account. They make sure not to have any precise curves or lines, unless purposely. They use horizontal lines to give one feeling and vertical another.

I'm not going to attempt to explain anything in the book because well, that's what the book is for, but it does provide one with things to consider.

Drawing!

2010-03-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

So I did a real quick sketch just now and figured I'd post it because how often do I do that?! haha.
And for the amount of time I did it in, I think it looks rather nice. Just sort of experimenting and stretching out my less-used eyes..... Of course, I'd prefer to get it colored or painted.. but I never seem to do it...
Though it might just happen since I did it in my new sketchbook, on paper larger than normal (9x12 instead of 6x9).
yay for me... might test the paper first to make sure it can handle a medium... hmmmm....
but yea. enjoy.

and a quick photoshop drop-in of colors and texture...

Photoshop...

2010-03-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

Yea, I take lots of pictures... especially if I get to paint my face. haha. hopefully I can get other models... but you know.. I don't really do professional photo shoots...
Anyhow, this was really fun and I do think I'm improving or at least expanding with the experimenting...
hopefully soon, can paint the photos as reference instead of just going in and photoshopping.
enjoy.

Art and pictures.

2010-03-01T15:57:00.000-08:00

Its tough... you know, you get on a roll and then you just die off again. I haven't been doing too much but I've been attempting to inspire myself...
I really flitter around with drawing, taking pictures, photoshop stuff, reading, and just about lazying around listening to music... takes up a lot of time but hey... I get a little done at a time...

These are book covers I did a month or two ago and never posted...

I am rather happy with some aspects of them, but no matter what, I always feel like I could have taken things further.. that's going to be my goal from now on. I really get too anxious to complete something that I forget to take my time.. and that's a really important part of art... just relaxing and going with it.

These are some self-portraits I edited in photoshop.
I really enjoy taking self-portraits.. really any portrait but self ones are easier to come by because all I need are me and a camera... I've been taking self-portraits since myspace.. haha!! but am starting to try to incorporate artistic qualities..
These are based off of astrology, which symbolizes the sun as a woman's left eye, and the moon as her right. Its vice versa for the male and I'm hoping to perhaps take some male and female together photos with make-up similar to this... but we'll see about that.
I'm excited to perhaps start experimenting with others though, so if you're up for it let me know!!

Design, Photoshop, Fun

2010-02-15T18:46:00.000-08:00

I've been messing around in photoshop with images... nothing professional but definitely scrapping off some rust from my fingers. I've edited the images in photoshop and threw in very plain type. I think my next mission is to really start messing around with type, type can be fun!

This is an image I created for a tour poster 'competition'. I have no idea when a winner is announced, but I just really did it because it was a chance to do some kind of per-determined assignment. Was a lot of fun!!

This was the first one I did in 'warming up' haha! Not as good, but still interesting. It really makes me notice how much more I could still do to these images.

I'll have an illustration up in a couple of days so its nice to see all this action. !!

Very excited to keep creating so hopefully ideas will start to come my way again.
^_^

Yes!

2010-02-06T12:41:00.000-08:00

Whew! I was really hoping to get some art up soon, but today is a good day for it... snow day! yay!
I must warn you though, these photos of my artwork were taken with a camera phone... EEK!! yucko, right... but they're just going to have to work for now (not like it really really matters since they aren't full fledge complete... just the drawings)
I don't know why I haven't really been painting and its starting to upset me... I swear I'll pick up a brush soon...

For now, I have one drawing done that I did colorize in photoshop... just quickly dropped in some color to get a better feel of it... and I rather like it.

The other... okay, so if you know me you've known that I've been thinking of getting a tattoo for gosh knows how long...

there's just so many ideas and so many things I like (and then lose interest in) Its really really hard for me to commit to something permanently (meaning forever and ever and ever). BUT here's a sketch of an idea I've been tossing around...

Hope you've enjoyed.

I have no art to show.

2010-02-05T15:42:00.000-08:00

Figured I'd start posting inspiration again. I'm working on some art now, but nothing to show...
but I've been really rediscovering some amazing creativity through viewing the creativity of others. Oh how I wish I had the time and money to do everything I want, but I don't so it's a slow process..

First is first. I work with a wonderful woman named Anna, and we were talking about art and whatnot. She's a photographer when she can. Its a passion of hers. I had the chance to check out her work and I really enjoyed a lot of it. It made me want to start experimenting with photos. Check out her work at http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/gallery.asp?memberID=217747

I'm also a real big fan of checking out google's artist of the day. It introduces me to so many different styles and artists. Although I don't like all of them, I do find really amazing things by many. This link will take you to Jonathan Barkat's Artist of the Day page, but you can also navigate the actual day to day history... http://www.artistaday.com/?p=5612
Here's some recent artist I've stumbled on there that I've enjoyed (they have a link to their actual artist page, click if you like):
Lisa Falzon
Tim O'Brien (learned about him in school before though)
Natalia Vetrova

Click through the archives because there's so much talent out there.....

See you soon, hopefully with more artwork from myself because if I don't get some creativity out I will simply explode!!

2 posts in 1 month?... no way!!

2010-01-20T11:48:00.000-08:00

Got some sketching in these past couple of days and got really excited to be able to post it!
I was just practicing with a reference photo and starting to turn it into something else by adding a figure and whatever else. It isn't an assignment, but somehow I like it. ^_^

Hopefully I can keep rolling, maybe even paint some soon.

Feeding me Gasoline

2010-01-13T11:39:00.000-08:00

Trying to rev up my engine to do some creative work. Its really sad how the holiday season kept me so busy. I've been meaning to squeeze in some more personal work or even go back to messing in oils.. but no time. no time.

I managed to get a project done for a book cover. This one is just having the art used, but maybe I'll try and throw some type in there some time for a more finished look of a book cover.

I have one other project to finish and depending on whether I get new assignments I might get a chance to do some personal work... if not, then I'll at least be doing art... need to keep the creative juices flowing.

Keeping up?

2009-12-12T16:40:00.001-08:00

My intern ends in a week and I am soo sad! I am really enjoying doing the work there! If only I could find a job that pays to do it! arg.
Oh well. I have several other assignments I've completed and a personal project I did a month ago but never posted... cause I didn't really paint it? Just kind of photoshopped over it... maybe if my interest in it returns again I'll paint it?

I've been feeling a surge of creativity lately, so hopefully that will last. Sadly it has more to do with thoughts, words, and singing than art... but maybe I can focus it?
Sadly, the wheels in my brain move when my feet are (walking...) but its just too difficult to walk and draw at the same time!? Inventions anyone?

Artwork unrelated to book covers. Forgive the color job... consider it a color comp. haha... I like it.

All the book ones below were created from scratch, no matching to an already existing cover, and even working in illustrator! Who would have thought I'd be falling in love with the Adobe programs!

Long long time..

2009-11-20T18:23:00.001-08:00

So, I'm back in my hometown and working hard, or trying to.
I got myself an intern at Dorrance Publishing, a local subsidy publisher and I'm really enjoying it.
I'm finally getting myself back together and providing myself a creative outlet.
Here's some things I've been working on. I've been doing a lot of scanning and book cover and back cover layouts. Some of them I match to already created covers, while others I also design the cover. Hopefully you like because I've been having fun!

Nothing too fancy and just a collection.
I've been getting back into sketching and doing a personal piece for myself, so hopefully I can upload that one soon enough.

Check out the amazing, fabulous Evan Kitson's work He inspires me!

After School

2009-06-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

So I finally graduated and as you can see, I've slacked off completely with this blog thing.
I moved to New York City. Though, I'm not really sure if I'm going to pursue art any time soon.
But I finally got my kick back for wanting to draw! The only thing that isn't so great is the fact that I don't have a scanner, so I will have to make due with my camera... which isn't too bad.

Here's a picture I drew lately, thinking all book cover-like.
I want to go in and fix up a background, maybe. Then I am going to try to color it, either watercolor or digital. Might try digital since I have it.

Some pretty awesome stuff...

2009-05-06T10:12:00.001-07:00

Just ran into this artist and video today from Google's Artist of the Day submissions...
well, I went to the Artist's website to find this guy. Dan Dos Santos, and omg his stuff is beautiful.
I loved this video which showed him painting in fast-forward. Very interesting! Makes me want to buy his dvd out for book cover painting... someone should buy it for me... haha.

Senior Show and Celebration

2009-05-02T15:35:00.000-07:00

So, I just got back from my senior show where I exhibited four pieces of artwork. I had a great time (the building was hot!) and it was a nice final time to spend with my classmates.

Here's the work I presented:

I like them all, with Pj being my favorite. I am graduating next saturday and moving, so I hope to still be able to get artwork up online...

One week left... and counting.

2009-04-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

I got my postcards printed! I liked how they came out so much that I ordered business cards and more postcards (but with a different image)
so I'm excited to see how those turn out.

I also have gotten a number of my thesis pieces done and working with the type on them. They are looking really nice. Pj Harvey is my favorite..

I'll post more when I get a chance to change the file size...
But be sure to check out my new website where I'll just have my art.
http://www.tiarami.carbonmade.com

And last but not least, I have the piece I finished for the gallery for the senior work.
I did one of my nieces that I'll be giving to someone in my family. haha. I really like it.
(( To be added, colors won't load properly ))

That's all for now. So very exciting.

AIGA

2009-04-05T15:40:00.000-07:00

We went to an AIGA review over the weekend, and by we I mean Connie, Abby, and Liz.
It was a really cool experience and definitely jump shot my motivation in art. It was quite a relief to hear opinions outside of the same ones I've been hearing for the past 3 years... as well as from professionals who work with illustrators.
So, thumbs up to that!

In other news, I've been working more on my thesis and they are all coming along nicely.

I also have quite a few things I want to scan and post, so stay tuned for that soon! Its such a busy final month of class, I am keeping a list close by so that I get it all done.
Other than that, I'm going to have to keep a camera near by so I can get some photos.

Classwork some more.

2009-03-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy this month with my last two months of class and final projects, including my thesis, that I haven't had much time to put up anything new. Thank class for giving me assignments I can show. I can't wait to do some more personal work.

Speaking of personal work, I forgot to put up this piece I did back in December...
Its my Earth girl, subject= growth. I really like it considering its based off a previous piece I never really got to finish.

I also had a lot more fun in my advertising concept class. We had a project for beach reading and I got to do turtles. I had some fun with it...

I've always had such a hard time deciding on mediums to use. Though pencil sketches are always fun and a bit easy, I love paint. I've tried all different kinds and found watercolor to be the best for me to work in. I'm always so torn on oils, because I love the look and everything but the fumes and mess just kill me. Maybe one day I can rediscover them.
Acrylics lend themselves nicely to black and white for me, but color wise, they always dry too darn fast for my liking. haha, guess I just need more practice at them! Practice would make perfect.
Anywho, I've been experimenting with watercolor and learning some new things and ways of working with them, so I'm really liking the outcomes.
I've learned that its so much more than just laying the color down, but also taking your time and getting into the mindset of it all that really makes painting a whole lot easier.

Enough rambling.
Here's a sneak peak at one of my thesis pieces Ani Difranco's "Face up and Sing"
Its a quick photo of it, so you can't see a lot, but its coming along nicely.

In other news, I was offered a chance to show some work for May's First Friday in town at market. They are open until 8pm on that day. I was told that they wanted artists from market to show and regular local costumers too, so I've invited my friends Abby and Jordan to show as well, since they come in often enough to be recognized. haha. Jordan's website is http://www.jordanwmartin.com check it out.
Hopefully it all goes well. I really have no idea what to show, considering my thesis pieces and main gallery piece will all be up for the Senior show the day/saturday after that!

There's my news.

One project

2009-02-26T12:39:00.000-08:00

So my first and last project for my Senior Illustration studio for this last semester is done. Now we are only working on our thesis for the rest of the year.
I am excited to see what happens, but anywho,
we had to design a cover piece for a magazine. The piece is supposed to reference Narcissism.
I didn't want to do anything typical with the idea so I opted for a simple man with dolls. Cute, eh?
I had fun doing this so I hope you enjoy. I'll give my shout out to a friend who also works in watercolors, Abby. She was a big inspiration for the background in showing me the technique. I love her. haha.

I also did a little doodle in my sketchbook and went over it in watercolor. Mind you its not on good paper and I didn't take much time with the watercolor so its not the best, but its a doodle for crying out loud.
Enjoy.

I swear I'll update.

2009-02-22T16:05:00.000-08:00

So, I have several things coming up that I want to scan to get on here for you to see, but I've been a little lazy.
Soon, I promise.
For now, here's two things I'm working on.. both for class.
They are both black and white/grayscale.

School and Books.

2009-02-11T15:26:00.001-08:00

So, we had a class assignment to illustrate a black and white newspaper ad for a imaginary coffee/book shop. My image is below. The guidelines were very definite and we weren't really allowed to sway away from a pile of books with a cup on top.
I guess I didn't put too much thought into it. Wish I had. Altogether its contrast is pretty good.

I've been doing a good bit of drawings/sketches for my wildlife class, so I hope to scan and put up those images as well.

Excitement.

2009-02-01T07:58:00.000-08:00

So, I'm starting my senior thesis. We had to chose between several topics and I picked cd covers.
Really, I'd have been interested in book covers, but that wasn't an option..
however, cd covers are a lot like book covers in the idea that they can tell a story.
I'm only on the sketch phase of them all, but I'm really enjoying the ideas and can't wait to paint them.
This one is based on a Patti Smith song entitled 'Space Monkey'
I had chosen 4 female artists with songs that represent a variety of issues.

The image below is one I completed last semester for an egg project. I hope to get a hold of the picture of the egg, because I really liked how that came out, but this is the painting I did beforehand to show what I was planning on painting on the egg...
I really like the colors and the overall feel of it. I'm starting to enjoy this whole thing. haha.

Well, I'm doing good so far with updating this thing... let's hope I can continue with it.

Lot of Fun.

2009-01-24T17:59:00.000-08:00

So, maybe I'll get scanning some new stuff to post... I'm hoping to show some sketches and such soon.
I've started the final semester of my senior year at PCAD. I rather enjoyed my years there, but I am very eager to finish. Life is really calling out for me and I'm getting kind of bored.

I'm posting a painting I did for my portfolio class, that I used for my postcard and business card. I really like it and I had a lot of fun with it. Watercolor has so many nice techniques and flows so freely, and I like that part. It gives painting its own life force.

well, hopefully I keep this stuff up. More soon.

Reawaken..

2009-01-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

So, I'm reawakening the blog now.
I've been pretty dead on the internet, having deleted myspaces and facebooks.. maybe one day I'll reawaken to that socialization?
Or maybe not, who knows.

I've been going through a lot in the purpose of art. I've experimented and struggled as usual.
I guess I'll just post some images for you to view and hopefully enjoy. Then maybe continue on with something...
The first two images are ones I worked on as commissioned pieces. "Lady" was done almost a year ago and the fireman one was completed before Christmas as a gift for someone, and I was told they thoroughly enjoyed it!
It actually makes me really happy to hear someone enjoys an image I created.

The next two images are a project from my Senior Illustration Studio (SIS). The project was to illustrate a playbill cover of certain fairytales. I chose Little Red Riding Hood and Alladin. While I do like them, I was also experimenting with a blue ink (its painted over).

The Final image was another piece for the SIS class. It was to illustrate a bulletin board that you'd see on the side of a road. It was for Big Brothers Big Sisters. I struggled with it and don't really like it much, but my teacher thinks its one of the better pieces I've done so I figured I'd include it..

I do have a couple of other illustrations I actually really like that I'm hoping to post soon... once I can get them scanned.
I also have some ideas to develop and some hope for this last semester.

Until then, let's hope I update this thing.

chugging along...

2008-03-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok.
Suddenly I want to do art.
Like.. alot of it.
I wish sometimes I was soo super at it, because I'd love to just have them keep rolling out with all the ideas.
But with time, and practice, and heart... I should get decent enough to satisfy my tooth.

But anywho.
Here's a piece I did for my Illustration class.. for Penn Ag Mag.

I have several ideas in mind, so I'll definitely be keeping you posted.. I should have three pieces by the end of april, at minimum.. excited?
yea...

Well, for info later.