I have been wanting to join the illustration friday crew for a long time. This is my first attempt and it isn’t a finished illustration. I was able to make a rough color comp, but I know at least one person that will feel the nostalgia with me.
O.A.T.S. is a bluegrass festival in Pennsylvania run by the Grillbillies. I have loved the times I have gone. Staying up all night long listening to impromptu jam sessions is the best. Thank you for the wonderful times.
I have recently realized I love drawing birds. I probably should have realized this a while ago, given that if I aimlessly doodle a little bird appears upon the page. The clarity came through with a few recent events. First were our many trips to the zoo, seeing Flamingos and learning that their upper beak is smaller than their lower beak. Then drawing birds for the ripple project (I still have two pieces left for sale). Thirdly putting up a hummingbird feeder and watching the little guys buzz around. And finally checking out the Owly books.
Andy Runton captures a simple beauty of nature. Using Owly as the main character is genius, because he is so similar to humans in how other birds will react to him. I know I am terribly late to this party, Owly has always been on my list. I am so glad I have now read these stories, they touched my heart making me smile and cry. Fan forever.
The last two events provided the inspiration for this blog’s little piece.
And sketches
Although, I am feeling my sketch more:
I need to go back to the drawing board. My sketch composition is working better. In part because the cat is looking to the left and there is the danger, helping the eye to rotate around the page. In the full color piece, you are left hanging and your eyes are fighting between the cougar and the kayak. The sketch’s monotone palette allows the eye to better take in the action. Also there is more character in the animals in the sketch. Finally the pencils work better on the crappy paper I am trying to draw on. Lesson, free blank paged books are not always the right material for drawing in.
I will redo this one, when time allows. The idea is adorable thanks Evan! Perfect week to chime in, Matt never gave me a theme this week.
who doesn’t love a snail?
Vampires are out people, the new hit. . . Zombie Unicorns.
This past weekend we went down to NJ. I don’t like excuses but, the trip up rooted my routine and I haven’t finished my husband’s choice for today.
The theme will be a repeat conjured by a talk my husband and I had during the car ride home. We discussed the recent posts and I was able to ask Matt which he felt we successful and unsuccessful. He wasn’t willing to be very thorough; he did say I was often too literal causing disappointment. I agree. My mind is literal, so much that I often do not understand when someone is being sarcastic with me. Although, I in turn have very dry sarcastic humor.
Anyway, the specific image is the Microscopic Zoo. It’s not done yet, I am doing a series of sketches to make it more complex. Matt would not tell me what he had pictured, saying that defeated the purpose. This is a very delightful exercise, similar to the process of illustrating someone else’s book.
I would love to hear your thoughts: Where is the line? For other illustrators how have you dealt with a client that has such a specific image in mind they aren’t accepting what you are drawing but, aren’t able to verbalize what they want drawn?
I find this occurrence happens with design too. It is easier with repeat clients, you know they like and what they mean with the non descriptor words or subjective adjectives. I ask questions that get something I can interpret from my client and continue to push the design. Recreating it, even from scratch, until it is right. That is my job. I feel I am usually successful at it.
Not to send you away without a piece of art, here is my Colonel Windpipe contribution:
Thurston Trotter
I recently pulled out my childhood sketchbooks. It is really funny to look through at what I was drawing then and where I was trying to go. So I thought I would share a couple of pages.
This is the first page in my first sketchbook. I still remember where I was when I made these drawings. In my brother’s day care loft waiting for my mom to finish up a board meeting. One of the dogs was a stuffed animal that was keeping me company. He looked really scared.
(age drawn 9)
Then this is Slick. I remember coming up with her, trying out lots of characters to make a team. Her eyes where part of my style at the time. I figured all of my characters would have eyes shaped like hers.
(age drawn 14)
I actually made time to color this week’s husband’s choice! I was only mildly influenced by Sheep in a Jeep. Okay I was very influenced. However, my characters are frogs. It seems I love drawing jovial frogs on the fly.
This guy is my favorite. I have decided to name him Schmitty.
The past week has been catching whatever hours I could to draw this and watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I blame my new obsession with Buffy on Dani. Thank you, I love watching this show!
Anyway, the Pippi piece, I think I am going to use it as a new postcard/promo piece. What do you think?
We went to the Stone zoo last Friday. Lucien was entertained by the animals and my Dad and GG so, I could draw! The Gibbons were a huge hit to all. Sadly it started raining and I was wasn’t able to draw the Aye-Ayes or Snow Leopard. Next time!
This past weekend my Dad and Rebecca visited us. I wasn’t working on much since we were spending time together. Although, we did take a trip to the zoo and I sketched the animals because they watched Lucien, we watch General Hospital so I sketched during the show, and then they requested a painting.
So, this weeks Husbands Choice is Rebecca’s Choice. Their original request was a pelican, but then they kept calling it a penguin and at one point a moose.
Behold, the Moose-Penguin-Pelican!
This is a small canvas painted with acrylics. After years of mainly using colored pencils I have decided it is time to play with some other mediums. I really enjoined the acrylics. I liked being able to go back and forth dark to light and light to dark. My plan is to make one piece a week that is trying out different techniques just for practice.
One more round of my Ripples is coming to Ripple.
Here are my sketches that led up to the finals.
Speaking of fish with personality, I showed Lucien Finding Nemo yesterday. He was upset about numerous scenes, when Nemo is taken, when the sharks try to eat Marlin and Dory, and when Marla tries to “wake up” Nemo. With each scene he jumped in my lap.
I remember wondering when I first watched this movie, if the shark scene would scare kids, because it scared me. I long ago realized that most kids would not be bothered, but yesterday I couldn’t believe my kid got the ibby gibbies.
Casey Girard Illustration