Sweet Squares #5

Sweet Squares #4

Sweet Squares #3

Sweet Squares #1 and #2

So after feeling inspired by Diandra Mae and Christina Forshay, every day I'm gonna try to finish a quick 3x3" piece of art for a project created by Diandra Mae. They're on their 3rd day, so I'm gonna try and catch up. Here's my first two. Learn more about the project on Diandra's blog! http://diandramae.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-month-of-experimentation.html

Illustration Friday: Obsession

This weeks topic on Illustration Friday is "obsession", which is appropriate for this illustration since I've been obsessed with it for the last week and just finished it this morning.  It was really hard for me to do such toned down colors.  I'm not totally sure how I feel about it, I think it still needs some tweaking.  I'm definitely open to some advice and or criticisms.

Can you find Max the dragon?  Can you name that palace (I changed a few things, but it's pretty close to what it actually looks like)?

1 of 3 paintings left

Got this beast all transferred to watercolor paper, now to ink it.  My back is already mad at  me.

1 down 3 to go...

1 portfolio piece done, 3 more to go.  I would've wanted a little more time with this, but I'm pretty happy with it.  The king looks a little like an angry Fozzy, but oh well.  I've got one more to go in the Princess and the Pea set, I think I'll illustrate the wedding scene.  Hopefully I'll be posting something again soon.

Portfolio piece 1 of 4

Here's the inked version of one of the 4 pieces I'd like to complete for my portfolio by August 4th.  At this point I'm still optimistic I'm gonna finish everything in time, but sometimes lack of sleep affects the mind...

Will she finish?

I've begun a mad four week dash to the finish line that is the SCBWI summer conference.  I'm attempting to finish illustrating the front and back of a new promo postcard, the front and back of a new business card and FOUR new portfolio pieces (also work on my paying assignments) by August 4th.  I've decided to try and post as I go as a means to keep myself motivated to finish.  So, if you see something I totally messed up in my haste to finish, don't be shy, let me know.  Thanks!!


Here's three different versions of what will hopefully be the front of my post card.  I also plan to hand letter all my info and drop it in on the scarf.

full color

partial color

black and white

Illustration Friday : shadows

From shadows to blackness as Saul falls down the abyss.
Click to enlarge.

Illustration Friday : Reverse

Instead of illustrating the word reverse, I decided I would create an illustration in reverse.  First paint, then ink then pencil; the opposite order from how I would normally work.  I didn't end up getting to the pencil stage.  It was actually harder for me than I thought it would be, especially going straight to ink without the safety net of a sketch first.  I'm pretty happy with the result, it's kind of a little shout out to Peggy Rathmann's The Day the Babies Crawled Away (one of my favorite books of all time).

Illustration Friday : Dusty

Dusty the loveable dust mite says "Hello"!  He and his 10 million brothers and sisters can't wait to hang out with you this evening! 

Did you know that the typical bed can house up to 10 million dust mites?  Maybe more...Eek.