Bootcamp Project for May: Editorial Illustration

{Graphite Drawing with Digital Collage, 2014}

After having April off from "Make Art That Sells" (an e-course from Lilla Rogers' Studio) the class was back in full force with a project for editorial illustration. We were asked to create a piece of art in response to an article about meditation. The article was about the benefits of meditation but also about how the author found a lot of convincing excuses not to do it. (things like being busy, a wandering mind, etc.) I chose to focus on the inability to concentrate because I struggle with that also! Above is the finished piece. I used a lot of scanned textures and some ink drawings that are left over from previous projects. 

{Graphite Drawing, 2014}

This is the drawing I started with by scanning it into Photoshop and painting it. The thing I love most about the Lilla Rogers' class is that it makes you think about how you create your art in a different light. It also makes you fall back in love with the process which helps create a more successful end product. There are also tons of hints about marketability! 

Illustration Friday - Wheel

*Click image to view larger*

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2013}

I thought of a wagon for this week's prompt over at Illustration Friday. I thought tiny wheels would be funny juxtaposed with big fluffy kitties. I was going to leave it at just that and then I decided I wanted to know who was pulling the wagon. It kind of looks like this little girl has all she can handle! Free kitten anyone?

My 29th Birthday!

{Graphite on Illustration Board, 2012}

I like to document my birthday on my blog every year. It shows the passing of time and it's just nice to put it out there and acknowledge it for myself. I didn't have time to do a birthday themed illustration this year. I've been sick this past week as well as being 37 weeks pregnant. I was working on this mouse and tree illustration in the evenings this week though, and I thought I could share it. I meant to submit it to Illustration Friday for last week's theme of "Tree" but didn't finish in time. I still think it turned out nice and I really like some of the textures I managed to create with my pencil. It's about 6"x6" in size on a piece of scrap illustration board I had laying around. This mouse is having a peaceful day, just the kind of day I wish for on my birthday! I am planning on going to a hibachi dinner with friends tonight and maybe I'll even find a piece of cake somewhere along the way!

November Visitors

 {Sketchbook, 2012}

{Sketchbook, 2012}

I love November. It's the month that holds my birthday, Thanksgiving, and the excitement that leads up to Christmas. I also love the scurrying of all the animals trying to get the last tasks done before they migrate on or go into hibernation. In fact, right now there is a vibrant bluebird in my birdbath! I always see bluebirds in the spring and fall because we aren't situated in their habitat, but in their migratory paths. These are a few sketches inspired by November. (I wish animals had to bundle up like we do. Wouldn't that be cute?) Oh well, I guess in my imagination they still can. 

Summer Camping

{Graphite on Watercolor Paper, 2012}
Click image to view larger.

This is the full illustration that surrounds the characters that I shared in my previous post. When I was a kid, I really looked forward to camping. Actually, if I get a chance, I still look forward to it! It is one of my favorite things about growing up in Michigan; the lake, the dunes, the campgrounds and the state parks. I am going to finish this in watercolor, and then I will share the final illustration!

Thinking About Spring

{graphite, 2012}

This is the drawing for the next piece I am going to work on in my Tuesday watercolor class. I'm still considering the background. I assume I will probably add something, but I still have to think about that. I feel like this drawing sort of morphed into the personification of Spring, so maybe I will add something that has to do with that. (Perhaps a little research is in order!) It is nice to be doing something a little more serious for my personal work. I have been doing a lot of freelance work lately, which I LOVE, but sometimes it's nice to switch things up!

Illustration Friday - Highlight

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2012}

"They were each the highlight of the other's day."

The love of my sweet kitties is one of the biggest highlights of my life. I adore their little furry bodies and their soft purrs. I even delight in their naughty behavior. (Shhh! don't tell them that!) I think a lot of people count on the unconditional love of their pets in such a conditional world! I am planning on trying to do illustration Friday a little more frequently this year. I would like to try and do it every week with a few exceptions of holiday times and vacations. ( I believe rest is important too!) Last year it didn't work out very well, as I was working on two children's books simultaneously! I would love to have to juggle such a workload again, but for now I don't have any long-term contracts. In the meantime, and in this wonderful new year I have made a short list of things that I would like to try to accomplish:

• Create my own dummy book for the Iowa SCBWI April conference
• Re-design my business cards
• Do at least 3 promotional mailers (4 would be ideal)
• Go on at least one sketch "field-trip" per month
• Participate in Illustration Friday more frequently
• Craft, Sew and Experiment More!

What are you planning for 2012? What are your goals? Dream big!

Critters!

{Sketchbook, 2011}

{Sketchbook, 2011}

Just a few sketches of some of the furry little visitors that I often see wandering around my yard. Of course, the deer around here don't usually wear scarves! (The squirrels certainly DO hoard acorns, though!) I think the squirrels and deer are really enjoying our mild December so far. They are much more active than they normally would be this time of year.

Illustration Friday - Surrender

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2011}

When I saw the word for Illustration Friday this week I immediately thought of doing a drawing of Jesus. Drawing this was a way of reminding myself that I can surrender my fears and worries to Christ instead of trying to take the world on all by myself. I'm also working on illustrating a story for a Catholic Publisher so iconography has been circulating in my mind lately. I loved drawing this!

Pretty Little Victorian Girls

{Sketch, 2010}

{Sketch, 2010}

While looking at some children's book illustrations from the Victorian era, I was inspired to draw some pretty little girls. The outfits for children from that time period are so elaborate and lovely. When I was a little girl I used to wish that I was living during the Victorian times, but now that I am older, I also appreciate some of the modern conveniences! (like advances in medicine, air conditioning... Snickers bars!)

3rd Wedding Anniversary

{Graphite, 2010}

{Photo Credit: Tressa Ross, Photo Loft, 2007}

{Photo Credit: Tressa Ross, Photo Loft, 2007}

{Photo Credit: Tressa Ross, Photo Loft, 2007}

As of today, October 13, 2010, I have been married for 3 years. I love Ken more now than I ever have before. He is a good man and I am so lucky to be loved by him. Our wedding was a beautiful day with a lot of smiles, tears and laughter and I look forward to the rest of our lives together.

Illustration Friday - Transportation

{Graphite, 2010}

I think courteous drivers make car transportation much more enjoyable! My cats really like boxes so I thought I would make a cat car out of a box and then I added a little convoy of mice. I drew this in my sketchbook.

Illustration Friday - Breakfast

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2010}

Just a yummy ode to "the most important meal of the day"! I wish I could say that I eat breakfast every day, but some days I don't get around to eating until after noon. (Breakfast is something I need to get better at disciplining myself to partake in.) What about you? Do you eat breakfast every day?

Project Peek

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2010}

This is a section of a project that I am working on right now. I was a band geek in high school, and I totally LOVED it! I wasn't very good at memorizing music or marching, but I made most of my high school friends in band. It wasn't very hard to draw the band members of this illustration, because I was very familiar with how marching instruments are carried! This is a great example of how life experiences come in handy in illustration!

Let us build a nest together.

{mixed media, 2009}

This is a graphite drawing with colored pencil, white acrylic ink and stitching. It was inspired by certain birds that mate for life. Nature can be cruel, but it can be so romantic too! I plan to do a female bird drawing too, but for now this little guy's love must go unrequited.

Illustration Friday - Music

{Graphite on Illustration Board, 2009}

I thought a barber shop quartet would be an entertaining way to illustrate this week's theme of "music" over at Illustration Friday! As I was drawing this, I was trying to imagine what each guy might sound like. I'll be adding this drawing to my growing pile of oil paintings to work on and finish.

Cafe Food and Drink Concept Sketches

{Graphite on Paper, 2009}

{Graphite on Paper, 2009}

{Graphite on Paper, 2009}

{Graphite on Paper, 2009}

I spent a little time organizing and picking things up around my studio today. My husband was in Cleveland last week so I spent many late nights arting and crafting my little heart out... which lead to a pretty profound mess. Anyways, while I was looking through a tub of sketches from the recent past, I found this collection of cafe foods. They are from a freelance project that got killed pretty early on, but I had a lot of fun doing these drawings and I really wanted to share them!

Summer Sketchbookin'

{Pencil in Sketchbook, 2009}

{Pencil and Pen in Sketchbook, 2009}

A few pages from my sketchbook. There were lots of kids running around, and they are always fun to try to sketch. (they move so darn fast!) Some of my other favorite things to draw when I'm in northern Michigan are sailboats and beaches. I did a lot of photography with traditional film while I was back home, so as soon as I get the film developed I will share some highlights (assuming any were properly exposed) I hope all had a wonderful 4th of July!

Illustration Friday - Craving

{Sketchbook, 2009}

I'm craving the slow innocence of summer and the juicy sun warmed raspberries that it offers. (is your mouth watering? Mine is!) It has been a few weeks (maybe more like a month) since I last participated in Illustration Friday. I just HAD to do it this week. I am so thankful to be busy with work, but I feel that I need to keep up on personal sketching and illustration. I did a pencil drawing in my new Moleskine sketchbook for this week's theme of "craving".

Portrait Commission

{Graphite on Bristol Paper, 2009}

I was asked to do a portrait of a friend's child as a wedding anniversary gift. I couldn't share it right away because I didn't want to ruin the surprise! However, since the recipient thanked me for it, I am going to go ahead and assume its safe to post! :)
On another note, if you follow me on Twitter at all, I mentioned that I was hoping for good news! So here is the story:
I made a poster to submit for my neighborhood fall festival (Beaverdale Fall Fest, as it is lovingly called). I submitted it to the Fall Fest Committee last night, and out of 8 entries, it made it to the final two. I have to wait until June 24 to find out if my poster will adorn doors and windows throughout my lovely Des Moines neighborhood. The festival is a pretty big deal around here, so I have my fingers crossed that my concept/illustration will be chosen! Once I find out, either way, I will share my whole poster concept in a post!