My Entry into the 2014 Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search

{Entry for 2014 Global Talent Search, Digital Mixed Media}

{Portfolio Presentation of GTS Artwork, 2014, Digital Mixed Media}

I entered the Global Talent Search this year after being really excited about all the entires last year. Not to mention, my "Make Art That Sells" class had just finished (also put on by Lilla Rogers' Studio) I love Lilla's approach to making art. I entered her class with a little skepticism because I am ever the realist. Her way of approaching assignments was a game changer and really pushed me to the next level. I know that the style of work may never be the right fit for her studio, but I have really enjoyed using her prompts to push myself further and create things that are the best I can possibly make. She seems to be a genuinely positive person with a lot of great tips and ideas about trends. I'm not a trend chaser, but I think you need to have some awareness about what is selling at the moment. It's also been nice to feel a little validation about some of the trends and color stories I had noticed on my own. I like to think I "get out there" enough to see what is "in" for the moment. Anyways, the assignment was to make a piece of wall art with the theme of tiny terrariums. We were supposed to include at least one word. I didn't make the top 50 from round one, but there were 999 entries and the gallery is full of absolutely beautiful, inspired art. I made a piece that I feel is 100% me, and I put everything I had into it. For my portfolio, I plan to take the hand lettering out and just show the artwork, since I feel it has a very narrative quality. Here's to making the kind of art that makes you happy! 

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! 

Inktober Highlights

{Bear, Sketchbook, 2013}

{Rabbit, Sketchbook, 2013}

 

 {Briar Rose Awake, Sketchbook, 2013}

{Like Moths, Sketchbook, 2013}

 {Fall Harbinger, Sketchbook 2013}

 {Forest Floor, Sketchbook, 2013}

{Brave Merida, Sketchbook, 2013}

Don't let my blog absence fool you! I've been a busy lady the last few months. I finished my 4th picture book illustrations during the first week of October and have been working on personal projects off and on. I've also been using my daily sketchbook time (ie. drinking coffee, watching Sesame Street and trying to fend of my 10 month old pen stealer.) to participate in the #inktober fun on Instagram. I love seeing what everyone else is doing and it feels good to be a part of a huge community of people who are all over the world doing the same thing. The above sketches are some of my favorites from this month. I am also planing on participating in PiBoIdMo which is essentially one picture book idea a day for the month. You can read more about it at Tara Lazar's Blog. I hope to share some of my work from that during the month of November.

Illustration Friday - Shy

{Verithin Pencil in Sketchbook, 2012}

I took a little break from my work today and hung out in a local coffee shop with my friend, Sara and decided to work on an entry for Illustration Friday this week. We both did some drawing and chatting and it was nice. I came up with a girl who would rather make friends with a little bird than her classmates. I think everyone feels shy at least once in awhile. 

Loving Oliver

{Watercolor, 2012}

{iPhone Photography, Instagram, 2012}

I haven't been around the blog world lately because it has been a rough couple of weeks. We lost Oliver, our beloved tabby, on April 13th. He was suffering from several congenital defects that finally caught up with him at the young age of 4. (we were unaware of them until a few days before his death.) We still have our other lovely cat, Amelia, but Oliver was always the life of the party. Naughty would be an understatement, loving would be too mild a term. I guess maybe he knew he was unhealthy and lived life to the very fullest with what he had been given. He was a beautiful cat, a wonderful friend to my husband and I and we miss him so very much. 

Work in Progress

{Watercolor in Progress, 2012}

I've been taking a watercolor class on Tuesday afternoons and it has been really enjoyable. We still have several weeks left, which is good because I have only been working on this piece during the class time. If things settle down at my home studio I will plan on working on this more at home too. I plan to work up the foreground figure completely before I decide what to do to finish the background. I have a feeling I am going to need to tone down the three red poppies, but I won't know until I finish the figure. I've really enjoyed working on this piece so far!

Illustration Friday - Fluid

{Colored Pencil in Sketchbook, 2012}

On top of having freelance last week, I also had the flu. Last week was a bit miserable and this week I am still trying to get over it! I feel okay, but still not 100%. Thats probably why I came up with drinking for the word this week. When your sick everyone always says, "drink plenty of fluids!"

Skip!

{Colored Pencil in Sketchbook, 2012}

I've been super busy with freelance this past week. Yesterday I finished my project so I sat down and relaxed with my sketchbook and drew this sassy little girl!

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 - Forward

{Watercolor, 2012}

This little remote control car is happy to be moving forward! I had a remote control car when I was younger, and I thought it was pretty awesome to be able to drive something. I think that might be part of the allure for children. Very rarely do they get a chance to be in control and a remote control toy gives them all the power!

Illustration Friday - Twirl

{Watercolor, 2012}

We didn't have baton twirlers in our high school when I was there, but I always thought it would be neat if there would have been. I remember looking through yearbooks in the library from the 1960's and 1970's and at one point there had been. The costumes looked so glamorous and the job of baton twirler appeared to require a lot of skill!

Illustration Friday - Prepare

{Watercolor, 2012}

Shortly after Christmas I started to get seed catalogs in the mail. In the winter, it's always nice to prepare for the gardening season. I am itching to get my hands dirty again! I'll probably plant tomatoes, peas, lettuce and radishes like always. I am considering planting a few soy beans too so that we can enjoy some edamame at home! Oh, and maybe some eggplants, onions and potatoes too! I also love to add a few new flowers to my beds every year too! My husband built raised beds for us a few years ago and we made some PVC frames that can either hold netting (to keep deer and company out!) or plastic for cold frames. I'm definitely going to be prepared for spring either way!

Small Painting

{Oil on Board, 2012}

I decided to do a mini painting of part of the drawing from my previous post. I liked the connection between the little girl and the cat. I changed the facial features of the little girl; something a little sweeter and less cartoon-like. This little painting, that measures about 3"x5.5", is going to be used for my new business card. I ordered them from Got Print (my first time using them) and I will share them when they arrive!

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!

The Sketchbook Project 2012 World Tour

{Mixed Media, 2011}

{The Sketchbook Project Promotional Logo, Find Out More HERE}

At the Des Moines Art Center, where I work, we are working on a collaborative sketchbook for the 2012 World Tour series. The top image is my contribution for our theme of "sandwich". I used a whole spread right smack dab in the middle of the book. I definitely broke the rule of putting important things in the gutter of the spread, but it's a sketchbook! There aren't supposed to be any rules! Let's just say, I would never do that if I was working on an actual book project! The art director would most definitely have to speak to me about it! Anyways, I decided to do an all-American waitress named Bea serving up the daily special. (basically all the stuff on one sandwich that has an expiration date of tomorrow!) I used stamps, coloreds pencil, marker and acrylic paint. I am so glad I got to participate in the sketchbook project even if it's only in the smallest way! I think it is such a cool concept, I just couldn't commit to doing a full book on my own with my schedule right now. Click the link under the second picture if you want to find out more about this awesome project!

Illustration Friday - Mysterious

{Sketch with Digital Color, 2011}

{Sketchbook, 2011}

If a child shows you a picture they have drawn, don't ask, "What is it?" Instead, ask them to tell you about it. This piece of advice has come in handy as a kids art teacher. Especially when presented with the most mysterious of drawings! I drew this in my sketchbook and then colored it in Photoshop.

Illustration Friday - Disguise

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2011}
Click image to view larger.

A disguise is absolutely necessary if you are going to spend your evening at a masquerade! Don't you think it would be fun to go to a masquerade and dress up in your finest? I love big lacy baroque-style dresses; so over the top!

Illustration Friday - Gesture

{Watercolor, Acrylic and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2011}

{Detail, 2011}

This started as a free form watercolor piece working wet into wet. As it was drying I pulled some of the color out where the face was and also added a few watercolor details where the eyes, nose and mouth are. I used a colored pencil to tighten the piece up and some white acrylic to add highlights. I love that this wild child started out as a gestural watercolor! (It sort of fits, considering my lack of planning in lieu of playing.) I wish I could have a crown of wildflowers and insect wings!

Illustration Friday - Asleep

{Detail, "Santa's Secret Story" for Pauline Books and Media, Oil,2011}

It has been ages since I participated in an Illustration Friday prompt. Fortunately, the illustration I was working on yesterday had the main character sleeping! This is part of an illustration for a book I am working on. Shhhh!!! This is just a little sneak peek!

Pen Sketches

{Pen in Sketchbook, 2011}

{Pen in Sketchbook, 2011}

It has been weeks since my last post, which is an eternity for this blog. At the moment I am very close to finishing paintings for my first book and ready to start painting the second book. These are a few sketches I did about a month ago when spring still seemed like it would never arrive. Now, while I spend my days painting I am configuring in my head which vegetables I will plant soon and how I will arrange them in my garden. Crocuses and daffodils are pushing up and even weeds are a pleasant sight at this early stage of spring!