Sketch-A-Day 2012, Day 2

View halloo, peoples!


I'm not entirely sure when I'll set the second Sketch-A-Day Project, but the most likely time is halfway through the year. This will, however, depend on what the summer convention schedule looks like, but I will definitely include the prospective month in a future State of the Artist post.

Anyway, on with the post!

Today's offering for Day 2 of the 2012 Sketch-A-Day Project!



This one came to me complete with title: I'm Done Waiting for You




*This piece reminds me that I really do need to get to work on last year's "Tumor," I should tackle it after the Work-A-Week Project next month*



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Sketch-A-Day 2012, Day 1

View halloo, peoples!

Welcome to the New Year! We say a not-so-fond farewell to 2011 a little more scuffed up and banged around than we were this time last year. Here's fervent hopes that 2012 brings us all happiness, health, success, and joy in the new year!

Thank you all for supporting this journal and my artwork over the last year, for joining me as we embark on another January's Sketch-A-Day Project! I'm thinking of doing this again in the middle of the year, after the madness of the summer con season, to get those creative synapses moving and firing again.



First up for the 2012 Sketch-A-Day Project is the Dragon King, fitting as it is the Year Of the Dragon.

*as always, clicking the thumbnail takes you to the larger image*




For the curious, a surprisingly comprehensive overview of the dragon in the Chinese zodiac, including what influence the Western zodiac characteristics have on the Dragon


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Become a patron of the arts!

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State of the Artist 12/26/2011

View halloo, all!

This will be the last State of the Artist post for 2011, as there are no more Mondays before 2012 and the start of the Sketch-A-Day Project starting this Sunday!

The poll I posted before leaving for family holiday returned an overwhelmingly positive response for the Sketch-A-Day Project and daily posting. I'm thrilled so many of you enjoy the Sketch-A-Day Project, it definitely keeps me on my toes!

I do everyone has had a marvelous holiday season, regardless of what you celebrate. It is a time of year for friends and family, those of blood and those chosen. Sunday sees the first of January 2012, and here's hoping it brings joy and happiness, success and love to us all!

On with the update!


Weekly Words

I am in the habit of looking not so much to the nature of a gift as to the spirit in which it is offered.
- Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850 - 1894


The greatest gift we give is our heart; if we open them to friends, lovers, and strangers we will be enriched by the love receive in return.


Current Project


I had hoped to post some completed gift sketches for those were were kind and generous enough to donate to the Holiday Card project (THANK YOU, generous souls!) with this final post, however between the family vacation and being horribly ill upon my return home, I just didn't get the chance to work on anything. I'm terribly sorry, and I do hope those who donated will understand the delay, but there WILL be donation gifts! Promise! :)

Instead, I'll be posting the final card artwork for this year's Holiday Card, as all cards are received.

As always, clicking on the thumbnail below will take you to the larger image!



This year's holiday card image was actually the very first throw-away sketch I did, but never posted since it was a scribbly little thing done on a napkin while waiting for a latte at Starbucks.

As always, Panda is a prominent figure. Ever since we adopted the adorable little hellspawn, he's been featured in my Holiday Card imagery. He's crazy, cranky, grumpy, aloof and antisocial, but I loves him to furry little bits. :)

The final artwork is a mixed media melange of alcohol-based pigments, ink, and gold paint on marker vellum at A4 size. It is, as is most of my work, heavily influenced by the Art Nouveau style, combined with my own approach and aesthetics.

If interested, the final original artwork is for sale and makes a lovely, unique piece for any collection or gift for someone who appreciates illustration or original artwork.

Original (mixed media, A4): $250 USD
Prints (giclee, 8x10"): $12 USD (WILL SHIP BY FEBRUARY 1st)

*If desired, prints and/or originals can be shipped matted for an additional charge, but otherwise will ship flat in reinforced packing materials unless requested otherwise*



From the Archive




Mermaid
Completed: 2002

Oooof... yet another OLDIE destined for the Redo pile. I do love mythical creatures, and mythologies in general, so I have no idea why I don't draw more in this vein... I really should. I'm sure some will show up in the Sketch-A-Day Project next month!

Original: N/A



Near Future

As stated above, the Sketch-A-Day Project starts this Sunday, January 1, 2012! I'm both excited and a bit apprehensive, as I usually am when starting a new project. If you have any suggestions for things/characters you'd like to see leave a reply! I can't promise your suggestion will be used, but any possible inspiration is much-appreciated! :)

Convention season starts next month, as well, with 2 mail-in cons kicking off in January and my first attendance-con in February. More to come as I solidify plans for attendance!

2011 kicked a lot of us around quite a bit, leaving some of us bruised and battered and in serious need of respite, so here's to making 2012 a better year for us all!

Thank you for joining me for another State of the Artist update, and I hope to see you all for the Sketch-A-Day Project!!


If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

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State of the Artist 12/5/2011

View halloo, peoples!

It's Monday, and that means it's time for another State Of The Artist update!


Weekly Words

Why do we think technology is above morality? ... The real question is, 'How should I conduct my life?' rather than 'What tools should I use?'.
- Neil Postman, 1931 - 2003




Current Project


*Clicking on the the thumbnails will take you to the larger versions*





The first two images are the inked versions of last week's rough pencils for the character sheet commission for "Kavanaugh." All that's left for these now, is to add the color flats, color information, and biographical data. Yay!

The last image is for the cover sheet, which will be done in a softer, more blended coloring method (also to be completed digitally.)



From The Archive




In The Shadows
Completed: 9.2002

Whooo, this is an old one! This is another for the "To Be Redone One Day" pile, as I like the concept of only seeing the truth through the cast shadow, but my style and skills have clearly changed since I completed this piece.

Original: N/A
Prints (8x11, giclee): $5

*please note if interested*


Near Future

The Near Future actually sees a short hiatus of State Of The Artist updates, due to a family holiday trip that will take me out of town with intermittent-at-best internet access. So, there will be no updates for Monday, December 12th or Monday, December 19th.

I do hope to have holiday photos and some donation-gifts (!!) to post when I return to the regular posting schedule.

I believe I have sent messages to everyone who donated to the Holiday Card project, if you donated and haven't received an email or PM here on LJ, please let me know!!

Thank you all for joining me for this week's State of the Artist update!


If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

State of the Artist 11/28/2011

View halloo, peoples!

I hope all my fellow American followers had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday, and that my international followers had a lovely weekend!

It's Monday, folks, and you know what that means! Yes, it's time for another State of the Artist update!


Weekly Words

Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.

-Abigail Adams, 1744 - 1818



Current Project


Current commission work: (clicking on the thumbnails will take you to the larger version!)





I was commissioned to complete a set of character sheets for an RPG character, and these are the roughs. For those of you who don't know, character sheets are mockups of a character's appearance with relevant color information and data for developers to use to keep a character consistent. They're predominantly used in the video game industry.

These two pages are the roughs for a character named Kavanaugh: front and back, in skivvies and in his normal daily dress. Right now, it's just the pencils, but when done, they'll be inked and filled with color (digital) along with HEX code color "splotches" for continuity and any pertinent character profile data.

I really hope to have these two pieces, along with the character cover sheet done before it's time to take the family holiday trip! *keeping fingers crossed*




From The Archive




Kitsune Dawn
August 2005
Mixed media: alcohol pigments and ink

Kitsune Dawn is the companion to last week's Geisha Moon and a continuation of the Japanese aesthetic and theme. I decided I wanted to keep a common thread running through these two pieces, regardless of the foreground images and colors, and that was the iconic Mt. Fuji in the background.

Original (A4, ink & alcohol pigments): $150
Prints (8x10" giclee): $12

*Please note me if interested!*



Near Future

I'm happy to say that the Holiday Card artwork has been sent to the printers and now it's just a matter of getting them back before I head out of town for the annual family holiday shenanigans!

Thank you to all the generous people who donated for the cost of production and postage, it is much appreciated! I'll be contacting you over the course of the week to send you a little special something for your generosity!



So, folks, that's all for this week's State Of The Artist update, I do hope you've enjoyed this week's offerings! As always, feel free to comment on this, or any other, post!


If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

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State of the Artist 11/21/2011

View halloo, peoples! It's Monday, and that means it's time for another State of the Artist update!


Weekly Words

Focus 90% of your time on solutions and only 10% of your time on problems.
- Anthony J. D'Angelo

Wise advice, now if only I could override my own intrinsic reaction to worry and get anxious and fret and panic, and just take time to breathe, relax, and put the worry aside.




Current Project

Still working on Holiday Card artwork, and rejecting nearly everything that hits the page, but, I thought I'd post the last two sketches, as I *think* I've come up with the design I'm going to go with. I do need to hurry as I need to get the files to the printers soon so I'll have the cards on hand to mail before heading out of town for a family trip.

Clicking on the thumbnails will open up the larger image!








***

This will be the LAST CALL for Holiday Card requests. As of next week, I hope to have the image file to the printer. So, if you want a 2011 holiday card, you MUST leave your reply to THIS LINKED POST ONLY by Friday, November 25th, midnight ET. You MUST include your mailing address, even if I have sent you cards in the past, I do not keep addresses after the cards have been mailed, so please do not assume I have your address!

If you want a card, you must reply, I do not send unsolicited cards anymore, as the production and postage costs are too high to order "extras."

If you'd like to donate to the cost of printing and/or mailing holiday cards, please click the "Donate" image at the bottom of this, or any other, post. As always, donations are appreciated, but neither requested nor required. Thank you!

***


From The Archive



Geisha Moon
Completed: 8.2005

I've long had an interested in Japanese culture and aesthetics. The idea of "wabi sabi," or perfect imperfections appeals to my rather cluttered mind, and I'm usually trying to put my own take on this concept into practice in my own life to greater or lesser success.

Original (A4, mixed media): $150 USD
Prints (8x10" giclee): $12 USD

*please note if interested*



Near Future

A number of journal followers have asked for my holiday wish list, so I decided to post it here, since the near future really consists of me needing to get my Holiday Cards and commissions done by the end of the year.

Pretty simple wish list, really, but here goes!

Holiday 2011 Wish List:
1. Gift card/certificates to Amazon.com
2. Gift cards/certificates to dickblick.com (art supplies are my crack)

... and, that's it! See, simple. :)


And... that's all for this week's State of the Artist update! Thank you for joining me, and I hope you've enjoyed this week's sketch offerings!


If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!

State of the Artist 11/14/2011

View halloo, all!

It's Monday, and that means, it's time for another State of the Artist update!


Weekly Words

That which you fear the most can meet you half way
-Pearl Jam "Crazy Mary"


Some of the best 3 minute philosophy is found in song lyrics.


Current Project

Thought I'd post some more of the Holiday Card 2011 reject sketches, since that seems to be all I'm coming up with at the moment... the reject pile is growing, and I really need to find something I'm happy with so I can get started on the final piece!

Clicking on the smaller images will take you to larger scans!







Not much to say about these, really, as they're all rejects for this year's images. Like last week's, there are elements that might end up being incorporated into the final project, but as of yet, I've no idea what that final image is going to be! O.o

***

Again, if you missed the original post regarding requesting Holiday Cards for 2011, please reply to THIS POST HERE! There will be NO unsolicited cards send this year, so if you want one, you MUST request one.

Donations to assist with the cost of card production or postage are always welcome, but not required!




From the Archive



Xmas 2005
Completed: December 2005

One of the very early Holiday Card designs produced for the request list when I was still working almost entirely digitally, so there isn't an original for this image. Even after all this time, there are a number of elements I like about this image. I have long been enamored with the Art Nouveau movement, and it has long been a presence in my artwork.

Original: N/A
Prints (8x10", giclee): $12
Prints (4x5", giclee): $6



Near Future

The near future sees me at work on Holiday Card artwork and commission backlog... STILL.

With luck, I'll have a finalized design this week so I can get it out to the printer as soon as possible, and make some significant progress on my commission backlog so I can get a new queue started. Again, thank you so very much to all of you who have been so patient regarding the wait for pending commissions and new slots for upcoming commissions, I truly appreciate it!


Well, folks, that's it for this week. Thank you for joining me for another State Of The Artist update, I do hope you enjoyed the work posted this week!



If you enjoy seeing posts of new or in-progress artwork, please consider a donation.

Become a patron of the arts!

Feel free to post links to this journal/community if you feel there might be interest in my artwork!