Testing my feeds, no need to reply.

A Tease

This is a detail of one of the illustrations I'm currently working on for a book.   The subject is sad, but I think the book will help a lot of children in a similar situation.

I scanned my sketch in, and now creating the illustrations in Corel Painter X.  This book will have 15 to 20 illustrations when it's finished.

I'm Curious

I have two styles that I love to work in.   I'm working on creating a consistent style.  One of these may be the direction I go in.  However, I may create a new style.  For now, I would love to get some feed back from all of you.  Thanks!

Norman Rockwell

You all know by now that one of my favorite illustrators is Norman Rockwell.   Below is a good read on how he used photos for reference.  Love it!
David+Kamp+on+Norman+Rockwell+Entertainment+%26+Culture%3A+vanityfair.com

Cute Kid #2

Ok, remember what I said about reference. Scratch that.  OMG  I'm so happy I took a million photos of my son when he was little.  I pored over them last night.  I'm so excited to do more cute boy drawings.  Anyone have cute girl photos they can send me?  There is a difference between my two cute kid sketches. You can tell which one comes from the imagination and which one comes from reference.  Now. . .  I think, the trick is to merge the two.  A little right brain, a little left.

Cute Kid Series

This one is dedicated to my sweet Welsh boy who loves airplanes. 

Cute kids are harder than I thought.  It's all in the cheeks and fat content.  I love cute and sweet, can't help it.  I'm so tired of all the blood, gore, rude cartoons, and once thought to be evil images.  Now days they proliferating our clothing, games, T.V. shows, books, and more.  Not that I can't appreciate other artists messages on politics and the state of the world and such.  And honestly skulls are pretty cool, as long as the gore factor is left out.   Yet personally, as an artist,  I'd rather honor and celebrate our goodness, hope, and love in my images.  There is enough ugliness in the world.  Cute is were it's at!

Daily Draw Doodle

 

Don't let the title fool you.  These started off as doodles, but the doodles turned into a few mornings over coffee and much eraser use.  Definitely a doodle draw, but not in a day.  In fact, I can still see things I want to re-work.

It's always been important for me to to draw well.  At least in the classical sense.  Hence the much eraser use.  I try every so often to do something more like Keith Haring, Matisse or Picasso.  They don't seem to care about finger details or hair wisps.  My "24 Women Series,"  is an attempt. On some level it is freeing to let all those details go.  For me, I think it is like a puzzle or a challenge to work them out.  I can't help but wonder what those fingers would look like if the model were sitting in front of me.  I like working out how to draw weight, form and light.

You would think I'd be crazy over reference material; however, I rarely use it.  Most of the time I'm too lazy, or too cozy to get up.   So I erase and struggle through.  Besides, when can you ever find reference in the angle and such that you need.  When I've looked for reference, I usually spend  more time searching than if I just work through it.  Of course, it does depend on the level of reality I'm looking for.   Photos and reference definitely supply details that the brain will miss or didn't even know existed.

I grew up in Reno/Tahoe area.  As a child I loved it.  The 4 seasons were beautiful.  One year it snowed so much we had to dig ourselves out of the front door.   It was amazing, dramatic, adventurous, and a bit scary.  One day, going home on the bus from school, it had snowed so much I couldn't recognize my street.  The bus driver would look at me a few times in his mirror not saying a word, and I said nothing because I was ultra shy.  When he came to the last stop, I got off.  I had no idea where I was.  Nothing looked familiar, and everything look the same.  I was scared, and kept trying to look at the street signs, but they where covered and too high for me to reveal their names.  My mom, of course, went looking for me.  She went to the school, talked to the bus driver, than finally found me.

Daily Draw Doodle

Another drawing for "Be A Voice Arts," to speak up against domestic violence ATC card.

His hands should be as gental as your curves
His voice should be as soft as your skin.
His love should be as true as your heart.

Be A Voice

This is a ATC (Artist Trading Card) that I created for "Be A Voice Arts," to speak up against domestic violence as well as support the artist  Michelle Johnson Majoron a domestic violence survivor.  Use your artistic voice to Speak UP Against Domestic Violence.  If you would like to create an ATC card to be used in Michelle's gallery display, go to this link....  i-have-a-voice-atc-challenge. 

Michelle's Story http://www.thedurhamnews.com