It’s not quite 2009 yet, but since I am at home and battling a horrible cold. I’m supposed to be at work because no one else from my team is in, but I am really very sick. So screw that. They were closing the office at noon anyway. Nice way to start a new year, huh?

Anyway, I thought I would start reviewing 2008 and figure out what my artistic goals will be in 2009.

2008:

Overall, creatively and productively, I think 2008 has been my very best year! I have committed to my artwork and continued to create. I have become a lot more consistent with my art and less “doing it in spurts”. It has been completely and totally awesome. While I didn’t succeed with all of my 2008 art goals, I completed almost all of them and that makes me pretty damn proud of myself.

I think the best thing about 2008 is that I have started to figure out “where I belong” artistically. I’m obviously a portrait artist, but with the introduction of the Prismas, I know I am so much more. Too often I have complained that I never know where I fit in or what kinda artist I am, and while I’m not completely there yet, I am certainly on the right path. Its pretty liberating!

The original goal of this art blog was to make me a lot more accountable and to give me an outlet to blather on about my art and any frustrations and successes I might have. Really, the blog was for me, but the support of those of you who have been wonderful enough to leave me a comment or two has been absolutely astounding. So thank you so much!

Now that 2009 is quickly approaching, I find myself excited. Excited to figure out where to go to next, where it will leave and excited about the journey itself. And hopefully, some of you will continue to walk with me along that path.

read more »

Title: She-Ra, Jem & Wonder Woman
Size: 7.5″ x 9″ (on 11 x 14″ paper)
Medium: Prismacolor Markers on Aquabee Manga Artist Paper (110 lb.)
Time: 8(ish) hours
Status: Finished

I can finally post my super-sekrit art project!

These little babies are drawings that I did for SMc – I guess I owed her some drawings*. I just thought it would be pretty amusing to put classic cartoons/super-heroes in cheesecake/pin-up poses. Plus, I know SMc loves the She-Ra and Jem. As for Wonder Woman, well, I needed a third subject and she totally fits the bill. And to be honest, I am having a huge WW lovefest right now. Huge. I’m watching the TV show and contemplating buying some of her trades.

Since when did I become a DC girl? Seriously. If I start talking about how much I love Superman (the most BORING of superheroes in my wee opinion), someone kick me, please.

Overall, I’m pretty pleased with the results. This project allowed me to become a lot more comfortable with my Prismas. I think I understand and absolutely love them now. I also made a couple more steps stylistically when it comes to my non-realism work. Though admittedly, I do have a ways to go in that regard. And I know that I will be exploring more of these type of cheesecake poses meshed with female pop/comic icons. I really had a lot of fun working on it.

SM was pretty pleased with them. Especially She-Ra. So mission accomplished! Score one for Team Me! Yays.

read more »

Happy Holidays!

Title: Psylocke
Size: 11 x 14″
Medium: Prismacolor Markers on Aquabee Manga Artist Paper (110 lb.)
Time: 6.5 hours
Status: Finished

I actually finished this baby on December 23rd, but I was so excited to be finished that I immediately wrapped her up. So I had to wait until W had opened her to take a photo and what not.

The colours are alot more vibrant in person. It actually is very, very dark here. Hm. I don’t like that. I’m still working on how to photograph my artwork. I am getting better but there are still a ways to go.

At any rate, W loved his present. And I have to say, I love her too. She turned out very awesome. In fact, W is making a list of other girls I can draw for him. I may have created a monster. Next up (besides finishing the Bat) is a girl for me. The idea I have is for a pop culture girl that only few (especially those of the 1980 sci-fi love) will probably recognize. But I love her. In ways that are sick and wrong. Hee. I’ve already been scoping ideas for poses.

read more »

Title: Untitled
Size: 11 x 14″
Medium: Prismacolor Markers on Aquabee Manga Artist Paper (110 lb.)
Time: 3.0 hours
Status: Work In Progress

I had to deactivate one of my plugins. I forgot that when I make a post here, it also posts on Facebook. And W sometimes checks Facebook. Oops!

Anyway, its official. I’m doing W a drawing for Solstice. :)  Tonight, I spent the evening scanning the sketch from my sketchbook, resizing it and then transferring it to my Manga paper*.  I inked her and started laying down my preliminary layers of colour.

So far, so good.    I think I discovered that my inking is getting better.  My lines are more defined. I am finding my own style (I like strong lines apparently) and I’m not as nervous when I lay down ink. Well, initially, I still get small jitters, but they go away reasonably fast once I get my confidence back.  Yays.  I guess the old addage about practice making perfect and stuff.

I also noticed something.  In my head, I don’t actually draw anything. I make circles. If you’ve seen me working on any of my portraits, I rarely use line – save the prelim sketch. I primarily make itty-bitty circles.  Its how I work. But I noticed that when I am illustrating – as I have been lately – it is very different. A lot of line work goes into my illustrations. Ok, maybe not ALOT, but a lot for me.   It was just interesting to see how different “types of drawing” make me use different methods.

Ok, it was only interesting to me. I get it. Don’t be so judgemental.

*It should be noted, while I’m not the biggest Manga fan, the paper works AWESOME with my Prismas.

Title: Untitled
Size: 11 x 14″
Medium: Graphite on Bristol Vellum
Time: 6.25 hours
Status: Work In Progress

The darks in this piece are completely kicking my ass.  Not only is much of it dark, but there are very, very slight nuanced changes between the darks at any given point. Its killin’ me a bit. And I’m not sure if I am happy with the piece anymore. I’ve hit the Whiny Stage, my friends.

The Joker was actually easier. Yeesh. But I guess that’s kinda the point. Challenging myself and all that bullshit. [eye roll] Is it obvious that I am not particularly feeling the “always challenge oneself” fru-fru-ie vibe right now?

Fuck you, Batman and your stealthy darky-darkness. Ya jerk.

I am continuing to work on the Batman piece, but the visible updates have been minimal lately because I’ve been reworking a few things. Hopefully, I will be able to post something tonight or something.

Admittedly, I did take a break from it last night for a bit. I started working on a couple of new ideas. Well, one is probably going to be a finished piece – the other definitely needs improvement.

The first sketch is Psylocke from the X-Men and the Exiles. She also happens to be W’s most favouritest comic girl. You should see how many versions of this chick adorn our house. I thought it would be fun to throw her in a classic cheesecake pinup pose. I love the result so far. It cracks me up that she is just so HAPPY. Psylocke isn’t normally a happy looking girl. She’s rough and tough.

I think she will likely end up as a quicky Solstice present for W – even though we both agreed not to buy each other anything. In my own defense, I’m not buying him anything.

Whut.

read more »

Title: Untitled
Size: 11 x 14″
Medium: Graphite on Bristol Vellum
Time: 5.75 hours
Status: Work In Progress

I’m in a much, much better place after yesterday. I think he’s really starting to take shape nicely. I mean, there are some areas that need attention. Namely the highlight on his brow and the shadowing on his nose. But I’m not unhappy with him. I’m cautiously optimistic, actually.

I’m even kinda digging his beady little eyes.

My next biggest challenge will be working in the dark areas on his left (artist left) side. In the reference, it’s almost black. It’ll be interesting to see how black I get it with my graphites. I might have to whip out the 9B on this one.

I figure if I keep plugging like I am, I might even have him finished by the end of the year.