Rather like the implied light source of the orange in this. Also always like the triad of blue, orange and red together.
Archives For Art
This weekend in America we moved clocks ahead an hour. This generally means the following Monday is full of zombies disoriented and exhausted by what shouldn’t be a big deal but for some reason our bodies just can’t deal with it.
Anyway, it’s a new week and at least around here, a sunny-ish one to boot. This illustration feels warm and full and reminds me of positive things. It also has a certain dark twist or tension that I generally like and end up infusing into my work often whether I mean to or not. What do you think? What does this piece remind you of or feel like to you?
Without meaning to, this ended up looking like the night sky, I think. What do you think? What does this look like to you?
Last week, the latest round of Spark ended (and once again I participated).* As in the past, that also means that I have a new crop of unpublished iterations to share with you here.
The written inspiration piece I was assigned this go-round was more complex than some I’ve gotten in the past and dealt with loss. But it ended hopefully, and so the earliest iterations had a brighter daytime palette and look that isn’t always typical of my layered illustration style. What do you think? Where do these take you?
*If you’re not sure what I’m talking about when I mention Spark, you can see past entries in which I mentioned Spark here or learn more about it here.
Busy, busy. Another little piece of something I was working on earlier. Hope everyone’s weekend is off to a good start.
Just a little something leftover from a piece I was working on this evening. I rather like where this seems to be going—feels very inky and reminds me of wisteria.
Just a quick post to say ‘Happy New Year.’
As you may have guessed this is a sibling a few of the illustrations posted earlier in December (1, 2, 3) which were iterations for the last round of Spark in 2013. This one felt festive with it’s bright, complementary colors.
Hope everyone’s year is off to a pleasant start.
It’s almost the new year. I’m more excited than a kid on Christmas eve waiting to open their presents.
What do you see in this illustration? I had a professor in college who would often start critiques of work with the question “where does this take you?” I find myself asking people the same thing when viewing or discussing art.
To me, an eye and maybe some barbed wire emerges from this piece, but it doesn’t have as much visual depth as I’d like. The colors are rather pleasant though, I suppose. What do you think? Where does this take you?
Happy Holidays, all! And for those who celebrate, have yourselves a merry little Christmas. xo
It’s Festivus! And look, another blog post—it’s a Festivus miracle (Ok, not really..but FESTIVUS)!
As you might’ve guess this is related to two of the other illustrations (1 and 2) posted earlier this month.
Happy Festivus, everyone!
Here’s another iteration related to the discarded draft I posted earlier in December.
Both were iterations for the latest round of Spark, the collaborative art and writing project to which I have alluded before. After a few weeks away from this version, I’m not sure that I like it that much anymore. What do you guys think?
It’s been another bonkers week and as is becoming a habit of late, my focus has not be on blogging, unfortunately. So it goes.
On the upside, things seem to be settling down. And today it snowed for hours (the first snow of the year) which makes this northerner happy. We’ll see what next week holds in store. In the meantime, here’s a little something I’ve been working on the last few days. Had considered it a “discarded draft,” but will admit it looks kind of interesting. What do you guys think of the piece?
The last few days I’ve been fighting back a cold and also trying to wrangle what seemed like acres of leaves. I will admit to coming up short, the leaves always win (though at least I’m feeling mostly better). And as the month zooms by and the wind picks up, the tress are starting to look pretty bare. How are things with you guys?
Rather like how this image almost seems to glow. Or is that just me (Am I nuts? Hope not.)? Anyway, even though I tend towards darker palettes, I like how this turned out— the glow of the softer colors helps add lightness and depth to what could’ve turned into a rather gloomy piece. What do you think?
Update: Like this illustration? Now it’s available as a matted archival print here in my Etsy shop.
During the recent cleaning ( and purging ) of my main hard drive, I’ve unearthed discarded folders of old work drafts and unpublished photos that have kept me busy for the last few days. This weekend was spent concentrating on photos, so today I’m focusing on illustrations to give my eyes and brain a break. And after going to a few art openings this weekend, the wheels in my head have been turning to spin new ideas into more work.
Here’s one piece I keep coming back to today:
It didn’t start the day off looking like this, beginning as a discarded draft from 2011 for a piece of an ongoing a group art project, Spark and evolving this morning into what you see above. It’s a little hard, even for me the creator, to believe the above is built with some of the same basic layers and rudiments as the original “final piece” from 2011. And to be honest, I think I like this piece better than the Spark 14 final from 2011. Granted, the piece for the Spark project was intended to visualize the text of a specific poem, but it feels somewhat static in its composition and a little flat. The piece above seems to have greater depth of both color and composition. What do you guys think? Where does this piece “take you”?
Somehow this week flew by and while I got a lot accomplished and checked a lot of the boxes off of my list, there’s always more to do. Including that odd piece I started last weekend after an intense week of non-creative things. Today it’s gorgeous and sunny (and warm), but I’d really rather have a cool grey day so sitting quietly inside with a bunch of art files didn’t seem out of place.
While I’m still not entirely sure when this piece will be declared “done” (is anything ever done?), I keep coming back to this iteration. There’s a lot missing from it (in my mind at least, since I know where it’s supposed to be “going”) but there’s just something about it…
What do you think? Any guesses where it’s going? Also, this is a sibling of the last iteration… Really.
After a week of being somewhat absorbed in code and paperwork, today my brain couldn’t take it anymore and I found myself putting together a visual piece just for myself. I’m still tinkering, but here’s an iteration from today that I rather liked.
What do you think? What do you see in the piece? Should be interesting to see where it goes. How about you guys? What have you been working on lately?
I love children’s picture books. Lately it seems as though the books I buy are equal parts children’s and thick “grown-up” books.
There are piles of great books out there, old and new. And one of my favorite artists/authors making picture books today is Oliver Jeffers. If you’re not familiar with his work or have not heard of him here’s a great look into his world:
How about you, dear readers? Which picture picture book artists do you like best?
Another forgotten sketch from the files…
What do you think? Curious about the final version? Check it out here.