So tell me fellow artists, when was the last time you drew something? Today? Last week/month/year? Or perhaps your sketchbook is open right now (good for you!) Well, as we all know, oftentimes drawing may not happen as regularly as we'd like it to. Life gets busy, you get an artist block (or simply get lazy...believe me, I'm guilty of that!) Let's face it--it's hard to stay constantly regular and disciplined with our trade. I don't know about you, but I am MUCH more focused when I have some outside motivation from something or someone.Thus, I present to you. Alphabooks: a weekly challenge to draw a character from a book coinciding with a letter from the alphabet.It's pretty simple and straight forward. Every week we draw a character from a book--novel, children's book, comic book--that starts with the letter of the alphabet. So for instance, A is for Aslan, B is for Boo Radley...you get the picture. It's a good weekly discipline for artists who are looking for something to keep them focused and consistent in their drawing, along with good practice for drawing a variety of characters.Cool, huh?I'm intentionally spending less time on these--2 to 3 hours tops. I hope that this will teach me to draw faster and worry less about perfection and instead draw more.So here are my first three submissions and why I chose them:A is for Alanna of TrebondSong of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce
I had recently finished reading the Song of the Lioness series (for the first time!) and Alanna was fresh on my mind. She reminds me of my younger self--the tomboyish girl who was more interested in medieval history than makeup. I didn't spend too much time on her armor, and am not sure if it is entirely book--accurate. But oh well. (2.25 hours)B is for Bilbo BagginsThe Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
I read the Hobbit in high school and totally fell in love with the book. I was originally going to make Bilbo just standing there, but for some reason it seemed more fitting to make him running. He probably was too busy picking apples and fell behind the group. ;) (2.5 hours)C is for CimoreneDealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Again, this was another book that I really enjoyed reading (and still do). Cimorene is just such a fantastic character--she's that feisty tomboy who doesn't want to be a princess, and so instead runs away and volunteers to become a dragon's princess. The book is cleverly written and includes a bunch of fun parodies on classic fairy tales--Cimorene runs into a talking frog, has to deal with mischievous wizards, and spends her time solving a murder mysteries (not to mention she enjoys cooking up a mean cherries jubilee.) If you haven't read this book, make time to do so! (4 hours)D is for DaineWild Magic by Tamora Pierce
Wild Magic was the very first fantasy novel that I had ever read, so it holds a special place in my heart. The story features Daine, a girl who wields "wild magic" that enables her to communicate with animals and even shape shift into various forms. She is in tune with nature and handles the bow with deadly authority--hallmarks that impressed my 13-year-old self and made me revere her as "one cool chick". :) I am satisfied with this 2-hour rendition of her and might even complete it with full color some day. Oh, and did I mention that she's friends with a dragon? Even better. ;) (2 hours)