For The Artist At The Start Of The Day

For The Artist At The Start Of The Day

A Blessing by John O'Donohue

• 

May morning be astir with
the harvest of night;
Your mind quickening to the
eros of a new question,
Your eyes seduced by some
unintended glimpse
That cut right through the
surface to a source.

May this be a morning of
innocent beginning,
When the gift within you
slips clear
Of the sticky web of the
personal
With its hurt and its
hauntings,
And fixed fortress corners,

A morning when you become
a pure vessel
For what wants to ascend
from silence,

May your imagination know
The grace of perfect danger,

To reach beyond imitation,
And the wheel of repetition,

Deep into the call of all
The unfinished and unsolved.

Until the veil of the unknown
yields
And something original
begins

To stir toward your senses
And grow stronger in your
heart

In order to come to birth
In a clean line of form,
That claims from time
A rhythm not yet heard,
That calls space to
A different shape.

May it be its own force field
And dwell uniquely
Between the heart and the
light

To surprise the hungry eye
By how deftly it fits
About its secret loss.

Results of "First Day of School" Art Challenge!

Brennan's favorite school activity is RECESS! And who doesn't love recess?!

Trinity drew her WHOLE school! Looks like a fun place to be--can cats go to this school?

Paxton's favorite school activity is ART. And what a good artist he is!

 

Look's like Toby's favorite school activity is RECESS as well! He has the whole playground scoped out to maximum detail!

  And Josi's favorite school activity is *drumroll*......RECESS! Sounds like a popular activity! (And she's really good at signing her name, too!)

And on top of that, we have a couple BONUS pictures!

 

Check out this lovely portrait of Kitty and Coco by Trinity! Thanks, Trinity! We really like our leaf hats. :)

 

And look at this AMAZINGLY DETAILED and COLORFUL picture by Toby of us swimming by the coral reef!! WOW! Thanks, Toby!

 

First Day of School!

Friends! Kids! And those who are still kids at heart!Summer has blown by faster than a velociraptor on a skateboard, and you know what that means—FALL! And SCHOOL! Well, for some that is. And if you’re one of the lucky kids (or grown ups) who’s embarking on a new academic adventure, you very well know a bit of the excitement, chaos, and anticipation of that first day of school. But what you probably didn’t know is that while you were unboxing that new set of crayons, somewhere past the fields and beyond the woods, the cats of Cat County have also been going back to school. And to celebrate a promising new school year, they asked if I could document their big day when all the school cats scamper back to their studies. And let me tell you--it was quite the hubbub of activity!For you kids and kids at heart, I have a couple challenges for you. First off, can you find the following things in this picture?

• A fresh apple
• A pet lizard
• A pink skirt
• A teddy bear
• A cat reading a book
• A butterfly

And for extra brownie points, can you find Kitty and Coco?My second challenge is an art challenge: draw a picture of your favorite school activity. If you send a picture of your drawing to me, I’ll feature it on my blog! Just make sure to send it to vanderjess10 (at) gmail.com by September 30^th. Have fun with it, and be creative!I’m looking forward to seeing your drawings—enjoy the rest of September!

Inktober 2017: Returning to the Heart of Art

During the month of October, I participated in “Inktober”—a challenged to create 31 inked drawings and post them on social media. This year I finally decided to participate in full, and so every draw I put my pen down to paper and rendered something new for each day in October (sometimes even more than 1 drawing per day). The challenge was designed by illustrator Jake Parker, who wanted to better his inking skills. And now—8 years later—thousands of artists worldwide have joined in the challenge.And boy, it was a challenge.There were several reasons why I wanted to do Inktober, but the main reason was because I wanted to fight through an artist block that I have been battling for the last two years.Ever since I got back to the states, I placed heavy expectations on myself and my artwork, mentally telling myself that “playtime was over, and now it was time to get work done.” But things rarely turn out the way we plan, and before I knew it, my own expectations and false images of what a successful artist looked like started to crush my creative spirit. I was creating artwork that I believed would please people, rather than creating what truly pleased myself. The results were suffocating and demoralizing, and I never felt as though I could satisfy the critic in my head. Even before my pencil could hit the paper, the critic in my head would say it’s gonna suck, or my skills are not good enough, or so-and-so would think it’s weird, terrible, unoriginal, blah blah blah.Through this long slog of artist block, I’m coming to realize that I’m missing the heart of my work. And the heart of my art is to play, to explore, and to revel in the beauty of being alive. It’s not about money, or recognition. And as trite as that sounds, it’s such a common and subtle pitfall that I believe most people get stuck in it at some point of their life. Because we want to be recognized and praised, and who doesn’t want to make money off of doing what they love?And I really do believe my troubles started when I placed these objectives before the heart of my work. I’ve put a false image of success before me like a carrot on a string, and have been chasing it around in circles ever since.So I’ve been having some hard talks with myself lately, really asking what is most important about making art. And it really comes down to because I love to create. Just as my heavenly Father creates, so I too, love to create. I desire to add beauty and truth to my world and the world around me. And maybe that means I won’t get published. And it probably means I won’t make much money off of it. That’s alright for me. It won’t mean that I stop trying to get published—and sure it’d be great to make some money on the side—but first and foremost I will follow my heart’s calling.And so, for that reason, creating a drawing every day for Inktober was very challenging, because I knew that I was putting my artwork out there to be praised or criticized. I had to constantly remind myself that first and foremost I was creating art for myself, and not because other people thought it was or wasn’t cool. And through the challenge I learned a lot of things about myself and why I make art, and it really helped me to recognize my trouble spots and areas I wanted to improve—both skillwise and in practice. Here are some of my major takeaways:

• Knowing when a drawing is good, or when it needs more work.
• Careful planning is good, but there’s a difference between that and over-analyzing something. Don’t be wishy-washy—make a decision and go with it!
• Oftentimes, simple is best.
• Making sure your drawing is clear and easy to read.
• Making art is first and foremost for myself, but it’s good to keep in mind relatability with the audience.
• When inking, things will not turn out exactly as you intend them to (there will be variation with this)--and that is okay.
• Mistakes will happen. Deal with them.
• Don’t Rush.

I've learned so much from this challenge, and I’m grateful for all the positive feedback and affirmation from friends and family alike--and especially grateful for my loving and wonderful husband, who constantly encouraged me and put up with all my late night Inktober drawings. Thanks, babe. ;)My journey is far from over, but I’m excited to see where it takes me. And to wrap up this post, I hope you’ll enjoy some of my favorites from Inktober 2017! Onwards and Upwards! :)

Sky View: Moving Forward, Learning to Fly

Greetings friends!After a long hiatus, a long winter, and an even longer artist’s block, I’m finally blowing the dust off my blog page and giving it a fresh spring makeover. *cracks knuckles* So let’s do this!First of all, thank you to everyone who is reading this. That means that you have taken the time out of your day to read my update. That also means that you’re still somewhat interested in my art happenings. You’re invested, and I appreciate that. So a big thank you and welcome to my updated and renovated website!A quite update on the last six months...2015. To be completely honest, a rather challenging year. From picking up and moving our life across the world, my incredible husband and I have slowly been putting roots down in our new home. It’s been a long time coming, but we’ve started getting into a new rhythm of life. We’ve met some wonderful people, got plugged into the community, and have nested well into our lovely new home. The thing with moving and adjusting to a new place is that it takes time. It’s intriguing to see the seasons of life echoed through the growing seasons of plants. Through life’s hard season—the “winter” season—I found myself in a place of waiting and rest, just like how a bulb hibernates in the winter ground. Though as time progresses, a little bit of green growth pokes through the cold, frosty ground…and one day you find yourself in a new, warmer season of life. It’s a beautiful, hopeful image.A while back some of you may remember that I started the 52-Week Challenge. This project began in January of 2015 and challenged illustrators to post a weekly picture according to specific theme. By the end of the year, I planned on having a total of 52 illustrations, better artist skills, and a broader portfolio.I got as far as summer, and never finished.I found myself falling behind and growing frustrated with my inability to keep up, and eventually halted altogether. But now as I reflect back on the challenge, I have learned a few things:First of all, I started the challenge in the middle of our major international move. That by itself ate up any free time I had, not to mention it consumed most of my creative and emotional energy. More importantly, I found that I attempted to create a beautiful, fully-rendered color image complete with backgrounds—EVERY WEEK. FOR 52 WEEKS. My ambitions were a wee bit high. Contrast this to my Alphabook challenge, which was only 26 weeks long and focused more on spot illustrations of single characters, sans backgrounds. And unlike the 52-Week Challenge (which requested people to submit only finished pieces of art), Alphabooks encouraged people to submit really whatever they had, even if it was a rough sketch. When I was doing the Alphabooks challenge, I felt alright posting the occasional crappy sketch—knowing that it was okay and I’d do better next week. With the 52-Week Challenge, I felt pressured to make every piece my magnum opus, and therefore when I had a bad illustration I felt it reflected poorly on me as an artist.All this to say: I learned a lot from doing the 52-Week Challenge. Is it a bad challenge? Absolutely not! It’s a fantastic way to hone your creative skills and rub shoulders with other artists. I would highly recommend it. What I WOULDN’T recommend is having unrealistic expectations and instead know your limits. But hey—that’s why we challenge ourselves in the first place. That’s how we learn and grow.But now, let’s talk about more fun things:

What’s Next!

As you can see, I’ve given my website a much-needed makeover. Take a moment to check out the galleries, which have some new images and surprises in them. (new art! YAY!) Also, I have created a new Facebook page for my art ongoings. I plan on using my Facebook Page to more frequently post quick updates, add photos of works in progress, and post any art-related content. Check it out, and don’t forget to “Like” it! :) In April, I will be participating in my first convention ever! If you’re in the DC area, come check out RavenCon. I am super stoked to be hosting a table in artist alley.  And in May, I will be hosting another artist alley table at the Tidewater Comic Con!Keep posted for more updates! Alright, I can hear you saying, “Okay Jess, this is great…but what about your art? What’s are you working on now? What’s next?”One thing about me is that I’m pretty good at cranking out art, but pretty terrible at actually posting it. So you’ll be happy to know that I have several folders packed FULL of sketches, characters, and illustrations just waiting to make their debut. My challenge to myself is to spend more time sharing my artwork with you and giving you sneak peaks at my upcoming projects. Projects that may involve a dragon… A cat with the "gift" of gardening...And maybe a space angel…Oh yes, get ready. Because I am SO excited to introduce you to some friends of mine. I promise you will love them. :)I hope this gets you a little excited for what’s to come. Thank you all for sticking with me through my artistic (and life) journey. As I stand on the brink of what I consider a new year, I survey a hopeful and bright future laid out before me. I'll leave you with an image and a quote from Guster's song "Parachute":But how much strength does it take For exploration For split decision? Or are you stronger to remain?Opened the door Knew what was me I finally realized Parachute over me  

Illustration Challenge: Weeks 16 - 18

Happy Friday everyone! (Or Saturday, for our Japan friends. :) ) Giving you a boost to what is hopefully an already good day--and if it isn't, I hope this makes it better! I present to you: the next three art pieces in the 52-Week Illustration Challenge (a weekly themed drawing challenge that you can find here on Facebook).Enjoy! :)Week 16: StructureThis is one of the last pieces I did while I was in Japan, and therefore special to me. I'm not sure if it is a farewell to the memories I've made there, or a greeting to the new adventures and stories that Japan has seeded into my mind. No doubt a bit of both, and hopefully more of the latter.Who is this girl? Where is she, and what is she doing?I am sure we will see more of her...(Easy Paint Tool Sai, Photoshop; done while listening to SimCity 4 soundtrack, specifically the songs "Shape Shifter" and "New Terrain")Week 17: FluffyA cute, fluffy little ewok for your enjoyment. : )(Watercolor and India Ink) Week 18: Art Deco

Cats don't dance? I think they do! ; )

(Watercolor & India Ink; 3ish hours)

Illustration Challenge: Weeks 1 - 8

It’s art catch-up time!No, no. Catch up--not ‘ketchup’. (Though it’s really good on scrambled eggs. And hashbrowns.)Sorry! Stayin’ focused here.I realized that I’m really good at churning out art, but terrible at actually polishing it up and posting it online. But alas! Here they are! I’ve been participating in a weekly challenge (called the 52-Week Illustration Challenge—you can check it out here on Facebook), where every week you post an illustration based upon the weekly theme. My goal—rather ambitious—is to submit an illustration for all 52 weeks. Some will be detailed and intricate, but most will be simple. I hope that by submitting weekly, I can practice creating art faster without the urge to perfect. Quality over quantity is always a good ideology, though it’s also good to keep creating rather than getting stuck one a single painting for months.Without further ado, here are my first eight submissions!Week 1: Fairy TaleA fairy, a dragon, a courageous knight--Some stories and fun, and some filled with much fright!Page after page the adventure unfolds,Who knows what surprises that each story holds!Watercolor with India Ink & Photoshopped texture Week 2: Italy“A Night In Kittaly”The view is romantic and the food quite divine,Two friends dine together with some very fine wine.Spaghetti for you, and a pizza for me,Let’s toast to our night in Kittaly!Watercolor & India Ink, with croquil dip pen Week 3: RetroSummer days, gamin' away,Gotta take turns if ya want to play.Don't need fancy games that cost lots of dough,Cuz' the best kinds of games are always retro!Watercolor & India Ink, with micron pens Week 4: InsectsShy creature of air,Unfold to black, green, and goldColorful surpriseWatercolor and India Ink, with croquil dip pen Week 5: KitchenBaking day in the cat household! The kitchen is a buzz of activity: from rolling out cookie dough, to cutting and baking. Each cookie is handmade and decorated with love (and a little mischief).Watercolor, India Ink, & a touch of white charcoal Week 6: MagicHarbinger of SpringGreen zeal and a hood of whiteWintertime be warnedWatercolor and India Ink, with croquil dip pen Week 7: FarmJust another blue sky day in Skåne…Easy Paint Tool Sai Week 8: Coffee

Black cats, dark chocolate, and coffee just go so well together! :)Watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic, india ink, texturized background via Photoshop, and coffee stains.

Freddie the Frog

It’s always an amazing feeling when you finish a project, and that’s no different today when I finally can hang up the hat on a little project called Freddie the Frog. Last year, my friend proposed an art trade; I’d illustrate a children’s story for her, and in exchange, she’d do a photo shoot for me. The story was something her dad used to tell her every night before she went to bed, about a little frog who disliked water. After many hours of painting and a couple audiobooks later, I finally finished it! We’re currently planning on publishing it as an ebook, so stay tuned for more information and enjoy this little preview (sans text) in the meantime.

Freddie the FrogWritten by Donald KremerIllustrated by Jessica Vanderpol

It feels so good to have a large project like this accomplished. Since I was hurrying to finish it in time, I didn’t get to lavish it with the about of detail and technical skill that I normally would. And on that note, I also learned a very important lesson: NEVER again will I use illustration board as a watercolor surface! I fought so hard with that paper…the watercolors never layered well, and would always streak and smear. I would have used 300lb paper, though it was much cheaper to use the illustration board (not to mention that it saved time not having the stretch each piece of watercolor paper for the illustrations.) Oh well. Lesson learned.Regardless, I now have a bunch of illustrations for my portfolio, as well as the invaluable experience that creating your first picture book lends. I think however, that I might take a few weeks break from children’s book illustrations. I swear I’ll be dreaming about frogs for the next while…Stay tuned for the next project (already in the works!) ~_^Stats:32 illustrated story pages (plus cover)- 5 hrs research/sketching- 5 hrs editing, text arrangement, layout design- 13 hrs drawing/inking- 27 hrs paintingTOTAL: 50+ hrs