Winter Kimono Kitty

For Tokyo, snow isn't unheard of. However, to receive 16 inches of snow in the course of a week is enough to raise any local's eyebrow. (And it's still snowing..) This is the most snow that the suburbs of Tokyo has received in a loooong time. For many, it means delays, cancellations, and frustrations. But for me, it means snow day! And with that said, I believe it is very appropriate to release my newest kimono kitty addition...

Winter

So for all of you who are snowed in today, and for everyone else in this winter season, may your imagination whisk you away to a winter wonderland. ^^

Early Snow

Who knows what little surprises you'll find after the first snow...Just wishing everyone a happy December! :)-Jess

Doug TenNapel's Sketchbook Archives (AKA: Sketchbooks--An Artist's Companion)

Monday, June 3rd. It had been a rough day.But as I stood in line at the post office, and was handed a textbook-shaped box with an sumi-ink illustration of koi fish in the corner, I knew my day was to rapidly improve. For in that box was Doug TenNapel's Sketchbook Archives--a kick-starter funded collection of his sketches gathered over the years and compiled in a beautifully crafted, leather-bound book. And that is only the outside.But first, a note about sketch books.The sketch book is an artist's best friend. It's a place where one can go and simply draw--without worrying about perfection or what people will think. It's a place to explore ideas and enables the freedom of creation without restraint. It's essentially a place where you can be you and express yourself.For me, my sketch book is a place where I can pour out my heart and be myself. And as I do enjoy allowing people to thumb through my sketches, it's also a place where I feel the most vulnerable--like people are looking through a tiny window into my soul. The images on the page are raw and unrefined--some sketches I consider successful, while others probably deserve to be fed to the paper shredder. And burned.So with that said, it is a great honor and privilege that I receive Doug's Sketchbook Archives. It's a downright fantastic collection of sketches, ideas, thoughts, and imagination.

  Process art for the graphic novel, Gear.

More art for Gear.

Remember this guy?

Klaymen from The Neverhood.

  

It is chock full of storyboards, characters sketches, beautifully crafted worlds, and so much more. From carefully rendered pieces to quick, silly sketches--it is a book that I know I will be thumbing through and enjoying over and over again.

So thank you Mr. TenNapel, the TenNapel family, and friends who put in the hard work to make this project a success. And thank you for planting the seed of imagination into so many hearts--inspiring and encouraging a whole new generation to put that pencil to paper and CREATE!

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So, how might you acquire one? Well, since it was a Kickstarter project, I am afraid that that window of opportunity has passed. Yet, perhaps if you kindly ask Mr. TenNapel himself (and bribe him with cake), then you MIGHT be able to acquire one. However, if you feel bummed that you missed out on this opportunity--you're in luck! Because Mr. TenNapel is currently pitching another Kickstarter project called ARMIKROG.If you're a fan of The Neverhood, or Earthworm Jim, this is a MUST for you. It is going to be a claymation point & click side scroller computer game (whew! that's a mouthful!) So, think Neverhood style--but a whole new universe, story, and characters. Check it out and donate to it's cause--it's going to be a great game, so let's help the team make it happen! :) 

Vespers

“Not all those who wander are lost.” –J.R.R. Tolkien

This is a four page comic that I’ve been wanting to complete for a couple years now, and finally had the chance to do it. It holds personal meaning—of which I will not say, because I prefer to let the viewer figure it out on their own or—more importantly—draw their own interpretation and significance from it.Can be viewed on my Deviant Art page (once at the page, click on the image to view it full-sized).Vespers 1Vespers 2Vespers 3Vespers 4--------------------------Inked with a brush using sumi ink; digitally colored using Photoshop and Easy Paint Tool Sai.

X - Z Alphabooks

It’s finally here (and I am FINALLY posting it)…the last three Alphabook characters!!! It’s hard to believe that it was 26 weeks ago (well, more now) that I started this challenge. I am SO glad I decided to do it…I feel as though I have improved my skills and style, stretched myself, and developed a better work ethic in my art. It’s been a fun run, and I’m looking forward to participating in the next challenge. But for now I’m glad to take a little break from it. Thanks for following my Alphabook challenge! :)(And in case you don't know what Alphabooks is, here’s the lowdown: Alphabooks is a blog in which all artists are welcome to draw a book character corresponding to the letter of the week. For instance, A for Aslan, B for Bilbo Baggins, etc. Feel free to check it out!)X is for Prince XizorShadows of the Empire by Steve PerryI find it amazing when how I think an art project will go one way, and it ends up taking a completely different direction. That’s what happened before I created Xizor. I was faced with the dreaded letter X and didn’t know who do draw for it while the week neared the end. The only person that came to mind was Prince Xizor from Shadows of the Empire—the story of what happens to Luke and Leia and other characters between Star Wars episode V and VI. Although there was no movie made, Joel McNeely composed a soundtrack inspired by the novel—which was how I first came to be familiar with the story. Now, I will admit that I haven’t read Shadows, but after doing this piece, my curiosity has been kindled and I know I will delve into it sometime in the future. May it be known that I was resistant to do Xizor, since—let’s face it—he’s the creepy villain! Yet time was running out, and he had to do. I decided to give yet another shot at digital painting.Halfway through the picture, I was shocked to realize that I had discovered a digital painting method that worked for me. And not only that, but it was actually looking good! Talk about MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH!!!Now I know it’s not the best painting in the world, but after having soooo many of my pictures look photoshoppy with that horrid digital airbrush effect all over them, I am SO happy to have something that looks decent!! As I was painting, Xizor felt so real and alive that it almost seemed like he would glance my way and flash a creepy smile. Here are my biggest takeaways from this piece:Linear sketch: I started with a linear sketch, then created another layer and painted in a rough base layer.Oil Painting Approach: Instead of operating on two separate layers (lines and color, like I do in cell shading), I MERGED the sketchy, unfinished lines and the rough paint. From there—carefully using oil painting techniques that I learned in college—I blocked in the rough shading , smoothed it down, and added details. Rinse, wash, repeat.Using multiple colors: Working with green skin actually worked to my advantage—it allowed me to not work in a single color (green), but to block in purple and red shadows, while adding yellow skin tints along with greenish blue highlights.Line Weight: Lighter weight on the edges that had highlights, a heavier line weight where the shadows were. I still liked a rough outline, but I used a more painterly approach to adding an “outline” instead of a solid, inking style line.The bottom line: I am freaking EXCITED. I feel as though something just clicked, and although this by no means indicates an easy road from here on out, but at least I now have a good vector for digital painting. I can’t wait to try it out on future pieces!! (3 hours)Y is for YvaineStardust by Neil GaimanAfter completing Lady Una, I decided that Yvaine, the “star” (haha :P) of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust needed some stage time. AND, I also got to listen to the audiobook while I was painting this piece, so win-win! :) I wanted to make it be sort of a matching piece to Una, with the whole are nouveau feel and bold outlines. I don’t know really what else to say except that I’m really happy with it and that it was a lot of fun to make. Probably one of my favorite parts to creating this piece was adding the sparkly glitter at the end (which, unfortunately doesn’t show up on the digital piece). However, if you hold the physical picture in your hands and tilt it from side to side under a light, it’ll glitter and sparkle. Fitting, no? :) I have to admit that the scanned version of this didn’t turn out as well as I’d like, and I may try to rescan or photograph it later. For now, it’ll do.And also, this is a fitting song to listen to while viewing this piece.Lady of My Dreams by Vast(12 hours)Z is for Zeddicus Z’ul ZorranderSword of Truth series by Terry GoodkindZedd is a wizard. He takes being a wizard pretty seriously, and thinks others should too. He’s quite a talker.And he also likes food.:P(??? minutes)

Hullo!

Greetings and welcome to my humble art blog! Thank you for joining me in my journey as an artist--hope you enjoy the ride! : )