Hey everyone! Here's the second batch of Alphabooks characters. In case you don't know what Alphabooks is, it 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 and participate! :)E is for EnderEnder’s Game by Orson Scott Card
I was trying to figure out who to illustration for the letter E. Cody suggested Ender from Ender’s Game. Having heard of the book but not read it, he explained that it was a science fiction book in which a young boy conducts epic space battles while donning sick battle armor. Good enough for me. :) I read the book within the week before the picture was due and really enjoyed it--now I understand what all the buzz was about! The next obstacle was that we were on vacation and I didn’t want to spend time drawing when I could be visiting with my family. So I managed to work on Ender during the car rides between Lynden and Seattle (and if you ask me, I’m pretty proud that I could set up a “desk” using a backpack on my lap, an open glove compartment to set my laptop, and still use the tablet while moving 70 mph.) Regarding the picture itself, I decided to take a different path from my previous alphabook characters and choose a pose that would be more dynamic—more suitable for someone who lives in zero gravity and is floating around all the time. Also, as you’ve probably noticed, I decided to use less cross hatching to shade and more washes. It just seemed more appropriate for Ender—his flash suit was designed to be slick and arodynamic, and the wash seemed to cater to just that. Overall, he was fun to draw. :) (2.75 hours)F is for FenrirHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Fenrir is an interesting choice for me. In case you don’t know who he is (and I don’t expect you to), he is a werewolf character from the final book in the Harry Potter series. And judging by his overall appearance, you’d be correct in thinking that he is probably one of the antagonists. I’m not largely into the werewolf thing, but the main reasons why I chose him were that A.) I didn’t know who else to do for the letter F and B.) More importantly, I needed practice drawing antagonistic males. And males in general. The large subject majority of my art are girls, and in order to develop a diverse and well-rounded style, I always need to practice drawing things and people outside of my comfort zone. Fenrir was one of them. To be honest, I’m not the happiest how he turned out. I decided to do just a bust since I wanted to focus on the face. However, it was one of those pictures you start off being really excited about…but when you’re wrapping things up, you just kind of go “ugh…that didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to. =P” I think it’s something to do with the way his head is positioned on his neck and his corky grin. It seems too posed. And unnatural. (Well, I guess werewolves are sort of unnatural to being with.) Oh well! Lesson learned, life moves on. :) (1.75 hours)G is for Garrick OllivanderHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
I must have been on a Harry Potter kick when I was doing these Alphabook characters—but what can I say? They’re so fun to do! Again, I wanted to challenge myself by drawing someone out of my normal range, and Garrick Ollivander (the town wand maker) was so much fun to draw. Drawing the elderly is a challenge in itself—it makes you realize the intricacies of the human body and how everything is put together (and changes with time). The really cool thing about drawing Garrick is that he doesn’t feel constrained or stiff—and that comes from the fact that it was very relaxing and easy to draw. Oftentimes artists who draw young characters need to be careful not to give them characteristics that make them look old (wrinkles, creases, etc.)…but in Ollivander’s case, I could just go to town! ^^ I modeled him a little after Geri from Pixar’s short, Geri’s Game. Also, those are wand boxes he’s carrying in his right hand. I forgot to decorate the exterior and am too lazy to do it now. =P (1.5 hours)H is for Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock was definitely fun to draw. I have to admit that this feels a little bit like a cheat (I’ve never actually read the Sherlock Holmes stories) because my Sherlock was inspired from the movies. But he’s still a book character, so it counts. ^^ Anyways, I really enjoy Robert Downey Jr. in this role, but I didn’t want it to look like typical fan art. I actually wanted to make something a little more original. I tried to blend a bit of his character with something else (I don’t really know what… :Z) and wha-la! Sherlock was born. It was good practice to work on drawing a man’s face without making it look feminine. I’m also trying to study facial traits and what makes each face unique and different. I have a long way to go, but I’m learning more each time I draw. The main complaint I have about this picture is that he still looks a little too posed and/or flat, like there’s just not enough dimension. I think I could have deepened the shadows and contrasted it a bit more. Overall, I’m pleased. Yay Holmes. :D (2 hours)I is for Iron ManIron Man comics by Marvel
Whoo hoo! Cheat week number two! Well, we were allowed to do comic book characters, and although I didn’t want to abuse that, Iron man was just too hard to pass up. :) Again though, this drawing is based more on the movies than the comic books. Whatever. Practice is practice, and he was really fun to draw! I used a pose reference and definitely had to reference the armor. Yet again I got to practice drawing men, drawing dynamic poses, and technical work (I’ve never been good at drawing mechanical detail and objects.) I didn’t spend a lot of time at all shading it (in fact, I really liked the outline the best…I might actually ink it). I wouldn’t mind finishing this piece. Fun, fun, fun! ^^(2.25 hours)
Home
So I have a question for you fellow readers. Where is your home? Is it the place you grew up in, or the place that you are right now? Is it a city or state, or is it on the opposite side of the world? Where is home?This is the question that I have been asking myself lately.Having moved from South Carolina early June, visited our families for three weeks in Washington state, then moved clear across the world to Yokota Air Base, Japan--we've been trying to figure out where exactly home is in the kaleidoscope of life. In fact, this recent vacation to Washington was the first in which I didn't feel a place of belonging--as if we were a “plane in the sunset, with nowhere to land” (Switchfoot, Let That Be Enough). With that said, Washington state will still be the home we go back to and hopefully one day where we settle down. Yet at this time in life, it isn’t the home belong in. I know that.And yet, I still struggle.There’s a place in my mind that is one of the most familiar and comforting places I go to when I feel lost or lonely. It is my childhood home in which I grew up. I either picture the backyard and the beautiful garden filled with roses, columbine, and flox; or I will think of the view from my bedroom window—looking up at the ridge of woods with the setting sun dousing them in warm color. This, in my mind, is home. But while I can find temporary fulfillment in the memory, that’s just what it is. A memory. A beautiful memory at that, but still a memory. I have taken what I needed from that memory, but I cannot call it home…because that is not where I am in this exact moment. And yet, at this exact moment, I am sitting at a desk in a hotel room in an American base in Japan—this does not feel like home.So what is home?Enter random Sci Fi moment. I know, totally random, but it will make sense, I promise! When we were in South Carolina, Cody and I spent our Sunday evenings with a friend watching the Sci Fi series Battlestar Galatica (if you haven’t seen it, you are missing out big time my friend.) In short, I loved the series—and it always gave me so much to think about. It was in one of the final episodes that I was caught by surprise when one of the characters started discussing about a subject that I was having a hard time with. Laura Roslin is speaking with Admiral William Adama when she muses about the perception of home. Please note, the video may contain spoilers:http://youtu.be/stEZnuvQTac“You know, sometimes I wonder...what home is. Is it an actual place? Or is it some kind of longing for something, some kind of connection? You know, I spent my whole life on Caprica. I was born in one house, and then I...I moved to another, and then, this. And then, now. I don't think I've ever felt truly at home until these last few months, here, with you.” (1:10 to 2:02 on video clip)(Also, check out this blog if you are interested in reading more about the concept of home in Battlestar Galactica).It’s something that I have known all along, and yet it still so hard to embrace. Home is here, where my wonderful husband is, yet more importantly so, it is where the Spirit of Christ resides. And since he lives in me, home is right here. This home may not always be based upon a feeling of belonging (as when I was living in my childhood home), but it is a place that I can still find contentment regardless of circumstance (Philippians 4:11-13). Because even if we will one day find a place to settle down in that feels like “home”, our true home is not here on earth, but rather in heaven. And knowing that our future home will fulfill every desire for “home”, I can have peace today. With that, I will leave you with a song:http://youtu.be/rjFaenf1T-YOh, HomeLet me come HomeHome is wherever I'm with youThank you for listening today. : )
A is for Alphabooks
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)
The Next Step
So many of you may know that we (my husband Cody and I) will be moving to Yokota Air Base, Japan this June. This is a very exciting time for us and we are really looking forward to it--I mean, we're talking about JAPAN. Home of anime, sushi, and samurai; technological headquarters of the world, and country of fine culture and cuisine. It's a place that I had once visited for a mere 10 days (ten years ago) and have dreamed of returning ever since. Little did I know that one day I would actually be living there!Yet amidst the excitement, I know that there will be a lot of changes we're going to have to make--many of them are not-so-favorable. Primarily, we will be leaving behind all of our dearly-loved friends we have made here in South Carolina and literally start from scratch in Japan. And, to make everything more difficult, not only will there be a language barrier, but a cultural barrier as well. I admit, I am daunted. I know the Japanese are very friendly, but sometimes I still wonder how accepting they might be of (let's face it) a foreigner. Granted, we will be living on an military base, but I don't intend to live the next three years inside an American bubble--I want to have balance by also engaging the culture and making Japanese friends. I just have no idea how that'll work, but I guess that's where I'm going to trust God.Apart from life changes, the other thing that I have been mulling over is the future of my art. I sense that I am at a crossroads: I am a college graduate, I have the first stage done with my children's book and am currently playing the waiting game, and I don't have any really big art projects going on. Sure, I'm always working on some piece of art to "expand my portfolio", but I'm feeling a little fidgety--like I'm waiting for the next big thing to come. I'm almost positive that it has to do with Japan. But the difference is, I strongly feel that the next step for my art will involve a collaboration or networking of some sort. In other words, I'm dying for an artist community. Artists who are illustrators that share similar goals and dreams that I do. Artists with whom I might have a chance in which to work in tandem. I am realizing that in order to bring my art to the next level (and actually pursue dreams of being a graphic novelist), I'm going to need help. I'm going to need to build relationships with other artists and not try to do everything on my own. Did you know that it usually takes numerous people to make a graphic novel? Typically the jobs of making a graphic novel involve a writer, pencil artist, inker, colorist, letterer--and that's not including project managers, marketers, and people of the like. Over the last few months I realized that if I want to tackle anything bigger than a cute little painting for my portfolio, I'm going to need the help and collaboration of others--and that requires patience, flexibility, and the ability to work with others. Hmm, those sound like things I really can work at...So there you have it folks. My thoughts and ramblings for Friday. However, I do have a little bit of news on Jess's artistic front. Lately I've found that I've been wanting to produce more sci-fi and graphic novel-ly pieces of art (I'd been working on a lot of children's book material and was seeking balance with my tomboyish side). However, I lacked a muse for this realm, until recently--because as of recent I had picked up the ol' x-box controller, blew off the dust, and have been gaming with friends again. The game of choice? Halo Reach. Oh, yeah. The results:
Some cool-spartan-kickbutt-chick! I know it's sketchy, but that's because it's in the process of being fleshed out (it's a little hard to see here, but she's taking off her helmet.) More to come on this!Until then, have a fantastic Friday everyone! (or whoever is actually reading this *laughs*) :)
Another Milestone
Yesterday was a very special day for me. The kind of day where I had burst out from the doors of the post office singing, "I'm walking on sunshine--WOOOoooOOOOOOaaaahhh!!"Okay, not literally.But yesterday I was on cloud nine. Why? you may ask. Well, yesterday was the day that I finally mailed my submission for SCBWI's (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) Don Freeman Grant. In a small 11x14 package fit many months work of editing, drawing, and painting the pieces required for the submission. The results: a dummy suitable for submitting to publishing companies and two finished paintings from the book. It may not sound like a lot, but it is a huge step closer to finding a publisher for my little baby.Note: For those who don't know what's going on, I have been working on writing and illustrating my first picture book about a gardening cat who moves into the city. Fresh from the county, she initially finds herself lonely without a place to express her green thumb. However, she finds creative ways to overcome her challenges (and no, I can't tell you the entire story yet...that's a surprise! :))Here are the results of my submission!
And the two paintings...
The dummy itself is smaller than the size of the finished book and is printed on 80lb paper. I created the images as pencil sketches, which were then scanned and edited in photoshop. We glued the whole thing together with epoxy and the aid of a wooden bookbinding frame that my friend graciously made for me. In the end, I am very pleased with the results--it looks and feels like a good quality dummy.The paintings are each 11x13.75 on 300lb Arches watercolor paper. The black and white picture was done in inks, while I used watercolors and acrylics on the second. The color image was the best I could do for the submission, yet I can't say that I am completely satisfied about it. I'm not sure what it is that leaves me a little unsettled...perhaps it's that the cats look a little too stiff and posed (not as natural as they were in the sketch). Maybe flower frame seems out of place, or that there are too many objects in the composition. I don't know, but perhaps if I leave it be for a while and come back to it I'll figure out what it is.Regardless, I am just so happy to be done with the submission. I won't find out the winners until August, but I'll have a lot of art and craft projects to keep me busy until then. :)
Thoughts On White Omen
The idea for this piece occurred on a bus ride, in which I accidentally rode the wrong bus on an hour long detour to my house. To pass the time, I sketched up a girl and a dragon who were lost somewhere on the snowy tundra. The duo reflected my own feeling of displacement, and made me want to explore more of her story and hopefully uncover why they were lost to begin with. Did they lose their a map? Are they runaways? Who are they running from, and where are they running to? I wanted to know more about this enigmatic pair, so I decided to finish the piece digitally.
I feel as though I have gained a better understanding of light logic and using different colors (other than the shade of a hue) to create shadows. I ended up studying a lot of gasara’s methods of shading—using purples and blues for shadows. I really believe that it helped emphasize a cold effect on the piece and give greater dimension and believability to the lighting. I also colored the lines—lighter lines near lighter surfaces and darker lines near the creases and in the shadows. Lastly, I used textures to take away the characteristic Photoshoppy “perfection” that is often too prevalent in my art. I can truly say that this piece is perhaps the first digital piece that I am very satisfied with! Of course, I always gladly welcome critique—that’s how we artists get better. :)Please view the full-sized image of White Omen here.
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! : )