Todays creature is my first creature contour drawing. I tried to create something on my own today but didn't care for it. So I got Kaleb drawing to see what we could do together. He created this contour drawing I really enjoyed. I tried to make a separate creature inspired by his work but it just didn't carry the same elegance that his original lines contained. I decided to draw right on top of what Kaleb drew adding very little of my own lines to the work. I did consider shading it, but I really loved the contour line quality of the creature and, having no others in the series, decided to leave it.
4 Comments
I do not feel well today. It's a combination of a migraine, nausea, heart burn and all around blah sick weak feeling. Generally with a migraine there is a time during the day when the pain will be manageable enough to create a drawing. My brain can forget the pain, for the most part, temporarily while creating. I've got a pretty high pain tolerance over the years, but when I'm struggling to walk straight down the hall to the kitchen and actually sleep a considerable amount during the day without so much as looking at my ipad, I know it's more than my head. Should probably have drawn this on a regular drawing paper atc but just grabbed something and made it. I tried to photograph it with my phone so I didn't have to deal with the bright lights but that was a dud. I'm going back to bed now.
~Click images to enlarge~ Whoever voted for charcoal on the poll let me say Thank You. I was about to get started when Kaleb insisted on drawing on my art paper. I'm glad he did. I took inspiration from an area of his work and created this. Drawing again felt so good. I'd almost forgotten how much I love to blend. It felt like being home or in love. Charcoal is wonderful for getting a gradient from a rich deep black to white in an area, with a smooth transition, in minimal time compared to graphite, unfortunately; going any smaller than this it hard. Charcoal is messy and makes intense detailing difficult. You can do wonders with an eraser on it for detail, just not in the shaded areas as much. I am very happy with the end results of this piece. I personally like the way it looks (which doesn't always happen.) Oh and note to self: working with charcoal in bed is probably not the smartest idea you ever had. I have a couple links for you to check out. First the postal service is discontinuing saturday mail (at least this says they are). This just means it may take a little longer for your art to reach you. I appreciate your patience. Next I want to share an online art trading magazine with you. There is a great article featuring creative ways to display your atcs. Plus they are considering fitting in The Creature Card Creation project for an article in their next edition! I just have to get it written up and turned in as soon as possible. This will be a great way to reach people! DON'T FORGET!! If you haven't won anything yet you have until midnight tonight to enter for creature 28. After that we are starting over and everyone is encouraged to enter. Good luck!
"From Magma, To Greatness" Title: "From Magma, To Greatness" Story: "Once every 100 years or so, a genetic anomaly arises. However, once every 1000 years, that creature arises from a volcano. This is one of those creatures, and we are very darn well lucky to have borne witness to the birth of this here creature. For the never before seen footage of its birth, be sure to tune in on Sundays on Animal Planet!" When you and the work don't work...I made this splotch the other day while Kaleb was making some 8 x 10's. Right before I thought to try it as a heart (the free file you received for taking the poll.) I really saw a flower but had a hard time making it into a creature. This one was hard. So many options. I could have blacked out the background and it would pop but I didn't... I think I shouldn't have done the background with the pearl watercolors. It really brought the background forward when I wanted it to recede. I kept looking at it thinking, well maybe if I just do this... and then my head would pound to my heart beat and I'd put it back down. This is one of those days where, as an artist, the work doesn't turn out like you intended so whenever you look at it all you can be is frustrated. I sure hope you can see this work from a different light than I can. I'm not completely sold on which side goes up either. The winner can decide when they display the piece. Although I have to admit the pearl looks pretty cool in the low light my head prefers atm... Perhaps as you walk by the piece, hanging on the wall during life, there will be a moment when the gold comes together and really shines, grabbing your gaze. Okay so I don't know how I feel about it, maybe I'm warming up, and then again... grr if it's better in low light it's not dark enough. My head hurts. This mixed media splotch includes Gouache, Ink, Pearl Essence Watercolor, Charcoal and Graphite.
~Click images below to enlarge~ I wish I could feel this good more often. I can actually see the bottom of my sink and the top of the stove now. I don't think I've seen that in over a month. Kaleb and I dropped off some creatures at the post office and went to the grocery store as well. They had some Annie Chung noodles on sale. They were supposed to be about 2.40 but they rang up at 1.39. I told the clerk about the potential error. They gave them to me at the price and contacted those in control of pricing to check on it. Not sure if their sign was wrong or I got a super awesome deal but I am happy. It's so nice to have a stocked kitchen. A few people have voted to see something other than ATC's. Yesterday I went with sculpture until I realized I could not afford the increase in shipping to make them free on a regular basis. I wanted to be able to find something larger I could create that would not affect the overall costs too greatly. I remembered last night that I have some 5 x 7 sized watercolor envelopes. They go to cards like this one, but over the years I've ended up using the cards and not the envelopes. I have approximately ten or so actual 5 x 7 cards I can work on. After that I could make pieces that are up to 5 x 7 and still mail them at the ATC cost. Even pendants and magnets cost more to mail than an ATC. So we will see how long these larger envelopes last. I might also mix it up some this month with an occasional ATC for those, like myself, who collect them. I photographed the card before coloring so it could be used as a coloring card. I like having the option to paint it again, should I feel I have mangled the original. One of my fabulous kickstarter supporters sent me an art care package shortly after the project started. It was filled to the brim with supplies and goodies. In that box was a pack of "Twinkling H 2 O's" a form of shimmering watercolor. I decided to test these out on this card and see how they turned out. They are a bit tricky to get a really smooth blend. The extra sparkly color areas tend to pool in the water. You can see this mostly in the red background and brown area.
We went to the grocery store today and got lots of food and beverages to tide us over for a while. I thought they had these special cups at Safeway for Kaleb but they didn't. I know they are cheeper to get at Walmart but that store and I have a love hate relationship. I can't walk in an just buy what I came for. It's better to spend a little more at a different store then risk it. I've been putting off some commissions because I don't have the time or inspiration yet to approach them. I think I'm going to put my dog drawing up on the wall and make at least three strokes a day on it. I'll probably do a little more sometimes and at least that way I'm making progress and don't feel overwhelmed by it. I'll have to put it in a place where I can actually interact with it easily daily. I think there is a place behind my door I can clear some wall space and put it up there. Otherwise I won't touch it and I do need to make progress on these works. I have to figure out, as an artist, how to work when I don't feel like it. Since the current winning response is for me to do what I want I present to you a sculpture. The first one I made would cost too much to ship so I am offering to you the second creation. I cleaned off the wooden eyes and got some pictures for you. Enjoy! There is stil time to help me and yourself...
It's tricky to draw on highly textured paper. I'm not sure if I am altering these enough or if they are worthwhile to keep making. I think I'm having artist block, light writers block but on the other side of the brain. So for today I ask your opinion, if you would be so kind as to give it. I made a little poll for you to take and tried to add it to the blog but it wouldn't stick. I've made a little hidden page for you to find it. As a reward for going (and hopefully responding to the poll) there will be a special digital download available exclusively for Valentines day. Here is the only link to get you there. CLICK ME>>> ONLY WAY TO POLL
oooo shinny So I figured out why I slept through yesterday's alarm after sleeping through today's again. Fortunately for me there wasn't any school for Ashley today. I didn't know that when I woke up late, but found out later when checking my phone messages. Come to find out my current ipad power cord restricts sound. I have to locate a different one before Monday. I slept for a long time. I had a mini migraine from the stress of thinking I missed Ash's school bus again so I just stayed in bed all morning. Afternoon I ordered us some Figaro pizza for delivery. Honestly, out of all the pizza I have had in town I like it the best. I didn't get started until about 8pm and I was feeling very uninspired. I lacked direction and hadn't already planned what to do this month. I technically don't have to do anything different but tried... a few times. I wasn't really happy with any of them. Ashley said to go with this one so here it is. The paper is special ATC fancy textured paper but it's thin. There is also a shine to the paper when seen at an angle. I wonder if I should attach a playing card on the back but then I couldn't stamp it. I'm not a fan of gluing it to anything really there are so many potential errors with gluing after the fact. It is a fragile thing. I send all my cards in protective top loaders which should be enough to protect it. Also I wanted to mention I have started a page to include testimonials and supporters art. I received a fabulous link today to a youtube video made by a card winner. Visit the page and check it out! Please forgive me if I haven't gotten back to your email yet or posted your work. I'm doing my best to keep up with everything and I appreciate your patience.
|
When searching for a creature use the specific name or number only for best results.
Archives
October 2015
|