Just a mid Monday update!
First we have a sketch I did for my good friend Meg Karper, who is a constant source of inspiration and friendship. Our paths keep missing each other. One day, Meg! I will hug you, lady!
This image is a computer colored hand-sketch like the last one I updated this blog with. They always look better on the computer screens. ;) I wanted to make it look like an old scroll, but I didn't have the heart to age it as much as it should have been... and the colors really would need to be brighter to make it look more 'authentic'. :)

The next picture is of the newest doll commission: Rose Red. She's Snow White's sister from the comic: Fable. I painted her pants with roses and styled her hair... I suppose I could have cut it shorter, but I rather liked it this way. I really like her smirk and her tennis shoes. I do believe I am getting better at these little creations. I am certainly more pleased with the hands and feet.. and faces... and bodies... and clothes. So, yeah. Wheee!

The next (and last image for this post) is one of the new buttons I'm working on. This one is indended as part of the Rose Red commission. It's surprising the difference between working on the pendants and these buttons. I can't imagine it's more than half an inch in difference, but it is certainly a little less challenging to work even this little bit larger. I'll keep you abreast of the button + pendant progress. :)

I'd best get me back to Alice! I'll post some images of the show in the next few days... I'll be out of town for the later part of the week, so I'll probably have to miss my next Friday update. Take care and enjoy the day!

It's a cold - cold summer...

There is something to be said for cool summer days, but this getting a little ridiculous! I really don't want to have to wear a jacket in July! That said it would be perfect weather for sculpting, if I hadn't just packed up the majority of my art supplies. I finished the last commissioned doll I had real specks on. I'm not sure when I'll be able to work on sculptures again...

The necklaces are -still- drying. I should never have used that blasted stamp to sign them... but I do so love how it looks. <3 I'm sure within the week they shall be done and I shall post them along with some of the art I've been storing up for Etsy. Did I mention my plan to make buttons? I figure not everyone wears necklaces. We'll see how that goes, eh?

Take care out there!

Summer, oh sweet summer

The Alice show is coming along nicely. I'm waiting for the ink to dry on the pendants and today it is cool enough to sculpt. I also finished up the remaining wooden ovals with some of the unused thumbnails I'd sketched out for the Alice show. Including the, though I say it, rather cute image of the Mad Hatter with the many hats and the tea cup atop the pile.

The last few days I've spent sitting and looking at reference pictures... *flexes*

I'd say more, but I must get me back to work. See you next week!

Weekend? Where'd you go?

This last week I spent mostly in the Creative Oasis writing and working out what I wanted to do for this next show. I am much pleased with the idea of painting classic scenes from Alice in Wonderland. I have 9 frames left (unless something sells at the CO between now and then) so it will be a 9 piece show.

I've re-read Alice and picked out some scenes, all of them the favorites... though there are some good between scenes that can get a little forgotten... it seems to me to defeat the purpose if I plan drawing from a beloved classic source to do the least remembered scenes.

I plan on having a dark haired and eyed Alice, modeled after the original Alice - Alice Liddell. Really, in the book he gives very little physical description of Alice, other than her constantly changing height - of course... At the end of the book he mentions that her hair is ever falling in her face, but really it is her character not her form that is important. Still, I thought it might be nice to try and work a little history into the illustrations as a whole. And... who wants to go up against both Tenniel AND Disney? Pfft.

See you next week!

Pendant progress

Saturday before the next Sunday

So my next media/design/plan, have I mentioned this... necklaces? I'm gathering up the bits right now to make one of a kind hand painted pendants. I have (what I hope will be) lovely wooden ovals heading this way right now. Yay for Etsy/Artfire! This morning I found the perfect ribbon/necklaces for them. I could not be more pleased.... 20 color options and the come complete with lobster claw clasps! Wheeee! These are going to look sharp.

I'm also really pleased with where my pencil work has been going. I think making these dolls has been really good at working my real+fantasy cannons into one with a little more ease and detail.

Hope all is well with you lovelies!

early morning update

I have always (mostly) loved doing what I do because I rarely have any idea of what I'll have when I'm done. No plan works out as I planned it and often by the time I'm done I'm not sure what that original idea instructed I do as it's grown into whatever it's become. I don't know what fun it would be if everything worked out just as visualized... wouldn't it just be like printing? Or maybe just an exercise in skill? I like what comes of my initial foggy concept.. my brain kinda works in clouds of color and perceived weight and space... I can't actually visualize faces, I know them more by movement and dimension... if that makes any sense...? It means I can't draw from memory with any accuracy, but I can get the 'feel' of something down on paper.

But enough on my faulty brain... back to work!