Saturday, November 29, 2008

A slide show... of the show


And here it is. I just put it together this morning... it's not the best, but it gives you an idea of what I've made this time around. I'd best get ready for work and see if the D wants to get up before the sun begins to set ;)

Friday, November 28, 2008

Change of plans...

I think it was probably all the sweet squash mush I ate yesterday, but this morning I woke up with the notion that the word:Dryad (in the show's title) should be replaced with Sprite....so the title reads: Sprites + Monsters + Imps, oh my!... because, who knows what a dryad is besides me and two other book nerds?

D thinks the title isn't very important... and that may be true, but I like to pretend that I'm a professional, even though I don't really know what that means... but if -I- were one, I would title my shows and put up colored flyers and make business cards. I imagine much of what people think of themselves occurs completely within their own brain... so onward artist Eden!

I really have to thank the work of a certain artist for this change of word: happycloud over at Etsy makes the most amazing plushes I have ever had the pleasure of seeing (and owning... wheeeee). I was wondering what other artists thought imps looked liked, after I decided that those where what I must have been drawing for the last year or so and poof! There was happycloud... creating imps in little hoodies and fauns and dryads and monsters and kings and heros and, yes, sprites. I fell in love instantly with happycloud's world(s) + work(s) and with Ferdinand (see cute faun picture) who was ordered after my usual ten hours of obsession... I have to really want something, or I really shouldn't get it.... but I could not be more pleased...

D expects he'll be put to work organizing my many piles of books as he worked as an 'assistant librarian'.

His little story (from happycloud) is as follows: 'Ferdinand is a friendly faun. He is an academic and ferocious reader. He loves stories, has an extensive knowledge of history, and loves to tell stories of fantastic adventures. He isn’t much of an adventurer himself, however. He seems to prefer the safety of his home town; a warm fire and a good book. Ferdinand would like to try his hand at writing himself; but he’s suffered from a chronic case of writers block for years. He sometimes wonders if he were to go explore and experience the world first hand, would he then have an easier time writing. For now he just works as a teacher and assistant librarian.'

I will have to control my urge to make fan art! Wheeeee... maybe I should go back to bed XD

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

4 days 'till the show... 3 more images to go



Today, the day before Thanks - giving, when I should have been cleaning the house or prepping the turkey, I worked on another image for the show. I only had one Dryadish creature... so I thought I should whip up another image. I had wanted to call the show: Monsters + Brusselsprouts + Imps, oh my. But Dave protested the three syllable word in place of a two syllable word. I only had two Brusselsprout images anyway. ;)

I'd best start making the potatoes.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Dryads + Monsters + Imps, oh my! The Poster


I'm going to have these printed up in color... more eye catching, eh?

Monday, November 17, 2008

Upcoming events!


Oh life is good... winter is making the world pretty and within a few hours my sisters will be here to enjoy it with me! I'm framing up the finished images for this upcoming show... and, I flatter myself, they have come out rather well. These new inks are wonderful! I'm sure with even more time I'll find new tricks to play with them. The quality of the colors as well as the most excellent light-fastness have made them my new favorite media.
I hope to get the last few images whipped up so I can have enough time to put together a few imp doll/statues for the show... but it goes up on the 30th... so I don't know if I'll have the time. *cringe* Suppose I could just tuck them in later during the month... Back to work I get!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

My Age Old Question...

Why must everything (ie. tv shows, cereal, stores.. toast spreads) I love get pulled off the market? I could list and list AND list all the things I've come to love just in time to get them cancelled... that's right... I think I'm a curse. If I like your product, it's doomed. Maybe I should offer a service? "Does she like it? She does! Scrap it."

What is it this time, you ask yourself? What could it be now? Pushing Daisies. I waited... I didn't watch -any- of the first season, didn't even peek... when it came out on DVD... I waited... and then Amazon got me and I ordered a copy, so sure I was of Bryan Fuller's supreme awesomeness. And Oh! I was so happy... it isn't Wonderfalls, it isn't Dead Like Me, but it could sit proudly beside them on my DVD shelf.

Sadly now it seems unlikely that they'll even get to show the rest of the second season... let alone finish up the story line.

What is it!? What is it that I love so much, visually, comically and flavor-ly , that makes these things so unpalatable to others? I know they are kind of odd.. a little strange, but people! American public!! THESE THINGS ARE SPECIAL! They are precious and years from now they will be in the handful of shows that people -remember-! That inspire and change lives!!

pfft.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Dryads + Monsters + Imps, oh my!



Today I think I am almost done with the last illustration for this next show... the working title is: Dryads + Monsters + Imps, oh my! and will consist of 21-22 completely new illustrations done my busy little me.

I'm really happy with this new show... I have to say I've completely given into the cute and the silly. I have star shaped pearls, monster gangs, map making imps, grass-fur covered monster hills, and even a few pictures with these strange little flying puff guys buzzing around (see right). I have fought long and hard with myself on this subject... from my first sketches in elementary school to today, I have wanted to draw something other than what continues to come out of my paper and pencil experiments/doodles. This show... I gave in, I embraced and I am very very happy with what has come to be. Embarrassed, but not frustrated... there won't be any opening, so no one can ask me any questions... I can just put up my army of fuzzy monsters and their friends... and run for the hills. Zoooom! 'oh! I know! Who let someone put up all these kiddie pictures? Oh, sure, I think my niece would like them, but really, this isn't art.'



But all those things that I known for years are starting to sink in. It doesn't matter! HA! I said it. It doesn't matter that what I make won't make everyone happy... and for those whose hearts are hard against what I create would be hard against me... and all that I have ever loved. And I have people that care... that -want- to see my work.. that aren't shaming me or mocking me or insisting that it be taken away. They are asking to see more. These are the people that matter... and it's okay for me to let them in... and it's okay for me to be happy about my cartoons... because they won't leave me alone and I don't think I could be happy without them.

Sorry I'm so slow on the uptake, friends. <3