cozyquail.

sketchbook-look. [11]

currently listening to: Russian Circles Campaign

 

My weekend was literally non-stop run-around of work, traveling in a car across New York State, hosting a birthday party, and attending an awesome alternative show (Tera Melos & Melt Banana).  I had finished coloring this illustration before the wekend and somply had to push it aside of other things until I had the proper time to scan it.

I must say, I'm really astonished at how good the color looks compared to a intricate monochromatic illustration!  It is a lot of added work to an illustration, but it certainly pays off in the end (espeically experimenting with layers of the same color).  I also had to color with an exceptional amount of light in a room to get the right blending and to see if I have the exact hue of marker.  It really makes a big difference when you're trying to decipher how different markers will color when their label colors are similiar in hue.

[in-progress].

[completed].

 

All in all, I really am proud of this illustration just as I am with any completed piece of artwork that I physically manifest into existence.  I often look back on finished pieces and think of how I could have changed some of its characteristics or change different parts of it.  Though I look back at it with hindsight and see these blunders, I can't change certain pieces or take out aspects of it without ruining it or completely making another from scratch.  I just try and live with the stage of the piece I decided to stop with when I chose when it was complete.  Making art, destroying art, finishing half-started pieces, and living with pieces I would change if I could (but I can't) is all an adventure of a learning experience of being an artist.  I absolutely love the path I have chosen for myself and completely believe in myself (and my artwork) as an artist.

I'm also going to finish my other Halloween-inspired illustration soon and hopefully post it before All Hallow's Eve!!

 

sketchbook-look. [10]

currently listening to: Cab Calloway Reefer Man                                           (I have a big place in my heart for old-tyme music and classical when it suits me- originally heard on NPR.)

 

Here is a new Halloween-inspired illustration that has taken off recently!!  I started drawing this with a simple, relatively happy-holiday-esque vision in mind and I'm now trying to kick it up a notch with my usual careful attention to detail (that has become a signature style).  I'm working on continuing the serious stibble action on this little ghostie and blending/adding layers of color with a variety of Prismacolor markers.

 

You've probably noticed that I have a fond love for using Prismacolor markers as my usual choice medium.  I absolutely adore the color potency each marker has as well as the myriad of colors they range from.  If you've ever seen them in a craft store, art supply store, or college bookstore there's usually quite a selection to choose from (and they're all so interesting)! 

I've been using these wonderful, yet pricey markers (they're about $4-5 per marker) for about 5 years now and am I completely hooked for life!  They're absolutely amazing to work with for an artist (like myself) who still draws, illustrates, and colors strictly by hand.  I remember first using them for fashion illustrations my freshman year in undergrad in a kit that was required for a couple of classes.  Though I switched my major from fashion design to studio art a lot of what I learned and loved still stays with me.  On that note, I'm sure you can also see a fashion-esque inspiration in the majority of my work & girls I illustrate. 

I'm a little behind on some updated scans of work I've done, but that just means new illustration posts later in the week!  On another note, I've been completely (and happily) emersed in consuming quite a bit of apple & pumpking related foods & treats!  Autumn is finally soaking in to my bones and I'm enjoying every bit of the chilly crisp weather.

 

sketchbook-look. [9]

currently listening to: The All Seeing I The Beat Goes On

 

I haven't made a post on here since September which ended up being busy with work/life/being ill, but now I'm currently feeling back to normal & healthy (yay)!  The cold I had caught had decided to stay with me for a week or so as well as the ear ache I had, which manifested itself into an ear infection (which I haven't experienced since being a toddler).  So, after one trip to a local urgent care facility and two perscribed antibiotics later I'm feeling oh-so-pain-free and so much happier! 

I am ashamed to say, I have yet to make a single mark in my official sketchbook for the 2012 Sketchbook Project , but I have been working on a new illustration quite for the upcoming holiday!  Gregory has been asking me more frequently if I've taken the leap into starting it yet-to which I always answer no.  I'm sure he's anxiously waiting, just as you most likely are, to see drawings start to appear in the sketchbook.  I really can't tell you why I am so intimidated to start this book, but I can tell you I think about different ways of starting it often.  I'm making a promise to myself to start my journey with this sketchbook in October since it must be mailed back to the Art Hose Co-op by January 31st 2012.  I'm not the best with aniticpiating the total duration of a project before I commence, so I want to leave myself enough time to work without feeling rushed about finishing it.

I suppose it's mainly the formality of the small bound book and the fear of making mistakes (which I know is completely normal).  It's also because I really still don't know what direction I want to start with (or progress with...) using the theme I selected for the book- uncharted waters.

 

 

This is the latest of my sketchbook illustrations and is still in-progress at this point in time and it's in color!  The chosen colors were a difficult decision to make, when coloring by hand (anaolog-style), and I'm honestly still not sure how I feel about the colors I chose for it.  When going about the decision to choose a color for this illustration I first laid out all the Prismacolor markers I owned into sections by color (also with a tested color strip by each color).  One cannot consistenly rely on the color of the paper label around the marker to be the precise color of the mark it makes (and I find this method to be most effective).

I would ideally like to squeeze in more Halloween-inspired illustrations this month as well!  This goal will be jam-packed into this lovely autumnal month, just like all the other autumn goals I have for myself for the month and a half-or so ahead! 

 

sketchbook-look. [8]

currently listening to: Le Tigre Slideshow At Free University

 

Last night I finished yet another sketchbook illustration that I had originally started on August 27th 2011.  The first sketchbook look of this drawing in-progress was posted on the 29th and can be found here.  I really enjoy coming back to in-progress drawings (sometimes after very long periods of time) and finally bringing them to completion!

 

Here is the first scanned image of what I had originally started last month!

...And here is the finished illustration, completed in my current sketchbook!

Once again, the black on the girl's face is meant to represent face-paint influenced by preforming arts, with a circus/mime feel.  I tried to anchor this feel with a simple striped monochromatic shirt on her as well.  The swirly cheeks are a stylized signature I just am fond of. :)

The finished scan is a little darker than the original, because I wanted to present a better glimpse into all the freshly added linework & detail to the completed illustration.  I do admit, sometimes I get so wrapped up and enthusastic with the linework in the hair that it does become difficult to proportion the body sometimes. 

I am very pleased & confident with how this illustration actually turned out!  Sometimes, one never know if a small doodle, or the start of a drawing, will manifest into something beautiful & intricate, or if it will stop at a dead end and remain incomplete.  Things also get a little tricky when I start drawing on other surfaces-such as a disposable paper napkin, or a box (something along those lines) and finish a goregeous drawing that ends up on an ephermal medium, not well suited for the intricate art or exactly professional.  But hey...we all start somewhere and I try to keep little to no regrets on what I choose to draw on or what I choose to draw.  It all helps with my on-going developing style and experience!

.    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .

I also wanted to share the beginnings of another drawing I started last week, that remains currently still in-progress in my sketchbook. 

It started off as more an exercize to draw a more relaistic human profile, then morphed into an exercize to loosen my pen strokes on the hair.  It has no real expectations on it yet, but I do hope to finish it soon (and will post updates when I do so)!  Thus far, she is a queen in a fur coat in a loose up-do flowing with potential!

The days are getting a bit more chilly here in central New York, but that only adds to the excitement of apple picking, pumpkin picking, autumn hikes in some of the wonderful state parks, homemade vegetable soups & bisques, and homemade hot mulled cider at night! 

 

I hope that you are also enjoying the transition in season and welcoming other warm exciting acitivities into your life as well! :)

sketchbook-look. [7]

currently listening to: Estelle ft. Nas Fall in Love

I really wanted to finish this sketchbook illustration and decided to do so yesterday evening after work.  I brewed two cups of Tazo organic green tea with a spoonful of homemade creamed honey* (purchased last fall from a farm in LaFayette, NY) and just kept on drawing until it was done. 

 

The in-progress scan of the illustration (originally posted here).

...And the completed illustration fresh & ready!

I scanned the illustration when it was in-progress as a color scan, so you could see original pencil marks.  The completed illustration is scanned as a grey-scale scan for higher contrast and to all the detailed linework in the couiffure.  I also chose to leave the outfit on my illustrative lady simple to accent this detailed work as well.

I absolutely love getting lost in my illustrations.  I enjoyed the feeling of finishing this piece without having a clock or any other timepiece nearby to let myself go about it at my own pace.  This is a luxury (I wish I had more of) that I try to work into my day-to-day life when I'm not working my part-time job.

.    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .

I'm very pleased with how it turned out and I'm contemplating adding some color through careful watercolor application.  (The jury is still out on this decision as of yet.)

I'd love to hear what you have to think!  I have to admit, I'm very biased towards monochromatic illustrations, so opinions if I should add a touch of color or leave it be are welcome!!

.    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .

Note: I did receive my official sketchbook for the 2012 Sketchbook Project in the mail last week and have yet to actually make a mark in the little blank book.  It's been kind of more intimidating than I expected it to be.  I know I must make the dive into it soon...

****I had originally spelled the word honey as hunny (like Winnie the Pooh would refer to a pot of honey)...yikes! I felt really silly about it when I noticed after I posted this...and had a good laugh at the minor glitch. :)

sketchbook-look. [6]

currently listening to: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour Safety Dance                     (I can't wait to see these guys in Albany this October!!)

 

I wanted to share my latest drawings and spontaneous doodles; not all on formal paper.  I'm pretty sure I drew this after work at the kitchen table either this past Thursday or Friday.  I was going for a "mime-ish" stylized look with the black coloring on the girl's face (representing black face paint) when I started out.  Then I just keep on drawing and watch how the drawing transforms. 

Since I took the leap of drawing & doodling freehand with ink (either Bic pens, Sharpie markers, gel ink pens, or Staedler pigment liners) I have better learned to work around mistakes that occurs while drawing.  If I happen to make a line that I really didn't intend to make (and it's ink...) I either have to use the line and allow my drawing to develop as the lines progress on the paper or start over fresh. 

Though I don't always keep on drawing if I bump into a pen resting on the paper or if something of that nature occur, I do try and work with I have, to see if the drawing manifests into a concept I didn't think of prior.  This direction tends to be a bit more exciting in the end. The face painted look was not intentional *at the start of this drawing) but I liked where it's headed when I stopped.  The drawing ended up having a bit of an interesting dark-misplaced-fantasy feel to it (and it is still in-progress)!

 

 

And this little number underneath (finished) was drawn on a regular kitchen napkin last night, also at the comforts of the kitchen table.  I started to illustrate a still-life of a Marlboro lights cigarette box and kind of went from there.  I was attempting a Japanese-style inspired evil cigarette box spirit from some unforseen place.  He has a large drippy tongue, an eye-mask, and can fly around on wispy flames!  I just really enjoy personifying inanimate objects. :)

 

This drawing is inspired by another illustration I drew in a Design I class in 2006, while I was a freshman at Cazenovia College.  The drawing was a similar evil-looking paper shopping bag created with India ink.  Unfortunately I do not have a digital scan of the other little evil one, but I will try and document (or scan) him next given opportunity!

 

sketchbook-look. [5]

currently listening to:  The Subways We Don't Need Money To Have A Good Time

 

I originally posted a scanned image of the illustration I had started on Wednesday, August 3rd.  I didn't pick it back up on last  night and finally reached completion this afternoon on Sunday, August 21st.  There's no rhyme or reason to why you choose to leave some work to rest for an undetermined time it's just kind of how I go about things. 

I felt ready to take this illustration further and felt the urge to come back to it yesterday after work.  When I was about 10+ minutes or so into inking more of the illustration I started to loosen my pen strokes and became more free with drawing the messy strands of hair (my favorite part).  It's beautiful moments like this one where I notice how much I am able to get into my work again, in that moment, concentrating only on the art I am creating.

 

untitled (currently)

CAL. 2011.

pigment liner on paper.

 

I like scanning at least 1 in-progress image of an illustration and then comparing how it grew and developed through time (which means I'm becoming better at making them into digital files for future use!)  It is pretty neat - especially when you come back to it in small installment over a period of time.

sketchbook-look. [4]

currently listening to:  Zach Hill The Sacto Smile

 

I have been less-than-artistic this week with my inconsistent work schedule/life until I started drawings at Gregory's desk for a good two straight hours last night while he caught up with an old friend from school.  I seem to thrive in situations like this one, because I allow myself to focus on my work (without being distracted by other people) while pushing myself to keep drawing or keep going because of the background chatter/music/ or energy.  This was a method that helped me complete  Static Attraction (found here), with gluing the thousands of sequins involved!

This was the creative result of drawing, listening to inspirational-yet not distracting background music [chosen by the inspirational creative I dwell with, Gregory], and NOT STOPPING!

I'm also experimenting with the file size of my original illustrations and other works and how they're presented on my blog.  My work often contains intricate detail that benefits from a large-scale as opposed to the presentation with a smaller file.  I'm just not sure it these files do look better larger like this, or a little bit smaller (...like a more medium-sized file).

untitled & still very much in-progress (right now).

Media:

pigment liner on paper (with some preliminary pencil work still evident).

I've always LOVED seeing illustrations and other fantastic sketchwork with the pencil work and line work still left present.  It leaves a messy, yet beautiful presentation (in my opinion).

In case you're questioning it, there is a sun with rays on the woman's face (meant to be painted on her face) in the illustration.

-    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -

This other detailed illustration was one I found a couple weeks ago amoungst college belongings while I was visiting my family back in Gloversville, New York.  I had originally drawn & colored it in 2010 while I was residing in the dormitories @ Cazenovia College.  I was surpised I had almost forgot about it completely until I unearthed it (amoung many other finished and unfinished drawings, sketches, & colored illustrations I created while I attended undergrad.  I tend to draw so much, and on anything that can be deemed draw-able that I forget or lose a lot of work....which I'll be getting better at!

This illustration certainly deserves to be documented and shown!

I'm also really quite proud of it.

Nymph.

Media:

Prismacolor marker and pigment liner on paper.

CAL. 2010.

 

I'm still working on the other illustrations I have posted prior to these two-though I do get very fickle with my work and will often drop a piece for unknown periods of time while I start a new one.

I have been dedicating some time to searching for businesses in the Syracuse and Albany, New York region that offer glycee printing services! 

I have also come to the conclusion that my life (at this point in time) is too inconsistent to blog every day. Though I absolutely love following & keeping up with those lovely bloggers and their inspirational daily blog posts...it just isn't me at the moment.  So, in theory it would be lovely if I consistenly drew & posted results each day.  In the meantime I intend to do the best I can with being consistent with my little artsy blog, for those who do keep up with it loyally (I really do appreciate all of you!) <3

 

Note: I decided for this post that I would test out a little taste of the Arial font, from the normal Georgia I have preferred. I'm still undecided on if it will be a permanent change.

All the credit for listening to Hella and Zach Hill (who is large part of Hella) completely goes to my boyfriend, Gregory, who introduced me to this inspirational experimental noise group from California. I LOVE their sound, LOVE this song & especially the video listed up top. Zach Hill is completely inspirational to listen to while making art.

[wood grain].

currently listening to:  sBACH track 7

 

observed still life.

kitchen table.

 

wood grain still.

CAL. 2011.

I also tried to free up my pen strokes in this drawing to loosen up the lines.

I tend to lean more towards monochromatic drawings because it's hard for me to resist adding a hefty amount of detail/linework into my illustrations.  Once I started creating a sample pallete above - I realized how much I missed adding color to inked drawings.

I'm keeping up with this drawing a day!  Whoohoo!

Even though I'm only a good handful of days into the month of August, I'm really happy with the results of pushing myself to draw in a daily routine again.

 

Note:  This ended up being on another piece of white paper used in a game of farkle prior.  My drawings usually surpass the paper I choose to draw them on at that moment in time. 

decoupage!

currently listening to: The Mamas and The Papas  "Straight Shooter"

 

I had an epiphany today-

concerning my ink illustrations on paper.

What to adhere them to for support

and then it hit me...

 The thought of decoupaging a new illustration on cut wood would be a different and exciting method of a final presentation for my work!

 

Note: I thought about drawing a little tree saying, "decoupage!" for the irony-then thought against it.  I do love trees and mean no disrespect!