Illustration Friday: Asleep

Sunburn, watercolor, marker, pen & acrylic paint on watercolor paper, 9 x 12", 2011.

Don't fall asleep at the beach, or you're gonna need a lot of aloe!!

I know a lot of people are heading to the shore for the Memorial Day holiday; this is just a friendly reminder to pack sunscreen:)

Illustration Friday: Soaked

Downpour, watercolor, graphite& marker, 6 x 12", 2011.

I kept things super simple this time.  I feel like this is more of a composition or color study than complete illustration, but I like it that way. 

It rained almost all week here. That's the only thing I could think of when I heard this week's word was soaked.  I definitely got soaked a few times because I can never remember an umbrella!

Sketchbook Project: The Cover

I signed up for the 2012 Sketchbook Project, and received my sketchbook in the mail.

The first thing I did was take it apart...

Cover, acrylic, watercolor & graphite on cardboard, 7 x 10", 2011.

I plan to rebind the book with heavier paper, so I can paint in it without the marks bleeding through to the other side of the page.  I figured it was easier to design the cover while the pages aren't inside.

When I signed up for the project there was a list of themes to choose from; all of them sounded fun, but I ended up choosing "Uncharted Waters".  I love drawing things that are ocean related.  I haven't put much thought into the inside yet, but I may do a lot of drawings related to ocean mythology.

I designed the cover with cut outs, so my drawings on the first and last page will show through.  I didn't have a real plan for the cover... i just started painting.  I didn't want it too feel like a portfolio piece; it's a sketchbook.  I also discovered that cardboard is not an ideal surface to paint!

If you want to sign up for the Sketchbook Project, they're accepting new sign-ups until the end of October.  All of the completed sketchbooks received by January 31st will go on a world tour, and then be cataloged in the Brooklyn Art Library.

Illustration Friday: Safari

Safari, watercolor, pen & marker on paper, 9 x 12", 2011.

You know how on nature shows you always see birds on elephants' backs?  Zoologists would tell you it's because they have some sort of symbiotic relationship, but it's really because elephants are excellent tour guides.  They never forget!  Birds are the most knowledgeable tourists because they migrate all the time, so they've figured out this secret.

I think this is the most children's book-like illustration I've posted.

Be sure to notice that the elephant's trunk is up... it's good luck!

Illustration Friday: Beginner

Ciao, pen and watercolor on watercolor paper, 9 x 9", 2011.

I skipped two Illustration Fridays in a row!  Although, this one could really count as two;  this week's theme is "beginner", and last week's was "lesson".  See?  I got it covered!

I am definitely a beginner when it comes to learning languages.  I am always impressed by the artists from other countries who participate in Illustration Friday and can comment on everyone's posts in whatever language the poster speaks.  I comment in English every time... sooo unsophisticated.

The girl in my illustration is taking one of those audio beginner lessons in Italian.  I'm trying (slowly) to learn Italian too with a program from the library called Mango.  It works for about a month, and then I forget everything and have to start again!