Illustration Friday: Scary

Candy Skull, pen, watercolor, graphite & acrylic ink on watercolor paper, 6.5 x 9", 2011.

Happy Halloween!

I've always wanted to decorate a Mexican candy skull, and this week's Illustration Friday gave me a good excuse! It also works well for the Illustration Rally Halloween Rally.

I also needed to paint something to test the watercolor paper I'm using for my Audrey Hepburn illustration. Hopefully that will be posted later this week.

5 Blogs You Should Be Reading!

I've made it to 50 posts!!!

When I started this blog I figured that it would be read by a few members of my immediate family and my boyfriend. I had no clue how supportive the online illustration community could be. I've been overwhelmed by the great comments and new art I've seen by illustrators I've met through Illustration Friday, the Sketchbook Project, Illustration Rally, and Flickr.

To celebrate my 50th post, I want to share some great art and illustration blogs I've found since starting mine:

1. Victoria Semykina Art

Victoria Semikina is a Russian Illustrator living in Italy. I love how she captures people's expressions and behavior. I especially admire her illustrations of Armenian tales like the first one above. Check out her blog and website for more work.


2. Herbstkind

Julia Humpfer is an illustrator from Germany; I first saw her work through Illustration Friday. I love her line work and use of patterns. She also created illustrations based off one of my favorite fairy tales, Donkeyskin; (the first piece above is one of them). Check out her blog, website, flickr and etsy store!

3. Pretty Little Thieves

I am crazy about the drawings of girls on Pretty Little Thieves! I love their sullen mouths and graphic hair. There are also great etsy treasuries and photography posted for inspiration. Check out the website, blog and etsy shop!

4. Step on Inside / Tipi Thieves

If you want to see super impressive ink work stop by Step On Inside. The subjects vary from rappers to Native Americans to animals and the moon, but they are all impeccably drawn. The drawings are incredibly detailed and the colors are so vibrant. It's one of my favorite blogs to follow.

5. Oana Befort

 Oana Befort is an artist from Romania. She paints whimsical watercolor and ink birds and animals. Her paintings always make me smile. She posts photography that is equally beautiful; what a talented lady! Check out her blog, website, and etsy store!

Go ahead! Visit their blogs and hit the follow buttons!

I have been following so many great blogs that I could have made this post ten times longer; I'll have to have another post like this at 75!

Bonus: visit my brother and sister's blogs!

Sketchbook Project: Carcinus

Carcinus, pen, watercolor & acrylic ink on watercolor paper, 7 x 10", 2011.

 I completed another page for the Sketchbook Project. Since my theme is "uncharted waters" I've been drawing mythological water creatures. This time my subject is Carcinus, the crab.

Carcinus is a very minor character in Greek mythology, and a large part of the zodiac. He pestered Hercules while he was busy fighting Hydra, and ended up getting stomped on. Hera appreciated the crab's effort, and put him up in the sky as the constellation, Cancer.

If you still want to participate in the Sketchbook Project, it's not too late! The deadline for registration is October 31st.

Work in Progress: Holly Go-Lightning

Holly Go-Lightning: Preliminary Drawing, graphite & colored pencil on bristol board, 15 x 15", 2011.

Get it? Holly Golightly... Holly Golightning??? I think I might be the only one entertained by this idea... I've definitely watched "Breakfast at Tiffany's" way too many times.

I'm going to be posting a lot more projects in progress because I'm starting longer term drawings that could be considered as potential portfolio pieces. The final version of this one will be scanned, so the lighting won't be as weird and the edges won't looked warped; forgive my photography skills!

The background is based on Tiffany glass designs; I find them far more interesting than the jewelry. Did I put too much effort into the background just to cover it up with lightning? Probably! I'm hoping it will be more visible with some color in the final version.

What do you think?

Illustration Friday: Scattered

Freckles, pen, watercolor & acrylic ink on watercolor paper, 7 x 10", 2011.

It was fun to paint the freckles scattered across her skin.

Work In Progress

guess who?