Sketchbook Project: Leviathans

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

Here's another finished page for the Sketchbook Project! I still have tons to complete, but I feel like I'm making some progress. I chose to draw leviathans as the mythological creature on these pages... AND I got to use my new green micron pens. (Woo! I'm guessing that's one of those things that's only exciting to me)

Leviathans are giant sea monsters usually depicted as whales. I based mine on angler fish because they look way more monstrous than whales... even the really scary one in Pinocchio. Angler fish aren't huge in real life, so I added the buildings for scale.

I'm still painting the ink over wet watercolor on all of the pages, so they don't get too stiff looking. I actually like how the ink bleed on top of the fish to the right's head; it looks like a leviathan crown!

Sketchbook Project: Selkies

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

I've been on vacation in Sea Isle, and worked on some Sketchbook Project pages there. Since my theme is "Uncharted Waters" drawing there seemed appropriate. I continued with mythological creatures and drew selkies.

Selkies are seals that can transform into people by shedding their skin. They are found in Irish and Scottish stories, and they are usual depicted as beautiful women. I can definitely say that I wouldn't mind being a seal sometimes... especially this one.

Illustration Friday: Obsession

Bibliophile. graphite, watercolor & acrylic ink on watercolor paper, 7 x 10", 2011.

It's another little drawing! Before I started this blog I was very uncomfortable with working on a smaller scale... I guess that's changed.

This week's theme for Illustration Friday is "obsession". I work at a library, so I see absolutely no problem with someone who has an obsession with books.

Illustration Friday: Perennial

Jackalope & Cactus study. graphite, watercolor & ink on watercolor paper, 8 x 9", 2011.

This week's theme for Illustration Friday was perennial. I've drawn (and am still drawing) so many flowers this year, so I went for a different sort of perennial. I think cacti are really interesting. Why did I draw a jackalope? I know it has nothing to do with the theme; I'm using jackalopes for something in the future, and I thought this was a good opportunity to practice.

Last week I used a circle frame for my drawing, and liked how it turned out, so I decided to try an oval frame this time. The photography came out a little better too, but still not as well as I would have liked... I guess I have to keep practicing!

Illustration Friday: Gesture

Gesture. watercolor & graphite on watercolor paper, 8 x 11, 2011.

Here's this week's Illustration Friday; it was a lot of fun to draw.

... but not so fun to photograph.  I love working with pencils, but I can never get them to photograph as well as pen.  If anyone has any secret techniques I'd love to hear them.  If I win the lottery I'm buying a large format scanner!

Sketchbook Project: Kappas

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

I worked on another page in my "uncharted waters" sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project. This time I drew kappas.

Kappas come from Japanese folklore.  They're pretty strange... they like cucumbers, pranks, and politeness.  They have a bowl-thing on the top of their head that carries waters, and it has to be full when they leave water or they can't move.  Kappas also seem to like drowning children and horses, and there are still warning signs about them all over Japan. They're also supposed to be the inspiration for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles... but the Turtles eat pizza... and don't drown stuff.

When I started this drawing I didn't have a clear picture in my head of what my kappas would look like, so they kind of evolved with the drawing. It's weird how some things come out without being planned. For every drawing so far in the sketchbook project I've painted ink on top of wet watercolor, so it bleeds and comes out very loose looking. This one is especially out of control, but I guess it's a sketchbook, and I shouldn't obsess about it!

Illustration Friday: Stay

Leone Study, micron pen & acrylic ink on watercolor paper, 7 x 10", 2011.

This week's theme for Illustration Friday is "Stay". If I were told I had to stay in one place forever (and I couldn't pick Philadelphia) I would pick Venice.  I've been lucky enough to visit Venice twice, and I'm in love with the whole city.

My illustration is a study of my favorite lion statue in Venice.  You can find winged lions throughout the city; this one is on the base of a monument for Manin.  The orange shapes in the background are elements found on the Doge's Palace.

Where would you stay?