Creating Characters...

I really identify with Leonardo da Vinci.  Not that I'm an artistic genius - I wouldn't claim that title at all - but I once read a biography about him that described his love for the process of creating.  He sometimes left projects unfinished because he lost interest.  His light shone most bright while working through his ideas and the bringing of work to completion was more tedious.

I do like to finish work.  In fact, I can't wait to see how things end up.  But, I totally understand the energy that comes from the invention part of the process.  I think that's my favorite part as well.

Anyway, this brings me to the characters that I've been working on.  In a video by Will Terry on developing characters, he talks about identifying the characteristics of an animal (or whatever your subject is) and then using those points to create various characters.  It reminded me of how I used to take field guides into the breakroom when I worked at the bookstore and would sit drawing various animals (on my lunch break, of course).  I've posted many of them here in the past.


So, I thought that would be a wonderful thing to return to, but then turn those animals into characters.






My daughter had a "Koalas" Zoobooks from the library and I found them quite interesting - especially the TWO opposable thumbs!  They were also pretty easy to draw - all rounded and fuzzy.


On the other hand, anteaters where much more complicated.  They just popped into my head, so I went with it.  Then, in my online research, I discovered that there are several types with some stark differences.  That meant, I did several studies...

And, while their long faces and noses are very unique, their tiny mouths make some facial expressions difficult - I had to consider the eyes/eyebrows and body language to tell more of the story.

So, what animal is next...don't know yet.  Or, maybe I'll do something else...

Animals...and the End of a Sketchbook

I really appreciate this family image.

I really enjoy drawing these animals - it's so much easier now. Not because my skills are so much better than when I was in college (although there has been improvement). It feels more psychological than anything else. It's a lot easier to relax and enjoy when you're not rushed by deadlines or have grades looming over every project.

Anyway, this set of drawings brings me to the end of my sketchbook. I started it about 10 years ago and this is its last page. I've filled other sketchbooks in the meantime. I set it aside many years ago when I was doing other types of art and little-to-no drawing. I found it and its many empty pages when I finished my last sketchbook (musn't be wasteful).

A whole book of blank pages awaits...

Some Animal Studies

It's been a while since I've done this, but I've done a few more animal studies on my break at work.

There's a face that only a mother could love.

A Moment to Regroup and Redirect...

I really don't have any pressing projects. The "class" that I started the painting series for is almost over and I'm nowhere near done (of course, I knew that would be the case - I've planned about 10 illustrations for a 6-meeting class). It's more of a personal project, so it's "to be continued" at my leisure. But, since I haven't exactly made friends with acrylics, sometimes I just don't feel like working on it. I'd rather draw something "for fun" right now.

I've been thinking about a lot of things that have been competing for my time and trying to prioritize. I'll have to start putting together our next year's homeschooling plan VERY soon and get various co-ops in motion that I'm involved in. I think it's safe to say that I probably won't be posting more than once or twice a week (which is more than enough anyway).

I mentioned that there were possibilities for more hours and greater responsibility at work, but that's an area that's going to have to give. Soccer season will be starting very soon and I'll have 3 kids on 3 different teams - adding hours to my work schedule might push me over the edge of sanity and will make me less flexible for those things.

Besides, as much as I like my workplace, my plan is to ultimately move into freelance illustration - definitely what I would like to do as a career and more workable around family needs. I'm not going to quit the bookstore or anything at this point, I'm just not going to increase that load - in fact, I'm going to cut back to 4 nights right now. I think my family would appreciate it as well.

So, I've been browsing online portfolios and have been blessed by advice from a couple working illustrators. I think for starters, I'll finally join the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators - a valuable support network for writers and illustrators (published and unpublished). Along with that, I'll check into some of the free online portfolios. Later, as I'm able to add more work to my portfolio, then I'll look into some of the online porfolios that require an annual fee (but will boost visibility to get my work "out there").

Mainly, I'm reminded of the fact that I can't do EVERYTHING! There just aren't enough hours in the day and, now and then, I realize that I don't have unlimited energy (gasp!).

The picture posted above is obviously from the sketchbook (which is almost full!) - it's a return to the animal field guide studies at breaktime that I haven't done in a while. I'm becoming much more comfortable with rapid observation and rendering - I can work pretty quickly on those 10 minute breaks.

I also decided to do a detailed drawing starting from a random doodle - another thing I haven't done in a while (that's my "for fun" thing). I look forward to sharing that soon. It's always a surprise and a joy to see what comes out of those!

Illustration Friday - "Fierce"

The wind was blowin' somethin' fierce!

How Could I Forget About the Tiger?!

It just occurred to me that there's one drawing from my sketchbook that I haven't shared yet, and it's a really important one. As I was working on this one, I started to think "Hey-it would be great to do this kind of thing for a living!!!" The wheels started turning and I really started to consider seriously working toward a career in illustration. After all, the kids will eventually grow more independent and move on from homeschooling. Then what? How great it would be to spend the time I have while they're still young improving skills and building a portfolio. And, when they're a little older, I might have something worth presenting. Of course, finding the time is another story...



Anyway, this tiger drawing began as a doodle - I think with one of the elliptical lines around what became the eye and the straighter line that defined the left edge of the nose. What's funny is that the cat-like nose came into being almost immediately. But, I resisted - I didn't want to do a cutesy kid-like cat. So, I kept erasing and changing the doodle in the hope that it would start to become something else.

However, this tiger was determined to exist. After several changes that went nowhere, I finally gave in and went with the original image. Funny thing is, it's probably one of my favorite drawings in the sketchbook. It helped me to get past some of ideas that kept me from pursuing illustration in the first place - to not worry about what category my work fell into and just let it develop in its own way.

Animal Studies

As I already mentioned, my drawing time is pretty limited at the moment. But, I always take my sketchbook to work with me and draw during my breaks.

Although I try to work from life whenever I can, the nice thing about working in a bookstore is the selection of resources that I have to work from. I like to grab one of the field guides from the Pets and Nature section and head off to the back room (the next best thing to drawing at a zoo). My goal is to get familiar with the characteristics of different animals by drawing them realistically. That way, I will have the drawings to refer back to, OR some of those characteristics might materialize in one of my future doodles.

Sometimes I’ll work from some of the DK baby books that contain real photographs of babies and toddlers showing different positions and expressions. For older kids, I’ll just recruit one of my own kids to pose if I’m stumped on how a limb should be positioned.

Here, I’ve shown 2 of my sketchbook pages with some of the animal sketches. I especially like how the badger, the groundhog, and the wolverine turned out.