Portrait Party 2: Wonil 3

Went a little out there with this one. Still trying to find my own voice.

Portrait Party 3: Doreen 1

This is Doreen... well kind of Doreen. Again, this is a "first draft". Lately it seems that everything I do looks slightly - or a lot - like someone's work that I've seen. Hmmmmmm.
Doreen is a brilliant freelance illustrator I met through a friend at work. We hired her to illustrate some fun stickers for us and well, she was just so cool I had to make her my friend! Thanks for being my friend Doreen! Check out her website and her blog. Oh, and you should definitely check out Baxter the Puggle's blog too - cause he's just the CUTEST EVER!

Portrait Party 2: Wonil 2

Okay, this on is just embarrassing, but I'm posting in good faith. I'm putting it all out there, even the bad stuff. Sorry Wonil - this doesn't look ANYTHING like you.

Portrait Party 2: Wonil 1

This is my friend Wonil. We met in a children's book illustration class at SVA in 2005. He is an AMAZING, amazing allaround artist. He has such a unique and brilliant illustration style, not to mention a great eye for photography AND web SKILLZ! Check out the Secret Toilet! And the Secret Toilet blog.

Portrait Party 1: Jason... again

I did a lot of drawing this weekend. At least I was semi-productive in that respect. So, as mentioned previously - I've been recently inspired greatly by Rama Hughes' Portrait Party. I've started a bunch - and I've been experimenting lots... I have yet to receive MY portrait in return... but here is the next in a series: Jason 2, a slightly different approach. :)

Illustration Friday: NEIGHBOR

A cubicle neighbor anyway. This is my friend Jason, say hi Jason!

Reading around the many inspirational illustrator blogs that I do, I came upon Rama Hughes' Portrait Party a while back and have just got around to trying it with a few friends. I drew Jason from life... but we were rushed, so I took a picture as well. This drawing is from the picture. I plan to do several more versions until the 'right' one comes out or reveals itself. This one's a little forced.

I'm on a search for my artistic 'voice'. I've been consciously looking for it for about 10 years now. Every once and again it just pops up on it's own and I can revel in it... but it's not that often. So I have to coax it, draw the same thing multiple times, or just draw because I like to. Sometimes it's hard - I've forgotten how to just be and draw like I used to - I find I rush through everything... That probably comes from work and deadline oriented life. Slowing down is the key, neighbor.

slow down.