AlphaBooks A - Aravis Tarkheena

Monday marked the start of AlphaBooks, the new weekly challenge by Ben Towle, Andrew Neal & Rich Barrett.

"AlphaBooks is the name of the game. We will be drawing ficitonal characters from books every week - one for each letter of the alphabet. On the first day (Monday, May 21), everyone will draw characters whose names start with the letter “A.”  The following monday, we’ll draw characters whose names start with the letter “B.” And so on!"

Continuing in the flavor of my AlphaBeast series of detailed black & white sketches with an element of story and/or background, I originally thought I would choose all (or mostly) animal characters from books… because, well… that's my thing. And although Aslan was on my list of ideas, I had accidentally looked at the AlphaBooks page and saw he had already been claimed… more the once. So I went for a lesser known, but still a strong character from the Chronicles of Narnia, Aravis from The Horse and His Boy. An exempt from Wiki:

Aravis is a young Tarkheena, a female member of the ruling nobility of Calormen. With her horse, Hwin, who is revealed to be a talking beast from the land of Narnia, she flees from her home, in her brother's armor, in order to escape an arranged marriage. Aravis is a strong character, whose confidence, bravery and loyalty are offset by arrogance and self-centeredness. She is also an amazing storyteller.

It's been years since I read the book, but it's one of my Narnian favorites. I knew I wanted to do more than just a 'portrait', but not necessarily a 'scene' from the book. After looking up visual references (below) to get the ideas for her overall dress going, I just started doodling and eventually found a pose/situation that suggested a more than a mere portrait would.

Rough Sketches, looking for ideas… "hit it" over on the right.

Original unedited scan, col-erase pencil

References include various web & movies!

Any excuse to watch a movie, I tell you. ;)

So, what do you think of my Aravis? Does she look like her description?

Introducing QiWi

What is a QiWi you may ask? Well, he's not a fruit… or rather, he insists that he is not (I beg to differ, on occasion)

QiWi is a type of chimaera, a blend of several animals that make one magical critter (like griffins, mermaids and enfields). His particular type is called a Tirsu (Tier-soo).

*He’s also my new mascot & studio helper. He doesn’t have an artistic bone in his body, but with that handy gripping tail of his, he’s always ready to hand me what I need while I work. QiWi, where’s that cup of coffee I asked for?!

QiWi does think himself rather handsome, so he wanted me to share a bit of the process of how he came to be. It all started seven years ago…

Pt 1When I initially started designing a brand for myself there were a few important elements I wanted to include: I wanted it to be something unreal (I wanted to make it up) and having elements that were drawn and designed (after all, I do illustration and design). I sketched a horse-like critter in my notebook, scanned him, created vector artwork from the sketch, and blended the two. I kept things black & white because I wanted to highlight the color in my artwork… plus I was tired of seeing white backgrounds everywhere. Whatever, I’m over it - I need color now.

Pt 2I decided I needed an update, I didn’t want to start from scratch. So I took the old icon and started tinkering. I’d never drawn that original critter any other way, so I started playing with showing him in different positions, and even facial expressions.

Pt 3Then I started getting down to the details, okay he’s still very horse-like (what can I say, I like horses and I’m really good at drawing them). But he’s also got a very long neck like a giraffe and a curved back like a dragon or a dog. I’m not sure about the mouth feature yet - but he does have a bit of a cow nose. I spent quite some time trying to work out his feet - it was one of the features I wasn't particularly not happy with from the initial concept. I didn’t want him to have hooves, and I didn’t want them to be just paws - I eventually landed somewhere in between creating a kind of toed hoof (which is somewhat ironic given that a hoof is a toe, that’s right, for those of you that didn’t know, horses have four single toes). I was going to have a tufted tail (as you can see from the rough sketches), but I went back to the flowy horse-tail when I decided he would have movement control of each hail - like a million extra arms that work together to grip like hands.

Pt 4Now that I had a good sense of his overall structure and details, I just started sketching poses again and I landed on a unique one I thought would work well to compliment my new logotype (hand lettered - I’ll share that in another post soon) and my branding overall. It’s a unique position (horses and giraffes don’t sit, but dogs and dragons do). After the initial rough idea, I added the elements that help him identify with me (as my mascot & helper - he’s holding some of my tools). I also liked the tilt of his head, it’s almost inquisitive.

Pt 5Next… color. Always tough when you’re making things up as you go. I never had to think about this in the initial design, but luckily I’d already decided on a color palette for my new website, so I had something to start with. I did several of color studies, but ended up sharing these four with some of my trusted advisors (i.e. my crit group) and the consensus was V4. I had to agree, it’s unique, has an exotic feel to it, and it’s the least real-horse-like of the group. And there are aspects of this coloring that are reminiscent of a horse character I designed back in the 5th grade for a class picture book project. I kinda of liked the nostalgia of it.

Pt 6Then, I admit, I felt a bit rushed. I was anxious to get something done that I could share and get up on my new website & blog. Working digitally allows for extra editablility in the developmental process - so I decided to go vector first. It allowed me to work out a couple problem areas without redrawing 50 million times, plus is gave me wild freedoms in developing design elements for the website and branding I need him for. It’s a good place to start. I will use this finalized vector art to help create a finished version in graphite (which will be colored digitally) and a colored pencil version (which everyone is going to like the best - they always do).

Pt 7And so, here we have it… final vector line art and color. With a couple silhouettes for fun. I like silos, but since he’s a critter I made up and people aren’t familiar with him yet, it’s a bit confusing so I probably won’t be using them any time soon.

I just love making things up, and it’s been a lot of fun figuring out QiWi’s look. I can’t wait to share more versions of him and more poses… and perhaps, one day - a QiWi adventure!

Random Sketches

Practice, practice, practice.

Actors, Chloe Moretz and Kodi Smit-McPhee from Let Me In, a mediocre remake of the original, Let the Right One In. But, this one is set in 1980s Los Alamos, NM, which was kinda cool. ;)

I've never been much of a portraitist, likenesses are so difficult, maybe that's why I prefer drawing animals? But I've kind of given myself the assignment of drawing more kids lately… so here are a couple from the big screen. It's experimenting too - pencil sketch vs. pen and ink (I like the sketch better - sometimes the line of pen & ink is just too harsh for me - something to work on). Although usually kids tend to look OLDER in drawings, I somehow made Kodi look younger - I think I shortened his nose a bit. LOL. Ah well, now maybe I'll try some more styled versions.

Illustration Friday: MIDSUMMER NIGHT

Once again, I've run out of time… but I'm still trying to keep my promises to myself and participate & post for Illustration Friday regularly. So, here's a work-in-progress for the Midsummer Night theme: a mock-up book cover sketch. I plan to add a whole lot more (possibly animals in the tress, fairies?, etc.) and make it a real melding of illustration in the background with designy elements in vector overlapping/transparent on top. I also couldn't pass up a chance to do some hand lettering. Love it.

Basically I just started doodling and my mind wandered and eventually landed on this idea for a book cover. All while on a plane, being watched by fellow travelers.

New Work: Sticker Sunday - "Animal Crackers"

Hello, hello again! More fun stickers to share… it's kind of a random theme, but I always love drawing animals.

I only did the sketch for this design… the vector art was completed by a designer in-house. The final stickers (at least the cookie stickers) are rendered in moulded resin, a really nice touch.

I think I have a real sample somewhere, but I just wanted to get these posted for you. Maybe I'll come back and update the post with a prodcut scan a bit later. :)

Illustration Friday: LAUNCH

This week has turned into something crazier than I can manage. I was hoping to do a finished drawing of this, but I am just not going to have the time this week… so I decided to just post this concept sketch and be done with it - accept and move on. Fun stuff happening, so I can't be too upset about it. :)

New Work: Sticker Sunday - Happy Father's Day

Not everyone has the world's greatest Dad, but I suspect there are a LOT of us that think we do… which really says it all. Dads Rule. I myself, can't say enough great things about my Dad. Last year, when I bought my first house, he came to stay with me for a month to help me with various house projects and generally settle in. Then, a few months later, he drove across the country with me in his truck - schlepping all my "stuff" that had been in storage back east out to my new home… then stayed for another month, culminating with a visit from from Mom and a family Christmas together. Wow!
I really hate that I somehow managed to settle myself so far away from my parents, but at the same time, I think it helps me appreciate them both more. Happy Father's Day, Dad! Wish I could be there today, but lucky me - I'll get to see you at the end of the week! :)

Above is a sticker I designed a few years ago. I don't think it was ever distributed nationally, but it must have been a special order for a specific Retailer - because I got a sample (wish I remember WHERE). I made this Appreciation/ThankYou card for my Dad and used the sample, so I don't have a picture of the whole sticker sheet and I can't find one online. It's a shame, I really liked this design - a counterpart to my Best Mom design that is readily available in stores and online.

Below is another Dad themed sticker I designed last year. Same themes, but slightly different as icons are given more equal focus. I have the sketch and vector art I provided them, and the actual product seems like a pretty literal interpretation. But It's interesting to see how much vector drawing details are lost (like the necktie for example) and how they changed the gem placement (also on the tie). Funny little things. Still, I think it looks good!

New Work: Sticker Sunday - "Congrats Grad"

It's still Graduation season, at least it's winding down… actually I have no idea but I have one more grad theme to share so here it is… I did this one for the Jolee's line of 3D stickers. At this point, I've been doing these sketches for a long time and I've developed a clean, but very editable, way of presenting concept sketches (lots of layers , mirrored half-sketches, etc).

I think I've drawn 5 or 6 really detailed gem illustrations and I just use them on EVERYTHING now, so I don't have to go back and draw gems every time I need to suggest an embellishment.

They translated this design quite literally… although I don't think the glitter looks quite as good in actuality as it did in concept. Oh well.

Illustration Friday: SHADOWS

In know, I know - pirates, tropical islands, sea monsters, they're all are so overdone, but still, they're just so… cool. Partially inspired by my crit partner Wendy Martin and partially inspired by my own morning pages doodling… I somehow landed on this image that (I think) has a strong narrative (or maybe you're just thinking - what IS THAT, and what's going on THERE - you tell me?), with the shadows playing a large part in the story telling. I had a lot of fun with this, I somehow managed to give myself a million challenges and I'm happy with the results… but I know what it all is and the basic idea of what's going on - the question is, can everyone else tell?!

Because the shadows where so important to the concept, I decided to do something I haven't done since college and sculpt my own little reference for lighting. I took several photos, collaged different bits together in photoshop and cropped it as if it was a two page spread… although if I really intended this for a picture book piece, I'd probably finish it in color -- but at the moment I want to add more black & white to my portfolio.

Thoughts? I'd love to hear your what you think. :)



**And just a little side note -- after posting this I went and actually spent some time looking at other IF post-ers for this week's theme … and I am just AMAZED. So many unique perspectives, styles, concepts, pov's and just hugely talented people out there! Intimidating AND inspiring. Bravo IF-ers, BRAVO!

Just for Fun: World Oceans Day

Today is (or at this point, was) World Oceans Day so I thought it would nice to do a little ocean / sea creature themed drawing… late in the day I realized I hadn't done it yet and I kept seeing John Lechner's tweets about World Ocean Day, one after another after another (the ocean is obviously very important to John ;). They served as a reminder and I followed through for myself… for a changethe. I also watched Disney's Oceans while I was drawing… can't say I conserved much by doing that, but I raised my own awareness I guess. LOL

I like my line drawing, I'm not quite there with the watercolor yet… I mostly use it as an underpainting tool in my regular work and I think that shows here (flat!), maybe with practice…

New Work: Sticker Sunday - "Cap & Gown"

For some it's still graduation season… so here is another grad themed sticker design I worked on recently. I can't say how many graduation themed stickers I've worked on in my career, suffice to say it's been a lot. After the 10th time for so, it starts to get hard to look at it fresh and not repeat yourself, so when I was asked for a cap & gown theme again, it knew it was going to be a challenge.

Color can also be tough, because many graduations are dependent on the school colors, so product design has to stay generic enough to work for eveyone, but not be SO generic it isn't fun & interesting.

But I was really happy with how this one turned out. The gowns are maybe a bit stiff, but I love how I got to play with the cap & tassel icons, and lay them out in such a way they mimic the actual tossing of the caps that usually comes at the end of the ceremonies.

Stickers like these are usually used as accents on graduation scrapbook pages and/or party invitations and the like, to add an exciting little bit of theme-specific flare.

CPSA Meeting: Plein Air Drawing in the East Mountains

Yesterday I took a drive up to my friend Betty's house, were our local CPSA chapter was gathering for our monthly meeting. Usually we meet in town, but this month Betty invited us out to her house to do some Plein air drawing. We were invited to trek around her property, but being a rather warm day (up to 104°F in town -- WHAT, already?! It's not even June 1st yet), most of us opted to stay in the shade and sketch from her porches. Can you believe this is her back yard?

(the view from the front is equally impressive… frankly, her 360° views are impressive).

And then I started drawing the yard/mountains. (… well, I did a little illustration sketching first… more on that in a few days). These were pretty quick little sketches in my moleskine sketchbook, so I didn't really put time/effort into my full-on burnishing technique. This was mostly just fun practice… playing with line and color. It was so nice to just sit with a group of people and draw together, chatting about this and that - including our mutual love of colored pencils.

Illustration Friday: SAFARI

Wanted to get this in… just under the wire (in my time zone anyway). This is a fun little idea I came up with that I'd really like to expand on… more to come.

Live Model Drawing Session

My local CPSA district chapter (219) had our monthly meeting this past Saturday and we had a special treat! The meeting theme was portraits and one of our members brought in a live model so we could all sit and draw together. It's been a long time since I've worked from a live model - I love my photo references, but it was fun. I really enjoyed the pure drawing time. I wish I had spent some time doing quick gestural sketches, but since we were focusing on portrait, and the model wasn't moving or trying different poses, it didn't really make sense to do them.

So, here's our lovely model, her name was Nafshiyah:


I started with a warm-up sketch in graphite:



And then I decided to try my colored pencils… which is a little tough given that colored pencil doesn't really erase - it's more of commitment:


This is a little test I threw together in photoshop - an overlay of my second drawing and my reference photo. Looks pretty good! I impressed myself!! But I can see I've made the eyes too large, plus low and to the right (set back on face) - which led to a displaced ear (also too low and set back), but it appears to be approximately the right size. Which is funny because one of the members walking through the session commented that she thought it might be too small. ;)

New Work: Sticker Sunday - "Holiday Snowflakes"

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a lovely New Year's Eve… and recovered well on New Year's Day! Is it snowing where you are? It hardly ever snows where I am, and I do miss it.

These stickers are part of a very fun collection called Parcel (based on vintage Christmas decorations)… named after and developed with a shop of the same name in Montclair, NJ (just around the corner from where I used to live). It's an adorable shop that sells vintage items and paper goods of all kinds. If you live nearby, I highly recommend a visit. As you can see, the final product changed from the original sketch in favor of larger icons. Seeing the actually samples was also a surprise, sometimes I never know what to expect from the translation from sketch to 3D production. They certainly are beautiful… (if I do say so myself).

New Work: Sticker Sunday - "Santa's Valet"

Happy Boxing Day! I hope everyone, who celebrates it, had a lovely Christmas Day! Santa's big night is done and it's time for him to put away his working clothes for another year. :)

This sticker design changed after my sketch was approved and submitted, as it turns out I completely forgot his hat! I thought the pajamas and slippers were a cute addition, but I totally understand having to lose them in favor of including Santa's hat.

Enjoy the holidays & relax… I'm sure that's what Santa's doing right now!

New Work: Sticker Sunday - "Christmas Stockings"

Just 4 shopping days left until Christmas, have you hung your stockings by the chimney with care? Mine aren't… and probably won't be, but that doesn't mean I don't like them. Christmas stockings have gotten so much more fun and individualized since I was a kid. They've practically become works of art. Anyway, they are always significant & fun christmas icons.

New Work: Sticker Sunday - "Reindeer Trees"

In keeping with the holiday theme, here is one of the more fun and unusual themes I've been asked to work on. I love drawing animals, but since scrapbookers usually scrapbook about people-activities, I don't often get to draw them for sticker projects. I was actually really surprised how closely they followed the original sketch on this. So cute & fun!

New Work: Sticker Sunday - "Christmas Candies"

It's December, and that means everywhere you turn you are bombarded with Christmas: decorations, shopping, music, food… and candy! I've actually never been a huge fan of peppermint candies, but they sure are pretty. I will say, my favorite winter treat is mint-cocoa… not the same, but close enough. ;)

Oddly enough, on this assignment I stylized the candy canes in a curvy, rounded way… and my client requested that I straighten them out in revision. As you can see, they decided to go with the curvy version in the end anyway.

New Work: Sticker Sunday, "Gingerbread Townhouses"

What is this time of year about really, other than to make yummy treats and decorate everything to the hilt. Well, lots really… but let's focus here. ;)
This was a very fun theme to work on. I LOVE gingerbread. I also appreciate gingerbread houses, although I can't say that I've actually ever made one… that I remember (maybe I've blocked out the memories because I can draw better than I can decorate with icing?!). I knew I had to do something to mix things up so I could make this an interesting sticker sheet, so I threw some townhouses in there, lost of icing, and yummy candy accents. :) I love the little colorful gems the production team has added.

I have to add though, I never really GOT gingerbread houses. It's seems like an awful lot of time and effort and yummy goodies to put into something that no one really ends up EATING. So disappointing, but VERY cool looking. :)