Sketch Dump!

I often doodle in Manga Studio, in between pretending to be being productive. But doodling is a good way to relax and practice my drawing skills at the same time, so it's all good. ;)

I've said this before, and I'll say it again - out of all the programs I've tried, Manga Studio 4 is the easiest program to draw in. It has brushes call Maru and Kabura pens that mimic the 'perfect' look of the pen tool in photoshop. Using the brush pens feels so much more natural in Manga Studio. You very rarely have to deal with wobbly lines, and yet you still have great control over the line work you make. It's also soooo much faster than the the hours and hours it took to refine the line work in photoshop. Seriously, this program is amazing, and I would recommend it for it's ease of use alone (particularly when drawing).

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the random doodles! 

Pink Chaos

Thank goodness for Friday! Do you guys have any fun weekend plans?

We're doing a Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday and Sunday in the heart of downtown Vancouver, for our Sparrows Trove line of jewelry. If things go well, my Christmas present to me will be an Ipad! Wish us luck!

Dia de los Muertas - Goddess of the Dead comp sketches

These are the sketches - basically my brain splatted on paper - for my upcoming painting for Dia de los Muertas. When I sketch, it tends to be super loose, and unfinished looking, simply because they are thoughts and ideas, that will lead toward the finished piece - but are definitely NOT the finished piece. They are unrendered, scribbly, and to the point; a visual record for me to remember the details (and oh my will there be a lot of details!). 

I have some decision making to do. That's always the hardest part for me, because I see many directions the painting could go, but only have the inspiration to execute the theme once. 

Thankfully, I do seem to have the colour pallet already envisioned, and that's half the battle. I'm thinking crimson red, paynes grey and midnight blue, and some yellows. There may also be a lot of grey, black, and pops of teal here and there. Check out my inspiration board >> here.

This is how it looks without brightening it. 

The girl above's legs

Each painting has a story, and as I draw and colour the piece, the story starts to reveal itself to me. It feels like a lot of pressure to do it justice - show it how it deserves to be shown, and not let myself or it down. Makes me believe in the Grecian idea of muses as actual beings, and how they affect an artist & their motivation/inspiration to create. I can't let my muse down! :)

Anyway, I hope you, I, and my muse will love the finished piece. Tonight or tomorrow I will start the pencil drawing (I draw right on the paper, no image transferring from sketches because a. my sketches suck, b. I don't have the patience for that, and c. I like to make changes to the comp at the last second).

Before I start to paint it with colour, I'm thinking I might do some colour tests in my new watercolour sketchbook. I think it's a good idea for me, because there's been times where I've loved an inked drawing, and then I colour it to shat >> example

Well, wish me luck, and hopefully it'll turn out awesome. :D

My Moleskine Sketchbook

Today I made a little video!
Take a journey through an old moleskine sketchbook of mine, where you find oodles of doodles, and notes I scribbled during class. This sketchbook is almost three years old now.

I hope you take a moment to watch the video and let me know what you think! :) Enjoy!

Rainbow Sketches

Hey all! <3 Sorry I haven't posted the last three days. I've been feeling drained, mostly due to family drama. It's not really resolved yet or anything, but there's nothing I can do to fix the situation other than give my support, and lots of e-hugs, and prayers. Don't worry, no one is ill or anything, it's just family dynamic stuff that really sucks. I just hope it all works out for the best.

My friend Bekah came over today and we had some really awesome chats, doodled some art, and ate spicy yam cones and tim bits donuts! Good times. ^_~

Anyway, here are some of my doodles that I continued working on after she left for home. Hope you like!

Victorian Girl Sketch - Into the Sketchbook #01

Victorian Girl playing with her dolls and doll houses

Close up of Victorian girl

I'm thinking of making the 'into the sketchbook' a regular thing, where I post doodles and sketches I'm working on. Good idea, yay or nay? I know they're not finished pieces (at all), but there's something special in the immediacy of a sketch - the quick lines, emotion, carefree feeling... I love it! I defintely need to sketch more!

>>bird graphic via bird clip art. will be using it until I make my own.<<

Sketches

Hey guys!

I've been working on a lot of little sketches, trying to figure out my theme and ideas behind a collection of new artwork. I'm also trying to figure out how one titles their collection. Hmmmmm. . . *ponders*
The last one is my favourite. Which one is yours? Feedback welcome :)

A tree nymph drawing

I have an idea for a new illustration...

I was trying to channel some emotions and ideas... and this is a rough sketch of what I came up with. I'm not really used to doing this kind of personal work... thanks to Christina for suggesting I try.

I made a really mess sketch (as I usually do haha).

Themes behind this: 

• 
  
• fragility
• recapturing something you feel you lost
• release and loss - a feeling of part of you escaping
• life - and how new plants grow out of an old nurse tree stump - kind of mimics life, and how new things grow upon older experiences and memories
• feeling like you're in a cocoon or a shell, and are afraid to break free.

If I manage to finish everything I have planned to do today, I might sit down and begin to paint this. I feel something I haven't felt in a while... Inspiration. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on my sketch, and if you think there's anything I should add or change. :)

Fairy Art Doodle

A little Faerie doodle I did a couple of months ago. Very Amy Brown inspired.

Man I need to make some new art! :P

A peek in my sketchbook

A cute mermaid sketch. I've always liked this one.
Might use it in a layout or something one day. 

I really love this sketch. A regal Victorian lady with impossible, gravity defying hair,
surrounded by beautiful white lillies. I don't usually do sketches before
I paint, but in this case, I would love to turn this sketch into a painting.

Victorian Steampunk dress drawing. I love steampunk!!

The intense stare of this faerie reminds me
of Jasmine Becket-Griffith

There's something so pleasant about this sketch that makes me
feel cheery. I love her tall boots, and ruffly dress. ^_^

A 'Bad' Faerie Painting Sketch. A lot of my Fae are elegantly dressed, but when I truly envision a Fae from the Other-
realm, this is more of what I imagine. Sketchy lines, washes of colour, elongated limbs... something truly alien.
This is most likely inspired by my first Faerie influence, Brian Froud. 

Hope you enjoyed this little peek into my sketchbook! Let me know if you think I should make any paintings out of these sketches. ^_^

ACEO's Featuring, Faeries and Mermaids!

A couple posts ago, I mentioned how I joined atcsforall.com, and was excited to get started on some new miniature pieces of art for art card trades. 

Well here are the first few sketches of some cards! I'd love to hear which one is your favourite!

*warning* spoilers for anyone I'm trading with off of atcsforall.com. 

Sketches in Manga Studio

Never have I EVER used a ,more lovely program to do sketches.

A handsome young man. He will likely be the character 'Death' in my short comic.

Sketches of cute girls. I love to draw eyes and hair!

More pretty ladies. The one on the right was inspired by the fashion of the characters on Xena.