Illustration Friday - 'diary'

"Oh to have a tree to hold a diary,
maybe two or three...or more!
Yes, that is what I wish for..."
© Laura Taylor Mark

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Great to see 'diary' for IF's prompt word this week even though I've never really been into keeping one, not one filled with words that is....

However, thanks to the art journal revolution the last couple of years - or should I say revelation - I've found that keeping an art diary/visual journal has given me the most creative and satisfying results. I think for me it's mostly been because the pressure is off to create "art". Some of my best, most spontaneous & fun pieces can be found in the 12 or so journals I've been playing in for the last few years.

I encourage you (as I do in the local art journaling classes that I offer) to start an art diary/ journal and see where it takes you on your art journey, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Cheers!

Illustration Friday - "Breezy"

We experienced our first Texas dust storm here last week - it looked like fog rolling in except for the loud howling of wind, car alarms going off and the power flickering on and off - quite the experience let me tell ya!

I really am trying to embrace our new lifestyle here (my consolation that night was 'at least it isn't snow') so I find my art being influenced by all things Texas. I used to think that cowboy [girl] hats were mostly for looks and also to keep out the hot sun - but now I believe they would definitely come in handy when those 'breezy' desert winds kick up!

I snapped a few in progress shots this afternoon while working on this sketch, so here's a bit of a step out...

1. I started out with a fine line sketch, then moved into my focal point - her face...



2. More tweaking on details, start to work in her jacket and give her hair more of a 'breezy', windswept look...



3. Worked my way across and added color for her t-shirt, then detailed her hand. I have more work to do on her jacket (I love the patterns and color but there is a lot of detail - whew!) as well as the edging of her hat.....


'untitled' colored pencil, kraft paper journal

Thanks for taking the time to visit. Have a great weekend y'all!

EDIT: Update: 03/01/09 - click here for the finished piece...

Illustration Friday - "Alphabets"

f is for flower....and some other [nice] 'f' words. and i say that with tongue in cheek as that's how it came out when my daughter asked what this sketch was about :)

i do love this time of year and flowers are always a favorite subject, whether i'm rendering them realisitically or just making doodles :) anyhow, i would love to do a whole alphabet in flowers like this - great fun! [and yes it's in there]

one more thing - cheers to all those celebrating the last official long weekend of the summer!!!




















moleskine, watercolor, colored pencil