No Sewing, Just drawing

I think I mentioned last entry that I was commissioned to do a some cartoony drawings.  My customer-friend is in England and asked via the Facebook if I could do it for her.  Secretly THRILLED, I cooly responded, "Lemme work on something for you".  Ok, maybe I wasn't so cool. 

I've been sketching monsters, witches, dreamy vampire loverboys, cats. I even did a study of crossbows 'cause I didn't know what they looked like. I'm glad I did that - pretty sure the boy would not want to be found to be killing zombies with a cupid's bow, like a newb.

Here. Have the first monster that I drew, who is not included in the picture.

Now, about 2 weeks later, I have two awesome 11x14 inked drawings that need to be colored in.

I did my 'character' studies in my 8x10 sketchbook.  (Which, by the way, I drew Superman in it so everytime I open my sketchbook I am greeted with his beautiful face and a "Hey girl, hey."  Yeah.  I'm obsessed. Whatever.)  My 'character' studies are just quick sketches that I did of the kids from many photos to get an idea of their face shapes, distinct features, their expressions - just their general presense.  So I have a couple of pages filled with heads of these same kids. And monsters.  And cats. And crossbows.

I need more Superman. Hmmm. I'm not doing anything today and everyone is at Comicon - the bastards. Maybe I'll take myself to the movies and visit Mr. Cavill.  Hmmm. Perhaps.

This time I tried a new method. I have broken down larger pieces of work into small sections so that if I screw up I can fix and alter without ruining the whole picture.  Once I'm satisfied, I move everything onto the larger bristol sheet using my lightbox. (I LOVE BRISTOL PAPER, so wonderful.)   I am 100% happy with how the pictures have turned out so far.  I wish I could keep them black and white, however, I was asked for full color.  So that's what I'm going to do.

It's always the coloring part that really scares me though.  You do all this work, perfecting, inking, and then... you add color.  Color isn't forgiving.  Inking isn't forgiving either, but at least you can sometimes fix it with color. Color is FINAL.  I guess it's that finality which scares me.  There are no fixes once color is down, unless you start all over again.  And starting all over again means time lost.

Oh, you're probably wondering why I am freaking.  It's because this is completely old school art style.  All by hand.  Old school.  None of this digital magic, no clicky of the button erasies.

I've decided to fill it with Prismacolor pencils instead of watercolor paint or my new markers.  I love watercolor, but I use that for fairies.  And I'm not 100% comfortable with my markers yet, though I am positive they would have looked amazing.  I just don't wanna mess it up with an amateur marker hand. Besides Prismacolor pencils are a wonderful medium.  You can get really beautiful blends when you build up with them as they are oil based.  I'm excited that I'll finally be opening my new tin of pencils, too.  I've been on a roll with them as I was illustrating that little story I am writing. 

It's a tale for another day, but I have been writing a story that won't go away. I'm finally writing the book that I want to read.

Anyway, should I get permission to share the final drawing with you from my friend.  I will do so.

Have a wonderful day - - weekend, whatever you are doing.  As for me, I think I will visit my sketchbook.

I Made a #^@&%*! Hat

UGH.  Why is it after 9pm and still ninety-eight-thousand degrees?  Better yet, why was it a billion degrees today and someone decide to "save energy" and not turn on the central air?  Not even for an hour.  Don't look at me - I would have had this house at a comfortable temperature.

First world problems... I swear.

Well, along with me HATING the summer, I am certain my sewing muse ran away for cooler temperatures and left her dim-witted, one-armed, cock-eyed half sister in her stead.  At least that's what it felt like every single time I went to try and sew.

At first I thought I was going to do something simple; something to get me back into the groove of things, something easy like a floppy, summer-y, fisherman-y hat.  I even picked cute-ish fabric because I wasn't sure I was actually going to keep this thing for myself.  So, skulls and pink bows, what could be worse than that?  ("SUMMER TIME" my inner whiner yells.  STFU! We don't want to hear about it now, You.)

See, it ain't so bad.  Right?

WRONG!!  The damned thing was a freaking nightmare.  I told you my Sewing Muse upped and left me with that impostor.  The pattern wasn't fitting together (or I just wasn't sewing it right).  The crown fabric is pinched 'cause there was too much on top and the side band of the hat was WAY too tall.  It freaking looks like a top hat at the right angle.  &*^$@*^$*@&%!#^&^!!!

(I hate Summer.  Give me back my rain and winter!)

Can you see I am unimpressed with my new hat?

Well, I am.  Unimpressed.  Totally unimpressed and don't know what the hell to think besides "I HATE IT!!!"  And totally on the outs with my sewing muse for running off on me.  However, I am tempted to have another go at this hat.  Maybe with the right weather and a different fabric.  Maybe if my Sewing Muse ever comes back.  Maybe after we have the huge fight that's building up in my head.  Maybe after she apologizes... and repents!

Good thing my old friend, Hot Hand, snuck back into my life.  I have been drawing like a fiend.  I have been sketching and coloring and getting back into the groove of this art thing since Sewing Muse has been away.  (What should we call that wench, anyway?)  I have been drawing for at least an hour or more everyday lately.  Mostly quick sketches and movement drawings, just to get the feel of the pencil again, but it's getting better.

Here's a quick sketch of a picture I want to eventually paint with my oils.  (Yep, that's the bride.  Nope, no real pictures yet.  I was told they would be here in the next couple of weeks.)

Even better news - I was asked to do a couple of cartoony drawings for a friend of mine who lives 'Across the Pond.'  I'm still working out all the details and layouts for those.  It's such a cool challenge and I'm happy to do it.

If you know me... You know I do NOT do zombies. I don't like to see them, hear them, think about them, read about them. Zombies? NO! Do not want.  However, I have been drawing zombies.  (Only a friend and the delirium from this miserable heat could get me drawing zombies.)  Well, they aren't exactly the decaying monsters that I fear, these are more. . . . well. . . . sorta like . . . if Disney had a baby with Skeleton monsters.  Yeah.

Ok. I just hit the wall.  My brain just died.  I think that's enough of an update for now.

The heat has drained me.

I perish.