Illustration Friday: Caution

"Swim at Your Own Risk!"

Here is my crack at Illustration Friday's topic "Caution." I had a lot of fun with the idea even though I'm not completely happy with the execution. I find that I am more prone to inking an illustration when I am not satisfied with the early results. I am more likely to keep it a simple watercolor or gouache painting if it is going well early in the process.

Today was the first day back at school, and so far it looks like I have a pretty good group of kids. For a first day activity we played a drawing game called "The Exquisite Corpse." It was a fun little collaborative assignment, that kept things light and easy. If you have never played it before, do a quick Google search to learn how to play and give it a try with some of your friends.

Illustration Friday- Wrapped

"No Lulu! Bad Kitty!"

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This is illustration Friday submission #4. I felt a little rushed on this one, but I like the overall feel of the image. There are a lot of bright blue shadows on the TP that just got washed out in the scan.

Teachers are back at school this week getting ready for kiddos next Monday. It will only get busier as the school year gets going so I will have to figure out where this self-imposed assignment will fit in. Right now I am using the time that Todd is at Band practice to work on IF assignments, make artist trading cards and go to the gym. I am signed up for a series of illustrated cards based on a chimerical animal. Since I just did a project at art camp based on mixed up animals, I figured I would stick with the little Toucan/Lobster... "Toubster" that I already created. I will post the ATCs here when they are complete.

Welcome to my studio!

This is my current working space looking surprisingly clean and organized. It is amazing how fast I can fill up this big table with art supplies, sketches, books, and 3 days worth of mail that hasn't made it to the trash. My studio space was supposed to be an out building that is next to the house, but the wasps, humidity and tendency for it to be used as a storage facility finally drove me back into the house. This space was our kid's game room, but since Todd is the last podling still home, we moved his TV and video games into Kelly's old room, and I finally have my own space again.

Illustration Friday: Impatience

It takes ten to twelve days for a Monarch butterfly to emerge from it's chrysalis.

This is my 3rd Illustration Friday submission and even though I don't like to toot my own horn, this one is my favorite by far. Probably because the little boy so closely resembles my son Todd who is now 14. I am also including the original sketch that I drew yesterday. Sometimes I prefer the immediacy of the original idea even more than the finished piece.

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Illustration Friday: Modify

...but what Julia really wants is A BUNNY!

This is my second submission for Illustration Friday. I had to get it done today because I have kids art camp every day this next week. It is not a paying gig, but it will bring in much needed art club money. I have to keep reminding myself that I love my high school students more than my summer break. :) I'll be getting up at 5:30. That's in the AM.

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Have a great week ya'll!