Calendar Winners Announced!

Thanks to everyone who entered my January Blog Contest (calendar giveaway with secret prize...). I used a random number generator to pick the two winners who are (drum roll please) Chickengirl and Jenna! If you didn't receive my emails girls give me a shout back with your addy's. Cheers!

And for interests sake, here's a map of my recent visitors. This is a free service provided by statcounter.com

Retrospection

I spent a bit of today looking through old sketchbooks and had a good laugh. Take a look at a sketch I completed in 1989:


From 1997:


And some from 2002 (I was a student at Grant MacEwan College):



Evolution is a wonderful thing!

*there's only one more day until my blog contest ends! Scroll down for more information.

Sweet Moleskin

Sandra, originally uploaded by crystal driedger.

I bought a moleskin shortly after I spied my friend Amanda's at a market I was working last summer. It's been such a treasure. It's exactly the right size and weight (can be carried with me at all times for creative moments that come out of the blue), is flexible and so so soft!

No matter what situation I'm in and no matter how hectic my schedule, if I find the time to sketch during my day it brings me great peace. While this is not always the case with client work, where there is always pressure to create something better and more lively, sketching for myself has been a very effective way to test different styles and techniques and an even better way to just clear my head of nonesense.

I like to go back into my sketchbook months afterwards and add colour to the cross hatching I first did with my pen in front of the tv. For some reason I don't like just sitting and watching tv... I enjoy doing something creative while I do this. Perhaps it lessens the guilt factor of being a movie nutt.

* Just a reminder: There's only 6 days left until I draw for those two free calendars and secret prize...

2008 Calendar Giveaway Contest!

I have two copies of my 2008 calendar to give away to two different blog visitors (plus a surprise gift!). Here's the rules: Post a comment on the following topic and I'll draw from the names of people who comment on or before January 31st for the prize. Then once I've contacted the winner you'll be sent the prize (please don't leave your address in the blog comment section but rather leave a website or blog address/email where I can get this from you privately)!

Here's the topic:

"Green Illustration & Design" (what are you doing to make your illustrations and office more environmentally friendly? Any links to good office crafts out or recycled goodies? And if you're not an illustrator or designer what are you doing to make your home more eco-friendly?)

Illustration Friday: "Plain Jane"

Plain Jane, originally uploaded by crystal driedger.

Oh poor Jane
Don't feel so plain!
Your dress might not sparkle
But your smile always will.

Illustration completed exclusively for Illustration Friday. :)

tea time sketch

tea time sketch, originally uploaded by crystal driedger.

I'm going to embark on a new artistic journey soon... I'm going to try my hand at linocuts. And, using only the internet as my teacher, we'll see how good I'll be at this craft. I'm sure the first will probably be full of mistakes but then, isn't that the same as life?

Holly's Castle

This is another illustration I've completed in the efforts of building more samples of children in my portfolio. This was much faster than the "Summer Fun" image I completed early January and was tremendous fun as well. Looks like I'm in for a great month!

Opportunity to Use a variety of styles

If there's one wonderful aspect having a part-time job, it would be the ability to diversify yourself. While it's nice to be able to see people other than your family on a 24 - 7 basis, this is not the biggest benefit I've discovered by working at the Royal Alberta Museum. While my job is primarily graphic design in nature I have been able to complete the odd illustration here and there. To top off this bunch of pure goodness, it's usually different stylistically than I do during my business hours as an illustrator. This really gives me the chance to experiment, which is very needed in this business of illustration.

The bears above were for a board game that the education department uses to educate children about grizzlies and black bears. It's more of a simple, sihouette approach and yet I found it fun (sort of like a puzzle).

A Painting for Maggie

For those of you who don't already know, I have an agent. We've been working together to resolve some issues with the way I draw kids. This is the first painting that I've managed to finish for her and it's taken me months to find the time to finish. You might remember the progress of this painting from a previous post made in October. This just goes to show how busy I've been in the last few months. My goal is to load up my portfolio in the next couple of months with kids doing fun things. As I adore painting, this shouldn't be an undesirable task!

ps: This picture is big enough to be a desktop image so please feel free to use it as your wallpaper. :)