Thursday, July 28, 2011

Princess Artwork Update

Still working on creating a princess piece for my licensing portfolio (to follow - a pirate piece and dinosaur piece of the same style/feel, as often licensing work is done in sets). Here is the first sketch (a flying unicorn) and the follow-up sketch based on feedback from my amazing agent, Elaine.

Feedback that was given: turn the flying unicorn into a unicorn on the ground, add critters (a suggestion I fully embraced). I did forget to make the castle larger, but that is something I can change easily in photoshop before transferring to canvas. I'm still finding it an odd transition to create artwork that is not strictly meant for one particular client, but the process intrigues me and I'm hopeful that as I create work in this new field that my artwork will be picked up.


Monday, July 18, 2011

Life is changing...

Life is changing and so is my studio. I'm back in the basement (with I hope more improvements to come, like paint on the ugly faux wood-panel walls and rearranging of paintings and boards). Things are a bit squishier now, as the room doubles as my spare room. Still, I'm happy down here because it's really nice and cool.

It's just occurred to me that I don't think I've made the official announcement that I'm expecting my second child this November (hence the reason for the studio move from the sunny little space upstairs). I'm over the half-way point in my pregnancy which means I'm in the glorious 2nd trimester, where my nausea only comes and goes when I'm really hungry or tired and my bump isn't big enough to get me stuck in-between narrow doorways. I hope to one day pursue the noble art of doula work, on top of my illustration work, when my kids have grown up a little (a doula is someone who supports a woman during pregnancy and more importantly, labour). I'd also like to offer belly casting and of course, painting of said belly cast after it sets. I'm so fascinated by birth, pregnancy and general immediate post-partum that I feel this will eventually be a great thing for me. Just not now.

Pictured below is my current studio, with the "doodle-bugs" easel in the corner and a very cluttered work space. I think I may have to get rid of the inspiration board, it's a horrible mess... but I do like having pictures up that chance on a sometimes weekly basis while I work. So, who knows. The spare bed is right behind my computer, so if I really wanted, I suppose I could "draw"... or snooze a little until I find good ideas. ha ha! Leppard, my sweet mixed mutt, is finally brave enough to join me downstairs. The first few years we had her she wouldn't go down stairs even if there was a fully roasted chicken two steps down with her name on it. I suspect some sort of trauma involving stairs happened to her when before we adopted her.

Here is the doodle-bug, listening to the baby. He also took the time to drive little cars on the belly.

What I'm currently working on:

Princess artwork for a potential client via my lovely agent, Elaine at Cypress Fine Art Licensing. Hopefully this will eventually become a die-cut puzzle. More to come as I get feedback from Elaine, and I think I'd like to try something with a castle in the background too.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The Future (is here)

Amazing. I'm so glad my husband teaches 3D animation... this great attribute might come in handy later in my life (for things other than plain bragging rights of course).

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore iPad App Trailer from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.


Monday, July 11, 2011

Beautiful escape

Holidays put into perspective how many amazing things are within driving distance of my home. On Canada Day (July 1), I walked amongst scorching hot hoo-doos then later sat silently in the shadow of the worlds largest dinosaur as fireworks crackled over it's head. We drove from Drumheller to Kananaskis where we climbed a mountain, ankles deep in snow and the roar of a glacial waterfall bouncing off the cliffs. There were morale mushrooms to fry and a surprise encounter with a geo-cache at Marl Lake where I left behind the only thing in my pocket - a red ruby sucker - in exchange for a lovely Caribbean 25cent coin. In Banff we rode a gondola in time for a snowstorm to allow me to break out my new baby-wearing coat and later took in the romance of my cousin's beautiful wedding.

I am glad to be home, but I miss the new adventure that hiking and new places provided. My pants have muddy knees and my ankles are speckled with mosquito bites but I suppose one has to return home at some point to weed the garden!