An Artist’s Blog

Scribbles and Washes. Someone on Bluesky Social Media mentioned Inktense watercolor pencils. Since I like the look of both watercolor and pencil lines, I was intrigued. The small set I picked up made me nervous at first as they were mostly bright colors. I don't know why, but for some reason I'm always worried I won't be able to control the brilliant hues. First impression when applying them to a sheet of simple sketch paper was mixed. They rolled across the paper like butter, but when I … [Read more...] about Trying New Art Tools

Run the Race. My littlest brother (in all aspects of the term littlest), was born the year after we moved to the farm. In the early years of us younger siblings, we were not allowed to bike ride the country roads where large machinery jostled down the road with their drivers occasionally gazing off into the neighbor's fields checking to see who all had their corn planted yet. Our only option was shuttling around the looped gravel driveway on our ramshackle bikes. Fenders clacking and dust … [Read more...] about Keep on Keeping on.

Dark to Light. In a recent piece done in a muted minimally colored palette, I questioned throughout the process whether my lights and darks were going to end up varied enough to be pleasing to the eye. I had a vision for the final pieces in this new dummy I was assembling. Though the majority of the color scheme was more neutral and muted, I wanted there to be some occasional bright pops of color as well. I did some experimenting with sample pieces and then garnered some feedback from … [Read more...] about Muted Palette

Scared eyes or crazy eyes? I was reading recent comments an art director was sharing about the expressiveness of body language. Exacting a specific expression can make all the difference in the world. Can a particularly drawn shrug of shoulders mean uncertainty or an attitude of disinterest? Do some expressions require additional situational context to clarify an understanding of what they are trying to relay? I pondered these questions as I worked on a new illustration for a story I'm … [Read more...] about Expressive Eyes

Santa Ornaments. Well, some call them Santa, some, little Christmas Men, others call them creepy or ugly little men. (They are not for everyone.) In any case, my little holiday ornaments were finished up and many went on their way to brighten people's homes and holidays. They went from bald faces on stacks of costumes: to piles of smiling Christmas characters. Money and Magic. My November post was delayed till now because of preparation for today's Holiday Fair. Making … [Read more...] about Santa on the Way.