Illustration

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.

A Place or People? Today the #scbwiArtober2024 prompt was Home. I knew immediately what I wanted to draw. Using a photo I had snapped many years ago as I left my parent's apartment building here in my town, I sketched with pencil then applied sumi ink in various shades of wash. The drawing represents the tradition my parents had of always stepping to the door, window or just outside their threshold to wave goodbye till we were out of sight. It is embedded so deeply in my memory that even … [Read more...] about Where to Find Home

Sharing Overload. I was impressed when Simone Biles shared about her struggle with mental health at the last Olympics. I think it's important to share those kinds of stories of struggle so others do not feel alone in their own efforts to deal with such difficulties. It's good to know your own stress point limitations. She saw what was going to be too much for her to deal with at that point in time and removed herself from a situation that could possibly cause her more harm. I grew up in an … [Read more...] about Too Much Information