InkTober Kick-off

     Woohoo! October is finally here! My favorite month! And for the first time I am prepared to participate in InkTober! InkTober was started in 2009 by Jake Parker (who is also one of the awesome instructors at SVS Learn). For a little info about the InkTober Initiative here's the link: http://mrjakeparker.com/inktober

     The theme I've chosen to work with is pretty general - CHILDREN. I figure, if I want to be a children's book illustrator I should be able to just about draw them with my eyes closed. Because I need all the practice I can get I am simultaneously working on another project, also put out there by Mr. Jake Parker, Design 100 Somethings. After coming up with 100 drawings of children with various expressions, actions, clothing, and hairstyles I should be an expert. At least, that's the plan!

     I'm not going to promise myself a drawing a day, although I am going to try. My goal is to post a nice ink drawing twice a week, on Saturdays, and Wednesdays, throughout the month. If I do more, I will sneak them into my twice weekly posts. #inktober #inktober2016

Second Seascape of the Summer

     This is a piece I did for Jean and Robert McLear. It's done in oils and measures 36"x24". 

I took photos throughout the whole painting process and forgot to take the very final photo. This was the next to the last step. I am probably the only one who would notice a difference.

     I've taken a break for a couple of days, then it's back to my stories. Next week I hope to post a full page spread from one of them.  I've been concentrating on a new book dummy for "Serenity."

Addy

Addy -  12" x 9" pastel

    

SCBWI - ROYAL

Watercolor with digital enhancements

As I've mentioned before, I've been taking some online classes at SVS Learn and I wanted to put some of the things I've learned to use. The SCBWI word prompt this month had a shortened turn-around time so I revamped an older illustration that I had done for Illustration Friday two years ago when the prompt was - KING. 

Here's the old one:

The Bremen Town Musicians

     5 x 7 oil on illustration board

I finished this last week for an SCBWI notecard contest. 

Serenity character study

     Lately I've been working on character design.  This is Serenity, one of my own story characters. I'm trying to figure out EXACTLY what she looks like and then draw her over, and over, and over, in different poses with different emotions, all the while maintaining consistency. 

   This is a digital drawing and looks a lot like the type of work that you can find in my sketchbook. Often, when I take those sketches and try to clean them up, refine lines, and add color, (either traditionally or digitally) they end up being very stiff. I'm trying to figure out how to keep the energy that my sketchbook has in it, and I think I've done a decent job this time. 

     Below is one of my earlier attempts at her with pen and ink and then a version of the sketch above with color added.