Sketchbook: Works In Progress (Mostly)

These are a few more projects that I’m working on, or have finished. Two came about because I found some cast-off pieces of paper and board and decided to mess about. One was commissioned by a friend as a gift for her brother.

I don’t really know about this one. We’ll see what it’s all about when I feel like it’s finished.

A rather small little study in watercolor. About 3X5. Will continue detail with colored pencil and pen and ink or gouache.

“Expiring Frog”

A fun little piece. A friend bought a book of terrible poetry as a Christmas gift for her brother and thought that an illustrated awful poem by Dickens would be a nice accompaniment. This particular gem is from “Pickwick Papers”. The style is William Morris. The lettering is . . . not fantastic. Oh well.

Another work in progress–my studio. It’s a lovely, light-filled space with, get this, storage. Which is why I’m baffled as to why I don’t spend more time there. I’m pretty much a catastrophic idiot. The homely chair in the corner was added so that I could read or cogitate for a bit after work. This helps the mind get into the mood for creation. Well, it usually does.

Sketchbook: Digital Detritus

At one time in my life I was convinced that I would be a digital concept artist/illustrator. That never happened. In fact, I am complete rubbish in a digital medium. This is due to both lack of practice and proper knowledge of the programs necessary. However, every once in a while, I do dabble a bit. These are a few old 15 to 30 minute sketches done with Sketchbook Express. I’m not particularly fond of any of them. They are the reminders of my failures, which is why they are important, I suppose.

This is the only one I kind of enjoy, only because it’s a sketch of Stephen’s old pal, Jack. He’s a rather well-traveled panda.

Sketchbook

Sometimes the little fiddly bits that I sketch on my inking scratch paper are more interesting than whatever piece of work I’m avoiding. There’s a certain freedom to knowing that whatever is being drawn doesn’t really count one way or another. Doesn’t even need to make sense, really—visual stream of consciousness. Technique honing leads to a snippet of story or characterization which leads back to mark making. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman, if you will.

Sketchbook

I’ve been lax about this. Here are some sketches done during a free period, back when I was a substitute teacher. Sharpie pen in a small moleskine notebook.