Illustration-Friday-Super-Hero

Illustration Friday: Super Hero

Over at Illustration Friday a new topic is posted and then anybody can post their interpretation of the topic. So here's mine...Sophie Super Hero

Venician Garage door and clock tower

When I think of Venice and the fact that there are no cars on the island, it's kind of interesting to note the canal boat garages. When I took water taxi's around the canals, it wasn't uncommon to see these type of garage doors and when the doors were lift, inside you might see motor boats. Interest way for the people to get around.

alleys of venice

This was a typical alley way in Venice. I used derwent watercolor pencils and prismacolor colored pencils.

Contour drawing of San Giorgio Island

As I was going through my Venice photo's I came across one of San Giorgio Island...the view I could see from my hotel.

This is a quick 10 minute contour drawing. I'm not sure I like the starkness of a contour drawing.

Images of Venice

I guess I'm feeling better and was able to do these 3 buildings of Venice.





Basilica San Marco

Window on the canal

One of many canal bridges and buildings.

I guess this is the nice part of traveling and taking lots of photos that I can use as reference later. I had taken on my last trip over 300 pictures of Venice, and silly me, printed them all out. Now as I am able to use them, it doesn't seem as silly at all now.

Just Checking in

I've been under the weather for the past few days, so I don't have any drawings to upload, so that means I've gotta get cracking and do 5 quick sketches. I've also spent a good part of yesterday organizing my studio. I don't think I'm superstitious but two things have happened with my computer. The first one being that my extra drives and card readers dropped off my computer; then this morning I spilled a cup of coffee on my ergonomic key board that I just love. Well my ergonomic key board died. To hold me over I found the original key board that came with my computer that I bought last year. It's OK and hopefully when the roads get dryer, I'll venture out to Best Buy to get a new ergonomic key board. It's these little things in life that sometimes I find so upsetting. I'm now just waiting for the third thing to happen...with me it usually does...or maybe it already happened and I just can't remember. When I realized my extra drives dropped off, I called HP, and believe it or not I'm still under warranty. The downside is that I have to make backup copies of everything on my computer so HP can walk me through re-installing my drives. If that doesn't work, then they'll send a technician to replace those drives...what a hassle.

While backing up my information, I can across a picture of me standing on a little bridge in Giverny, France in Monet's garden. As I look at that photo I can remember standing there and thinking life couldn't get any better.

windows and canal of venice

Yesterday blogger was done when I attempted to post, so here's my drawing for 1-9-07...want to stay on track!

Windows and canal of Venice...4" x 6", using Derwent colored pencils and enhanced color with Adobe photoshop.

Each day that I play around with Adobe photoshop in the layers mode I learn something new. I figure if I continue to do this, all the mystery of layers will disappear for me.

Next week I will begin a 10 week course at Gage Academy of Arts, in Seattle. The class I'll be taking Botanical Painting in Watercolor. I've was all set last year to take this class, but I got ill so I had to post-pone. I'm rather excited about taking the class with Louise Smith because she is well known in the Botanical world for her beautiful watercolors of botanical flowers.

And here is a course description of what I'll be learning!

Learn to identify and depict important plant features that make your work convincing as Smith guides you through a methodical introduction to botanical painting. You begin with basic skill-building exercises in watercolor wash and dry-brush techniques. You then progress to color-mixing exercises and an introduction to concepts of light on form. Once you master basic painting skills, you begin to focus on building your observational skills as you learn to identify the botanical features intrinsic to different plant species. The winter class focuses on seasonal themes: vegetables, winter branches, the winter pansy and evergreen leaf. Homework required. This course is part of a continuing botanical painting series, with each quarter featuring seasonal plant subjects as well as new projects for continuing students.

windows of venice

I finally achieved something that I wanted to do for a long time...know more about...Layers in adobe photoshop!!!!

I first did a line drawing in pencil in my moleskin. Then I added color with my Derwent artist colored pencils. When I thought I was done I scanned my drawing into Adobe Photoshop. I didn't like the way the flowers in the basket looked, so I decided to play around by adding layers. So I touched up the flowers and then I got carried away with playing around with the other colors in my drawing. I used a paintbrush in adobe and just started adding different colors. I kind of like the way this turned out. It has a painterly quality too it. I know I still have a lot to learn about layers...but for my first try...I like what I accomplished.

This drawing is 4" x 6".

Paris rooftops

One of the things I love about going to Paris is looking out windows and seeing the various rooftops. Depending on what floor I am in my hotel, sometimes I can see rooftops for miles.

Windows of Paris

Everywhere you turn too in Paris are buildings with lots of windows. This is a view from the right bank looking over the Seine River over to the left bank of Paris.

I'm still trying to work out in my mind how I want to approach this month of buildings. I never realized how shaky my hands are while attempting to draw straight lines. As you can see, my lines aren't all that straight.

Since it's a little cold now in Washington, I'll probably be working from photographs that I've taken over the years of buildings. Hopefully as the month progresses my hands will become more steady, I'll get my perspective right, and I'll stop being so hard on myself about my drawings.

A Rose

A Rose...This started out as a contour drawing, then coloring with FC artists pens. Unfortunately, I discovered that some flowers don't translate well with artists pens. So after being totally frustrated, I decided to bump this up by using my watercolors. I probably will continue my study of flowers using watercolors and then adding any details that are lacking with the FC artist pens.

I also have a drawing of buildings from Paris,but I think I will re-do with less detail. Right now I'm torn between adding a lot of detail to my daily sketches or using few details and just going with a contour drawing.

Space Needle

Ok...I'll be the first to admit drawing from life is hard. I'm so use to taking pictures and then working from my photos. Trying to get perspective, unusual angles does not help either. Oh why do I always make things so hard for myself!!! I really need to simplify. So on day two...Seattle's Space Needle from the ground up. I rendered this in my Canson journal using a FC medium tip artist pen.

I've also have been trying to figure out layers in Adobe Photoshop. I bought a book titled "Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 classroom in a book" which comes with a working disk of lessons. So hopefully I'll be through the book and have a better understanding of how to apply layers. Wish me luck.

January the month of buildings

I now know why I've never attempted buildings...getting the right perspective can be a bear. I guess that's why January will be the month of buildings.

Seattle Woolworth building using FC black pen on Canson journal page. I dropped ultramarine blue, winsor red, and pale yellow on the paper before I even started the drawing. I poured water over the clean sheet of journal page, dropped the 3 colors and then took a paper towel to soak up any excess paint. I allowed the paper to dry for about an hour before I attempted to sketch.

Ready or Not 2007 artistic goals

In a few hours 2007 will be here...ready or not...2007 will be a year of evolving and growing in my artistic life. Some of the things I would like to achieve for 2007:

--Sketch and paint daily in my moleskin or sketchbook.

--Each month focus on a subject:
buildings
landscapes
interiors
figure drawing
portraits
cars
boats
birds
cats
food
wild animals
and anything else that strikes my fancy

--Continue my Venice series completing one 1/4 sheet colored pencil per month

--Continue to work on my whimsical series of dogs using FC artist pens.

--Finally figure out how to do layers in Adobe Photoshop.

--Become proficient with my Wascom Tablet.

--Take a class in Adobe Illustrator.

--Develop my dog illustrations into a children's picture book

--Spend a month in Paris sketching and painting from life.

--Spend a week in Venice sketching and painting from life.

I know sounds ambitious,but I'm up for the challenge!

Happy New Year

Gladioli with leaves

Hard to believe that tomorrow is the last day of the year. I've been thinking about this past year and amazed at all the art work I've done. I feel more confident in my art, and I think it's about time I focus and make some goals for 2007. I have a few ideas and tonight will make a plan and post tomorrow.

Having a blog has helped me to stay on track and experiment with markers, artists pens, colored pencils, watercolors, graphite, different size of papers, and different journals..like a moleskin. I've even tried my hand at making a few art journals, that once I got the hang of it, they were pretty cool to make. Also I've been doing more sketching when I travel...my trip to Venice,Italy this past spring really took the fear of drawing in public away. People are so busy rushing by that they really don't pay attention to what I'm doing.

So for now...here is my lastest drawing done with Faber-Castell artist pens on 9.5" x 12" smooth bristol paper. The book I've been working through "Watercolor flower portraits" by Billy Showell has been a good incentive to think out of the box as far as art materials. Gladiolias are one of my favorite flowers, along with Peonies.

Longiflorum Lilies

I always find it interesting to do flowers and learn their names. This Lillie was done on smooth bristol paper 9.5" X 12", with Faber-Castell artists pens.

The disadvantage of using artists pens rather than watercolors are that greys are harder to pull off especially if the grey range with the artists pens is limited to about 4 shades of grey. With watercolor, I could mix up a grey mixture and increase the intensity or decrease the intensity by adding water.

Day Lily

I finally finished this drawing of an orange Day Lily. This drawing was done on smooth bristol paper 9.5" x 12" using Faber-Castell artist pens. I like using the FC artist pens, but I have found that the color range of FC is a little limiting. Once I finish working through the flower drawings using the FC, I'll probably do this whole series again using tradition watercolors. I guess I'm learning to stretch myself with a limited palette and really think through the colors.

Flower Portraits

I recent bought this book, Watercolor Flower Portraits by Bill Showell. Instead of using watercolors I decided to try my Faber-Castell artist pens on smooth bristol paper, 9.5" x 12".

Calla Lily
Amaryllis

Calla Falling

I have found as much as I enjoy taking classes, lately the classes I have taken just seem to be a repeat of things I all ready know how to do. So now I'm going to go through all my art books and practice doing the demonstrations from the books. By doing this, I feel it will train my eyes and hand to capture what I'm seeing, also allow me to try different mediums.

Herding puppy

This guy is a Herding puppy, kind of looks like a German Shepard. He was created on 5" x 5" smooth bristol paper, using Copic Sketch Markers.

The more I use the Copic Sketch Markers, I love the way they handle and all the colors I can use. At the moment I only have about 25 markers. I'm not sure that I'l buy the complete set ...which is 72 markers per set @ $428.40 and there are 4 sets of 72, which translates into about $1714.00.

Yes it would be wonderful to have all 4 sets,but I have found with watercolors,colored pencils, and pastels that I really don't use all the colors. So I'm buying the markers as each drawing dictates;so far 25 seems to be a good number.

Belgian Sheepdog

My latest addition to my whimsical series. This was done on smooth bristol paper 5" x 5" using Copic sketch markers. I've added a black mat, which I'll be including with this guy.

More Whimsical puppies

I'm slowing working my way through the Herding Group of puppies.

Here's two more....a Bearded Collie and a Australian Shepherd. Whimsical style, on smooth bristol paper, 5" x 5" in size, using Copic Sketch markers.

Alpacas and horses

I really like using these Copic sketch markers. I thought I'd take a break from puppies and sketch Alpacas and horses. These drawings will be part of my whimsical animal series.

More Whimsical puppies

Ok, I got carried away drawing these guys. It's kind of like potatoe chips, you can't stop at just one. Another set from my whimsical puppies series.

Whimsical puppies

Here is a batch of my whimsical puppy series done with Copic Sketch Markers on Bristol Smooth Paper. Size of each drawing 5" x 5".

Whimsical puppy drawing series

I decided to try my hand at working with Copic Sketch Markers. I really like the fact that I can do a whimsical drawing in less than a 20 minutes. I was having problems with true color when I scanned the image, but with the help of Joe @http://Josephlacorte.blogspot.com few suggestions I finally think I might be able to upload my drawings with true color.

My birthday present...Happy Birthday to ME

Ok, this isn't me, but I definately have the coat! Tomorrow is my birthday and I got a new reversable fur coat from my husband. The weather has been so cold that he gave me my birthday present early so I could enjoy it now!!! This coat can be worn two different ways...Silk side with tuxedo fur collar and cuffs,as shown, or it can be reversed to the all fur side. I've been wearing with the fur inside.

I guess the only good thing about living in Washington State is that it's cold enough to have a fur coat. I wouldn't be able to wear something like this in California because it's warmer.

So "Happy Birthday to ME"......

Venice Cat

When walking around Venice didn't see too many cats,but one day poking around a door was this beautiful prussian cat. She was very intent on watching the people walk by. This was done on cream Fabriano paper 1/4 sheet using Prismacolor colored pencils.

Vegetables of Venice

While in Venice, Italy back in May it was quite common to see these wonderful arranged vegetables at the little markets that were all over Venice. I was attracted to the vibrant colors. This drawing was done on Fabriano paper 1/4 sheet using Prismacolor colored pencils.

Rocks in watercolor

Back in September I took a one day watercolor workshop with Susie Short where she demonstrated how to paint rocks and leaves.

Mr. Ed

Life has been crazy for the past few weeks. Between having company, helping my husband set-up his consulting business, and designing his website I haven't really had time to work on my paintings or drawings.

This week I finally got to catch up on paintings that needed to be finished. So my Not-Mr.-Ed is finally done.