Here is my illustration for this week's Illustration Friday topic. I barely made it in time!

Display Comments Add a Comment

Here is my illustration for this week's Illustration Friday topic. I barely made it in time!

Add a Comment

Here is my low-tech approach to having a full set of watercolors available at all times with your sketchbook--without carrying your watercolor kit around.

I use watercolor pencils and fill in solid color squares on the inside cover of the sketchbook.  Now all I have to do to to do quick color sketches is use my water brush to pick up the colors. 

The colors won't be as vibrant and saturated as using a watercolor pan (and I have one of these too). But when you're out and about and want to do a quick sketch, this does a wonderful job.

Display Comments Add a Comment

Here is my low-tech approach to having a full set of watercolors available at all times with your sketchbook--without carrying your watercolor kit around.

I use watercolor pencils and fill in solid color squares on the inside cover of the sketchbook.  Now all I have to do to to do quick color sketches is use my water brush to pick up the colors. 

The colors won't be as vibrant and saturated as using a watercolor pan (and I have one of these too). But when you're out and about and want to do a quick sketch, this does a wonderful job.

Add a Comment

Problem:
I live in a small 2 bedroom townhouse.  When I decided to freelance full-time from home, the problem of where to set up my studio immediately came up. 

For weeks my husband and I hemmed and hawed over options (Convert the coat closet? Use the laundry nook? Use part of the bedroom?).  In the end we decided that the dining area was the most workable solution.

The "before" picture:

This is the dining area with my folding desk set up to create an "L" shaped working space.  I've had this folding desk for a couple of years and it was just sitting unused for quite some time.

The space had to be able to function as my studio while still being used everyday as the family eating area.  So I tested this setup for a week to make sure it worked for everybody.

The "after" picture:
After deciding that I liked working in the dining room, I went to IKEA to buy a flat file and shelves. I needed good storage for my various sized art materials and I needed a place to put things out of reach from my toddler's curious hands.

Conclusion:
I can't tell you how thrilled I am with this setup. For the first time ever, I have all of my art supplies in one place. No more running upstairs to find one thing and rummaging through the garage to find another! I finally have a space to call my own.

Add a Comment

Problem:
I live in a small 2 bedroom townhouse.  When I decided to freelance full-time from home, the problem of where to set up my studio immediately came up.

For weeks my husband and I hemmed and hawed over options (Convert the coat closet? Use the laundry nook? Use part of the bedroom?).  In the end we decided that the dining area was the most workable solution.

The "before" picture:

This is the dining area with my folding desk set up to create an "L" shaped working space.  I've had this folding desk for a couple of years and it was just sitting unused for quite some time.

The space had to be able to function as my studio while still being used everyday as the family eating area.  So I tested this setup for a week to make sure it worked for everybody.

The "after" picture:
After deciding that I liked working in the dining room, I went to IKEA to buy a flat file and shelves. I needed good storage for my various sized art materials and I needed a place to put things out of reach from my toddler's curious hands.

Conclusion:
I can't tell you how thrilled I am with this setup. For the first time ever, I have all of my art supplies in one place. No more running upstairs to find one thing and rummaging through the garage to find another! I finally have a space to call my own.

Add a Comment

Here is my one day late Illustration Friday post.

This week I thought I'd experiment and do half tradtional/half digital.  It was tons of fun.

"Thumbellina adrift on the lily pad" done in watercolor and Photoshop.

This is the painting in watercolor. This was then brought into Photoshop to be finished. 

Add a Comment

Here is my one day late Illustration Friday post.

This week I thought I'd experiment and do half tradtional/half digital.  It was tons of fun.

"Thumbellina adrift on the lily pad" done in watercolor and Photoshop.

This is the painting in watercolor. This was then brought into Photoshop to be finished. 

Add a Comment

An artist's education never ends, all of us constantly study to improve. While I learn a lot from looking at other illustrators and reading books, sometimes there is no substitute for getting instruction from a good mentor/teacher.  

A couple of years ago  I decided that I needed guidance and structure to really learn more about becoming a children's book illustrator.  At that time I was working full-time at a demanding graphic design job so I didn't have much extra time. I looked around the internet to find a way to take an online course that was specifically about children's book illustration.

I eventually found Susan Kathleen Hartung, a talented children's book illustrator with a lot of experience. She offered an online class that gave one-on-one instruction to artists.  It was like getting a mentor that I desperately needed to give me focus.

Here is a project that I painted while taking Susan's course:

Add a Comment

An artist's education never ends, all of us constantly study to improve. While I learn a lot from looking at other illustrators and reading books, sometimes there is no substitute for getting instruction from a good mentor/teacher.  

A couple of years ago  I decided that I needed guidance and structure to really learn more about becoming a children's book illustrator.  At that time I was working full-time at a demanding graphic design job so I didn't have much extra time. I looked around the internet to find a way to take an online course that was specifically about children's book illustration.

I eventually found Susan Kathleen Hartung, a talented children's book illustrator with a lot of experience. She offered an online class that gave one-on-one instruction to artists.  It was like getting a mentor that I desperately needed to give me focus.

Here is a project that I painted while taking Susan's course:

Add a Comment

A quick Snow White sketch.

Add a Comment

A quick Snow White sketch.

Add a Comment

My son's pre-school class is doing a Valentine's Day card exchange. I thought  that it would be nice for him to have his own unique card to give out.

Original Sketch:

Quick color sketch in Photoshop:

Add a Comment

My son's pre-school class is doing a Valentine's Day card exchange. I thought  that it would be nice for him to have his own unique card to give out.

Original Sketch:

Quick color sketch in Photoshop:

Add a Comment