Monday, February 05, 2007

mucho motivated

I was overly-motivated today. Can you be overly motivated? I don't know!

I got a lot of art done, now it's a matter of photographing or scanning it and sending the images to clients to approve. My right hand feels a bit crampy. Well I had my 15 month old finally down for his nap and I went for it with all the gusto I could. I drank a couple glasses of iced tea and worked on that caffeine buzz.

I finished a colored pencil portrait, laid down the base for another colored pencil portrait (that one is a re-do because I didn't like the first version). I have to hold off on that one until I can get to the store to get the right pencils (ugh, frustrating to have to stop on it)

....so to not let the time I had go to waste, I did three illustrations for the new book, What Really Happened in Colonial Times - I think that's what it's called anyway! It's the 3rd book I'm illustrating for http://bramleybooks.com. The portraits I did are: Catherine (Katy) Ferguson, Narcissa Whitman, and Rachel Revere. They are only 4.75" x 7.75" in size so they don't take a super long time for me to complete....well, scratch that... I guess that depends on my frame of mind and how many teas I have consumed! I also probably shouldn't say they are totally done either, because we'll be adding something to help each portrait follow a theme for the book. I haven't figured out exactly what that will be yet...perhaps some leaves in a semi-border. I only planned to do Catherine Ferguson and Narcissa Whitman's pictures, but once I got going, I didn't want to stop. The portrait of Rachel Revere (Paul Revere's second wife) was so enticing to do. All I had for art reference was a picture of a miniature painting - I think a brooch...but very very tiny and I had to work with my graphics program to get a larger version of it that I could somewhat see well. I am very excited about what I have drawn so far.

Then, after a snack (coming down off the sugar/caffeine buzz lol) I worked on a baby portrait in graphite pencil (only black and white)...I have that one almost done but waiting to hear from the client about how to draw the baby's hair - what a GORGEOUS baby...I can't wait to share the portrait when it's done! She's just absolutely precious. I know it's coming along well when I start baby talking to the portrait drawing (sad, isn't it LOL)

I'll be able to share all these artworks in the Portraits in Progress blog once they're done and when I have time to resize them etc for sharing later on.

I don't know why such motivation hit me - I think I was determined to actually get something DONE! I was so aggravated that I couldn't seem to get my son down for his nap - I can't figure out when his naptime is anymore. I really need to get him on a daily schedule and regimen so I don't go nuts...it would be more fun for him, too.

3 comments:

Cindy said...

It's so neat to see a blog of your drawings. I just visit this blog - not your drawing website, so I don't get to see too many pictures of your work.

How do you get involved with drawings for books? Do you know someone? Are you a good cartoonist? Have you ever thought of working on children's books?

I'm just full of questions. :) I can't draw anything - not even a straight line, so I am always interested in people that can.

You could become a tatoo artist. Those people are great drawers. :)

Oh, and BTW- the head charms that are on the side of your blog kind of creep me out. I'm not sure I would want to wear someone's head.... but that is just me.

DD said...

Hi Cindy,

Thanks for your questions and comments and for visiting both blogs!

I did some drawings for one person, and that client recommended me to another, and so on...that's how I ended up doing book illustrations!

I do like to draw cartoony type things too, I just don't have time.

The books I am illustrating are childrens books, but they're for ages 8-14. I would LOVE to do more children's book illustrations though, for all ages. Richard Scarry is one of my favorite children's book illustrators.

I know what you mean about the head charms...I think the charms of pets heads are nicer than charms of a human head! But you never know. Kind of a neat idea and it sort of complements what I do.

DD said...

Oh I'm sorry about the tattoos, I have thought about it, and if someone wants me to draw something for them for a tattoo, I'd be happy to do that for them, but I don't really offer it on my services or website because deep down I am not a fan of tattoos, and I really don't want to promote the idea of tattoos to my young site visitors.

 

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