My Journal

4/11/2008

Sometimes they seem to take forever and then sometimes I'm sure they just draw themselves! Queen Tomyris seems to have been the later.

This is the final drawing for her. And I'm really happy with it. I pushed the envelope some more on the details. Adding in more than was on Anne Bonney. I think it really enhances her.

I tried to make sure that the prints in her dress and shawl were fairly authentic. But I have to admit to taking a bit of artistic license with her dress. I used basic elements of the historic costumes and then added my own twist to them. The design of the shield is pure fantasy.

As I've just returned from the art store, where I stocked up on pencils and illustration board, I think I'll take myself to the drafting board and get started.

4/08/2008

Hi all, I took a few days off after finishing Anne. But then I got down to the business of finding some one new to render. I have to tell you that I do have this list of Women all made up to choose from, but they seemed... well...ordinary. So off to the internet I went and after much searching I found this wonderful treasure trove of Warrior Queens!! Then I had the trouble of choosing one. LOL!!

Finally I made my choice. Her name is Queen Tomyris. She lived in Eastern Iran in 530 B.C. and she defeated Cyrus the Great. Her story is great! So she's next. And you can see the very preliminary sketch for her here. I'm working on the detailed sketch now and she's coming along grand.

Another Announcement!!

I'm now one of the Artists with Ellen Million Graphics .

You can purchase my art in many forms now -- Cards, Bookmarks, magnets, T-shirts, stickers, and Totes.

She's released Air and Fire (two of my Element Series) so far. Check out her offerings!

3/16/2008

Goodness, I hadn't realized that it has actually been 3 weeks since I last posted anything in this journal. When life gets in the way it seems to eat time most of all. But things seem to be calming down in the rest of my life (thank goodness) so I can give a little more attention to my art.

I have to tell you that this drawing has been giving me an awful lot of pleasure. She's been so very much fun to work on that I had to share the progress to date. I think that she's turning out to be the best one of my Ladies so far.

I did start with the wood of the deck and the name plate and then went to the sky. Those were the colors I was sure of. Then as I said below, I went to her hair! That was a blast.

I did the exterior of the cape next and I've kept it in the woodsy tones. They may be a bit bright right now, but I'll leave them for now and come back later if they need to be toned down.

And now on to her clothing. I think I'm going with a blue combination, to balance out with the blues in the sky, but I'm not sure if it will stay that way.

02/28/2008

It's seems like ages since I've written anything. Life can be annoying sometimes - It just gets in the way. In any case, I finally sat at the drawing board long enough to get the preliminary sketch of Anne Bonny finished! Yipeeeee!

I had a real blast getting her done. She's truly fun.

I have no idea as of yet what the total color scheme is going to be. But I do know that she's a flaming red head. I believe that one of the research articles on her that I read said she was. So I'm going with that for starters. And then there's the wood of the ship deck and the mast. The rest will just have to come as I go along.

Should be loads of fun. I'll try to remember to take some photos as I go along.

2/08/2008

So I spent a bit of time doing research for Salome in the last week, and I was coming up with some nice ideas for the look of her piece. But I guess I wasn't really excited about it yet or ready to start her. Because I went searching the internet for other legendary women to add to my list of women to choose from. And I ran across a few interesting possibilities that I added to the list -- but then I found Anne Bonney! And the excitement really started. Which is what you're looking for as an artist when you're starting a new piece.

Anne is a real honest to goodness lady pirate. Her story is very interesting, from her birth in the late 1600's in County Cork, Ireland, to her disappearing from history, after being imprisoned in Jamaica by the British Navy. So that's who's next on my drawing table. The images below are the start of the sketches for her.

1/30/2008

I've finally finished Joan of Arc. She did take longer than the other two in this series. But I think it was worth it. She may be the best so far. I really liked the illustration board I used too. I think I was able to get deeper and richer colors with it than in the other 2, which was important for the look of this piece. And I felt that the paper was working with me rather than against me. A lot less frustrating.

I think I'll take a couple of days breather before I start on the next one. Mostly because, I haven't got a clue what the next one is. LOL!! Not that I don't have a long list of possibilities, I do -- Helen of Troy, Guinevere of Camelot, Queen of Sheba, Tatania, Salome, Cleopatra, Lady Godiva -- just to name a few!! Just not sure which one I want to get to know better right now.

BTW, If you have any suggestions, please feel free to email me and share them.

Oh and it was below zero (Fahrenheit) here in the lovely midwest this morning.

1/23/2008

Took these photos the other day. It's the tree in my front yard and my astor bushes. We haven't had a big snow fall yet, but we've had a lot of little ones - 2 to 4 inches. Without any melt in between. So there are piles of it on either side of the drive way. It was a balmy 11 degrees, Fahrenheit this morning. Brrrrrr!!!

Joan is coming along nicely, but really slowly. Sometimes that happens, although for the life of me I can't tell you why. But I'm really pleased with the results so far. And this illustration board is just great!! I love it!

1/18/2008

Alright, I finally finished the sketch of Joan of Arc, the next Legendary Lady in that series. Here's a peak.And I've actually started with the colored pencil.

I decided that I would try working on Illustration board -the cold pressed variety - this time. I think these are coming out kinda nifty and even though the paper I was using was of excellent quality, it was still paper. The illustration board has a lot more substance to it.

Also the paper I was using was a hot press paper - very smooth - which I like, but it had a tendency to start to breakdown with all the work from the colored pencil. It was making little "dust balls" - kinda like a sweater makes those little fuzz balls when it gets worn alot. anyway, I didn't like it. So I'm trying something new - well new for me.

Okay enough babbling, and off to the drawing board.

1/15/2008

Thanks everybody for the great response to my site update. I'm sooooo glad that you like it.

I pretty much goofed off yesterday. But today it's back to the drawing board, literally. The next installment of the Ladies of Legend has sat there untouched for the last month. It's time to get the sketch finished and move on to color.

"The Pathfinder - Wolf" painting is done, but it still isn't dry enough to get a good photo of it. I have to wait until it stops shining. Shine does this nasty 'bounce back" thing that totally ruins the photo. So we all have to be patient for it.

Other than that, pretty much quiet around here. The temperature seems to keep dropping, so any venturing out of doors is out of the question. So off to the drawing board with me.

1/12/2008

I thought that it would be fun for me to do and amusing for my friends and collectors to see, an online journal/blog. I know that I won't be updating this daily, by any means - I'd much rather be drawing. But every so often I'll let you all know what's going on in my life and my art.

It's frigid here in Eastern Nebraska today. A good day to be inside. Which is just fine since I've been working on the completion of this site update. Hopefully I'll have this beast up and running by the end of the weekend. I had no idea that there was so much stuff on the site. I guess it's like your house. You never really know what's in it until you have to move. Ugh!

I got to see some ultrasound pictures of my soon to be First Grandbaby this weekend! Isn't modern technology wonderful! My daughter is just 18 weeks pregnant and you can see the baby! Now. if only I could figure how to get the pics off my phone, I'd post them! LOL!!