Tag Archives: maidens

Further Fancy Frocks! Ink ATCs

Cecille in the Portrait Room, and Housedress
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

Cecille, on the left, is probably my favorite bit of vintage fancy clothes so far. I’m running a “Victorian & Other Elaborate Feminine Costume” swap at illustratedatcs. So, I like to make a lot of examples to draw people in. (It’s a few months off yet. I should probably pace myself a bit.)

As often happens, two of my current fixations merge into one! Here we have the Housedress – part fancy frock, part tiny house.

This ATC mashup brought to you by The Slumbering Herd. I have actually been thinking lately of changing the blog name. It’s a bit too long and unwieldy. You’ll be the first to know. Well. Probably the second.

Red Gold Dress Study, Ainsley Rabbit
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

Ainsley Rabbit was made in response to a request for something Scottish. I think he’s pretty cute. (Or cat! Some people think he looks like a cat.) :)

That’s for stopping in! Slideshow below.

[portfolio_slideshow size=”large”]

 

Lush Red Maiden and a Calavera Quartet

Scarlet Order Seer
2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

Probably my favorite maiden so far, and submitted for the topic “Lush” at Illustration Friday. (Lush color and detail!) Made for a trade, I was a little sad to let her go.

Over the long weekend I was in Muskegon, MI and brought some ATC supplies. I was surprised to find my (sort of) brother-in-law with a brand new and rather keen interest in Day of the Dead art and folk figurines. So I did a bunch of sugar skull type cards. No scanner though, so no progress pics of these!

Calavera Quartet
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, Microns, white gel pen

The top right is Sad Leona, and the bottom left is Bony Madeleine. The one with the horns may need a little more work. They are fun to do! Thanks for stopping by!

[portfolio_slideshow size=”large”]

Psychedelic Faces with Copic Markers

Rhonda Red and Donna Disco
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″, Copics, fine liners, gel pen on smooth Bristol

Recently someone pointed out this neat exercise with intuitive faces. Although the directions are for watercolor, I figured I could try to coax a more watercolorish effect with Copic markers. So far the results have something of a hippy vibe.

For this reason I am declaring this the Power of the 1970s post, for the topic “power” at Illustration Friday. I have not abandoned the cityscapes, more of which you will undoubtedly see if you come around next time. And thank you so much to Vinyl Eraser who does terrific architectural drawings, for mentioning my 100 Cityscapes Project!

 

Thanks for visiting!

[portfolio_slideshow size=”large”]

Exercises in Unknown Styles: Clarke, Bilal, Gauguin

After Harry Clarke ATC
2.5″ x 3.5″ Micron Pens

I was recently involved in an art card swap with the theme “favorite artists”. The other members of the group pick their favorite, and the others make a card in that style. (I chose Daniela Volpari, who is a contemporary artist I happened to find on Etsy. I haven’t gotten my cards back from the other folks or I’d show ya how they turned out!)

The card above is based on a part of this Harry Clarke illustration. I took some liberties with some of the patterns but for the most part I copied the original. Usually I am no fan of copying! In fact, when I was in high school I refused to copy another artist, famous or otherwise, for any assignment. But I can definitely see the value in this type of exercise where you are forced to go outside your comfort zone.

Style of Enki Bilal ATC
2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, Microns, Signo Uniball gel pen

The next card was based on this Enki Bilal illustration. Tragically, mine looks quite a bit more like markers than I’d like – despite it’s actually being markers. Didn’t quite get there, but I did get closer than expected. ;)

Style of Paul Gauguin
2.5″ x 3.5″, Copics, Microns

I must say I was most pleased with this one, though I would not call Paul Gauguin one of my favorite artists. Again it was my intention to copy his painting, but it does not really look like the original, shown here. But I really appreciate how painterly it is, and how different than my normal style. In fact, I had to convince someone close that I’d actually made it!

Steampunk Geisha
2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, Microns, gel pen

And finally, here is a crazy mash-up maiden, a steampunk geisha. She is Maiden Number 94, and was made for a trade.

Thanks for stopping in! I didn’t do progress scans for all of these, but I did for a couple!

[portfolio_slideshow size=”large”]

 

People of the Forest Redux, Copic Art Cards

People of the Forest Art Cards, Group 2
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″, Copics, Microns, Staedtlers and Signo Uniball gel pen

Top row: Silver Pixie Princess, and Bear the Wise

2nd Row: A Flower Fairy, and a Fae Tracker

You may recall I was on a bit of a tear with Dog Art Cards for a while (and to which I will yet return!) At the moment, if you hadn’t guessed, it’s this fantasy/woodland theme, People of the Forest. And as I suspect there will be many more in the foreseeable future, I am submitting this post to “Future” at Illustration Friday!

I was working on eyes for a while, and I really need to work on noses. I am quite pleased with the Silver Sprite above, my first of the nose studies. In trying to replicate that nose, I had a lot of trouble with the Fern Fairies, below:

Two Fern Fairies, and Nose Troubles
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, etc

The one on the right came first, and I have yet to do an acceptable nose repair job on her. I started with a too dark (and imprecise!) ink line on the bridge of her nose, then kept going darker trying to fix or cover it. Aaaah! For the second attempt (on the left) I went with a lighter touch, and a much better result. Some inspiration for these two came from Lisa Ferguson’s fairies, which I love!

Thanks so much for visiting! More People of the Forest cards in my illustratedatcs gallery, if you’re interested. Some may end up in my shop. :)

[portfolio_slideshow size=”large”]

Mermaid with Pearls in Her Hair, an ATC Riddle

Pearl’s Face, made from one half ATC and one half flipped copy

This image was created from an ATC of half of Pearl’s face (see below), and a digital flipped copy for the other half. I hadn’t planned to do exactly half a face, but I did a decent job of it. Except  it’s just a bit unnerving, I think because of the uncanny valley effect. Or maybe because where the two sides join is not quite right. Here’s the actual ATC:

Mermaid with Pearls in her Hair
2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, Microns, gel pen

And then there’s my next question. Would this be considered digital art? An original version does not exist outside the computer, but in creating it I used only the most minimal of graphics program tools. Multimedia? Hmm! I guess it’s not really a riddle but I don’t know the answer. Do you?

Pearl is Maiden number 75, three quarters of the way to the finish! Thanks for visiting!

[portfolio_slideshow size=large]

 

 

 

Two Ruffed Queens Art Cards

You guys! I present to you these queens though perhaps they should be dogs, since I am sick like one. Ugh! I had a really bad cold a few weeks back that lasted far too long, and when it finally started to go away, I believe my boss brought in the flu. He claims he doesn’t have the flu. Whatever it is, it is horrible. For all of us who are sick at the end of this horrible too-long winter, I hope for speedy recoveries all around!

Princess Beatrice ATC
2.5″ x 3.5″ Copic markers, fine liners, gel pen

Though she preferred to dress in her brother’s breeches and help train the hounds, Beatrice was often forced to dress for important guests and occasionally – much to her chagrin – suitors.

Reference photos for Beatrice include Christine Marie of France and Portrait of a Lady in a Red Dress. I wanted to show how you can get ideas like costume styles from an image without copying it exactly, and also to show beginners that these things don’t spring fully formed from our heads!

Jory with Birds ATC
2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, gel pen

Jory’s tutors were amazed when she taught her little birds Gretel, Gosling and Grim to perch on her bonnet when she was just nine years old and the birds were little chicks. As they got older, she had to build a sturdy armature into all her bonnets to hold their weight. Many little girls in the village have tried the same trick with their own birds, but none seem to have Jory’s magic touch.

Beatrice and Jory are Maidens number 70 and 72, and were made for trades at illustratedatcs.com. Thanks for stopping in!

[portfolio_slideshow size=large]

The Elusive Painted Bulbfish for Illustration Friday

NOTE: I am trying a new email subscription service because the last one stopped working. Please accept my apologies if you get more than one email for this post, though I hope to avoid that. If you are signed up, you should still be signed up, but let me know if you don’t get an email for this post. And if you want to sign up, you can do so on the right side of this page. Thank you!

Painted Bulbfish, 9″ x 6″
Copics and Microns. Digital background.

For “Ocean” at Illustration Friday, I offer to you a glimpse of the elusive Painted Bulbfish, a member of the order of Anglerfish. As far as scientists have been able to tell, the bulb-like lure which hangs from the forehead is not for catching prey, but for illuminating rocky growths on which the moss it eats lives. The distinctive pattern on this individual is due to artistic license, as no live specimen has ever been witnessed.

More items recently completed: two sunflower princesses.

Leona of the Sun and a Sunflower Princess
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ art cards, Copics, Microns and gel pens.

The image of Leona is carved into the largest and most ancient tree stump in The Wonder Woods. She was a princess who captured the light of the sun on her skin and left a trail of glittering motes wherever she went, especially in the summer months. This artist has taken taken some liberties, as the image on the tree has not the slightest hint of its original color. To her right is an artist’s rendering of her daughter, the Sunflower Princess.

Lots of progress pics below. Thank you so much for stopping by!

[portfolio_slideshow size=large]

Guardian Clan Cat ATC for Illustration Friday

Son-Ji the Guardian
2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

Son-Ji is a ranking member of the guardian clan who watch over the Bridge at the Edge of the World. Both her brothers chose to leave the territory and seek their fortune on the other side of The Wonder Woods. Only Son-Ji inherited the Guardian’s Gift.

Submitted for the topic “Edge” at Illustration Friday. I intend to actually draw the bridge, but it won’t be in time for this topic! (Perhaps if there’s a “bridge” topic. I should submit that. Hmm…)

Here’s one more art card I did recently, for the “Kings and Queens” swap at illustratedatcs.com. I really like the color and style of this one, though the crown is not sitting quite properly in her hair/on her head. Queen Hana is Maiden Number 55 (and I am up to 60)!

Queen Hana
2.5″ x 3.5″, Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope we all have a wonderful year with Illustration Friday and whatever other projects we’ve got hidden up our magic little sleeves. :)

[portfolio_slideshow size=large]

Happy New Year to all my visitors and art blog pals!

As I suspect may be the case with many of you, I have been trying to climb out of the holiday doldrums. Happened last year at this time, too. And it’s not like I have nothing to post. I did all of those secret santa things that I couldn’t post because they were secret. So I am posting my favorites!

Jillian Calavera2.5" x 3.5" ATC, Copic markers.

Jillian Calavera
2.5″ x 3.5″ ATC, Copic markers.

This is my favorite of all the Calavera/Day of the Dead girls I’ve done (which granted is only about a dozen, and all Art Card size.) I wanted to post it as soon as it was done, but it was a secret!

10 Brown Lemur 5x7

Brown Lemur & Friend
5″ x 7″ Copics on mustard-tone card stock.

This is my favorite of the (slightly) larger art I did for secret santa. It was tricky picking the colors because the mustard tone of the paper changed everything. In the end I think the detail on the chameleon’s face might overpower the lemur a bit, but I was very satisfied with the finished composition and color scheme.

And finally, three more ATCs I thought were pretty neat:

Three secret santa ATCs

Maria Calavera, Young Dreaming Tree, Alien Ambassador
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ ATCs, Copics on smooth Bristol board.

Progress pics for some of these below.  Thanks so much for visiting my first post of 2013! I hope we all have a very peaceful and art-filled new year!

 

[portfolio_slideshow size=large]