Category Archives: Elaborate Costume

Bright Blue Maiden and Poster Progress

Brigid the Acolyte
5″ x 7″ Copics, fine liners, gel pen

I’ve been getting up to something larger than 2.5″ x 3.5″ (ATC size) lately. With this I couldn’t decide what to do with the background so I doodled. It’s a bit sparse but I didn’t want it to compete with the figure. Submitted for the topic “Mask” at Illustration Friday.

ALSO! I have ordered test prints of a Dogs poster (finally) and one with animals in fancy clothes.

Art Card Dogs poster, Version I.
16″ x 20″ and including twenty individual art card dogs

Fancy Clothes Animals Poster Version I
Aesop’s Stables Theatre Company, 12″ x 18″

People seem to prefer the black background but I may do both. All opinions welcome! Sorry for so much stuff in one post!

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Stop the Fancy Presses. A Countess Cat.

Very. Fancy. Cat.
5″ x 7″ pen and ink, Copic markers

Very. Fancy. Cat. Oh yes. But I am up far too late to explain further, except to say I believe she is a Countess who lives on a remote estate and takes in lost kittens.

I listened to Slipping Away while doing art recently. You should try it! Or not. (I even bought a proper copy on iTunes.)

Hello to Paint Party Friday! Lots of progress pics as this one developed over many days.

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Whole Lotta Fancy, Ink and Pencil

Emily the Munitions Expert and Mara with Veil
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

A couple ATCs for the week. Work has been busier than ever. Ugh! But as long as I can get a few pieces done in the evenings, I can muddle through.

Very Fancy Antelope
5″ x 7″ Staedtler Mars 2H pencil

This is more pencil than I usually do. Can’t decide whether to ink it. Or maybe get colored pencils? But I don’t think I like colored pencils. So I can’t decide!

Thanks for stopping in! Progress pics!

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Hat Fairy With Fish and a Cephalopod Wrangler.

Hat Fairy with Fish, 5″ x 7″
Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

The second and final secret package has landed. Including this hat fairy. I almost kept it! I really like the design of this. And the hat. Might have to put her on a greeting card or something.

Below you’ll find the Cephalopod Wranger. Also part of the secret pack. For someone who likes Catrina girl style and octopuses. (I just looked it up and this is the correct plural!)

Cephalopod Wrangler
2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

Hello Paint Party Friday! Progress pics below. Thanks for stopping in!

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Three Themes Diverged in a Wood and I Took Them All

A very odd mix of inked art cards, for various purposes, all came together this weekend:

Ruby Meadowlark, The Shih Tzu Envoy, and Twisted Circus Twins
Each 2.5″ x 2.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

Ruby is spirit sister to Zoe Meadowlark, seen here in a gallery of Spirit Mask art cards.

The Shih Tzu Envoy arrived in Lhasa with Lord Stinkeye, the manic Chihuahua.

And the circus twins, well. Only the fourth addition to the My Dark Side Gallery! People seem to like these dark ones. I do not quite grasp the allure. Perhaps because I tend toward anxiety about the world and I don’t need to add a bunch of creepy characters to the repertoire of my nightmare-making mind?

I think that’s it, actually. Thanks for dropping in! Progress pics below.

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The Secret is Out! Ganesha in Purple and Two Portraits

Well, half the secret is out. There is another secret solstice gift pack in the mail which I hope shall land this weekend. And then I’ll show you what was in it! (For a Secret Solstice Swap over at illustratedatcs.com. Woooo!)

Ganesha in Purple, 5″ x 7″
Copics, fine liners, white gel pen on cotton vellum

And here are the two art cards that traveled with Ganesha to their new home. The recipient seems very pleased. Hooray!

Flapper Portrait and Cat with Pink Quilt
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics on smooth Bristol

Hello Paint Party Friday! I am so sorry for being so terribly behind on commenting. But I have set aside time this weekend for COMMENTPALOOZA, and I sincerely hope to catch up. Or maybe get ahead! Ok, maybe just catch up. ;)

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Muriel’s Patented Pet Perch and a Motorcycle, Pen & Ink

Muriel’s Patented Pet Perch
2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

Endive the Beaked Tamarin was just a wee tomato of a pet when Muriel designed the hat contraption for him. Now that he’s grown, he is a bit more of a (literal) pain in the neck.

And here is a purple motorbike. With a couple of goofy beasts. Made for a silent auction for the Miracle Ride Foundation.

Jethro, Tully and Gertrude
5″ x 7″ Copics, fine liners white gel pen (matted)

Thanks for stopping in! Apologies for erratic posting. I suspect most of you know what that’s like!

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Feline Hat Fanciers, Pen & Ink

Three Feline Hat Fanciers (click to enlarge)
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen
Black background and text added digitally

It’s been a slow art week because my regular job has been busy. Which is not my favorite kind of week! Fancy cats seems to be my fall back position at the moment. I guess I can deal with it though I feel the need to mention (again), that I am in fact a dog person. A dog person who likes cats. Cats are cool. But the world may need more dogs in fancy clothes so I am going to try to switch!

Hello Paint Party Friday, which I am entering quite late.

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Old World Donkey and Goat. Post Number 275 (!)

This is post #275. I find that entirely crazy.

El Burro Fumo and Maynard Chevre
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

A couple of old world European fancy animals: a Spanish donkey and French goat. El Burro is often recognized, as he is the grandson of the donkey from The Bremen Town Musicians. He and Maynard tried to start a little banjo duo at one time, but they determined very quickly that their friendship would not survive the great chasm of their artistic differences. They are still friends. Both continue to play, but not together.

I am making progress with my plan to make a Fancy Animals poster! Here are 20 (which includes four created before the recent fancy animal frenzy.)

Twenty! Fancy Animals
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″, ink and Copic markers

I think the poster should include nameplates. So I have to figure out the best way to do that. (A variety of handdrawn nameplate ribbons? Something digitally created?) Please feel free to make suggestions of this nature!

Happy Paint Party Friday (which was yesterday)! Thanks for stopping in!

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Three Cats and a Bontebok, Totally Fancy

Three Cats and a Bontebok
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liner, gel pens

Pierre Gruyere, Ragdoll Prince with Royal Ward, and Duchess Bontebok. I may need to dial back on the ruffs. Sometimes they come out much better than other times! But I do not feel the same about the snood (the hairnet kinda thing on the Duchess). Partly because it’s called a SNOOD. Next time perhaps there’ll be a wimple!

Lots of progress pics! I’ve been asked several times how I do the slideshows. It is a free* WordPress plugin called “Portfolio Slideshow”.  I have been using it for almost two years and I like it. Though I’ve been thinking I should do a video.

(Bontebok reference photo.) Thanks for dropping in!

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*Of course if you find a plugin useful, it sure is nice to give them a donation.