Category Archives: Progression Photos

Two Tall Hairstyles for 29 Faces

Faces 21 and 22 for 29 Faces!

Two Skinny Cards with Text
Each 3″ x 7″ ink and acrylics on Bristol vellum

The first says, “Good manners and kindness are always in fashion”. (I could not find an author for this quote.) The second says, “Sydney did not like for the tea to be late. It annoyed her greatly.” (Written by me. High art.) :)

I like these faces, the lips continue to be better than before! But I do not like the text style and if I want to add text to art I will have to work on it. (The purple background and pale hair in the left one is acrylics. The rest of both is Copic markers, ink and white gel pen. Made for a “Skinny Pages with Text” swap at illustratedatcs.

Note to self: Uniball Signo gel pen + acrylics = no. Sakura Gellyroll white gel pen + acrylics = yes.

I’ve been asked how I produce so much art. I don’t have kids. I think that’s quite a lot of it. And I just get to it every night after work. Most all day on the weekends. As many hours as a second job, certainly. But I want to be better and I don’t want to wait. So I don’t have a choice. :)

“The trouble is, you think you have time.”  ~Buddha

Thanks for stopping in!

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Spirit Masks, Tribal Art Cards in Pen and Ink

Faces number 19 and 20 for the 29 Faces Challenge.

Two Tribes
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

Bear Clan Princess and Rhea the Tracker. As members of friendly clans, the Princess and Rhea often work together on missions for the tribal council, particularly those involving both diplomacy and stealth.

These were made for a Spirit Masks swap at illustratedatcs. I’ve watched some more mouth painting videos and these seem much better! Thanks for dropping in!

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The Maiden and the Parasaurolophus, Ink Art

Imogene and the Parasaurolophus
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

Another day, another two inked art cards with an unlikely connection! The parasaurolophus and Imogene are faces number 17 and 18, which puts me slightly ahead of the February curve!

This is a detail of a larger tapestry that hangs in Imogene’s front hall. She claims it was inherited down several generations, originally stitched out of the imagination of a talented great aunt from Quebec whose husband was the owner of a parasaurolophus skull.  The story is somewhat tenuous, as the  parasaurolophus was first discovered in the 1920’s, after the woman in question had died.

Incidentally, this creature (who probably looked totally different than this!) lived 75 MILLION years ago (according to Wikipedia. Hold it, confirmed at BBC Earth). Did I mention – SEVENTY-FIVE MILLION YEARS. I can’t even.

Here’s my last week’s retrospective (as inspired by denthe):

Faces 10 -16, 29 Faces Challenge February 2014
The Slumbering Herd

Thanks for stopping in!

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Henry VIII and the Jackalope, Copic Art Cards

Henry VIII and the Jackalope
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

If you came in here thinking that these two faces have nothing to do with each other, you could not be faulted for thinking so! For one thing, the Jackalope is commonly believed to be a North American cryptozoologic creature. And for another, ‘ole Henry spent a lot of his time juggling wives and that whole Reformation business so it’s doubtful he had time for pets.

I was just as surprised as you must be right now, to learn that it was in fact a six and a half foot tall Jackalope named Hewerald that told Henry which wives to behead and how to go about severing England’s connection to the Catholic church.

Perhaps you’re wondering if the Jimmy Stewart vehicle “Harvey”, about a gentle man who travels about with a six foot tall imaginary rabbit, might be based on this story. Why yes, it was! Of course Harvey wore no horns, and was intensely wise in the manner of good pookas. The complete opposite of Henry’s advisor (a bad pooka). Would you be, once again, surprised to learn that in fact they tried it that way the first time, but Jimmy Stewart was incapable of portraying villainy of this kind? Ah, the things you might learn on a little art blog!

I wish Henry’s eyes were more beady. But I like his nose. Thanks for visiting! These are Faces number 15 and 16 for the 29 Faces challenge.

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Another Girl and Her Dog, Acrylics

The Slumbering Herd post number 250 is Face #14! And it is Valentine’s Day. AND, also Paint Party Friday!

She Lost Him in the Divorce
6″ x 6″ Acrylics on canvas board

Sarah Trumpp and I briefly discussed whether this cross-posting, double-duty business was wrong. I believe we decided in the end not to worry about it too much. :)

I have a feeling I should try some things without the black outlines all the time. With this one, I went back to sketching and I like the result. Sometimes a sketch is nice way to go about it.

I had to stop last night at about the 9th frame, below. I haven’t been getting enough sleep and that makes for a rough workday. However, I think it benefited from drying completely before I took another run at it. More patience I must learn. Pffft.

Thanks for stopping in!

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Sheila Green Eyes, Acrylics on Black Canvas

Sheila Green Eyes
4″ x 4″ Acrylics on black canvas board

Face #13 omg! Working on lips. I think she’s pretty cute.

She is also Maiden Number 159. Which seems crazy! But it started as 100 Maidens in July 2012. And then a whole bunch of time just went whoooooshing past.

Finally started using my Masterson’s Sta-Wet palette, partly due to encouragement from AnnD, who also recently got a Sta-Wet palette. (And yes, I think we both agree that sounds dirtier than maybe it ought.)

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One Painting and One Pixie for 29 Faces

Two more faces for the 29 Faces Challenge.

Josie Fuchsia Face #11
5″ x 7″ Acrylics on canvas board

I watched some painting and process videos this week, including this one on painting eyes, by Michael Lewis Art. So I spent more time on the eyes. BUT, I really need more help with noses and mouths. Like I keep saying. Dangit! More ugly (almost abandoned) middle stages below!

Here’s another fairy folk (similar features to my little flower troll) for a swap I need to finish. Like the last one, she may re-appear in color.  (Though maybe not until after the end of 29 Faces!)

Moll the Pixie, Face #12
2.5″ x 3.5″ pencil, brown Micron

Someone asked about the slideshow. It’s a plugin called Portfolio Slideshow that I added to my WordPress blog. Thanks for dropping in!

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Denizens of Redhead House, Acrylics

It’s day number nine and Face #9 of 29. It is not love potion number nine. But I do love the Irish setter. In fact, the Irish setter is the reason I kept trying with this canvas. If you check out the progress pics in the slideshow below, you will see some very ugly middle stages!

 Face #9, Redhead House
6″ x 6″ Acrylics on canvas board

I wish the framed picture wasn’t right up against the right border, but I’m going to leave it. Even though “redhead” is one word!

I have been inspired by another 29 Faces participant, denthe, who has a tradition of posting a week’s overview of the challenge. I think it’s a great idea!

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Daughter of the Mantis Clan, Acrylics on Canvas

Hooray for Face Number 8, for the February 29 Faces challenge! And also Paint Party Friday, for which I am one day late – but yesterday was drawings not paintings. :)

Daughter of the Mantis Clan
5″ x 7″ Acrylics on stretched canvas

I felt a little burnt out the last couple days. I had (have!) several started canvases I didn’t like at all. Even though I knew if I worked with them eventually they would be better. Finally these crazy bug eyes appealed to me so I just kept at it.

Tons of progress pics below, including lots of very ugly intermediate steps. You just gotta keep at it! Which is what I keep saying. Thanks for stopping in! (Continued apologies for the photography and lighting omg.)

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Number Six and Number Seven

Janedroid Two
2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen

Not exactly a face. Well. Sort of! Started this one a few weeks back and finished for #6 of 29 Faces.

Hattie Peacock
5″ x 7″ Brown ink on Canson drawing board

And for #7, an inked cat maiden. In a frame. And with a fancy hat! She will likely re-appear in color.

Thank you so much to all the 29 Faces visitors. I am visiting back when I can!

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