Creativity

This month I finally had some time to do some personal projects, which was a great release. Here are some characters from a story I'm working on....most likely they will change once I get to know them more in my mind.

I've been reading The Creativity Book by Eric Maisel (reccommended to me by Amazon). There are exercises for a year (sort of like The Artist's Way) but since I dont have the patience, I just read it like its a regular book, picking up little inspirations here and there. One of the exercises was to list 5 obstacles to my creativity. Mine are:

1. Procrastination
2. Not getting out enough to see art, to be inspired
3. Too busy sometimes, no time to even breathe
4. Feel like I have no voice, a phoney baloney
5. Jealousy/envy of others sometimes stops me cold

So many things are swirling in my head regarding my art and creativity these days.

Cows

*No butterflies were harmed in this illustration.

Thanks for everyone's comments for my IF entry this week. Wow! I may just do more hand drawn stuff, thanks for the encouragement.

Illustration Friday-Change

I thought in theme with this week's IF, I would change up my usual illustration technique. Its hard to part with my vector art (I heart Adobe Illustrator) but its nice to explore other ways to create art. This is hand drawn, scanned in, and colored in photoshop. I also love the idea of a limited color palette.

9.11 comic

Click image to enlarge

I attend a comics group that meets in a cafe every Monday. Yesterday was 9/11 and a quick assignment was given: to draw a 9/11 comic in 30 minutes...and here is what I did. No time to think too much, no time to erase. I ended up drawing what my experience was that day, and surprised it was more serious in tone than many others.

Weekend

It was a weekend of inspiration and relaxation. I finally went to the MOMA to see the Dada exhibit, which ended today. I havent been to the MOMA since their renovation(!) so the space itself was a new experience. Its always been my favorite museum in NY.

Left: The Chocolate Grinder by Marcel Duchamp. Seeing artwork that I've seen before is like seeing an old friend. I imagine this piece of art traveling all over the world and was reunited with it again. It is very comforting.

Also, sunday brunch with a few of my girlfriends, in an outdoor cafe with grape vines above us. Enjoy the nice weather while we still have it!

On my desk

Thanks to Linzie for her invitation for me to participate in On my desk. On my desk is where creative folks go share stuff on their desks. For me, that means sharing a glimpse of my chicken collection! Some day, I hope to have as nice of a space as some folks featured there, as I think of my apt/studio as a temporary dwelling at the moment.

Illustration Friday-Farm

As a children's illustrator, I've drawn alot of farms. Luckily, I like drawing chickens and chickens live on farms, heh!

Cranium Funfolio Family Edition

Last year, I got a wonderful opportunity to design for Little Brown and Cranium. The Cranium Funfolio Family Edition is coming out in September and I finally found it listed on Amazon here. I did not design this cover but I did design the interior:
It was so much fun, since I got to work with alot of Gary Baseman art (which I am a BIG fan of), and also incorporate my own illustrations in the pages. So if you are lurking at the kids section at Barnes and Nobles, pick it up and check it out :-)

When wild animals go wild....

Oh la la!

Printed samples

Just got these samples in the mail the other day. First time seeing the new Stickers Fun series. It never gets old seeing your work printed on shiny paper!

Illustration Friday-Match

No cheating this time, an IF original! The colors are a bit off though when I converted from CMYK to RGB. Of course usually there is a shift in colors but this is a bit drastic. Oh well, I am not the most web savvy. Just wanted to submit this...now back to work.

Bug attack

I dont think I've drawn this much bugs...ever. But I had so much fun with these.

I realized I haven't done any personal drawing for a long time now. I draw everyday, but its usually for a job. I'm off to a mini vacation this weekend- hopefully I will feel refreshed and come back with some sketches!

Illustration Friday-Play

Bugs playin' music. From one of the latest projects I 'm working on.

Red the Rooster

A rooster story for Chickengirl? Oh yes, its true!

Kitties in color

The kitties are finally in color! The final here is slightly different than the sketch. They are sitting in the boat instead of standing and they needed some safety vests! Too bad because I had to get rid of the girl kitty's fabulous little coat I had for her. Oh well...we don't want them to drown now.

Illustration Friday-Clean

An old piece- actually from the Travel games book I did a while back. I've been on hiatus lately due to the horrible heat and my lack of air conditioning. I'm hoping to get the ball rolling again with some original IF stuff once the weather is more bearable.

Whats been buggin' me

I wish I could post more stuff in color, but I've been sketching bugs all week!

kitties gone fishin'

Just finished this sketch for the fine folks at Highlights for Children- their Hidden Pictures Playground series.

In other things-Thanks to Ann who invited me to contribute to Artful Wisdom, a collaborative blog to jump start your creativity and to inspire. They are like little morsels of inspiration. Now go take a look!

Illustration Friday-Skyline

Another piece from the travel games book job. Should fit in with the theme....

Wanted to just say a thank you to everyone that drops by and all the kind words, especially to those of you who visit regularly. Its very encouraging and makes me even want to work harder. So thank you!

Older audience

I usually get jobs illustrating for Kindergarten to 2nd grade. They are lots of fun, but I would like to do an older age group too. Here is a recent sketch I did for a travel games book job (its a spot for a category game you play in the CAR, therefore CARtegory:

The art director thought it looked a bit too young, so I made them a bit funkier:

And here is the final!