Rockahoney

So, I'm getting an illustration put together to be considered for a group show. No guarantee that my piece will be put in, but I'm doing my best on this one.

I have been wanting to do this concept for over a year, and I finally have opportunity to do it. I was going for a tribute/parody to Mucha's Job Cigarette lady (look it up) with a rockabilly character. Obviously, I didn't really have a good grasp on the rockabilly look in the first sketch. Also, it's a girl.

I've really got the look down in the second one and I still really like it, but the composition and pose are too closely related to the reference image.

So, I went back to Mucha's original compositin and changed the girl to a dude. What? Rockabilly guys are hot. I love the way he looks and the smoke is pretty awesome too. If frustration has a visual look to it, I'm pretty sure it's his leg.

Traced the sketch and transferred it to illustration board to be inked and painted. I added in some other elements, like his tattoos. He's got lips on his neck, lucky 7 and flaming dice and a snake with a rose on his left arm, the king's crown on his right hand, the nautical star on his right wrist, a rockabilly heart and scroll and a pentagram on the right arm. I might add another one on his chest...

The borders are swallows with scrolls that lead into 8 balls. As in, you know, billiards.

I'm excited; I hope this turns out well!

I also hope you have a fun and relaxing holiday. Cheers!

Illustration Friday - Rambunctious

Note for my own benefit: as memory often gets the better of me, I just want to remind myself that I did do an illustration for last week's prompt ("similar"), but it came out so hideous that I deleted the entry.

Here's this week's IF: rambunctious.

I immediately thought of 2 things: small children and puppies. I love both. Kids often try my patience, but I love working with them; they're not afraid of anything.

So, here's a small child.

Take care.

Illustration Friday - Balloon

I gotta be honest with you, kids...I didn't have any good ideas for this prompt. So, I just drew a picture of a balloon. Cool kids will know the reference. Potentially cool kids will should know it's a Led Zeppelin reference.

Take care.

Le lys vert

3 illustrations based on mid-Victorian illustration, NOT PAINTINGS. Jesus. There's more to life than paintings, believe it or not.

Pen and ink. 6 hours each.

Sorry, didn't mean to yell.

Take care.

Illustration Friday - Opinion

I wouldn't say that this is my opinion in its strictest form, not by a long shot; I love all types of music, but I am definitely always in the mood for something loud and heavy.

RUN TO THE HILLS! RUN FOR YOUR LIIIIIIIIIIVES!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Take care.

UP THE IRONS!

Illustration Friday - Pretend

Pretend the floor is made of lava...

Take care.

Adventures in watercolor...

World's Most Boring Assignment: take pictures of people working or in uniforms and paint them. It's a good exercise, no doubt, but if we were just exploring the possibilities of watercolor, I think I would have preferred a still life or something. The paintings were supplemented by colored pencil (watercolor and colored pencils are one of my favorite ways to work).

I do like the fencing one though (and you may be able to tell that I spent the most time on it); the figures look great. I tried to give it a little bit of color by making the shadows blue.


An illustration for a children's book that I'm putting together. This assignment allowed for more freedom; notice that the bushes, her hair, her jacket, etc. are not a single color. It's fun! I'm starting to get the hang of it.

For some real awesome watercolors, check out Mr. JT's blog (to the right).

Take care.