Youtube Interview with Carlyn Beccia regarding Corel Painter 12

Another video that I just love. I am mainly embedding this here, so when I rewatch it (and I KNOW I will) I can find it easily. But seriously, this is a great tutorial for Corel Painter and patterns. I recently acquired Painter and love it. I am a long time Photoshop gal, so I will inevitably continue to use PS in all of my digital work. However, the intuitiveness for painting in Painter, go figure, is incredible. Here goes:

Iain McCaig COFA Interview Youtube

This video is so, so inspiring. One of the things I noted was how he internalizes characters in order to accurately portray them visually. This is EXACTLY what many people say they do to successfully act or write believable characters. I think it makes sense that the same could be said for illustrators, but I had never thought of it that way! He says many other useful tips, too. Watch and see! It's a bit long but worth it.

Illustration Friday - Snow

This sketch will most likely turn into a painting. I had been noodling the idea of a boy and polar bear, and the idea fit well with this weeks IF topic of Snow!

(c) 2012 drawings and illustrations blogspot "Snow" IF

I think I will need to do something different to better show off the snow, but I don't allow myself much time for sketching-to-post for Illustration Friday. I thought it was a pretty decent start! What do you think?

Will Terry Storybook App Review

I did not complete the Illustration Friday for "stretch," because I was stretching my skills instead! I was watching this video tutorial series by Will Terry at FolioAcademy.com. 

Review:

I think that this is video series was exactly what he described it to be. I love Will Terry's teaching style and voice over. He chats about the "whys" while he is showing the "hows." I will be hopefully taking more courses in the near future. And guess what -- FolioAcademy has a Buy One Get One free this December! Go check out what they offer for yourself! 

Illustration Friday - Explore

(c) drawingsandillustrations.blogspot.com

I spruced up a painting that I did a while back in acrylic to include an adorable explorer! Fun times. :)

Illustration Friday - Whiskers

My take on the rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle, The Cat and the Fiddle...":

(c) 2012 Kate at drawingsandillustrations.blogspot.com

Feel free to let me know what you think!! I personally kinda love her. She has attitude like the red tabby I used to have. I suppose she's playing an Ode to Daisy.

(Can you see how far I've progressed in only a few weeks? I'm so proud.) xoxo

A Word on My Style

I mentioned earlier that I am trying to figure out my style of art, so I asked hubby how he would describe it:

- "aged" or "vintage"
- "earthy tones" or "warm colors"
- "actually warm would describe it in many ways" (I believe he was referring to the friendly, happy, inspirational look that my art seems to offer...)

Do I agree? Well, honestly, yes, more or less:

1.    I would say that I tend towards texture over flat colors, even though I love when artists use flat color well.
2.    I also do have a earthly color palette, even though I try very hard to make it bright for the children's publishing world.
3.    I can't help but sigh at this last one though, I love really dark (and what I consider) deep emotional pieces of art. But my art does have a cheerful ring to it no matter how hard I try to do something else.

4.    I feel I need to add that I revel in the imperfect. I like perfect, but it never sits right with me until I make it un-perfect. :)

But I don't feel like that is enough to brand me, which is what I am hoping to figure out mostly. Something that I can confidently describe to a publisher, so they know what to expect of my work.

"Whimsical, cheerful art with earthy tones and textures... I create digital art with a traditional art sense." Is that enough?

Some Blogs I Heart!

I may organize these a touch better at a later date (or change to blogroll later)... but for now, I just wanted to give a quick shout out to some blogs that I adore. So in no order that you care about, here goes:

• http://dribbble.com/jeremyholmes?page=5
• http://ajawells.com/
• http://licoricegirl.blogspot.com/
• http://burrisdraw.blogspot.com/
• http://phyllispollemacahill.blogspot.com/
• http://kristivaliant.blogspot.com/
• http://sharonvargo.blogspot.com/
• http://kellylight.com/prettygoodforagirl
• http://characterdesignnotes.blogspot.com/
• http://characterdesign.blogspot.com/
• http://livlily.blogspot.com/
• http://www.willterry.blogspot.com/
• http://lynnechapman.blogspot.com/

Who are some of your favorite artist reads?

Some of My Favorite Books

I love to read, I mean LOVE it. I am that person who goes to the library more regularly than the grocery store. I buy lots of books too, but I usually don't buy them until I've read them to know that I would want to read it more than once. Limited space and money (sigh). Below are some of my current favorites that I hope will be making a home with me soon:

- "Drawn to Life" 1 & 2, Walt Stanchfield lectures.
- "Character Mentor", Tom Bancroft
- "Framed Ink", Marcus Mateu-Mestre
- any "The Art of" fill in animation feature film title here... especially the "Art of How to Train your Dragon" (love that movie)

What books are you reading and loving right now?
xoxo

Happy Thanksgiving!

(c) 2012 drawingsandillustrations.blogspot.com

Happy To-Furkey Day! Remember to think on your blessings! xoxo