Finito!

She was turned around kind of funny in the other versions and here I've turned her torso a bit so that she lines up better :) I'm happy with the way this ended up. I think you can tell that it was fun to design, and that's really what's most important!

Is thin in?

They approved the color this morning. This actually saw a bunch of different versions, mainly with the colors on the shopping bags. The bags bounced all over the color palette but landed here. Once I finished with the one on the left a friend pointed out that perhaps the thicker straps on the bags made them look too much like purses. An easy fix was to make the handles thinner and have the client make the decision.

They agreed to the thinner handles but weren't as happy with the necklace or violet shadow I'd thrown in for good measure. All things considered, this client is divine.

Quick Color Test

Now, this is always dangerous . . . but I sent these partial color ideas to my client this morning. I know they'll look totally different if I actually finish them. Since I hadn't had any real color guidelines from them I wanted to make sure we were on the right page. Luckily they understood and were really quick to make decisions, which is always a relief.

They wanted the skin to be more olive and while they loved the color of the skirt they didn't like the idea of having the top black. Also seeing the top in color made them realize that they didn't want the edge of the shirt to be jagged.

Lined Up to Shop

Here are the finished line drawings. I wasn't sure whether to put the bag on the right in front or behind the little happy shopper. They were happy with the final line work on the left. They know that they want the shopper to be a brunette (because brunettes rock.) Other than hair color they want me to come up with a treatment for them to jump off of. I love that they're so open to suggestion.

Decisions, Decisions. . .

My client decided that the sketch below was the best of the two. I was partial to the other one, but most other people liked the one below, particularly because of the expression on her face.

The one big change requested was for more movement in the sketch. The client wanted her to look more like she was in action off for another shopping adventure! So I sketched over the existing sketch, creating a bit of a mess, but hopefully accomplishing our goal.

Now that they're happy with the rough sketch I'll begin work on the final line drawing.

I could live on post-its and Lucky Charms

Shop 'til you drop!

I'm really having a lot of fun with a new client. Luckily, I get to retain the copyright so I can show it off a bit as we bring it along. I'm doing this illustration for a company who has a shopping clientel. They want me to create an original little fashionista sketch for them. I started sketching like a fiend. These two are the best of those. We'll see where they go!

Artista Website-o

Oooooooooooohhhhhhh this is soooooooo fun. Here's my painting off the cuff.

http://artpad.art.com/?j9dar7tm53g

Watch it at the fastest setting for maximum fun!

Project Runway. . .

Moving Day

I moved a few months ago, on a cloudy, muggy day in the middle of August. That morning I rose and braced for the fall out, the way you have to before any moving day. . . . For some reason I did the unthinkable, I grabbed a pencil and absentmindedly sketched on my drafting table while finishing my bowl of Lucky Charms. This is officially the second time I've ever done anything even close to graffiti, and like the first and only other time I've ever committed such a heinous act, it was totally worth it. More than other drawings I've done, this one completely captured everything I was feeling, the melancholy, the hope, the scary feeling in the pit of my tummy, everything. I've done a lot to preserve it and I don't think it's worse for the wear. Tonight after finally unpacking my digital camera I can get her into the computer and hopefully with the help of some Windex, off of my desk.

Baby Mermaids!!!!

I'm really excited about these babies. These are really early on in the creative process but I really can't wait to keep developing these. They'll be headlining on my new greeting card series. Yay!

Tapa Dancers

These are up for a sec for motivation, and to remind me how much i love texture.

Sticky Little Buggers

I've been designing stickers as of late. These six are my favorite and seeing as there are tons of these little guys and girls I thought I'd throw down a tiny showcase.

It's been a long time since I've had so much fun designing! I think most of that has to do with their buggy little eyes. Anyway, I hope you like them almost as much as I do. The longer I work on them the funnier they get, so maybe in a few weeks we'll have something HILLARIOUS!

Web Banners

Hey - New day, new obsession. Let's hear it for the web banners!

Central Park Rocks the House

The little kid on the right has just been introduced to his very first water balloon. I never thought about that before. I wonder what I was like when I was given my very first water balloon. Well actually, knowing me I probably gave it a name and tucked it in next to Ollie.

You'd be amazed how perfect Central Park can be. I wanted to get over to the castle near Columbus Circle since it's one of the best places ever but I ended up spending most of the day over on the Museum mile side. I got some great kid action. Lately I've been focusing on faces. I want to start doing more full body sketches, but those kids just crawl around so quickly! I can't wait until the Fall when I can get back to life drawing. In the mean time, Central Park can really get your pencil rolling.

These girls played the way I think everyone should play. They were so busy having fun they completely lost track of time. They spent the entire morning jumping from spot to spot and changing their make believe stories again and again. The heat didn't bother them and since they were lucky enough to be in their swimsuits, neither did the rain.

Here's a creepy dad who was watching his kids. . . at least I hope they were his kids.

This was my favorite drawing of the day or perhaps the Summer. I loved watching this girl. She was a very young mom who had brought her kid to the park for the first time. She kept trying to explain how to play and telling him what other kids were like. Her son immediately took to the park but every time he fell down or ran into another little kid she'd clutch her hand over her heart.

It's Too Hot to Draw

The park is hot. I braved it on an afternoon this last week. I love getting a tan in less time than it takes to brush my hair. Most of the kids weren't slightly phased by the temperature, they were still running around like madmen. Man, I wish I were five again.

This poor kid's mother bought her this long sleeved shirt for the 4th of July. She was yelling across the park, "I didn't just buy you that shirt so you could wear it one time, girl. Who do you think you are? Vera Wang?" So yeah, Dixie's got a cousin. Welcome to the family Myra.

A Day of Swimming --- With the Fishes

This weekend I rocked it aquarium style.
Certain fish have gained a kind of celebrity status since release of Pixar's 'Finding Nemo.' This Blue Tang who had nothing whatsoever to do with the making of the movie has become hard to live with since Dory's screen debut.
It's amazing how much of people's knowledge of fish comes entirely from watching Nemo on screen. Everyone is constantly screaming 'I found Nemo.' It's amusing. Everyone who yells it out seems convinced they're an original. I refused to include my drawings of clown fish in this particular post. Afterall, Clown Fish aren't funny. Speaking of fish in movies, the guy on the right looked exactly like Steve Buscemi.
The turtles were pretty funny this time around. They usually keep to themselves. They were comfortable just hanging out in the open for once. The Iguana who I lovingly call Elizard was, as always, happy to put on a show. I like the little drawing of him in the corner of this page.
I thought it would be best to end the post with my favorite. No matter what, the fish we knighted 'Word' will always be one of the best parts of my visits to Coney Island.

Hey Macy's, You've got Nothing on This Parade

Sweet, sweet Coney Island

Yesterday I had the extreme pleasure of witnessing the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. I use the word 'witnessing' because I was half expecting to be questioned by police after it was over. Talk about a fest of fins and flesh! I'm aware my blog has gone totally kid friendly so I'll shelve the tons of nudie sketches I brought home.

The heavy exposure of parts usually best left unexposed was very exciting for the younger audience.