Aja Wells Illustration Blog

Graduate school

2012-02-13T19:49:00.000-08:00

My Graduate School has a brand new shiny website!
http://www.hartfordillustrationmfa.org/index.php

If you've ever considered an MFA in Illustration, I can not recommend this program enough. The low residency nature of the program allows you to continue to work and live at home, while still getting instruction and attending lectures from some of the finest illustrators working today, including C.F. Payne, Gary Kelley, Bunny Carter, Bill Thompson, Zina Saunders, and of course the director Murray Tinkelman. Through this program I have been able to tour Lucas Films at the Presidio, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the New Britain Museum, and so many others. I've attended inspirational lectures by leaders like my own hero Peter de Seve, Noah Klocek, and Paul Rogers.

Hartford's program gave me the focus and education needed to be able to compete in the illustration field. I am a bit embarrassed to admit it, but despite the fact that I held a BA in Art Studio and a minor in Art History, I really knew almost nothing about the history of illustration or even the names of many contemporary illustrators. The MFA filled this gap for me. While I will forever be getting more skillful and playing with new styles, thanks to Hartford I now really know how to THINK about illustration, how to approach a drawing, how to compose an idea- intellectual concepts that won't change whether I'm drawing with a piece or charcoal or on a cintiq tablet.

So if you are a professional illustrator with a couple of years under your belt and you're interested in taking the next step, please check the program out!

de Seve quote

2012-02-13T14:20:00.000-08:00

"I always reach a point with a piece where I want to throw it out the window. I think it's a total disaster and I want to kill myself. And then it's a matter of trying to rescue it. That's where the struggle is." - Peter de Seve

Portland Pug

2012-02-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

The Pug is the official hipster pet of Portlanders. This fellows' riding a fixey double decker, got his messenger bag with his <3 Oregon sticker, and of course, a PBR. All he's missing is a mustache.

Brushes

2012-02-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

I've been playing around with custom brushes to try to cultivate a look that does not look digital at all. Right now it's a little hit and miss, but here's an example of just a real quick study.

Study life to create invented forms

2012-02-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine was mocking up a beautiful illustration of a saber toothed tiger and a wooly mammoth, but the animals looked a little unrealistic. So begs the question is- how does one create an invented or extinct animal form that is accurate and convincing?

The answer is to study living animals that are similar to what you are trying to draw, and also their bones and skulls if they are available. A wooly mammoth is more than just a furry elephant- the tusks are shaped differently, there seems to be a lump on the top of its head, it has longer legs, and a hunch on it's back, among other features. But, you can use an elephant to inform how something of that mass would carry it's weight, how the brow line seems to line up with the upper jaw, how the legs bend, etc. For a saber toothed tiger- I first started drawing out an actual tiger and just put larger fangs on him (pictured), but after looking at the bones I realized that the skull was much shorter and looked more like a mountain lion's skull, so instead I recommended he study mountain lion headshapes over tiger headshapes to make the form more accurate.

I often hear novices and students proudly proclaim that they don't use reference to draw. I cannot stress how much of a mistake this is. Only by extensive research and study will you begin to really understand an animals anatomy and be able to bend and break rules to make convincing invented characters. All the pros use reference- my instructor C.F. Payne is famous for his amazing charicatures, and he was always harping on me to have some reference available even when I'm drawing something I "know" how to draw, because you might catch something you've never noticed before. And with drawing, a simple nuance like the way a claw bends in a certain direction or the way a jaw comes together has the power to take your drawing from 'good' to 'great'.

Ryan O' Rourke - Connecticut Creatives

2012-02-07T15:48:00.000-08:00

One of my really great friends and fellow Hartford MFA candidate just got featured on Connecticut Creatives. Get to know Ryan O'Rourke!

http://conncreatives.com/cc/2012/02/05/10-questions-ryan-orourke/

2012-02-04T17:52:00.000-08:00

Has everyone discovered Pinterest already?

I finally joined today, and I've been having a wonderful time. I've started with three albums- Concept Art, Vintage Illustration, and Indie Gig Posters. What I found funny is how my taste in music, and the art that represents that music, is also reflective of the vintage illustration I like, in style and especially in color scheme.

Share your Pinterest with me! Mine is http://pinterest.com/ajawells/

Sick to my stomach.

2012-02-02T23:02:00.001-08:00

Enjoy this cropped thumbnail. The rest of the piece is gone. After 40+ hours I accidentally saved this thumbnail version over the original. I literally feel sick.

Pros screw up too. I also dropped my iPhone into the toilet of all places today. This is not my day. Time for bed.

Here's a jpeg of how the total piece was coming about 15 hours in. I didn't even get a jpeg shot of the finished piece. I still have the initial linework which was done on toned paper... and yes, it will be redone. Tomorrow.

Featured Illustrator on HAI

2012-01-30T20:51:00.000-08:00

I was excited to find out that this week I was selected to be a featured illustrator on Hire An Illustrator.

I have been using Hire an Illustrator for about a year now, and I have had nothing but good experiences with them, and have gotten a good chunk of work from the site as well. I strongly recommend checking it out if you're looking for a new place to promote!

Sketch process

2012-01-27T13:24:00.000-08:00

A quick look at my process.

Step One: Figure out what you want to draw. In this case the idea was, "I want to draw a group of animals, playing instruments in the bayou".

Step Two: Draw lots and lots of teeny tiny pictures... aka, thumbnails. Thumbnails help you work out compositions and different approaches to the same drawing.

Step Three: Pick a favored thumbnail and make a larger sketch (a comp) from it to make sure that all the elements are working before committing to a final drawing.

Step Four: Use your comp to inform your finished drawing.

A couple of notes: Remember that thumbnail sketches and comps exist to help you work out larger issues with your drawings- especially composition. As you can see I do not spend a lot of time on details because at this point details do not matter. It is awful to be 20 hours into a drawing and realize that it just cannot be saved because the composition or character acting is bad, and this process helps prevent that heartache/frustration.

Studio fun

2012-01-23T18:07:00.000-08:00

Whether you work full time in an office or in a spare room in your house, you need to enjoy your space. My friend Andy has a vintage Pee Wee Herman doll in his shop that I've been eyeballing for months, and today while we were out running errands I spotted the same doll in a vintage store. Sold!

Thanks!

2012-01-21T14:53:00.000-08:00

Big thanks to everyone who ordered a sketch last week! I am very excited to get started- some of the requested illustrations include a "party dolphin", a princess pug, a dancing bear, and a crazy flamingo! Will post these next week!

Limited Time Only- Commission Sketches- $15.00

2012-01-17T20:56:00.000-08:00

From now, 9pm Pacific Standard time, on January 17th, through Friday, January 20th, I am offering sketch commissions. For only $15.00, you can own your own, original signed illustration. This is a rare opportunity, as I very seldom draw for anyone but publishers and close friends.

The Rules:
I will provide a pencil drawing for you of any ANIMAL that you choose. (Dinosaurs are OK too!) You get to decide if you want it to be a male, female, age, any personality, etc. The drawing will be of a single, stand alone character only. Illustrations will be created the following week and mailed by February 1st. Because this is just a sketch, there will be no revisions (but talk to me if something turns out way off base). The $15 price INCLUDES SHIPPING (for US orders only) so be sure to include your mailing address. Yippeee!

That's it! You will receive a hand drawn (no digital) signed illustration. The size will be 5 x 7 on high quality bristol paper. Here are some samples of stand alone character sketches:

If you would like to order an illustration, reserve your spot by sending payment via my paypal address, which is aja.wells@gmail.com, or click on the paypal button on the right side of this page it says, "Feed A Starving Artist". Remember- no more commissions will be accepted after Friday at midnight pacific time, so get your orders in while you can!

Bear Research + Thesis

2012-01-16T20:14:00.001-08:00

I've talked about my thesis before, and my struggles with it. Like most people, I have changed my project entirely, much to the chagrin of my thesis adviser, hehe. I am working on a project which I have tentatively named, "Bears of the World" (eh, working title). Over the past couple of weeks, I have been doing a ton of research on bears- not only their shape and form but also what sort of foods they eat, what their habitat is like, their general demeanor, etc. It will be a fictional book with slightly anthropomorphized bears, but full of actual information as well. I've been working on filling a sketchbook entirely of bear studies and notes. Here is a glimpse of some of the study sketches I have been working on:I just took photographs of the sketchbook because these really are just for my own reference, but I thought I'd share to show the effort behind a large project like this. I've been really surprised to really see how different bears are- Polar Bears have huge, long necks, Spectacled Bears are kind of look more doglike than bear, and Sun Bears look like they could be from another planet with those long weird tongues. And while American Black Bears are would rather run away than harm a human, Asiatic Black Bears have been known to attack completely unprovoked. What fun information to create a cast of characters with.

Been hiking

2012-01-16T20:08:00.000-08:00

Forgive my lack of artwork, I spent three days last week hiking in the ice and snow around Mount Hood in Oregon. It's the only way I can stand sitting in this chair for days on end. How do you blow off steam?

Check out the the Unofficial SCBWI Gallery

2012-01-06T18:43:00.000-08:00

Check out some of the entries for the SCBWI Tomie de Paolo award! http://scbwicontest.blogspot.com/

Teaching Philosophy

2012-01-06T13:48:00.001-08:00

I have been swimming in teaching applications for various assistant and associate professor/lecturer positions and a common question I have come across is, “What is your teaching philosophy?”

When I taught my first Graphic Design course I was thrown into it with literally only a weekend to prepare. I spent every minute of my time going over the syllabus, writing my lecture, and perking up the courage to stand in front of a classroom of 30 people.

What I was utterly unprepared for was the reality that these students were all individuals who had individual needs, skill sets, attitudes, and backgrounds. I was not prepared for my office hours to be filled with a young woman showing me photos of her cats, or counseling a student who recently lost a family member. I didn’t know how to deal with the one young man who openly argued with me in front of the class or how to help a disadvantaged student learn a concept that his classmates seemed to grasp much more easily.

Reflecting on that class and on my own experience as a student, I think that a teacher is most successful if they have sincere and genuine interest in their students. They must be willing to see each of their students as individuals and make an effort to help them not only with their artistic and intellectual goals, but to grow as individuals as well. By nurturing the student as a whole, they will be better equipped to learn and develop an artistic vision.

Following this I think that it is the teacher’s responsibility to foster a safe and friendly environment. Competition is healthy and can be inspiring, but the teacher has to be careful not to allow embarrassment or intimidation in the classroom. Critiques should be structured so that the student leaves feeling empowered to make a stronger piece and not defeated or ashamed.

I also think it is important for a teacher to be seen as a guide and not as the singular authority on a subject. Instead of producing clones of artists who do work in my style or technique, I would rather encourage the student to find and develop their own voice by challenging them to stretch their talents and imagination.

By empowering a student with a feeling of worth, safety, and a voice, I believe that they will strive to work harder and the overall classroom experience will be beneficial for them even they do not continue on in the arts. While I have my own goals I would like to instill in my students: the ability to critically assess a form, an adaptable and valuable skill set, an intrinsic love of the arts; if they can leave feeling more confident in their own voice, then I believe my role as a teacher will have been successful.

Daily Warm up 1/4/12

2012-01-04T19:09:00.000-08:00

The legs are a little off but, eh, it's just a warm up.

Daily Warm up- 1/3/12

2012-01-03T13:32:00.001-08:00

Gone fishin'.

Animals of the SF Zoo

2012-01-02T22:12:00.000-08:00

Art Resolutions 2012

2012-01-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

Art Resolutions 2012:

Finish the dreaded thesis
Go to a SCBWI conference with a completed dummy
Stay true to MY vision of what kind of art I want to to create
Nail hands and human figures
Do warm up drawings every work day that are both fun and challenging
Send out at least two major targeted campaigns
More/better social networking

What are yours?

Happy (almost) New Year

2011-12-27T21:53:00.001-08:00

For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. ~ T.S. Eliot

Christmas Stuff

2011-12-23T20:23:00.000-08:00

This year was sort of the Christmas that wasn't. It's my first holiday away from home, so I guess I wasn't really in the spirit. In fact, this morning I thought that Christmas was NEXT weekend, not this Sunday. Oops. Such is life of the self employed...

But I've been keeping a bit busy with some holiday activties...

I made a couple of Christmas Cards with markers. I was getting tired of doing everything digitally, so I broke out the ole' copics, which I usually just reserve for my sketchbook.
Christmas trees are expensive and a pain to haul up three stories, so instead of a tree, this year I decorated my studio Jackalope. Isn't he fancy?
I think that's pretty much it for 2011. January 1st and my whole life will focused on my Thesis, so I think I'm taking the rest of the year "off". Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Jolly Festivus, etc.

Coaster Snowman!

2011-12-23T20:19:00.000-08:00

For the last two years I've had the great opportunity to work with the fine people at KATZ Americas, creating illustrations for their Holiday Card. This year I got to make a cute assemble-able snowman, full of neat features like a scratch and sniff peppermint candy cane, spot UV, and lots of glitter! Very fun project, and happy to see that it turned out great!

Evolution of a Drawing

2011-12-20T17:55:00.000-08:00

I got so busy in the last few months with other projects that I am just now getting around to finishing this up. The original has already been finished and sold, but I decided to revamp it digitally. It's about 60% done, and as you can see, it's got some really rough, flat areas, and a few more complete and pleasing areas.

One thing I've learned, is never show a client an illustration at this point. More often than not, they get extremely worried and focus on the unfinished parts, and question your ability to pull the job off. But I figure I can share this with you, dear readers, as you probably understand that an illustration goes through many phases. Mine usually are as follows-

1) I've got a brilliant idea for a new drawing!
2) Look at this beautiful sketch I made! Praise me!
3) Ok, it looks little boring now, but some color will jazz it up!
4) Hm. Well, don't worry about how flat it looks, it's going to pop soon.
5) This isn't turning out right...
6) This is the BEST piece I've ever made!
7) What happened?
8) I don't want to do this anymore.
9) OK, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...
10) Done! Isn't it good? Praise me!
Epilogue: (two days later....) Yeah. That turned out OK. But I've got a really brilliant idea for a new drawing!

In other news, I'm trying to find ways to entertain myself while being chained to the chair. Afraid of gaining the dreaded THESIS TWENTY, or worse, THESIS THIRTY pounds, instead of munching on cookies I've decided to munch on garlic. Garlic, you say? Yes, Garlic. Not only does it have amazing health benefits according to various hippie websites, but it is painful, and thus, somewhat entertaining and time consuming to eat. Note that this is a activity best suited for those in serious, understanding relationships or those who are reclusive and single (myself being latter).

Christmas is coming and my dear friend and amazing writer Kate demanded, cough, politely requested that I make her some gift labels. Since they are already made, here they are for you to print and use for whatever you wish. Ho. Ho. Ho. I suggest printing them on sticker paper to make life easy, but I'm sure the office laser jet and some double stick tape will work just as well. Just click to download and there you go.
Back to drawing. Right now I'm pretty much in the "I don't want to do this anymore' phase, but what can you do. Maybe I'll break out another clove of garlic and see how long that entertainment lasts.

New Studio, and 2011 Recap

2011-12-16T21:13:00.000-08:00

2011 has been a heck of a year. I moved from Humboldt County, CA to Portland, OR all by myself, without knowing anybody here. Since living in Portland, I've moved FOUR times. However, I'm happy to report that now I finally have upgraded to a place where I can have my own studio, and not have to clumsily climb over my bed and kick a pile of dirty clothes to get to my computer. What a nice change!

Moving to a city young and alone, and with a freelance career to boot certainly brings its share of challenges. But on a good note, constant solitude encouraged me to gain some confidence and seek out a network of friends, and I've been lucky enough to meet a ton of fantastic artists, from painters to tattooists. I am especially thrilled to know illustrator Kevin Cross and fellow Hartford MFA candidate Lee White.

Looking back, I guess I would sum this year up as "The Year of Transition". I completed my first year as a full time illustrator and learned enough to fill volumes. Unfortunately, because of so much personal growing and changing, despite working full time as an illustrator, I didn't create as many personal works as I had hoped. I did, however, grow more confident with a pencil from constant sketching, and gained a better understanding of business in general, which I know will prepare me for my thesis work ahead of me...

I am really looking forward to 2012 and I have a feeling it is going to go fast. From January to March I will be creating my body of work for my thesis, and from April to June I will be writing and publishing my written thesis, along with revamping my business plan. Then in July, I'll finally be completely done with college and have my Master of Fine Arts degree!

Everything past July looks a little hazy. I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen. While I enjoy the freedom of a freelance career, I honestly want to get back into the working world. I'm not sure if that means in the form of a professor, or as an artist in the entertainment field, or something else entirely. I love Portland, but I'd go anywhere for a fresh opportunity, so we will see. I am optimistic and excited for the future.

Chicken Little

2011-12-11T19:18:00.000-08:00

A sinking feeling set in as they realized..... The Sky is Falling!

WIP

2011-12-06T19:01:00.000-08:00

Drew this today... will post process and finished illo soon!

Back from Pasadena

2011-12-04T16:45:00.000-08:00

It's been a few weeks since we have returned from the University of Hartford's Low Residency MFA Pasadena trip. I can't believe that the class of 2012 only has one more contact period before our final summer session and graduation!

As usual, our program director Murray Tinkelman lined up amazing illustrators and fine artists to speak to us about their careers as well as the illustration industry. Speakers ranged from children's illustrators to concept artists and even a court illustrator to expand our idea of all the different avenues illustrators can choose.

Speakers included illustrators and artists, Joan Charles, Gary Meyer, Keith Batcheller, Kenton Nelson, Paul Rogers, Scott Anderson (2007 alumni), Rob Ruppel, Dan Quarnstrom, Joe Cepeda, Bill Robles, and Lon Levin. We also had a great presentation by Crystal Falcioni of Magnet Reps, who helped us understand an agency/artist relationship, and we visited Jeff Hardy's Floor 84 Studio in North Hollywood, where we got to see a gaming studio in action. Below are some highlights from the trip!

Courtroom illustrator Bill Robles shows illustrations from famous court cases including the Manson trial, OJ Simpson trial, and others
Joe Cepeda discusses compositions in his children's book illustrations, and the controversy of his illustrated book Nappy Hair.
Rob Ruppel discusses creating concept work for gaming and motion picture entertainment.
Class of 2007 Alumni Scott Anderson shares recent work along with discussing his life and career post MFA.
We were invited to the famous and beautiful Castle Green to attend lectures given by Kenton Nelson and Paul Rogers.
After visiting Castle Green, we were invited to Kenton Nelson's beautiful studio to view more of his art and workspace.
Thesis advisors Doug Anderson and Bill Thompson lead our illustration in context critique. Our assignment was to choose a subject, illustrator, and magazine from a certain era emulate their style for a cover piece.
Of course, this whole contact period took place in Pasadena which meant there were many other exciting things to see and do outside of class! Some of us spent an extra day going to Disneyland! Pictured is class of 2012 Inga Polsitur, Magge Gagliardi, Jim Burke, Ryan O'Rourke, and me, Aja Wells.
Other students went to the La Brea Tar Pits. Pictured class of 2013 Brad Albright. Many others spend their time at the Getty Museum, the famous Hollywood hills, and various other galleries and museums.
The weekend following our contact period, many students also went to the CTN Animation Expo. The CTN Animation Expo was a wonderful event showcasing some of the most talented animators and illustrators working today, including Bobby Chiu, Stephen Silver, David Colman, Peter de Seve, and James Gurney. Class of 2013 student Lee White was also a featured exhibitor.

Super-team Bobby Chui and Kei Acedera of Imaginism Studios were incredibly friendly people.

At the expo we also got to check out the new 27 inch Wacom Cintiq tablets. Definitely made me ache and wish I could turn in my 12 inch tablet for that thing of beauty.

Overall, it was another wonderful trip! Looking forward to this March, for Class of 2012's last travel period to Fort Worth, Texas!

Food for thought

2011-11-09T22:24:00.001-08:00

Fellow illustrator, and a good friend of mine, Kevin Cross, texted me this image from his phone from a twitter feed between the SCBWI and a Caldecott honor winner.

It's both frustrating and inspiring to read this advice. Inspiring because it seems so right- Draw what you love, and the suitable work will come. Frustrating because despite this wisdom, illustrators everywhere, myself included, are told that our portfolios still have to fit into a certain mold. Personally, I think it comes down to whether or not you want to be a branded artist, or a hired pencil. I think every illustrator should cut their teeth being a hired pencil for a while- get the client base, learn to be professional, draw stuff you don't necessarily like in order to stretch your skill set... but I do believe there comes a time when you have to let your passion take over. Otherwise, why even bother being an artist?

Sneak Peak

2011-11-09T22:22:00.000-08:00

Work in Progress....

Holiday Show and Book Giveaway Update

2011-11-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

So many things to update!

First- Thank you to everyone who participated in my book giveaway via my facebook page. I just finished signing the books and am dropping them in the mail today!

In other news, I am part of a WONDERFUL Holiday show put on by Six Summit Gallery in Ivoryton, Connecticut. Here is the mailer:I am extremely honored to be showing among some of my favorite illustrators and friends, including Ryan O'Rourke, Joshua Brunet, and Magge Gagliardi. I will have three pieces in the show, so if you happen to be on the East Coast, please drop by! I will also have Christmas Cards of all three prints available for purchase later this month.

In other news, next week I head back down to Pasadena for another graduate school adventure. I'll be attending the CTN Animation Expo and will visit a few gaming studios and meeting with prominent illustrators. Fun! Full recap to come soon.

In the meantime, I can see the light at the end of the graduate school tunnel! Thesis update to come soon.

Thanks for reading!

Coffee Shop Sketch

2011-10-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

This may be based on actual events (sorry, Peaches).

Christmas in October

2011-10-25T16:13:00.000-07:00

Remember when I said I'd be posting a lot of Halloween stuff? Ha! That was before I found out that I would be a featured artist in a Christmas show November/December (to be officially announced on Nov 1st). So I've been husseling to get all that work done. Here's a not yet cleaned up drawing of my Santa Mouse/Christmas Rooster. Two more illustrations to come.

New Line Art Isolation Tutorial!

2011-10-24T15:42:00.000-07:00

New and Improved tutorial to isolate line art!

Isolating line art from a scanned drawing onto it’s own layer seperate from the background is extremely useful for illustrators and designers using photoshop. This tutorial will show you how to easily accomplish this task, allowing you to colorize your line art and color underneath your line art layer.

First, scan your artwork in at 300 DPI (or higher) in RGB colormode. Illustrations created with darker lines, with either a heavy pencil or with a pen tend to translate better. After scanning your illustration, use Levels to clean the drawing up and create a strong contrast.

Next, Open your Channels Palette (Window>Channels).

Now, pressing Command (ctrl in Windows) click the top THUMBNAIL of your channel pallet, right next to where it says RGB.

This will cause “dancing ants” to appear and will select everything in your illustration except for your line art. Invert the selection (Select>Inverse).

Create a new layer and fill with a color of your choice. Now you can delete the original background layer, as your line art is now isolated!

To color in your lines, be sure to lock the transparency on the new layer by clicking the little checkerboard icon at the top of your layers palette next to where it says: You can now paint your illustration! Yay! So enjoy and have fun! Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below.

Peaches and Ollie!

2011-10-23T18:10:00.000-07:00

Why work on my thesis when I can draw my dogs?

Signed Book Giveaway!

2011-10-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

Want to win a FREE SIGNED COPY of my zombie book "That's Not Your Mommy Anymore?" To enter, tell me your favorite zombie book as well as your favorite Halloween memory! You can enter here or visit my fanpage on facebook. Bonus points for stories that are particularly scary, funny, or gross! Give-Away ends on Halloween, October 31st!

Back to School!

2011-10-07T15:28:00.000-07:00

Legend

2011-10-06T13:30:00.001-07:00

That's Not Your Mommy Anymore Give Away... Coming soon!

2011-10-02T17:28:00.001-07:00

In honor of Halloween, I'm going to giving away THREE signed copies of That's Not Your Mommy Anymore! I'll be announcing how to enter within the next few days, so stay tuned!

Halloween is coming!

2011-10-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

FACT: Did you know that little brown bats hibernate?

Oh boy! October already! I have always loved Halloween. Growing up, my parents were wonderful- our house was always decked out with tons of fake spiderwebs, dancing skeletons, dead looking zombie rats, a home made scarecrow, etc. My step father was notorious for making little children scream when they knocked on our door, and my mother always made delicious punch with floating plastic eyeballs in it. So. Awesome.

I'm starting a day late, but for the rest of the month til the 31st I'll be making a Halloween related post to celebrate my favorite season. So here's a little happy bat!

I'll close the post with one of my favorite Halloween Songs: The Monster Mash!

MONSTER MASH SONG!

Lion and Lamb

2011-09-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

Sneak peak of part of an activity/puzzle illustration.

Back to School

2011-09-26T00:12:00.001-07:00

Heres a new Back to School illustration I'll be working on over the next couple of days.

Birthday Mouse

2011-09-24T18:08:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about, and eating, a lot of cupcakes lately. There is an amazing little cupcakery just a few blocks from my house called Saint Cupcake, that I have spent far too much time in. If I'm not careful, I will soon be as plump as my little mouse!

Rabbits

2011-09-20T20:52:00.001-07:00

Kinda a WIP... not sure I like the color. May play around with it more. Drew this at the coffee shop today... hmm, don't think it's that successful. Will try again tomorrow!

Palomino Blackwing 602

2011-09-19T12:10:00.001-07:00

These badboys are being touted as "The Greatest Pencil Ever Made", and I gotta say, I love them. I used to only use the super cheap bic pencils for drawing, but no longer. The thing that makes them so great is that they have a very wide range of tones, yet is able to hold its point for a long time. Kind of like a 4B darkness range with the hardness closer to an HB. You can buy a box online at www.pencils.com .

Thesis Madness

2011-09-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

It's September, which means I have 10 months until I graduate from my MFA program, which means that my thesis has to be complete in about 7 months. And... for some reason, I've had the hardest time nailing down what exactly I want to do.

You'd think it would be easy. This is the chance to work on that one project that I've always wanted to do, that I'm most passionate about. Something that is personal, that won't get art directed to death... an opportunity to do something that is uniquely my own. But I don't know what that is!

Here are some ideas I've had:
Illustrate a deck of cards, a scientific (realistic animal) portfolio, a book about my traveling with my grandmother, a book about an isolated Panda bear, a modern take on fables, a licensing portfolio, and most recently, a series of illustrations set in an animal world. Each idea would be a fun project to do, but either I get wrapped up in writing a story and get frustrated that it's not perfect, or I get bored with the idea after a couple of days.

One project that I've always wanted to do is an alphabet book. I'm particularly drawn to the idea of doing this because each illustration could stand on it's own and be entirely different from every other page. But the first thing you learn when you enter picturebooks is that ABC books typically don't sell. It's been done. A million times over. Even if the illustrations are wonderful, the chances of selling a book of that sort in this oversaturated market is slim. So even though it's been of interest to me, I've had a hard time committing 7 months of my life working on a project that has a very low probability of ever being sold.

However, I think I just need to change my attitude. If the book sells, well, thats great. But what doing an alphabet book will really allow me to do is to draw a variety of animals in a variety of situations, which is all I really want to do anyway.

So I'm going to make it official- My MFA thesis is going to be an animal alphabet book. Over the next few weeks I'll be researching the different types of ABC books, doing more studies of animals as usual, and start dummying it out. My body of work will include a sketchbook of studies specifically created for the book, as well as the entire 32 page book. My written thesis will cover a brief history of the ABC book, my influences, process, etc. Here we go!

Komodo dragon- big problem

2011-09-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

Here's an iphone snapshot of a komodo dragon with a VERY big problem. A morning warm-up drawing, done by request via my facebook page.

Friends

2011-09-10T14:08:00.001-07:00

I'm lucky to have some amazing artist friends. I can't post them all.... so tuned for more features in the future.

Mathew Mossman
Mat and I used to work together as graphic designers at our old graphic design group, for about two years. I've always been blown away by his work, but it just keeps getting better and better. Today Mat works full time as an illustrator for a gaming company.
Kevin Cross
I heard about Kevin before I met him- he's half of the brains behind the popular podcast Big Illustration Party Time, and various other podcasts. Super talented, super cool guy. Master of Cartoon Modern.
Joshua Brunet
I don't think I've ever met a nicer guy than Josh Brunet. A recent graduate of the Hartford MFA program, I see huge things in his future.
Magge Gagliardi
Magge is wicked talented and a supremely awesome chick. A fellow Hartford class of 2012 MFA candidate and also one of the youngest students, we have a great time together.

I sure am lucky to have not only great friends, but talented ones to boot!

Will Terry's "How to Use Color" and video learning

2011-09-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

There's a newish website called Folio Academy that I've been hearing a lot about. It's basically a website that has video lessons on art technique, ranging anywhere from ipad drawing to watercolor.

Out of curiosity, I paid the $20 bucks they were asking to watch the How to Use Color tutorial, as Will Terry really is a master of color. The lesson was two hours long, fairly basic (as it advertised to be) but I found it to be a pleasant refresher course in color theory. It would have been neat to have gone over more advanced lighting effects, like rim lighting and reflective light, etc, but you can't expect him to cover everything in a basic two hour tutorial. Think of the video as less of a lesson, and more of slightly expanded lecture. You'll pick up some useful tips, and then apply them in your own work.

The video itself was fine. Sound quality was good. A couple of times the video would freeze but the audio would keep going, but that could have just been my internet connection.

All the lectures are (currently) under 30 dollars, so I'd totally recommend giving a video a try if you find a topic you are interested in. I kinda want to check out the ipad one.

As a side, I bet they are making a killing. The price is low enough, and the names of the artists big enough, that I bet they pull in a lot of interested students. Schoolism too. I think it's brilliant to take the time to record one video and sell it hundreds (thousands?) of times over. I think that this is an area that all illustrators should eventually consider expanding into once they have established themselves in the market and have something viable to teach. That's the weird truth about the arts industry- sometimes it's more lucrative to sell your knowledge than to sell your talents.

IF- Mysterious

2011-09-07T19:45:00.000-07:00

This weird little Sorcerer guy just popped into my sketchbook tonight, and I thought he works wonderfully for Illustration Friday's Mysterious theme!

iPad Bear

2011-09-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

Gussied up my iPad bear sketch from a few weeks ago. I'm working on a new style... leaving the original pencil lines, simplified color... what do you think?

Bumbershootn' Fun

2011-09-06T07:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went to Bumbershoot in Seattle. It's an arts, music, and spoken word festival. Admittedly, I mostly went for the live music, but my favorite thing was watching Dan Savage give a talk on his "It Get's Better" project. If you don't know anything about the project, check it out here: It Get's Better. Basically it is a grassroots outreach plea to young, suicidal gay teenagers to remember that life get's better and is always worth living. Since they launched the original video, they've gathered over 35,000 videos of support, mostly from normal people like you and me, but also from President Obama, Lady Gaga, Google, The Department of the Interior, religious figures, service men and women, etc, etc. So check it out!

After that, I went to Pikes Place and I did a ton of sketching! I also finally caught up with the art scene via the wonderful Juxtapoz magazine and CMYK. Ever see art by underground artist Neck Face? What a creepy, cool guy. Umm, not for children.

More sketches to come soon, I'll be asking for suggestions via my Facebook Page if you want to give me input!

Summer Days are going by....

2011-09-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

The other day on my Facebook Page I asked folks what I should draw for my morning warm up- and here's what they came up with!

Today is September 2nd, I can't believe that summer is coming to a close. It was already cooler yesterday in PDX, so after getting some work done in the morning, I took the rest of the day off and hung out on my roof to people watch and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.
This weekend I'm grabbing my sketchbook and heading up to Bumbershoot arts and music festival in Seattle. I'm looking forward to hipster watching and catching a talk from Dan Savage. Hope to get some interesting drawings out of it too.

Kids!

2011-08-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

Hey kids! Here are some kids!

Peter Brown's "You Will Be My Friend"

2011-08-31T08:28:00.001-07:00

Peter Brown's got a new book coming out next month, called You Will Be My Friend.

I've loved Peter Brown ever since I picked up a copy of Chowder. I was looking for something a little different in picturebooks, and Chowder was so wonderfully illustrated, and wonderfully WEIRD, that I just couldn't help myself from scooping it up. I wrote Peter back in college about how I loved his work and hoped to be a professional illustrator some day, and I just dug up the old e-mail he wrote back. What a nice guy. He closed with, "ps. "Aja" is a beautiful name, I think it'll look great on the cover of children's books."

What a sweetie! Buy his books!

More bears from my book

2011-08-30T21:38:00.000-07:00

Here are more bears from my sketchbook tonight. It was a long, busy day full of illustrating kids, frogs, and various other critters, so I ended the day drawing my favorite subject- bears!

I read the book "An Illustrated Life" which is basically about sketch journaling, or at least keeping a good looking, cohesive sketchbook. I always start to do that, with great plans of making THIS sketchbook the one that I'll show to all my friends and family when they ask to see what I'm doing, but I always inevitably botch it by drawing something really poorly, or writing down my grocery list in it. Oh well. So here marks yet another new attempt at a more organized, themed sketchbook.

Bears

2011-08-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

Look! Bears! How unusual!

IF - Disguise

2011-08-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

I got a new tiny sketchbook and decided that I'd fill it only with marker drawings for warming up in the morning. So here is the first one. Forgive the photo- I'm working at the coffee shop and am away from my scanner!

First Doodle

2011-08-25T13:10:00.001-07:00

It's strange, but I think it's going to take a while to get used to working on the cintiq, after 10 years of using a traditional tablet. Wow. I've been using a tablet for 10 years....

The first time I ever saw a tablet was when I was 16 years old and at my bosses house. I was a junior in highschool and asked to start a little magazine, which became Voice Magazine, which is still running: Voice. My bosses, son, and later colleague, Dan Seward had already been using the tablet for years and gave me a quick demo in photoshop. I was instantly hooked. Suddenly, everything became really clear- I knew I was going to be a digital artist.

Funnily enough, the first thing I ever drew was a little cartoon bear giving a peace sign (hahaha). I printed it out, gradient shirt and all, and drove it over to my friends work and told him, "This is what I want to do for a living!"

10 years later: still drawing bears, still pumped about tablet technology. And stoked to be actually doing this for a living.

Argh!

2011-08-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

I got my cintiq today. It is a thing of beauty....

But now my imac is on the fritz and so I have to take it to the apple store tomorrow. Oh boo hoo, it's always something. At least it's under Apple Care's warranty. Hope to make some new art on the tablet soon!

Drawing on Location and Cintiq Madness!

2011-08-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

Am I in ancient China? No! Yesterday I spent the better part of the day drawing on location at the Lan Su Chinese Garden, a beautiful somewhat hidden garden smack in the middle of Portland. I was invited by outstanding illustrator (and fellow Hartford MFA candidate) Lee White. I have not seriously attempted drawing on location in many years, and I was sorely out of practice, so I won't torture your eyeballs with my attempts. However, for the next few weeks every monday I'll be joining Lee at a new location to refine some skills!

I am also anxiously awaiting this bad boy....
I've been drooling over the cintiq for years, and I finally found a good deal on the smaller one. Of course I would have loved to get the 21 incher, but I really can't afford to drop 2k right now, as tempting as it is! Can't wait to get it!

Back to the drawing board!

Wombat Conga!

2011-08-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

"Wombat, Wombat, Wombat! Wombat, Wombat, Wombat!" - This is what they chant as they dance along the outback. Life is just SWELL!

Graphite and digital. It's a little washed out because I had to upload the illustration to my phone, but hopefully a more vibrant version will be posted on my website soon (or as soon as I get internet installed in my new studio!)

Inky stuff

2011-08-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

Dabbling in ink wash/watercolor on really really bad paper (or inappropriate paper, I should say). But I like the Kama'aina bear.

Little Update!

2011-08-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

(sneak peak doodle for a project coming out soon!)

So sorry for the delay! I recently got a nice, HUGE, brand new studio, and I've yet to set up my internet so I haven't had much time for social media. But here is a little mini update...

It's summer in Portland and the sun is finally out. Today I am sitting in a nice, air conditioned cafe, drinking an iced tea, while designing Holiday cards for one of my favorite clients. I'm also working on a safety campaign, and developing some characters for licensing. Fun!

I've been dabbling in more and more traditional media lately. I have been experimenting with FW Inks (which can be found here: http://www.dickblick.com/products/daler-rowney-fw-acrylic-water-resistant-artists-ink/) as a sort of watercolor on illustration board- samples and works in progress to be posted soon. I also just bought a great new lightbox from this company: http://www.gagneinc.com/PortaTrace.html (but I bought it on amazon for a great price- look them up!).

I bought the lightbox because I am tired of digitally inking over my lines. Not only is it incredibly time consuming, but frankly, the drawings don't look as fresh or lively when I draw over them- so I have purchased the lightbox so I can make cleaner finished drawings in pencil or ink instead of using the computer.

When it comes to art books, I recently picked up this amazing little title:
This little gem has concept art ranging from Snow White all the way up to 2010's Tangled. It's absolutely stunning, and I completely recommend picking up this book- you can get it for about 20 dollars off list price on Amazon.

Also on the book scene- I picked up The Art of Kung Fu Panda 2, featuring the amazing work of Nico Marlet, and also Art of Rango. ILM really is taking their design in a refreshing and intriguing direction... It will be interesting to see what they come up with next. Also finally reading The Wind in the Willows- because it was free on my ipad, and has lovely fanciful animals who eat crumpets and drink tea, so of course I find it delightful.

Speaking of books, That's Not Your Mommy Anymore is still getting great reviews. Special thanks to Horror-Web for this outstanding review: http://www.littlebunnycthulhu.com/index.php/2011/08/14/book-review-thats-not-your-mommy-anymore-by-matt-mogk-and-aja-wells/#more-5070

I've been considering taking my website down because I want to replace it with all new work... however I guess that could be career suicide in the interim. Stay tuned over the next few months for some major updates on that front.

I think that's all for now. Stay tuned for information on my thesis development!

Back from Hartford

2011-07-30T22:55:00.000-07:00

(Magge Gagliardi, C.F. Payne, and me at the Hartford MFA 2011 Thesis Show)

I can't believe it's been a year since I started my MFA. So much has happened in just one year, it really blows my mind. I moved to a different state, worked on a couple of books, got my feet wet in animation, got closely acquainted with Monster energy drinks, and learned the importance of a solid contract (many times over!). This year's trip back to Connecticut was just as wonderful and as recharging as I had hoped it would be. Some highlights...

This year I studied under four world class artists: Nancy Stahl and Zina Saunders co-taught a digital media course, and Gary Kelley and CF Payne co-taught a methods course.

In our methods class, both Gary and Chris demonstrated how they approach an illustration, and we had the opportunity to either create a new piece using their technique, or simply work on thesis projects with their guidance.

The majority of students tried Gary's monotype method, as can be seen below:

In addition to our courses, we also had numerous inspiring lectures from leading artists including Vincent DiFate. We also headed over to the Norman Rockwell Museum to view the collection and attend a panel discussion by Blue Sky Animation about character acting and design. The event was well attended, and some of us even got to meet James Gurney, which was a major treat!

Now I'm back home in PDX, with a bunch of work lined up and a whole new direction on my Thesis. More on that coming soon!

Drawings

2011-07-26T11:29:00.000-07:00

App concept - Big Fat Pig

2011-07-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

So here is a concept for an ipad or iphone app.

Splash Page and Interactive Page

The game is called Big Fat Pig. The goal is to become the biggest, fattest pig on the farm before the time runs out. Each level, you stand in front of your trough while food falls from the sky. Eating fattier items will make you fatter, but they take longer to eat. Eating non food items, such as a sock, will make you throw up and consequently lose weight (marked by your fat-o-meter). In addition in racing against the clock, you also race against other animals for food, including rats, chickens, and other pigs. If you fail to become the biggest fattest pig by the end of the level, you lose a life (marked by a cupcake icon) and must attempt the level again.

This project was a way for me to learn some new skills. The splash page was created in Corel Painter, which I had never used before, while the interactive page was primarily made in Illustrator. The text is all hand done as well. At this time there is no real goal to bring Big Fat Pig to life, but if any developers out there are interested, drop me a line :)

Sneak Peek

2011-07-08T13:51:00.001-07:00

Attempting to color my zoo illustration in with copic markers.... this is a first!

Wombat- Color Me in

2011-07-08T13:49:00.000-07:00

Another coloring page/digital stamp! Doodled by me and inked by Wilson Williams Jr! So squishy!

Color Me In

2011-06-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

Coloring page- Drawing by me, inks by Wilson Williams. Click to download, and stay turned for my downloadable coloring pages at www.onceuponasketch.com !

Zoo Illustration Work in Progress

2011-06-22T16:46:00.000-07:00

The last couple of days I have been working on a huge illustration! This is a reaction piece to my recent MFA trip to San Francisco. The San Francisco Zoo is such a charming place, that I decided I would create an illustration to celebrate it.

Once I decided on the general idea, I went to the SF Zoo's website and looked up the list of animals that they had. I knew that there were Lions, Tigers, and Bears, but I wanted to create a more complex illustration (maybe around 10 animals), and wanted to be sure to only showcase actual animals located in this Zoo. So, here is a very boring page out of my sketchbook, with a list of animals, a couple of studies, and a loose thumbnail sketch of a possible composition.

After I figured out what I basically wanted the composition to be, I created a loose layout sketch. This sketch gave me an idea of the different size ratios of the animals, etc. I soon realized that I wouldn't be drawing 10 animals, and had planned on doing about 17. Also, once I finished this sketch I realized it was sort of boring that all the animals were looking at the camera, so I decided to mix it up a bit with more interactivity in the group.

The final pencil drawing is made up of 23 animals! In case you were wondering, they are (from left to right) a Dik-Dik, Meerkat, Koala, Giraffe, Red Kangaroo, Hippo, Tiger Salamander, Rosy Knee Tarantula, Desert Tortoise, Prairie Dog, Kookaburra, Polar Bear, Waxy Tree Frog, Grizzly Bear, African Lion, Anaconda, Sea Otter, Chimpanzee, Giant Anteater, Maganellic Penguin, Zebra, and a Flamingo.

I am not excited about painting it, haha. But hopefully if it turns out well, I will donate some prints to the SF Zoo.

Stay tuned- this image will be done by Tuesday!
UPDATE:
Finished image-

Books Arrived!

2011-06-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

(forgive the iPhone photo quality)

I just got my shipment of Children's Stories by Artie Knapp! I'll be having a giveaway on my Facebook Fan Page soon... stay tuned if you want a copy!

Wombat doodle

2011-06-16T09:49:00.001-07:00

Wombats- they just may be my new favorite thing to draw.

Quick Idea- Wombat Conga line

2011-06-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

So I've had an idea for a while that I want to do a full illustration of Wombats doing the Conga, while chanting "Wombat, Wombat, Wombat!" (to the tune of the Conga drum sound). So last night I drew the above sketch to jot down the general idea for the illustration.

Before I draw something, I try to make it a habit to draw at least one page of my subject realistically, to make sure I have a solid understanding of what it generally looks like. Google image search is of course an outstanding resource, and I collect large discount photo books from Barnes and Noble and Borders when they go on sale. My sketchbook is full of illustrations like the one below. It's not important to me that it is rendered out, I am just trying to get an idea of the basic shapes and construction. While my intention is to draw my subject realistically, little characters usually come to life from these sketches.

Now that I have a better idea of what a wombat looks like, my next step will be to more thoroughly understand what a Conga line looks like. After a round of sketches there, I'll be ready to start the sketch for my final illustration..... But not today! Back to work...

Cookie Bandit

2011-06-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

I have been sick, but I'm finally back! Time to work, work, work! Here is a cookie bandit raccoon guy to kick things off!

Also, Children's Stories by Artie Knapp has hit bookstores! Check it out here: Childrens Stories!

Once Upon A Sketch

2011-06-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce that along with my friends Wilson Williams, Norm Grock, and Edrian Thomidis, we have launched our website, Once Upon A Sketch.

Once upon a sketch is a portfolio site doubles as a resource site blog which will serve as a way to spread information about the children's market to our fellow illustrators. Stay tuned!

iPad Bear

2011-05-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

This last week I got myself the iPad 2. What a fun device! I really wanted one so that I could look up photo reference while at a coffee shop instead of lugging around my heavy macbook, but I've been having so much fun with the games and other apps that it has definitely been used for more pleasure than work so far.

On Thursday I went ahead and downloaded the iBooks app, and got several books including Everything is Illuminated, Alice in Wonderland, and Barrel Fever. I wasn't really planning on using my iPad as a real reading device, but so far it's not too bad on my eyes and very enjoyable.

As I sat down last night and tried to figure out what to draw, I was thinking about nostalgia and comfort, and how there is nothing better than snuggling up under a blanket with a hot cup of tea and your favorite novel. So here is kind of a modern take on an old tradition. I think I will try to paint it next week.

Monday

2011-05-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

Hooray! The world did not end. To celebrate, I decided to decorate my "studio", aka, tiny corner workspace. It is important, when you are spending 10-12 hours a day sitting in one spot, that you at least enjoy being there. So here is where I am typing to you from:

Taken with my iPhone. It's like an Apple advertisement.

The Jackalope is named Buckwald, and the Chameleon is named Chauncey, in case anyone was wondering. The butterflies are all from South America. The four mounted illustrations on the right are postcards by one of my favorite illustrators, Racey Helps. I was given these when I was four or five by my aunt, and I have held on to them ever since.

I used to have a drafting table, but a couple of weeks ago, I literally ripped the board off of it's hinges while moving it, so now I take over my kitchen nook when I need to more space to draw. I'd take a picture, but all it is is a giant fake marble table covered in paper. I also spend a lot of time sketching at Heart , a lovely little coffee shop a few blocks from home.

In other news, I started drawing on Designer Vellum. Vellum is basically very fancy and expensive tracing paper and I love it! I love the way it grips graphite and markers react really nicely to the surface too, without bleeding through. It kinda looks like a animation cell. Here's a dinosaur's backside and a little mouse:

I'll try to post more sketches from it tonight. Ok- back to work! Happy Monday!

May 21st, 2011

2011-05-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

Well, I really hope the world doesn't end today, but if it does, at least I had a beautiful morning at my favorite neighborhood park, Laurelhurst. I really feel fortunate to live in a city that protects so much natural beauty.

Speaking of natural beauty, the author of the children's anthology I illustrated, Artie Knapp, has a new book out called Living Green: A Turtle's Quest for a Cleaner Planet. This is a delightful tale about making a difference for our world. Timely and poignant, it's great read for the whole family. Be sure to check it out: Living Green Book.

Number 1 for now!

2011-05-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

Ha. I think I am just entertaining myself with this stuff. But TNYMA is currently number ONE for Horror Graphic Novels. Woooo!

That's Not Your Mommy Anymore- Available now!

2011-05-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

Alright! That's Not Your Mommy Anymore is officially shipping from amazon!

As of this posting, TNYMA's rank is #30 of Amazon's Best Selling humor books, and #448 of all books on Amazon (Out of 8 million!) Very exciting!

Here's what some people are saying:

"It's like Dr. Seuss meets Night of the Living Dead. Which to me is a perfect childhood!" --As It Happens, CBC Radio

"The double page spread that pays winking tribute to the most famous zombie film characters is worth the cover price alone." --Horror World

"Chronicling the zombie apocalypse through a Seuss-esque filter, the colorful book serves as both a valuable narrative for adults and cleverly disguised survival guide for children." --Geekscape.net

Here are some sneak peaks from the book:

All is well!

Um..... Mom?

Want to learn more about Zombies? Learn more from the Zombie Research Society: http://zombieresearch.net/

sketch

2011-05-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

Couldn't think of anything to draw to warm up. So I drew a bull terrier with a graph. I think I need to look for some inspiration... I kind of hate it. But then I colored it, and I hate that much more. I am trying to figure out new brushes but it's a long and frustrating process...

In other news, all day today my poor dogs have been staring up at me like this:

They unfortunately don't know the difference between a deadline day and the weekend, and the weather wasn't cooperating either. I guess now that it's 8pm I can finally quit for the day and try to catch a quick walk before it gets dark...

doodley-oodle

2011-05-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

Cat and Mouse. Plus scary cute friends. Drawn at Sound Grounds, on Belmont in Portland.

SCBWI Conference - thoughts

2011-05-14T22:10:00.000-07:00

I spent the last two days at the Portland SCBWI "Spring into Action' Conference. This was my third SCBWI conference, and my first Portland Oregon regional conference.

After attending this conference, I left a little disappointed. However I have to ask myself, "What did I come looking for? What questions did I have that did not get answered?"

Unfortunately, there is no super secret key to success. You just need to have an outstanding portfolio and get it in front of the right people. There is no foolproof way to market. Some people love postcards, other people throw them in the trash. Some people love emails, others delete them before you can say "you've got mail!" Some say to send new samples every 3 months, others say thats overkill. Some say they never work with anyone who doesn't have an art rep, others say they found their illustrator right out of college. But even though I know this, I guess I still hope I'll learn some little special secret.

One of the major theme's for this conference was the e-book and future of publishing. I was hoping to learn some hard, fast facts but the truth is, everyone is still sort of wondering whats going to happen. We know that apps and e-readers are going to be a big part of the future- but how big? How interactive will books be? Who will design the ebooks, illustrators? app developers? Will large imprints develop an app department? Maybe? Probably? It's all still being figured out. And what will happen to traditional books? Will they become collectors items? Will POD's replace traditional printers? At this time we can speculate, but it's all still too new to say what will absolutely happen. E-books and apps are an extremely exciting field though that most illustrators are eager to be a part of (I myself am currently working with a wonderful development company) but it's still early to put clear definitions on what will be standard and how involved illustrators will be in the process. I am just eager to learn everything I can right this second because I KNOW it is going to be a huge part of the future of illustration.

Anyway, I think this will be the last SCBWI conference I attend in a while. I feel that once you are published, the conferences arn't really helpful and it will just come down to improving your portfolio and creating relevant work. Of course, the conference IS an excellent way to network with fellow illustrators (which can be especially nice if you attend a regional conference and hope to make some new friends), and it's a great way to show a dummy and have your work critiqued by a industry professional. These opportunities may be worth the cost alone.

However, if you are new to children's books, I definitely recommend attending a conference! After my first conference, I was absolutely glowing and my brain felt swollen with information. It is an excellent way to kick start your career in children's publishing. Also, I repeatedly hear that for WRITERS, the conferences are fantastic and extremely helpful. Maybe next time I go, I'll sit in on their sessions and see what I've been missing...

Edit: One thing that did really stand out for me, was attending a lecture by Ward Jenkins, illustrator of Chicks Run Wild. He is excellent, and extremely talented. Definitely an illustrator to be followed. Ward Jenkins Site

Exciting News

2011-05-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

The book I illustrated, That's Not Your Mommy Anymore, is currently ranked number 55 on Amazon.com's Best Sellers/ Humor list, and number 911 in ALL amazon.com books! Wow! How incredibly exciting!

More on this later.... i'm heading off to day two of an illustration conference!

Edit, new rank!

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #818 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #52 in Books > Entertainment > Humor

Update again:

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #44 in Books > Entertainment > Humor

Morning Walk

2011-05-09T14:14:00.000-07:00

This morning while on my morning voyage to pick up a chai, I stumbled upon the worlds most obese cat.

He had a rather sour disposition, but didn't run away. He just sat there, in the middle of the sidewalk and ignored me as I walked by.

He was great motivation for a morning warm-up sketch!

Doodled at Illustration Club

2011-05-03T23:01:00.001-07:00

And heres a further pushed Rhino... not sure if it's as usable in children's publishing... maybe better for editorial or edgier work? Not sure. But I like him. Also works well for Illustration Friday's Safari!

On Style

2011-05-03T17:44:00.000-07:00

Rhino 1, more generic, Rhino 2, more personal

I don't like to address style much, because I've always believed that it is something that develops naturally over time. I still believe this is true, but my thoughts on this have changed slightly, and I've started to take a more active approach to developing my personal voice.

The number one request I get, and it is ALWAYS from very small publishers or start-ups, is to draw them something in someone else's style. This request always has a way of making my blood boil. Client- if you would like something in a certain style, why don't you find an illustrator who works in that style, and hire them? I guarantee you that you will get better results and have a much happier relationship. I have taken some of these jobs, but I always end up having no fun with the project at all... and there's something wrong with that.

I've been talking to some fellow illustrators about this, and one of my friends in particular, Kristian Olson , suggested creating a style that is unique and only I can make. Not only is this self preserving against copy-cat artists, but it also curtails left field requests for different styles, and can cut down on nitpicky adjustments. Just take a peek at his stuff and you'll see what he means.

Now of course, I am not going to do something so radical, but the brush pen and copic studies along with my background in drawing more realistic animals is encouraging me to drop the super sweet and simplified look and go for something a little more realistic and possibly a little more strange. My sketches have been strange for years, and I think I've really dumbed down some stuff for my professional work to try to appeal to larger masses. But after doing this for three years, I really think this is working against me.

So over the next several months, my portfolio is going to experience an entire overhaul. It won't be without some hiccups, but I think in the end, I'll be much happier.

Some of my inspiration: Peter de Seve, David Colman, The Art of Rango.

Donated work

2011-04-29T18:23:00.000-07:00

My grandmother was on the board of directors for an animal shelter and also served as a child advocate for CASA. She always encouraged me to do what I could to help those less fortunate than myself. I had the opportunity to make a logo and illustration for a Northern California animal rescue, and here it is. The illustration is ink brush and the simple logo was made in illustrator.

Dino Warm-up

2011-04-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

This is what I look like when I don't get my caffeine.

Brush work

2011-04-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

Been hanging with the boys at Illustration Club, our weekly drink and draw here in Portland. Here are some sketches that I've been working on- training myself to use brush and ink. Boy, I'm pretty wobbly, but I think that this is a good new direction.

I like the bird rat in the middle

Pitbulls plus Peaches and Ollie

Diggin the rat guy up top

I guess I had a chocolate chip cookie theme

And in case anyone cares, I'm using Dr. Ph. Martin's Black Star matte ink, a windsor and newton sable/synthetic blend brush, number 3 (I can't recall which series) and copic markers.

PS- The book I illustrated (That's Not Your Mommy Anymore) was briefly featured on NPR on Tuesday! Anybody catch it?

300th post

2011-04-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

Been super busy these last couple of weeks but I'm back at my studio now and doing new work. Beyond professional work, I'm taking a departure from digital work to explore inking with brushes and some watercolor. Here's a snapshot from the other night. Fancy!

Been fortunate to meet some pretty amazing illustrators here in PDX. Just a few of these talented people are Kevin Cross, the mastermind behind Big Illustration Party Time and Art & Story. Also the very awesome Devon Devereaux and amazing up-and-comer Matthew Hope.

In other news, That's Not Your Mommy Anymore is set to be released May 31st! You can preorder it on Amazon HERE . Children's Stories by Artie Knapp will also be released in May, with more details to come!

Personal Work

2011-03-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

Self Portrait with Peaches

Sometimes it's hard to reconcile personal work with professional work. My sketchbook is a strange, strange place. Moleskin, Tombows.

Sneak Peak

2011-03-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

The Children's Stories anthology by Artie Knapp will be available soon! This collection is being published by MightyBook in association with Yak's Corner. Artie has been delighting children and adults alike with many stories for quite some time- be sure to pick up a copy when it's out!

Art Show Tonight

2011-03-26T10:22:00.000-07:00

At the very last minute I was invited to join a show at the life drawing studio I frequent, The Stables. It's a sketchbook show, so all the illustrations are loose and kind of fun. Don't know if anyone from Portland follows this blog, but be sure to check it out tonight at 8pm, at 910 SE Taylor Street. www.thestablespdx.com

Sumatran Rat Monkey

2011-03-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

For an upcoming project. Weird, I know. Kind of like a cross between a Chinese Crested and an Aye-Aye. Tombow pen and digital

Hartford MFA San Fransisco Trip!

2011-03-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

The San Fransisco trip started off with a bang! Bright and early on March 14th, we met at the Handerly Hotel in Union Square to load buses so we could head to Alice "Bunny" Carter's private residence. Carter comes from a long line of accomplished illustrators, and over the years her family has accumulated a massive private illustration collection. She was generous enough to invite us into her home so that we could view the pieces.

When we arrived, Alice Carter, her mother/illustrator Jane Eisenstat, and her husband/illustrator Courtney Granner welcomed us with open arms. On display were a huge collection of illustrations, ranging from Norman Rockwell to Ralph Steadman.

Students examine private collection.

After we viewed the work, Jane Eisenstat gave us a brief lecture about how her collection came to be, (mostly luck- unfortunately original illustrations were often not very highly valued, so many were picked up at thrift stores) along with stressing the importance of being sincere about your quest to become an illustrator.

Afterwards, we piled back into the bus and headed out to LucasFilms at the Presidio, where we attended a panel discussion, lead by an ILM (Industrial Light and Magic) art director, about what it's like to work for LucasFilms, and how to properly prepare for a job with the company. If you're interested in learning more about working for LucasFilms, check out these two websites: http://www.lasjedi.com/index.html , and https://jobs.lucasfilm.com/ .

Once the discussion was wrapped up, we had the opportunity to take an exclusive tour of the campus. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed due to sensitive materials, but we were able to view extraordinary art, including an original ET puppet, R2D2, Captain Hook's Hook, Jurassic Park dinosaur models, and so much more. It was truly a delight!

Through the rest of the week, we had a series of lecturers visit us, including:

Craig Frazier - Freelance Illustrator

"Look for work that feels most challenging, and for jobs that allow you to participate in thinking."

Chuck Pyle - Illustration Chair at Academy of Art

"Know the fundamentals first."

Lou Brooks - Freelance Illustrator

Robert Hunt - Freelance Illustrator

"The more sincere you are, the better you will be."

Bill Russell - Freelance Illustrator

"When you make a decision just for the money, it's probably not worth it in the long run."

Vivienne Flesher - Freelance Illustrator

"Expand as much as you can."

Dennis Ziemienski - Freelance Illustrator

Cheryl Phelps - Licensing Coach/Freelance Illustrator

"Copyright EVERYTHING you make!"

Noah Klocek - Pixar Art Director/ Freelance Illustrator

"Learning requires stewing." and "Learn to balance your personal and professional work".

Courtney Granner - Professor of Illustration at SJSU/ Freelance Illustrator

In addition to our lectures, much time was also spent on thesis advising, critiquing our reaction pieces to the New York City period.

Murray, Bill and Doug critique work.

All free time was spent visiting the various SF sights- students headed to Fisherman's Wharf, Coit Tower, the Legion of Honor, Chinatown- all over the city searching for inspiration for the next piece.

Friends at Pier 39

While the lecturers, critique sessions, and ILM visit were spectacular, my favorite part of these sessions are being around such a high caliber of fellow illustrators. We come from all over the United States, and have very different backgrounds and ages, but we all have this deep common thread that makes the experience simply precious. I'm already counting down the days to the next session, coming in July!

*If you are interested in earning your MFA through Hartford Art School's Low Residency program, please contact Carol and Murray Tinkelman via the program's website: http://www.hartfordillustration.com/ . Please note this is a professional level program, and all students should have a minimum of two years professional experience before applying.

Peaches and Ollie

2011-03-21T15:22:00.000-07:00

My beloved dogs. Poor Ollie really does have a tie collar. Again, quick drawings, 5-10 minutes each.

Coffee Sketches

2011-03-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

Went to a coffeeshop and did some sketching.

I was very saddened, and later disturbed, to read about the death of the beloved German Polar Bear, Knut. I made the terrible decision to watch the animal's death online.... save yourself some heartache and don't watch. I scribbled this in honor of him... I referenced AP photos, which I never do as they are copyright protected, but as this is a simple non-monetary tribute, I hope that nobody's feathers get ruffled.