Aesops Fable

This, of course, is just my line drawing for one of Aesops Fables. I'll be working on the color image this weekend. The fable: The Kid & the Wolf. A kid, returning without protection from the pasture, was pursued by a wolf. Seeing he could not escape, he turned round, and said "I know, friend wolf, that I must be your prey, but before I die I would ask of you one favor you will play me a tune to which I may dance." The wolf complied, and while he was piping and the kid was dancing, some hounds hearing the sound ran up and began chasing the wolf. Turning to the kid, he said, "It is just what I deserve, for I, who am only a butcher, should not have turned piper to please you." The moral of the story: In time of dire need, clever thinking is a key or Outwit your enemy to save your skin.

Aesop: The Lion and the Mouse

I did these for my portfolio a while back. Goauche and ink. I tried to stagger them w/text beside but I have more trouble on blogger putting pictures and words together in the order I intend.

The Tortoise and the Hare - Aesop's Fable

I chose The Tortoise and the Hare because it reminds me of publishing. Slow and steady wins the race (or at least that's my hope). I started this painting after midnight last night, so it's not exactly the way I would have gone about it during the day. However, it was a fun experiment.

I started out with a navy colored pastel paper and drew on it with watercolor crayons.


I liked this stage so much that I almost didn't go any further. However, Watercolor Wednesdays implies the fact that I should probably use some water. So I got out my spray bottle, which made it look like this, which I also liked.


This morning, I really wanted to use acrylic to finish the painting, but first I tried regular watercolor paints. That wasn't very effective on the navy paper (I knew it wouldn't be, but it never hurts to try). So I decided to use my gouache paints.

Note: I don't like gouache. I can't make it do what I want, it smells weird, and it cracks after it dries.

But I decided to use it anyway, since this was an experiment. The first bits of gouache I painted didn't look good, but I stuck with it. I like the way it turned out, other than the cracking of the paint as I untaped the painting from the board. (Anybody know a way to make it crack proof?)

Here's the final result:

In Memory of Aesop

So this illo has nothing to do with any of Aesop's fables, except that they're usually about animals and they always have a moral. The moral to this story? Always be kind and give directions to those who are lost and in need.

Four Frolicking Fairies

This was a fast piece (under an hour) done with a loose pen drawing and then gouache. I tried a couple of detailed fairy drawings but they are elusive little creatures. So, this was a last ditch effort to participate. As w/all improv, there's quite a bit of risk involved.

Prompt for this week?

I'm new to the group, so I'm not sure how it works when the month changes. Is there a new prompt for this week? Or are we finishing out the month and starting with a new topic next week?

Thanks again for letting me join the group; it's a lot of fun!

Help!

OK friends, I need advice!

I had my portfolio reviewed this weekend at the NE-SCBWI conference, and although it went pretty well, I really need to work on my color.

So, where do I begin? I just picked up Betty Edward's book on color theory and I'll start pouring over it tonight, but do any of you have any other suggestions.

How do I find a simple palette to work from? I'm just so backward when it comes to color... it feels slightly overwhelming.

I'm considering saving up for a color theory class at RISD this fall, but do any of you know of any other ways to learn about using color --- books, thoughts, ideas, to help me tackle this hurdle? Thanks so much!!

Fairies

Too much frolicking can lead to troubled friendships. Thank goodness for caring, fairy friends to help us out in these trying times!

I wasn't planning on submitting anything for fairies (my last illo took too long and life was crowding in), but I started sketching last night and this is what I pulled together. Once I scanned it in, that rose color was flaming hot (which it isn't in the original), but a little computer fixing made it tolerable for the eyes. My husband has been wanting fairies with flip flops ever since I drew one without them (the flip flops were my son's idea), hence the flip flopped fairies. 

ABC's

I'm thinking this might make a decent promotional piece. Boy I'll need some fairies to sprinkle some kind of pixie dust for me to have time to figure out the next post - which I see that I'm behind on. Luvin' this W.W. thang, though:)

Frolicking Faries

Guess who takes care of your flowers when you're not looking!

Earth Day Elephant Fairies for Watercolor Wednesday

Apparently I have a harder time drawing fairies than elephants. The Watercolor Wednesday challenge this week was really a challenge (it was actually more of a challenge with human fairies than elephant ones). I won't show the human version - yikes! That's headed to the shredder tomorrow.

Here are my 2 tries with elephant fairies. The first one wasn't working at all, so I put it aside and painted the second one. Then I felt bad for the first one, went back and added and reworked it, and now I'm not sure which one I like better. Which one do you like best?

Earth Day Elephant Fairy and Superhero


Earth Day Elephant Fairy Too

Letter A | Quick color sketch

So here's my idea for the letter "A." I'm enjoying playing with this concept for an Alphabet series: lots of white space in the background and a simple animal design for each letter. What do you think? :-)

Hopping Bunnies

My son (almost 5) has his first, well, second admirer. Girls just like him . . . probably because his favorite color is pink. He enjoys playing with them and has NO idea how much they really like him. That sparked this illo . . . and there are parts of it I like and others that I don't. I think most of my frustration is that the colors don't work as well as I'd like. What other suggestions do you have? I want to know what you think is working and what isn't.

Fairies Bearing Gifts

I had posted the little fairy sitting on the mushroom a few weeks back. She is
part of set that I did. Here is the other as well as one that I did
digitally with in Corel. I sure hope I find one of them or
one of yours in the backyard this spring. Everyone keep your
eyes peeled! he he he!!! Happy Spring!

ABC's

I know we're now in the middle of fairy-land, but I just wanted to post my art for the prompt "Alphabet Letters". This is a little different take on the prompt and was done with gouache.

Frolicking Fairy

You would think I would jump at the chance to do fairies since everyday I play "fairies" with my youngest; however, I just couldn't help envisioning a little tomboy "fairy" frolicking (or tormenting) creatures small and tall.

I'm pretty happy with my little fairy, but the wet cat left me a bit frustrated. Anyone have any tips for creating the illusion of a wet cat? I haven't worked on any illo for the past three weeks, so, I'm working out the kinks. Any suggestions are welcome!

Frolicking Fairies

Spread your wings and let the fairy in you fly!

~ Author Unknown

Water color with digital background.

L is for Lemur

I love this theme... takes me back to my Sesame Street days. =)

This post is sponsored by the Letter B

I had an idea for "A" and "C" but did not have a chance to finish them. Thankfully, I did have time to finish the letter "B", presented to you by a friendly bear :-)

F is for FAIRY

hi dear all!
I haven't been posted anything for a long long time ago... but I love this blog so much and ask my fairy now to conjure for me much more time :)
have a great week all of you,
big hugs!
kriszti

Question for Stephanie

I see on your live journal you have decided to post a drawing a day. Kudos to you for actually succeeding so far. How have you accomplished this? I can't seem to maintain any kind of regular schedule in my creative output and would love some pointers from you.

Bunny Boogie Woogie

Seems like I've gotten behind a bit. I took these guys out of my sketch book and the next thing I know I'm painting the background. Originally a dance floor, but now?......a quilt on a bed?

O is for Owl

Thanks for accepting me as a member of Watercolor Wednesdays! And thanks to Wendy (Lyon) Martin for asking the group if I could join. I cross posted on my blogger and livejournal blogs.

I've been doing a daily drawing or painting in April and posting them on my blog. Today's drawing was an owl and I realized that an owl would be great for the letter O. So I quickly painted this picture:

I used watercolor crayons, watercolor paints, watercolor markers, acrylic paint (for the O around the moon and OWL), and a hair dryer so it would be dry enough to scan yet tonight. I still haven't figured out how to make the markers do what I want them to do. Has anyone else had success with watercolor markers?

B is for Babette

This is my post for Alphabets I love doing letters.
This is again digital watercolor, with collage and embroidery.
Have a great day everyone.

Alphabet Letters

Double page spread.... click for detail.

Bunnies

I was so busy nibbling on chocolate bunnies that I just didn't have time to add the color!
Maybe later!

Alphabet Letters

I'm still working on this one--the jackel looks like a mule deer and the cow needs help! Did you know that there's no animal starting with "x"? If you know of one, please let me know. For a long time now, I've wanted to work on something with an alphabet...thanks for the challenge, Roberta!

Bouncy Bunnies!

This is an oldie but seemed very appropriate for the prompt...

Bunny

This was done for Illustration Friday's prompt fleeting but thought I'd post it here also because it has a bunny in it...

Bunny love

I know, it's not a bouncing bunny, but it is a bunny and I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter Holiday. This image is 'Bunny love' a 5 x 7 watercolor that was done for today's 'Painting a child a day' project I am doing. This is me & my brother when we were little at Santa's village.
Debbie

Fun in the rain

Not only do these ladybugs know how to make lemonade from lemons, but they have figured out how to make a water park out of a rainy day. 

I got the idea from Microcosmos, an amazing film about bugs (my son and I love bugs). This illo was fun to conceive, draw, and paint . . . only, do you realize how tedious it can be to make sure EVERY drop of water has proper shading and light? And my husband pushed me to do better with the splashes (they weren't quite 3D until he pointed it out), and the splashes make it more fun, thanks to him. I hope you like it.

Rainy

I did manage to pull this one off in about an hour while the
children went out. Yay!!!!!! This is a part of a series of fabric
illustrations that I am working on.

Bouncing Bunnies

This is a recycled piece from last year that I did. I tried to do another piece
and nothing seemed at all as good as this one he he he! Happy Passover,
Happy Easter everyone!

Silly Hares

This image is part of a page spread from my newest picture book "Rabbit's Song" by SJ Tucker and Trudy Herring which came out in February.

I thought it was perfect for this week's prompt. The line out of the story goes like this:

"...silly hares cavorting in the old country of Wales."

The bunnies are having a sack race. Lot's of bouncing there.

Bouncy Bunnies

I haven't been posting illustrations and comments consistently, but I'm still very happy to be part of Watercolor Wednesdays. And this week's prompt was just what I needed to get busy!

Launched a daily painting project

I wanted to let you all know that I started a new project, "Painting a child a day". These daily paintings are done in watercolor and are posted to my google group email. I also have a Blog for it at http://paintingachildaday.blogspot.com if anyone wants to look there or follow that blog. When I have a painting that fits the themes here, or I gather time to find something that I can paint that will fit the theme here, I will post it here too.
I just launched this project April 6, so there was a lot of preparation before the launch.

I am enjoying seeing everyone's paintings and sketches here too! They are all wonderful and clever!
Debbie

Web site crit please?

I am so woefully behind. I will catch up soon, I promise. Still digging out from under because I couldn't work for two months!

I've spent the last week revamping my web site. All the links are active except for the visits section. http://wendymartinillustration.com/index.html

What do you think?

Rainy Day

Thought this was perfect for the Rainy Day prompt. Hope everyone is well! =)

I've been interviewed!!!

I've been interviewed by a fellow Blueboarder. Authors on the Rise series: interview is posted here: http://www.karenkincy.com/?p=331 and here: http://ravelda.livejournal.com/333077.html. Feel free to spread the news and link away. Comments welcome.

It's a rainy day.... It's a rainy day!
It's raining outside and I can't go out and play!
Why do we need the rain anyway....

Rainy Day

Rain, Rain go away...

I am so excited to make my first contribution to Watercolor Wednesdays!

I think I'm calling this finished. I toyed w/the idea of some faint shadow marks under the rain drops. I also thought of tightening up the window pane w/some color pencil. But I'm leaning more towards this looser (not loser) approach.

Thanks again for the opportunity.

Benny to the right!

Thanks Mitchowl!

I did reverse it in photoshop...now I just need to work on the color version

Rainy Days

Just posted this & realized that I did what I told Michelle not to do!--go backwards, away from turning the picture page! Sorry Michelle! My foot in my mouth! This is Bronco Benny & Wildhorse Harry in a "frog-strangling rain", these are the story characters I'm working on to present as a book dummy in Arkansas at the conference--thought rainy days & maybe even "bouncy bunnies" could be great scenes for them...not sure about other prompts, but I'll work on this one & bunnies for now & do something else for other challenges.

Rainy Day Sketches

I've worked up these two sketches for this week's prompt. Do the characters look consistent? Overall, how does it look to you? Anything off? I'd like to do a good job on these so I can use them in my portfolio, so any feedback would really be appreciated! :)

I need your help

So I was pretty happy working on this illo, and my son really liked it too, and then my husband (who always notices things that don't quite work -- which is good) pointed out that the perspective here is wrong, that the floor is tilted too far upward. So now I don't want to finish this one, but since I really need animals for my portfolio (and think I did a pretty good job with these pigs) I want to re-do it. So here's where your help comes in. What do I need to do to make the perspective work better? He says the way that the stool's legs and pigs compared to the perspective with the entertainment center don't jive. I mostly understand perspective, but what is the solution? Can I still have the TV back so far (so as not to take over the most important points)? Do I need to make the back of the stool's leg higher up? I guess I can do perspective with one object, but where I falter is when two or more objects lie in the same plane. It may be too hard to describe in the comments section, but if you have any help for me, I will gladly take it (and that goes for anything else that needs improvement here). Besides all that, I hope you enjoy my three little "pigs."