Learning Illustrator - Cute Owl!

I'm finally learning to use Adobe Illustrator. This is one of those difficult things like math and running, that can only be put off for so long. I have to learn the tool and deliver a finished piece of artwork by next Monday as an art test for a studio. (No the test does not involve adorable owls, unfortunately)

So to ramp up I designed this cute owl for a newsletter at the university where my dad works (WGU). Their mascot is the "night owl" since it's an online school, get it? *eh* *eh*

To be honest, it's way for fun than I expected, and I'm looking forward to learning to use blends and actually try to paint with the tool. Hopefully I can learn it all and get my test piece done on time. Wish me luck! :)

nymphs

 trying out some new approaches

I won a thing!

If we are friends on facebook or talk at all in the real world, you are probably sick of hearing about the ArtOrder challenge I participated in last month. But in case you haven't, or you just feel like hearing me ramble, read on!

If you're interested in seeing the piece I submitted, scroll down a few posts - it's a viking lady. :)

But yeah, sooo, I won the advertising category? To be honest I was really surprised, and flattered, and it was a big confidence booster.  I got to hear praise from some of the ADs (Like Jon Schindehette, Kate Irwin, and Lauren Panepinto) that I really respect and have followed for years, reading interviews and following their tweets and so on. Also badass illustrators like Todd Lockwood!

I'm pretty sure all I've really gained is bragging rights, and maybe some exposure? I'm not really sure what the results mean, but either way I think it's a good thing, so here's me sharing it on my blog! Yay, thanks for reading!

overpass

plein air from this weekend - made some tweaks on the computer that I couldn't do on site

Viking final

Facebook gallery with other entries is available here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.200007036790167.1073741830.170554133068791&type=1 Feel free to check it out

On to the next thing!

golem doodle

I'm trying to draw more from imagination. Part of my quest to try to figure out what it is I even like or want to draw.

I've decided I rely too much on reference. Before I even have a chance to put my idea down, I've gathered a bunch of "inspiration" and reference and made everything into serious business. What happened to playing around and drawing meaningless graphic design-y shapes or silly chiseled shoulder pads?

Thanks to Kevin at sketchnight for some ideas on how to loosen up and have fun :)

Viking Challenge

Working on a piece for theartorder.com  viking/jewelry challenge.

I started the piece digitally but felt that being on the computer put me in the wrong mindset. Being able to make endless revisions, though useful, can quickly lead to spiraling indecision. So, I decided to get real reference, put the damn thing on a canvas and try to "paint it like a man."

Eventually I got to the point where I wanted to make changes that I felt more comfortable testing on the computer first (image below). So, I'll be referencing this digital version, along with my photo-ref to try to get the painting as finished as possible. I guess I could scrap the painting and do the rest digitally, but I'm curious to see how long it takes to paint what took only an hour or two in photoshop.

Maybe I'm just old-fashioned but there's something I like about paint. It might be because it makes me think more sculpturally. It's nearly effortless to create form in photoshop, to switch to the soft airbrush and make things wrap just so. Paint is a little more stubborn and you really have to want to create form, it rarely happens accidentally for you.

I'm sure there are other more significant differences between the mediums, but this is what I've been thinking about lately. Sometimes I think a medium is just a tool and something not worth discussing, like those tiresome dinner-table conversations where upon discovering you're an artist, a person asks "what medium do you use?"

Anyone have thoughts on the (probably overplayed) computer vs canvas debate?