beautiful beheading

Today’s drawings, pencil, sumi ink and acrylic on stonehenge, 8×10″.

GR2 Year of the Dragon show

Here’s the official flyer for the Year of the Dragon GR2 show! I’m sad I can’t make it down there, but if any of you are in LA around that time, try to check it out as I’m sure it’ll be jam-packed with amazing work by equally amazing artists!!

Click here to read more about the show and about the Giant Robot magazine/gallery!

Katie’s finished Tattoo

Katie’s finished tattoo. The tattoo artist did a lovely job of shading the piece, and I love how it turned out! I only wish I could see it in person.

Red Scaly Cup – and saucer!

Latest cup, with saucer.

Now I’m working on a matching blue one!

Dragon painting finished!

The painting I’m working on for the Giant Robot Lunar New Year show is finished! Now to pack it up and ship it down to LA!

Lunar New Year show at GR2

Just a week ago I was invited to take part in the annual Lunar New Year art show Giant Robot puts on each year, this year being shown in the new GR2 space in LA, taking place January 29th. This year is the year of the Dragon – so, here’s what I’ve been working on!

The first step, after sketching, was laying down art masking fluid, to protect the white of the dragon. I love to splatter this stuff, to creat stars/dust/detritus in the background.

Rather stupidly, I peeled off the masking fluid before attending to the girls hair, so it went on with a teeny brush and some (which I have in short supply) patience.

Right now I’m adding some extra litte flower designs. I’ll keep you posted!!

Little Drawings to start off the new year

Finally got a chance to sit down and finish some little pieces I’ve been putting off in lieu of working on commissioned pieces – here they are!

‘splitting headache’ – I’ve never had headaches worth complaining about until twice this last year, both times while returning from a trip via plane – the only thing I can think of is the pressure change (if there is one?) during landing. Maybe because they’re so new, or maybe becauuse I just don’t know how to properly handle pain, but I seem to be able to remove myself from my head and just look at it as being an incredibly surreal sensation. Like pins being stuck into a raw wound. I’m glad this isn’t a regular happening.

‘rising sun’

‘hoping’

‘pink skin’ – either she’s sunburnt (a joke, living in Seattle), or she’s part little piggy.

‘flower stigmata’ – for this one I broke out the rarely used gold ink!

Of sloths and puppies

Of all the animals that can make ‘ugly’ cute, the sloth is among the top.  They are so unreal, with their pig-noses, freakish talons and huge eyes – I love them so! So, when I was commissioned to create a little drawing of a girl with her pets (one real, one imaginary), you can imagine how thrilled I was!

I chose to add the impression of a border by cutting out the drawing and mounting it on similarly-weighted paper, and really like the results. I’ll probably be doing this more often.

Okay, now, purely for your viewing pleasure:

 

Happy Monday!

Heartstrings

I’ve been wanting to post this till after Christmas, as this super-fun custom illustration was a gift. It’s one of the most romantic portraits I think I’ve ever done, inspired by those paper-cup telephones we made as kids, and heartstrings.

Pencil, watercolors and acrylic ink on watercolor paper.

I spent a wonderful week in Montana for the holidays, but it’s so good to be back home. I hope the new year is awesome for you all!!

drawing on plates

*sniffle* It’s that time of year: I’ve caught a cold. Luckily I’m done with arts/craft shows for now, and have quarantined myself off at home, drinking lots of chicken broth, watching forensics TV and getting to all the little projects I haven’t had time for till now: things I’ve been wanting to do for a long time, like drawing on little plates and cups!

About a week ago I came home from the thrift store with a goodly little pile of teacups and saucers, and stopped at Michaels to find what was the only type of ceramics paint and markers they currently have:

Pebeo Porcelain 150 paint and markers.

After painting and leaving to dry for 24 hours (15 if you’re me, and impatient), you bake your pieces in a 300F oven for 35 minutes to set. Now they are foodsafe, as well as microwave and dishwasher-resilient. Though I have neither, so I’m going to have to get friends to test those theories out.

“Tentacle Baby”

“Where we Overlap”

“The Sleepers” mug: oh, so cozy!

“I’m not Crying, it’s just Raining… on my Face!”

“Red Petals”

“Hot Pink Freckles”

Alrighty! That stack of still-blank plates is calling! Happy Sunday!!