Intentional Oops?

Can an 'oops' be intentional? I don't think so...but oh well! I did another small piece in a similar style to my "beautiful oops" piece. I'm really starting to love illustration markers. I've not used them much and I don't know why! I dig 'em!

I took some imagery from ancient Pictish symbols and carvings for this one and used an aerial view of Stonehenge for the "border." I do believe I most enjoy her hair!

<3 Kate

Beautiful Oops

I've come to realize about myself that when I'm trying my absolute hardest at a drawing I tend to over think, get frustrated, get irrationally mad at the paper and pencil for not doing what's in my head, and I storm off to throw a tantrum elsewhere.

Then, there are those beautiful times where I'm just doodling and sketching for the fun of it and WHABAM epic things happen. 

This particular drawing isn't anything over-the-top spectacular but when I was finished with it I was really, really pleased. I just like the simple look of it. Nothing is over done, I enjoy the "flatness" of the coloring, and just generally...well, I love it.

This started off as a sketch for Bree (my in-the-works character). I was playing around with some back story and experimenting with her look. Really, it was a quickie sketch on a page filled with quickie sketches. Then I worked at the image casually, got spontaneous ideas, and just went with it.

Moral of the story: sometimes you just have to go with the flow. 

<3 Kate

Steady As She Goes

What wonders some contrast can do.

<3 Kate

Fish!

For the summer, I'm working at a summer camp. I've worked at this particular camp since high school (yikes) and I used to be the Group Leader for the older school agers (so, 3rd-5th grade). Upon teaching for the county, I've realized I prefer the little ones! This summer I'm with Pre-K through 1st grade.

The first project I did with the kiddies is a lesson I use with 1st grade during the school year: pinch pot fish.

I taught the children how to make a pinch pot which, pinching, is a basic form of hand building when using clay. We didn't use clay for the project, but Crayola's model magic. I like to think of it as a middle ground between play-doh and clay. It air dries, you can color it with markers, or paint it, whatever! It's great stuff with little to no mess!

Anyway! The pinch pots turned into the body and mouth of the fish, then using pinching techniques we added details like eyes and teeth. The model magic was white to start.

We let the model magic dry over night then we painted the fish. Last, I added some gloss medium over the fish just to keep the colors pure and help support any loose pieces. They turned out great! 

It makes me really sad to say, but these kiddies had some better results than my students during the school year, and a majority of them aren't even in kindergarten yet. Remember, this is a lesson I do with 1st graders during the school year. The kids I work with over the summer have more exposure to the arts whereas my students really only have art through me. Once a week. That's only, like, 40 times a year-give or take. Which is sad, really sad. However! Working with a different batch of kids has given me ideas for how to better my lesson with my students; adapting it to their needs. So, that's a big, big plus. No lesson is perfect. It can always be tweaked, altered, or even tossed in some cases.

Yay, cute kiddie art!

<3 Kate

Next!

First, I need to pat myself on the back and have a selfish moment (just hang in there). Usually during the summer I have no motivation for art. I mean, I teach art. So coming home and making something personally meaningful for myself can be tough. Then when summer hits-pfft-I'm tuckered out! I don't want anything to do with pencils, pens, clay, paint-nothing! But, not this summer! I'm on a roll! Victory!

I've started on my next project and it's based on a character I play in the online MUD The Land of Karchan. I've been on this game for...countless years! Yikes. I literally don't know how long. Huh.

Anyway! I'm super pleased with how the image is turning out particularly because I've tried to draw this character before and it's turned out horrible. I mean, embarrassing bad.  

It's not done, obviously, but I think this will end up being a collage similar to my 'Mermaid' piece.

Alright! My boasting is done. Stay turned for some cute kiddie art in the next few days.

<3 Kate

Mermaid Surprise Finish!

Well, I lied. It didn't take until the end of the summer, but two days! I guess all I needed to do was whine and complain about my art block to remedy it. Here's the finished piece:

Overall, I'm pleased! This work is a continuation of what I worked on in my most recent grad class; fantasy art meshed with illuminated manuscripts. There are three pieces that came before this one.

You can check out those aforementioned pieces, or just stare at my art in bigger and better glory at my deviantart site:

http://kwellington.deviantart.com/

So far, though, I'm better at updating this blog.

Anyway, enjoy!

<3 Kate

Mermaids & Stuff

Well. I'm in an art block.

Not too worrisome. This happens, oh, every other week. I get an idea, I start said idea, then I burn out on the idea. It's a horrible cyclical cycle. My elusive mermaid piece is going that route. Ideally, it'll be done sometime before the summer ends!

Here's where I stand with it:

I mean, all the integral parts are there! It's just...putting them together. In an awesome way. What you see above is not the awesome way I envision. I just hope if I leave it alone long enough, the piece will figure itself out.

I put all my effort into the creation of the mermaid. Then after that-kaput. This is why I can never do art full time. For income. Because I can't even keep myself to imaginary deadlines.

See? Loads of steps! 

Which is why I will procrastinate further on this piece and go see Pacific Rim.

For the second time.

Because it's that awesome.

Go see it.

<3 Kate

So We Made A Shark Car

Ooooooh, yeah. 

My poor sister-in-law's car was subjected to the family's 4th of July float idea: a shark. A lady shark to be exact. Sadly, our float didn't win a prize because apparently we didn't have a patriotic-enough theme.

None of those judges ever saw Jaws. Pssh. Most patriotic movie there is.

<3 Kate

Doodles & Co.

First, I'm just so clever.

So! I haven't progressed much on my mermaid piece, so today I will entertain you all with various doodles.

Voila! Behold! My notes from a meeting at work! And before you judge me, yes, I can decipher them. For those that can't, we were discussing the role of being a team leader. I equated it to being a superhero...because we are. Minus the cape and sweet underpants.

Above are drawings of a character I'm slowly building named Bree. She's a faerie. I was just playing around with different styles, and taking a break from being hunched over my drafting table meticulously cutting out letters with an x-acto knife (back ache, whaaa?). It also gave me a chance to play around with some illustration markers.

If I don't post beforehand, everyone have a happy 4th of July! Make smart choices!

<3 Kate