Dalmatian

Back to animal portraits after my stint in sewing. Just a flatcolour this time, but I don't mind that on patterned animals. Today, a purple dalmatian.

"Dalmatian", Digital, February 2013

I used to draw a lot of dogs, since I wanted to get artwork accepted into the image bank on a website called Furry Paws (an online game where you show and train virtual dogs). I was mostly on there to look at the art forum, trying to sell character sheets and such for game cash. Strange, looking back at it, how motivated I was by something which had no real value. I didn't really want to spend it on anything. I just wanted to know that somebody wanted to pay for it, however insubstantial the currency was. Every sale was very validating.

I still probably couldn't get an image accepted into the Furry Paws image bank (the site's juried gallery of portraits which you can attach to your dog). They maintained a very high standard of anatomy, realistic patterning and technical artistic skill. But the fact that my work wouldn't be accepted doesn't bother me as much now as it did then. I don't really feel interested in heading down that particular path. I like to focus on colour and pattern, simple yet recognisable images. I like to work quickly and spontaneously, and have something to show for it when I'm done.

Maybe one day, I'll be spending hours on meticulous shading of an artwork, or carefully recreating the exact shape and proportions and textures of a poodle's nose. But not today. Today, I'm just creating fun, happy images that I enjoy looking at. That's good enough for me.

The Forgotten Cow

I'm actually really excited right now. I'm finally biting the bullet and putting scrapbooking papers and clipart into my Etsy store. While going through my art folders (which are extensive and messy) I came across this little gem which I'd entirely forgotten about.

"The Forgotten Cow", Digital, September 2011

Over a whole year ago I drew this cow and a brown compatriot. I'll have to draw another to make a nice set of three. I really love finding old art that you still like. It's encouraging to think you won't shudder to look at your current work 12 months from now (maybe 10 years from now, if my early stuff is anything to go by, but I dunno).

I'd like to print this one out to use as wallart. Would look great with an emerald green scrapbook pattern behind her. My previous interior design efforts have been propped up against my desk since the stick-on-wall-hook debarcle (read: those crappy stick on hooks fell off and dropped my artwork on the floor). Who knew a company famous for sticky notes might use glues that aren't really suitable for holding things on walls long term? Maybe I should get some real hooks on the wall above my bed so I can be sure my new decorative pieces won't fall on my head while I'm sleeping. Just a thought.

Anyway, pleased with my cow, and will hopefully have a link to my newly restocked Etsy shop soon.

Walking Cat

This is a photomanipulation from last year. I was using my phone to take photos of my friend's sister's cat (read: being an oddball) and I thought this one had interesting composition. The problem was, the cat was walking quickly in a dimly lit room at the time and the picture was blurred. After playing a bit in Photoshop, I got this posterised, slightly abstract version which I quite like. Playing with the saturation had some interesting effects too, considering this was a cream coloured cat on cream coloured carpet.

"Walking Cat", Photomanipulation, April 2012

Wow, didn't realise I made this so long ago until I checked the date on the file. My art endevours really were quite  sporadic last year. At least now I have my blog to keep me on track. That is, if I have something new to post before another week has flown by. I've been working on abstracts for scrapbooking papers again today, and though I love them, I don't know if I want a huge streak of blog posts devoted to them.

Maybe I should colour that beagle I sketched yesterday...

Foray Into Scrapbooking Papers

I put together a few scrapbooking papers the other day. I'm trying to figure out what would be better - packs with assorted prints in 2-3 colours or packs with few similar prints in a rainbow of colourschemes. I guess both would be useful to different crafters, but I find the multicoloured packs look messy and cluttered with so many colours, even though each individual sheet looks nice on its own.

This is a damask paper from my green/purple collection. Still putting the rest together, but I think this one is rather snazzy. Might print it out to decorate my phone case.

Sorry for the watermark in the middle, but I'm thinking of selling digital copies of these papers and wouldn't want people pinching them for free. I'll probably offer free sample papers and clipart on this blog later when the packs have been finished.

Kids Animal Illustrations

A few other things I've completed during my blogging drought - kids t-shirt designs. Or kids wall art designs. Cutsey little animals, for whatever purpose. Hoping to get them printed somewhere like Cafepress in order to sell them online or at markets. Still just trying to build up the confidence to put feelers out and get expressions of interest. I know a few people with kids, so I guess that's a good place to start.

"Purple Quokka", Photoshop, January 2013

"Contemplative Panda", Photoshop, January 2013

"Yellow Duckies", Photoshop, January 2013

Also thinking of putting them up as collage sheets on Etsy. I've sold some cat silhouettes on Etsy before, just need to put them back up for sale and add a few more images. Feeling pretty confident about this at the moment. I've been getting a lot done lately, learning new things and generally getting a pretty consistant style together. This blog is definitely helping me to see my progress, and hopefully that will continue.

Two Purple Roses for Valentines Day

Whoops, it's been more than three weeks since my last blog post. I'm surely not the only blogger that suffers from procrastination, but that's just lazy. At least some of the time I've spent not blogging has been spent making art. This is what I've been up to today. Valentine's Day is coming up, and I've seen an artist selling collage heart artworks on Facebook. I was wondering if I could create something that someone would be interested in buying.

"Two Roses", Photoshop, January 2013

I'm still in two minds. I like it, but my insecurity kicks in and then I feel like it would be silly trying to sell a print of it. I keep telling myself there's no harm in trying, nothing to lose for not giving it a go, but I'm reluctant. I'll probably post on Facebook closer to the date.

Also wondering how best to sell it. I could make a one-off print, and advertise it as an original artwork. I feel like people put more weight on traditional art (particularly paint on canvas) than digital art, so it's hard to make it feel like an "artwork" and not a "drawing". Alternatively, I could make up greeting cards, stickers, magnets or something like that. But they have their own costs involved, which make it tricky if they don't sell.

For now, I'll probably just keep doodling on Photoshop, with the intention of somehow selling my work, but never really getting around to it. Either way, if you're looking for some purple rose based art to give to your Valentine this year, let me know. I might be able to hook you up. :)

Green Wolf Avatar

I've just been doodling a few 100x100 forum avatars today. This is the first one to be coloured. I might add a few others to this post once I've finished them.

"Green Wolf", Coloured Pencil, January 2013

Right now it's sideways and I'm not entirely sure why. Too tired to figure out why that's happening, so for now, I suggest tilting your head slightly.

EDIT: Added the wolf right way up and a few other old images in avatar size, just to have them displayed on my blog.

"Assorted Avatars", Assorted Mediums, 2012-2013