A Watercolor Sketch in an Exhibit

I am excited to share that I was asked to contribute a little watercolor sketch to an exhibit coming up this fall in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The exhibit is called Capturing Shadows and Lights:  West Michigan Artists Inspired by Creative Youth Center Student Writing.

The exhibit runs from October 16 through November 18 at Madcap (downtown).  It benefits the CYC's creative writing and literacy tutoring programs.

This is an exhibit of visual art responding to student writing in the 2017 CYC student anthology.

We were asked to read the anthology, written by students of all ages K-12, and pick one to respond to visually.

The phrase "you are the moon blooming in the sky" caught my imagination.  So this piece is titled "moon, blooming."

It's a 5 x 7 watercolor on Strathmore 400 watercolor paper, matted in an 8 x 10 mat.

I'm honored to be part of this project!  If you live in West Michigan, check it out!

Comics about German Shepherd Puppies for Inktober 2017

I have decided to try to do all thirty-one of my Inktober 2017 drawings as one panel comics about German Shepherd puppies.  I have had many.  I have one now.

I will also use the official prompt list, just to keep me thinking up new things.

I am working in a gray toned Stillman and Birn alpha notebook, approximately 3x5.  My plan is to use black and white ink and maybe a splash of color here and there.  I'm starting with my Pentel Pocket Brush pen.

Here are days 1 and 2.

 This will be fun!

#inktober  #inktober2017

Messing Around with Character Design

Thinking about some ideas I have for a middle grade graphic novel.

Character design is hard!  There is so much to think about in terms of recognizable sillhouettes and, well, a lot more.  Not the least of which is my ability to actually draw a character over and over, in a bunch of poses, with emotion.

Sometimes it drives me crazy how limited my skills are.

But, I have to work with what I have.  I want to move forward.

A Page of Practicing Comics

Just what it looks like--me trying a bunch of stuff out.

Puppy Portraits

Different media.

A German Shepherd puppy and an adult Dutch Shepherd.   Such fun to draw their ears at any stage of life!

Sketching A Theatre Performance

Last spring I attended a performance of a play entitled "As We Go On," which told the stories of several LGBTQ persons.  It was very moving, especially in this current political climate in the United States.

Because this performance was essentially people telling their stories, I decided ahead of time it would be a great change to sketch.

Here are the pages that resulted.  I did these on prepared backgrounds (completed for a course I took on background creation, with no idea what I might eventually put on them).  I did them all in real time, in the theatre, so in very low light conditions.

I wanted to catch impressions of each speaker, as well as the most meaningful quotes.

This proved a great way for me to "take notes" and/or journal about the event.  I certainly remember it clearly!

More Sketching on Prepared Backgrounds

Dog toys and my own feet.  Two subjects that are always around.

The backgrounds--prepared weeks ahead and with no plan as to what I might sketch on them--make these pages really interesting!