#407

Well, here it is. The infamous competition entry, and its work in progress photos.

The theme for the competition was a to create a personified season, and put them in a landscape of another season. I chose a girl representing Summer, in the middle of a Norwegian Winter. This had to be done in a traditional medium.

This took quite a while, with a lot of work. I wanted to continue, but I was panicking too much, and was advised to stop, to prevent overworking and stressing.I’m quite pleased with it, and it was a great experience, so that’s all I can hope for. I’ll probably not do next months challenge, for a nice break, but I’ll keep an eye on future themes, in case I get motivated to do another one, later.

I created this with watercolours, inktense pencils, coloured pencils and acrylic. I had to research quite a few things for this, such as the snow and what children wear in the winter, as I don’t live anywhere near cold. I created a folder full of pictures for reference of winter villages, summer clothing, mountains at night, and bonfire lighting.

I had trouble getting the final photo, as the far left always came out slightly blurry, but I think it’ll be alright. It might just be me worrying.

The entry is on Newgrounds.com, here, and I think I’ll find out results in the beginning of next month.

#402

Lately, with all the excitement with the shirts and selling, I’ve managed to begin a great big pile of works in progress. This was making me feel a bit overwhelmed and exhausted, but I still wanted to draw.
Somehow, my solution involved beginning a new piece of artwork.
I was watching YouTube and came across this competition with Draw with Jazza. I thought it might be a good idea to refresh ideas and keep me focused on something with a deadline and do some research and development sketches, working towards a final goal. These steps are often left out of my pieces, as I am too impatient.
I won’t go into any details of my ideas, incase any of you end up applying. 😉
I’d love to get some lovely bristol board or something to do it on, so I can use Copics or watercolour without worrying about too much bleeding or warping. I guess I can have a look at the art shop after pay day.

Resolution

I know it’s a few days early for New Years, but I have decided that this year, I will focus more on my art. I would like to get better at full images, not static design like poses. I would like to get better at colours. I know the colour wheel in and out, but I’m not using colour to it’s full potential, but I will learn. My goal to aim for is to produce an image (at least one) that I myself would be comfortable and proud to sell and wear on a T-shirt.
Since I came third in a T-shirt design competition this year, I’ve come to see how much seeing my designs on t-shirts would be an awesome and thing. Perhaps I will enter it again with my gained knowledge. It was my first large image and I hadn’t been practising using my wacom tablet, so the fact that I won third was pretty awesome. I know I needed a lot more shadow for contrast so it would read better when printed, so that will be on my list of things to get better at.
Perhaps a series of postcard sized images would be useful practice, and I could give them as presents and use on cards.
Our walls are fairly blank in my house at the moment, so I’ll have to do something about that.
By writing this here, it is my mission statement that I can focus on, and have witnesses to support me in my endeavour.
Now I have to go do homework >_<'

Day #112

Technically I made this yesterday, but it needed to dry flat, so I couldn’t photograph it. My brother in laws birthday was this week. I haven’t known him too long, but I know he likes cars, women and food. So I picked the food genre. Mainly so I could use those cute knife, spoon and fork stamps, but also cars need to be specific and women could be controversial at a family gathering.
I also forgot to tell you guys, I got third place in an art competition for an upcoming anime and video games event. Nearly got my art on thousands of tshirts! I think I would have been in shock if I had won. My friend was devastated that I didn’t win and wants my design on a hoodie anyway 🙂
I’m just proud that I decided to go in for it, followed it through and submitted something that I was rather happy with.
There was quite strict ruling placed on the picture s after submission, so I don’t know if I could show you on here. I might link to my deviant art gallery later and it’s on there.
Until then, imagine awesomeness.

Day #105

Mini craft fair again today! Got me some supplies including this gorgeous girl of a stamp. I got a butterfly stamp, too. After that, some novelty brads, a tape runner, two sticker sheets, some diamonties and a creepy doorstop, I ran out of money.
It was cold today and I had to do homework so I only did a bit of drawing, mainly outlining and colouring. I’m practicing for a piece of art for another competition due in July, but I want to prepare as much as possible. Prep work has never been a stong point of mine, even in high school when it was required to fill a large sketch book of ideas. I wouldn’t get marked too high because they were a quarter filled, and the end image looked nothing like my ideas beforehand. That and I can never seem to recreate my own artwork.

Day #95

Playing with my punches. Experimenting is great. When everything builds up and needs planning, playing like this is just what I need.
Theres an anime and games convention that I go to each year, and this year I have decided to give the art competition a go. I have no idea what to do yet, but I got some grey card and will play around with some pastels. I rarely go into competitions with my art, as I am not good with the stress of deadlines and am usually unpleased with my work by the submission date. But nothing compares to seeing your art on a wall and people admiring it. It may just be worth the pressure.