Progress Shot

Just a snippet of a piece I'm currently working on.


I've currently picked up the book Paladin of Souls by Lois Mcmaster Bujold, which I'm starting to really enjoy reading. I think I must have started reading it a few years ago and never really got into it, because some parts are pretty familiar, but perhaps my tastes have changed.

I have a few other books on my to-read list at the moment as well, including finishing The Bible by Karen Armstrong and Cradle to Cradle.

Part of the reading spurt is due to the fact that I finally "quit" playing World of Warcraft- which while I was loving playing, was getting to much in the way with trying to do art, work, and get other things done. I miss a lot of the people I play with, and its really odd when a character seems like an avatar of yourself...scary? I'm not sure, its just different. I guess when you have related through an iconic image in that sense for so many years (4!), it becomes in a fashion like looking through a mirror, though at a different visage of yourself. It's not you, but it is a aspect of you people do see, since the really you is hidden behind a screen or a mic, and is usually a few hundred miles away.

I wish I'd taken a picture of Chimera before my account expired...she was starting to look pretty good in her t8.5....

I finished up a few pieces in the last few days. One I cranked out for artorder, which is a great blog run by Jon Schindehette of Wizards of the Coast. I would love to do some more of his weekly assignments. It's a lot less intimidating than Conceptart.orgs challenges, with whom I always get a little freaked out because there is voting involved.

The second piece is a book cover project for Jeni Leyn (I did the first book for her a while back). She is always a pleasure to work with, and gives me fun challenges with her pieces.

I'd like to scan in some sketches soon as well, though I have to say my sketching of late has been fairly pitiful. I'm starting to kick myself a bit, because I think my art output has dropped out a bit too much as of late. So hopefully, with this following commission, you'll get to see some more new work out of me!

Being out of college ate me for a few days (erm, weeks), hence the disappearance. I got swallowed up by a children's book project, as well as looking for a part time job. So children's book aside, and job found (Starbucks), I will hopefully have a few new commissioned pieces to show you.

Here's a tidbit; a character commission I completed a while back for Sarah (link to her site).

Now that is a senior show. (Click the link to see the images of the Otis College of Art senior show).

Really beautiful work, I just wish I could see the names of all the people who created those masterpieces!


Damn, I have a lot of work to do if I want to compete on that level....

Ok, so to usher in my graduation I did a little revamping on my website.

My ultimate goal is to learn flash and get something flashy (har har har) going.

As I was looking through all my images though I sort of came to a realization that some of the more painterly qualities that I was doing last year were probably a bit better than the ultra smooth painting style I adopted this semester. I think I'm going to try to reintroduce it into my work, and maybe it mixed with the glazing that I have been doing will combine for magical results. Or it'll just look like crap. Hmph.

I'd give you examples, but its almost 2am.

I "finished" this up the other day, but there is something missing still and I'm trying to pinpoint it. I'm probably going to go back in a rework it.

If anyone hears through the grapevine of anyone companies that are hiring or people that might be looking for a freelance artist, let me know. After May 1st I'm going to be looking for work (what a time to be doing so too...)

sketchsketchsketch

I've been working on a variety of sketches for the story. I'm trying to fix my lack of skill at environments and quickly sketching a number of images. Hell, the picture of the spaceship probably took me 2 hours too long (took about 3 maybe?). =/

I finally took some decent pictures of a few of my recent paintings. Since these came out pretty well with minimal effort, expect a few more of older pieces this weekend! Yay!

I've been working on this storyline with my boyfriend for the last 2 years now, and this semester its finally coming to fruition in imagery. We nailed down the plot this summer, and made some decisions about the non-human races as well. I think I work better with other people to talk to about ideas, because Reed and I sort of bounce back and forth concepts until we hit an epiphany moment.

Granted, there's also a lot of misunderstanding and assumptions along the way as well that have to be ironed out.

I've done a few finished pieces in oils of the main characters (the lady with the funky green cheeks below is one of them), but I'm also trying to get some sketches in of the royal family, the rebels, the other human faction, the two alien factions, plants, animals, the city...IT HAS TO BE DONE BY APRIL 15th!!!!! ug.