Illustration Friday-Wind

Click image for larger view.

This is my entry for Illustration Friday's "Wind" topic. The topid was posted today, and I created this image, today, specifically for the IF challenge.

I planned out my composition in Photoshop, after brainstorming on ideas. I printed out various layers on paper, and collaged them with Gel Medium and Acrylics. Then I scanned back into Photoshop and applied a filter for a bit more graphic feel. This was a fun organic process. From concept to posting on the blog it took about 3 hours. And NO bugs this time! But I did find a HUGE Jerusalem Cricket (aka Potato Bug) a few nights ago and got a good photo, and want to draw it some time. It was a full 2" long, not counting antennae.

I had "toyed" with the idea of a wind-up toy, but I knew I could get this idea done today.

I decided to post the orignal scan, which is the bottom image...you can see better detail of the wind background pattern.

Illustration Friday-Ghost

Click image for larger view.

This is my entry for Illustration Friday's "Ghost".

For last week's "Smitten" I drew a squashed mosquito. (I posted it late, after the week was over.) I already knew that "Ghost" was the topic for this week, so it made sense to be a bit economical, and get caught up too. So, I took the bug which I'd drawn in Freehand, and modified it so I had two bug shapes, a more squashed one and a more resurrected one. I painted a new background with acrylics, thinking about my dead bug rising again into the night. I scanned and then brought in the two bug shapes into Photoshop and played around until everything looked unified (hopefully).

In the second image I show a variation, trying to get a more upward sense of movement and more transparency.

What do you think? Let me know. Also, I've posted a bunch of other recent illustrations. Feel free to browse. If you break it you buy it!!! Be sure to look at "Smitten" to see the difference.

Illustration Friday-Smitten

Click image for larger view.

This is my entry for Illustration Friday's "smitten". I first consulted the dictionary, "strike with a firm blow" was the first entry. Reading about the origin of the word, it seems to come from another word based on "smear". So a squashed mosquito seemed to fit the bill. Originally hailing from Minnesota, I have indeed squished many of the these buggers.

I created the background by printing out a texture (thinking about a flyswatter or a tent screen), distressing it, and painting a wash over it. I drew the mosquito in Freehand, printed the image, and transferred it using Contact Paper, which caused the distressed look. I then mixed up red paint and made squished marks with my finger onto white paper (doing my best to imagine real, juicy mosquitos...because I want my work to be AUTHENTIC!). I then compiled the three pieces via scanner and Photoshop, tweaking as necessary, plus a bit of magic.

This is posted late, after the week was over. Oh well. I think this will also be the inspiration for this week's entry of "ghost", so be prepared for another verision.

Feedback welcome.

Locust-For "Orange And Black" Contest

Click image for larger view.

This is my entry for Penelope's "Orange And Black" contest. Collage, mixed media. I was thinking about the damage locust can make, plus rust and decay.

Your thoughts?

Plant Series

Click images for larger view. A couple of recent collages.

Bird Collage

Click image for a larger view.

So I bought Claudine Helmuth's Collage Discovery Workshop book, which is really a terrific book. I wanted to learn how to do image transfers. I have this collage idea that involves transferring images to layers of glass. This is my first try. I don't necessarily love the composition, but this one was mostly about figuring out the technique and process. I'm still not happy with my ability to get a good transfer to the glass. I try heat transfer, but the glass cracks. On this one, the bird was photocopied and then transferred via clear claulk. It works fine, but I don't like seeing the edge of the caulk around the image edge. I tried gel medium on the glass, but that didn't hold up.

Anyway, there are two layers of glass, separated by strips of board. The back is a hunk of plywood that I gessoed and textured and painted. I cemented the glass down with gel medium and then framed everything with paper coated in gel medium. The finished piece has a lot of texture and depth to it. And I like that the frame is integrated. I'm holding the piece while photographing it outside. You can see the shadow that the paper frame makes through the layers of glass. I'm excited to progess and perfect this technique. It's been fun to get my hands off the computer and get paint underneath my fingernails the last month or two.

Your thoughts are welcome!

Fabric Swatch

Click image for a larger view.

This is recent technical illustration for a client, showing microscopic fabric detail.

Crowd

Click image for a larger view.

Had a previously painted background that I wanted to use. Just playing around.

Illustration Friday-Trouble

Click image for a larger view.

"Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress." Psalms 25:17

This is my entry for Illustration Friday's "trouble" (heart trouble). Created today, Friday (!) for this challenge.

I thought of my idea, heart trouble. I hacked out a composition in Freehand, then painted the elements (the background, the heart and the bandaid) separately with acrylic, using a textured paper. I added a fibrous tape to the "wall" part of the background and painted over that to get the extra texture. Then brought everything into Photoshop, and adjusted the colors.

One more thing, I wanted "bruised" type colors on the heart, so I Googled the word "bruise" and saw some absolutely horrific bruises! How fun is that???

What do you think?

Illustration Friday-Quiet

Click image for a larger view.

This is my entry for Illustration Friday's "quiet". This is a tribute to those selfish morons who think it's acceptable to carry on a cell phone conversation during a movie at the theatre.

Drew the composition and shapes in Freehand and fleshed out a bit in Photoshop. Had limited time this week. I'm passionate about the subject matter, but wished I'd had more time... Created specifically for this challenge.

North By Northwest rocks.