Block Letters….W.M.T.X

Here are four more alphabet block letters I’ve recently completed.



I’ve been better at posting my W.I.P. shots on instagram than on here. 



I used watercolor for this one, and outlined the brick shapes with my micron pen.  Watercolor just makes things interesting.



Unfortunately, I’ve lost a few of my progress shots.



This one was done all in markers.






Personally, I think this “T” looks Terrific



This was simple line work.  Just kept changing the direction of the parallel lines.



And….that’s all folks!  Hopefully I’ll have some extra progress shots next time

Mirror….Mirror

(Doesn’t look a thing like me)

I came upon Francesco Lo Iacono on instagram (pinterest) and was immediately drawn to his watercolor illustrations.

(I think I got the eyebrows, mouth and head shape right)

So, I tried to see what it’s like to watercolor people in a short time.

(Only from the neck down did it replicate reality well)

Since, the people in my life have way more to do than pose for 30 minutes in front of me….

(I liked a lot about this….and felt it resembled me pretty well)

I went to the next best thing……The mirror selfie.  She doesn’t’ roll her eyes at my incessant commands to sit still.

(Doesn’t look anything like me….but very fun to write in reverse)

But I can only draw her straight-on or quartering.

(Possibly the eyes should’ve been more wide set)

I like the way the clothes look in watercolor.

(Tried the less is more technique)

Perspective is so important in these sketches.

(This cracks me up cuz it looks like one of those Big Head caricatures)

I didn’t look in the mirror for this one, cuz I was tired of sitting on a stool in the bathroom.  So I looked on my monitor at a pic from a few years ago.



It’s funny that I drew each one of these from the same subject.  And each one of them carried something that was correct in the subject.  But the challenge is and will continue to be….to get those right pieces into one painting.

Alphabet Series…..Going Digital...N.C

I started my Block Alphabet Series last month in my 5x8 watercolor moleskine.

I was asked over 2 years ago to draw my “art” digitally.  And I fought it!!  You see… I enjoy the hand coloring process with my portable projects.  There are times I don’t know how a drawing will go until I put pen to paper and play.



I guess I was finally ready to give it a go!! Cuz last week when I finished my Block Letter N, I scanned and opened up photoshop and proceeded to colored it in.



After I completed the N in Green, I changed the background to Red.



Then from Red, I tried Blue.

I thought they turned out pretty cool!!  I like that each letter is bold enough with whatever color I chose.  This is good!!



Then…it’s was “C’s” turn…



Scanned and colored here!  Digitally I have an infinite number of color choices and that can drive me a little mad!!  I need limits!  So, I just picked my basic colors and used a lighter or darker version of each….thus creating a limited palette.



Completed a Black/White Alphabet series a few years ago.  Pulled in my A-D jpeg….



Cropped and Colored in the A.  There is so much flexibility digitally.  It lends itself to many more uses that is for sure!!

So, what do you guys think?  Do you like these done digitally?  Which N is your favorite?  Do you draw digitally?

Flower Overgrowth

After doing 4 different Mandelas I needed to focus on something different.  I like my mandelas, but for now, they all started to look the same to me.  I enjoyed my Floral Fauna a lot…it was different and it was colorful.  In sticking to the flower theme I thought I’d try a single flower…..but keep enlarging it.



I came across this mandela on pinterest and I loved the color theme.  So, I thought
I’d try to stick with the blues/purples/greens (the cooler colors).



But I can’t make those colors POP!! I had to bring in the rest of the wheel.  Had to replace some sharpies….Sharpie gets product placement endorsements here!! Haha!  I’m hoping I’ll gets some guts and grab a few of those unpopular colors.



….Applying the pigment….



I didn’t give too much thought to the background, just something graphic.

Mandela Mania

I think it’s good for me to keep up with my markers.  When I do, I am better at color selection… that’s for sure.



Needing “something to do with my hands”, I grabbed the ‘ole compass and circled up the page.



I’ve misplaced a few of my stencils so I had to ad-lib a bunch here.



Every now and then, I get into a drawing….I choose a color… then I go “Ugh, why did I think that would look good?”  That’s how I felt when I looked at the pink dollie-forms to the right.



Win some…lose some….moved on.



My favorite shot in this series….Right here.  You can see a bit of the detail starting to be developed.



Just a fun, colorful piece.   As you can see….I colored over that yucky pink with olive.  Can’t ever give up on a piece…cuz a little color change here or there can redeem itself.