Hey, Dorota-here it is, at least for now. I've been working on this during my lunchbreaks at work. What's unnerving is that this has been easier than drawing! This is the first time I've ever done anything serious with Sculpey. Today I added some ears and worked on the face a little, but you will have to wait until I fire it (hopefully this coming weekend) to see the final before I paint it.

My neighbor's son is into tattoos. He's been asking me to start designing some art and he will take them to his tattoo artist in Arizona and sell them. Here is a quick sketch that I need to finalize. I did this while completing an online traffic school test.

I get to draw a bunch of monsters for work. Coincidently, I get to draw a form of Sabor Tooth Cat. This is a preliminary sketch.

Hey it's been awhile. I've accepted a full time position at a toy company and am gamefully employed, working 40 hours aweek. I love my job. For the first time, I can work uninterrupted all day long and get a creative flow that I have not had in nearly 7 years. But what about all those previous posts? you might ask. Oh I would paint for about 10 minutes, stop, put a load of laundry in, paint another 7 minutes, vaccum the floor, paint maybe another 3 minutes, help my daughter with her homework...well, you get the picture.

Here is a drawing I have been working on during my lunchbreaks and now I am painting it in acrylic during my lunchbreak. Tomorrow, I will start to make a maquette of it out of sculpey, light it, then put the hilites on the painting.

I'm calling this done.

My daughter, Sienna is now blogging. She is third generation blogger, and this was all inspired by John Quinn who got me blogging!

Been looking up new techniques in photoshop to freshen up my portfolio. Took an old drawing, revamped it and colored it. I used the lasso tool a lot; something I have not done in years; did some gradient blends, softened some areas and blurred others.

Sketches
These are dedicated to the inspiring Vince M (see links on the right). He called me tonight and gave me a much needed boost and assurance. I am flattered because Vince has such a great touch with the pencil and brush and has so much experience in this tough industry.

I am, lets just say, searching right now, pushing myself into that discomfort zone.

Another submission, this time to Film Roman in the style of King of the Hill. Struck out on this one too. Again, it was fun to draw this character.

I was asked to draw some game characters for a test. I did these pretty fast but did not get the job. I'm not esp. enamored of these but they were fun. I've never really tried for a character designer position for a game company so hopefully I will get better in time.

Saturday I painted with The Santa Clarita Artists Association. Laura Wambsgans was the only other person to show up and paint. She has been so supportive to me and encourages me to continue on...

The first one was a complicated composition with lots of values and and brush. I should not have started with this one. The second one I whipped out in about 20 minutes, and I think is more successful. The second usually is.

Thanks, Laura!

Working on:

Return to LeoPardine

I had my big burly, he-man husband pose for this! He almost blew his knees out getting back up. The rest is pieces and parts, arm and leg studies. I have not drawn the nude figure in years-I really miss it and loved it when I did. LeoPardine is a character that comes closest to the nude and damn, if she isn't so fun to draw!

TRIBUTE TO BARBARA BRADLEY

Barbara Bradley, one of the greatest persons I have ever known passed away suddenly in a car accident. She was one of the greatest instructors I have ever had and she made a huge impact on the way I approach drawing. She was a real tough mentor to impress and made you want to please her. Her critiques were always cutting to the bone but at the same time highly constructive. She could embarrass you but then at the same time get your blood up so you could rise to her challenge. It was her way of demonstrating the love she felt for you. You don't meet that many teachers like that any more-everyone has become so "politically correct", eager to be liked and not to ruffle feathers. Barbara was old school; you had to work hard to earn her respect.

Peace,

Kim

After drawing the character, Jason, I felt I could have pushed it more. So I chose a different angle to give him more presence. When I get some time, I need to do a nice clean up drawing and some color.

These are some sketches I did: Jason in a front view, a warrior in his mid 40's, a redrawing of Diana, this time looking for better silohuette and variation of shapes and a new character, Petey; a young unseasoned adolescent.

Jason (cleaner rough)

Slammed this out this morning-35mins. A slighter exaggeration in the legs, needs color next. Character portfolio due this Weds. so I have to get as much done as humanely possible. Inbetween, doing loads of laundry, dishes, have to write a small speech for this Tuesday's Buddhist meeting, got Jury duty come Monday and if my daughter says "Mama, look!" one more time I'ma gonna scream...

Jason (rough)

Diana

Still a little clumsy, but better. Her face was somewhat based on the Statue of Liberty..

Greg and Sienna will be returning tomorrow..I have enjoyed this time for peace and reflection. Here is the next sketch for the next illustration on masonite. I will ad some peoples in the foreground; flying dragons in the background. I am doing a cleaner drawing of the dragon and rider right now. I'm almost finished with the archer on masonite so I will post that one as soon as I finish it.

Placerita Canyon

Better shadow shapes. Tree trunk has a repeating pattern (bad). Sharon suggested I block shadow shapes in with purple, so I did. Next time I will try magenta.

Check out fellow painter, Sharon Weaver's blog! (See links to the right)