Illustration Friday: Tribute

Here is a little tribute to the band Oasis, or Bert and Ernie. You choose.

Definitely, Sesame

IF Topic: CARRY

Recently, I have had the urge to dip my brush into some wildlife illustration. Generally, I love drawing animals straight from nature. When there is a zoo easily accessible, one can find me sketching the animals. (Check out these sketches in this blog.) So after looking at the internet, I made a few mental images and sketched them out and played with the colors on me olde laptop.

I wanted the piece to be more colorful and painterly, focusing on the gestures and facial expressions rather than on the details. I do love the color palette and the grass I created was super fun and simple through painter. That was less than 10 minutes of work. The grass was completely an after thought that worked out.

One thing I am trying to get braver at is using bolder expressive lines while not being distracting. You can see it with more of my illustrative style as compare to my more naturalistic style. Sometimes it is hard to go more abstract when you want to be true to the sentiment of the piece. Maybe if I have the chance, I'll try working this out in more abstract ways.


Here's to a fun week of painting.

IF 'Lost': Hansel and Gretel

The Trail of Breadcrumbs

I was a little afraid of the composition of this one. When I first conceptualized this, I imagined doing an enormous watercolor with a massive forest and a tiny trail of crumbs. Then there was the question whether this would be even readable on the internet. But then I thought I'll give it a try with Painter. There it would be easier to judge its digital capabilities and see what kind of damage I could do with Corel at the same time.

Some might argue a case against these colors, considering that the children are entering a forest inhabited by a witch. But if the forest was dark and foreboding, why would Hansel and Gretel even take a stroll through it. It has to be warm and inviting, a forest I would want to stroll about in. Thankfully, the forests I hike are witch free and the trails are well marked.

Illustration Friday: SUSPENSE

I hope you are entertain by this as much as I was entertain drawing it.

When I was painting this, I knew I didn't want browns from the tube. I want to make the colors more earthy so I put a lot of blue into the piece to neutralize the warm browns.

Sink

There's a puzzle of a farmer who had a bag of corn, a chicken, and a fox that had to cross a river with a rowboat. To get across, you have to figure the order so he can get them all across safely. This is what happens when you try to get all three across at the same time.

My typical procedure usually means building atmosphere with color but for this one, I had to go with more vibrant, untainted colors. A little different from my other work. What I love about it is the absolutely crazy composition that seems to fit the illogical time sequence. Makes the whole story a bit more nonsensical.

Enjoy the triptych.

Release the Caribou

IF: Linked

Awhile ago, I read a Alaskan myth about how at one time there were no wolves in the world. It was only man and the caribou. But a problem occurred. The caribou became very weak and sick. The people who lived on the caribou also became sick because of the poor caribou meat. The gods felt sorry for the people and created the wolf as a solution, a means to keep the caribou and the people healthy. It was the job of the wolf to chase after the carabou to keep them strong and to eat the weak ones.

After so many "Titan" ads on TV, my wife labeled this "Release the Reindeer".

IF: modify

All of my self portraits are a bit modified. Perfect opportunity to make a new one and send it in.

IF: Opinion

Right now I am lacking the words. Just enjoy.

Wise

This is my second attempt at trying to get this to work.

I stuck with the traditional icon of wisdom but I wanted to play with the colors and sketchy lines to give a sense of wonder and enlightnement. Is he wise? I do not know. But he makes me curious.