Category Archives: animal

Illustration Friday: Adrift

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 Mouse Adrift
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This week’s entry for Illustration Friday was a super-quick sketch based on a story concept I had a while back which I have yet to get to. It was drawn on regular-surface bristol paper with a Pitt brush pen, 9×12 inches.

And for the word “adrift” I really had to fight the temptation to do something about all the dang snow around here! I just wasn’t in a punny enough mood this week, I guess. 🙂

I’ve been going through my small-size bristol like crazy lately! This was my last sheet of 9×12, although I have some other types of paper in this size. The tip of the brush pen had gotten a little bit loose and blobby, but I thought it worked here since it’s a relatively rough drawing and the paper’s a little rougher than I’ve been using lately too. My wrist needed the change of pace after working on all those snowflakes, which were inked last week and which I’ve been coloring like mad ever since. Update on that little project to come soon!

Illustration Friday – Muddy

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Rhino Wallow
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For this week’s Illustration Friday I went pillaging my photos. I love to go to the zoo and I always take tons and tons of pictures to add to my reference file. When I saw this week’s word was “muddy” I immediately remembered a day where the rhinos were having a grand old time wallowing in their huge mud puddle. (On an unrelated note, I really need to get my files set up in some kind of catalogue that lets me filter on keywords… I’ve just been reluctant to spend the effort committing to a proprietary system that might not be cross-platform. Any suggestions?)

It further fit the theme this week to stick with a pencil drawing instead of breaking out the inks — it takes a fair amount of effort to make technical pens seem “muddy” and I’m still trying to keep these quick. The original was drawn with graphite pencil in my 9×10 inch sketchbook; it seemed appropriate to tint it a bit in Photoshop but it’s otherwise unretouched.

SALE at ZAZZLE: Monday February 8 – Tuesday February 9 at 6pm EST Zazzle is having a discount of 50% off of express shipping on all orders of $25 and up if you use the discount code ILOVEEXPRESS at checkout. Whether you want something from my Critterwings Shop or anything else Zazzle offers, check it out! 

IF – Focused

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 Focused Feline
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Cats have this habit of snapping into razor-sharp focus at the drop of a hat, ancient hunters’ instincts always at the ready. It doesn’t matter if the object of that focus is a live mouse or a scrap of paper or random dust motes, because just as quickly they snap back out of it again. This week’s Illustration Friday drawing for “focused” is our cat Tinkerbelle, who has a little kitten face but can be sooooo intense it’s a little unsettling.

Ironically, the primary source I used for reference is incredibly UNfocused.

Focused Source Photo

Why is it that in all of my cats’ photos they either look annoyed or zoned out?   The sketch was drawn with a Pitt brush pen on regular-surface bristol paper, 9×12″

On an unrelated note, there’s a sale at my Zazzle store:  30% off cards, 20% off stickers, and 10% off mugs if you use the code ZAZZLEVDAY10 at checkout. I’ve been adding new items to the Chinese Zodiac line every week; if there’s something missing that you’d like, just let me know!

Make a personalized gift at Zazzle.

New Year, New Art

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Resting Deer - sketchbook 2010

Ahhhh, there’s something about sitting down at the drawing table for the first time in a while. At first a bit anxious, but once I picked my subject it felt like everything was right again, everything clicking into place once more. I definitely want to be sure that not a week goes by without having that feeling again. There will be at least one new sketch here every week from now on.

In December all of my art time was digital. While I do enjoy working on the computer, I don’t think I’d ever be able to completely give up my paper, pencil, and pens. This was just a quick drawing from an old photograph of mine, using a #3 Micron pen on a 6″x9″ piece of smooth bristol paper over a light pencil sketch (which was erased).

Happy New Year 2010!

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Chinese Zodiac Calendar 2010: The Year of the Tiger
Chinese Zodiac 2010: The Year of the Tiger calendar

I hope that everyone has had/is having a wonderful holiday season! I’m still recovering from all of the festivities (and the preparation for the festivities) but I’ve been eager to get back to my beloved drawing board. My “New Year’s Resolution” this year is to post more new art to this blog, so starting this week there will be at least one brand-new piece of artwork every week. More ambitious plans are in the work, but logistics still need to be worked out.

This week’s post doesn’t count, by the way, although it is a little something new to celebrate the new year with. I’ve re-worked my Chinese Zodiac series into a handy calendar, available for sale on both my RedBubble gallery and my Zazzle store. 2010 is the Year of the Tiger so that big cat graces the cover of the calendar. The Zazzle calendars have more options, but the RedBubble calendars are gorgeous (and you get free shipping if you order 3 or more, from me or from any of the other fine artists there) so if you’re still looking for something to fill that bare spot on your wall now is your chance.

I’m adding new products to my Zazzle store and my CafePress store featuring the original versions of the artwork as well as these recolored versions, including special limited-edition gifts for Chinese New Year (February 15 this year)  so check back regularly… and if there’s something in particular you’re looking for, ask!

I’ll be back later this week with some more art to share… Happy New Year!

Year of the Rooster

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The Year of the Rooster
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Buy art

The latest in my Chinese Zodiac series, The Year of the Rooster is now available for sale at my RedBubble page, as notecards, prints, and T-shirts.

This image was drawn in ink with a brush pen and colored digitally; in the background is the Chinese character for the Rooster. He deserves a closeup, don’t you think?

Detail from “Year of the Rooster”

This colorful fellow took quite a while, but I can’t help myself. I love all the crazy details birds have. 🙂 There’s another complex drawing on my drawing board right now, but I think one of the “simpler” animals will be the next one finished.

The Year of the Sheep

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The Year of the Sheep
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The latest in my Chinese Zodiac series, The Year of the Sheep is now available for sale at my RedBubble page, as notecards, prints, and T-shirts.

This image was drawn in ink with a brush pen and colored digitally; in the background is the Chinese character for the Sheep.

Sometimes, The Goat is used instead of The Sheep, but I felt the sheep matched better with the characteristics associated with the sign. Sheep people are said to be sincere, gentle, empathetic, artistic, and creative. I based my drawing on a wild sheep from Asia, the Markhour, a relative of the Bighorn sheep who looks more like his goat cousins than the fluffy domesticated sheep.

I hope you like it… I’m coloring a bunch more right now!

Travis of the Meerkats

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Travis of the Meerkats

This is a rare (for me) portrait… a commission for a friend as a gift to her husband. Happy anniversary, guys!  (click the image to enlarge it)

Sorry about my unplanned absence… we were on vacation and ever since we came back we’ve been taking care of a few neglected chores around the house. Oh, yes, and this commission took up a bit of my drawing time, too. But I’m nearly finished coloring the next four images in my Chinese zodiac series, so you’ll be seeing them soon….

The Year of the Snake

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The Year of the Snake
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Buy art

The latest in my Chinese Zodiac series, The Year of the Snake is now available for sale at my RedBubble page, as notecards, prints, and T-shirts.

As an added bonus, this week through August 27 RedBubble is having an awesome 15% sale on all framed and canvas prints, so take a look around and see if there’s anything you like!

Detail from “Year of the Snake”

This image was drawn in ink with a brush pen and colored digitally; in the background is the Chinese character for the Snake.