Scribbles & Scribings

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).

Chinese Zodiac Calendar 2010: The Year of the Tiger

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!

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The latest in my Chinese Zodiac series, The Year of the Dog 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 foreground is the Chinese character for the Dog. Here’s a closeup:

Who’s a good little puppy? YOU are!

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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?

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.

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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!

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….

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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!

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

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The latest in my Chinese Zodiac series, The Year of the Tiger is now available for sale at my RedBubble page, as notecards, prints, and T-shirts. I’ve ordered one of the T-shirts — being a Tiger myself — and I can’t wait to show it to you! The rest of the zodiac are in progress, I’ve scanned in all the inked ones and a couple are partly colored already. This image was drawn in ink with a brush pen and colored digitally; in the background is the Chinese character for the Tiger.

(I thought I’d posted this last week, but I guess it didn’t “take”…)

 In addition to finishing the Zodiac, I have plans afoot for this blog. Soon, very soon…

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The latest in my Chinese Zodiac series, The Year of the Rat is now available for sale at my RedBubble page, as notecards, prints, and T-shirts. The rest of the zodiac are in progress and coming soon! This image was drawn in ink with a brush pen and colored digitally; in the foreground is the Chinese character for the Rat.

You are probably a Rat if you were born in 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, or 1924, but double-check the exact dates if your birthday is in mid-January to mid-February because the Lunar New Year is on a different date each year. Wikipedia’s Chinese Zodiac page is a good starting point for more information about all of the signs and their meanings.

I have the next three animals scanned in, they just need to be colored, I hope to have one or two done by next week.

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Now, in full color! The Year of the Rabbit, from the Chinese zodiac, is now available for sale at my RedBubble page, as notecards, prints, and even T-shirts! I’ll be making more products available when the whole series is complete. Check out the details in this closeup:

I have over half the zodiac inked so far, with three that are still in the pencil-drawing stage and two that I’m still mucking about with sketches for. That mischievious monkey just refuses to cooperate! I’m still playing around a bit with the colors, that’s the thing about a personal project: there’s really nothing to stop you from tweaking it forever and ever and ever. But the plan is to finish this series by the end of September at the latest, and that’s including my vacation. And I already have my next project lined up….