Sketchy Sketch

Random Cat Sketches (and the Real Thing)

I'm sure I commit the ultimate blogging cliché by posting too many pictures of my cats. (Though I try to break it up with the occasional dog or hamster shot.)

What can I say? They provide endless inspiration. (And entertainment.)

Wednesday Noir et Blanc: Sketches

Here's a rough sketch of the sisters from last week, for a new piece. I'm working on a series of the two characters.

Little by little I'm trying to build up a black and white portfolio. It's not something I'd paid enough attention to in the past. Thinking about line and tone without having to worry about color is so refreshing!

Painting Pigs

I think I might have some sort of an obsession with pigs that paint. (I'll post the finish when it's done.)

Scribbling Not Thinking

Random scribbles... not too concerned with what they should look like... just relaxing... playing around with ideas...

Thinking Ahead

When I used to work in magazine publishing it was normal to plan months in advance. It gave one the sense of time passing quickly. Of course, the older I get, the faster it seems to be passing, too. So I might as well go with it and plan new illustration samples ahead of time.

I've got a whole stack of final art to work on!

We're All In This Together

A really rough sketch from last week.

Think of how many problems we can solve if we all work together!

Spooky Kitties

I'm most definitely in sketching mode lately. (My favorite mode to be in.)

Sketchy, Doodly, Scratchy...

... scribbles, for when there's little time. Who knows where they'll lead?

More Fall

Well, obviously I've been doing more sketching lately than finished pieces. It's just easier to fit in between map work and other ongoing projects. Also, I find sketching more relaxing and enjoyable than anything. Time to take these babies to the next level though. I'll post them as I get to them.

Already?

Woke up this morning to temperatures in the 50's and crystal clear sunshine. Beautiful! But it feels like September already.

I overheard a guy in the garden center saying that as far as he's concerned, June is the new July, August is the new September, etc. Judging from the weather we've had this summer, I'd say he's correct.

Ah well, my head is in September anyway, as the kids go back to school a week from today. Where did the summer go?

Wednesday Wonderings: Creative Habits

Between being on vacation and returning to a mountain of assignments, I slacked off on doing my 15 minute-a-day exercise. This is not good thing. For me, at least.

I think it's true that you lose your train of thought, your connection to the creative stream, if you don't dip in to it every day. And what's amazing is that it only takes a small amount of time! But you need to make that time. It's so much harder to start again once you've stopped. I wonder how it works for others.

The funny thing is, my "day" job-- making illustrated maps-- is a creative one. And then there are assorted other projects I'm plugging away at. So it's not as if I'm not doing anything creative all day.

I guess it's the time to let my mind ramble-- to play, practice, toss out new ideas-- that I crave. Ooh, do I get crabby without it! It keeps me moving forward. Any thoughts?