A Startling Realization

So this morning, I checked my e-mail. Nothing. Or rather not the go-ahead I need to take the next step. You see, I'm still waiting for a response from the author to nail out details for the sketch (for my latest cover art project). And I thought: "there goes another day." But then I got to thinking (yes, more thinking!) and I realized something

...something very important that I've been missing.

Ever since graduating I've been focused on getting and doing paying illustration work. Art for other people. I've often gone months without doing anything (art-wise) just for myself. In fact, I did more of what I wanted when I was a student and that was with loads of classwork. And -a confession here- when the inevitable lolls came between jobs I'd would do a bit of illustration "business" work, but mostly I mess around.

But it isn't really the art for other people, the book covers, etc, that will get me to my dream situation, it's the art that I'm always "too busy" for: my own. Because, while I do aim to continue working on book covers, and want to keep getting bigger and better cover projects, what I really would like to do is spend more of my time doing pictures from my imagination. I'd like to write and illustrate my own children's books. In fact, I dare say I'd like to pump most of my effort into this.

So WHY if I want to do my own pictures for my own stories aren't I farther along with it? Why in all of this "down time" have I not completed all 3 of the sample images I planned for River of Dreams? Not sent it off to prospective publishers? If I want to work toward my dream... Why?

A good question.

Luckily, today I found something helpful: Bobby Chiu's YouTube podcasts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yit95pgZEeo

Here's an awesome digital painter/illustrator who has really inspiring philosophies on art & life which he shares as he paints a quick sketch. The man has me pumped. So much so, that instead of doing any goofing off today, I've made awesome progress in one of the aforementioned River of Dreams images. I'll not show it yet, least I jinx myself, but I'm pretty psyched! Thank you Bobby!

Daily Sketch Deluge

CG talk has a nifty sub-form called the Daily Sketch Forum. Each day a new topic is posted at random along with a time limit. I've participated previously, but it's been a looong, long time. As I'm cooling my heals waiting for author approval and choice on the thumbnails, I decided to have a little fun and practice child anatomy at the same time. Here they are from the last three days.

"Rain" 60 min:


"Early Spring" 60 min:


"Pure" 35 min:

Thumbnail Sketches

Today I did the thumbnail sketches for the next book cover project I'll be working on!

Spring Snow and Hummingbird-ish Birds

Finally an update! I opted for hummingbird-ish birds...I also added a necklace and flower "crown" and I tried to correct some of the anatomy issues.

I can't believe it is snowing outside. Just when I'm thinking spring has started. I know winter isn't officially over yet, but still.

In other news, I'm getting very close to starting on my next book cover. At the moment, the author, publisher, and I are in the "bouncing" ideas phase. Next up: thumbnail sketches.

Up in the Clouds

Much better feeling head this evening. So, I worked further on this potential website background/personal piece as I listened to more of my next manuscript to illustrate. I must say it is an enjoyable story. It's always a good sign when I can forget about the "computer" voice doing the reading and just dwell on the narrative. Another day or so and I'll probably be ready to start coming up with cover ideas for that one.

Touch the Sky

It feels like someone is pounding on my skull at the moment, so I'll just post what I've been up to (image-wise) and explain later.

Logo Finished!

So, things are still slow on the actual illustration side of things and busy on the business side. Today I finished the fancy "name plate" logo I was working on. Plus, I "extracted" a simplified (monochromatic) version which I incorporated in my very first newsletter. After much fiddling the newsletter was sent! At the moment, the only people on the mailing list are contacts I've put there (clients and hopefuls), I do hope to get a page up where interested parties can sign themselves up though. Not to mention the global design-syncing that comes with a new logo design means I'll be very busy for the next couple of days. >_<