exercise, the non-physical type...

a little photoshop exercise that i'm working on...i'm trying to get comfortable with using the brush again...the bad thing that i need to work on is keeping different things on layers...

ta-da!

and here it is, folks...without further ado...my new logo! i'm probably gonna tweak it here and there (i'm not sure i like the pink on the paint brush)...but that's basically it...now i have to start revamping my website...that may take awhile...stay tuned!

here ya go!

so here's some portfolio stuff I have...enjoy! I apologize for how funky pics look...I actually had to scan in the hard copy from my portfolio and combine the separate pieces in photoshop since I don't have the photoshop files on my computer...

This is a take off from the little Playstation girl on my website...I added her brother and the dog and turned it into a little stationary set....



These are concept illustrations for kids shampoo...





The next two are examples of sets consisting of gift wrap, gift bag, greeting card, and envelope...




here's a practice book dummy that I did on the children's book, "Kiss Goodnight"...



and the last pic is a final version of one of the book dummy pages...

practice makes more practice...

so in an effort to get my creative juices flowing, i scanned a whole bunch of sketches that i had in my sketchbook onto my computer so i can work on them in photoshop and illustrator in hopes that some of them turn into actual finished pieces...here's to hoping...

and here's a real inspiring story that i take to heart and how i have to force myself to look at things in order to feel better about my art and myself as an artist...anywho, here it goes: while reading the recent issue of SCBWI magazine (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, September/October '08 edition) i came across an article about John Rocco, the author/illustrator of "Wolf! Wolf!" (great book, btw...it's already in my reference library...great illustrations!) Towards the end of the piece, it talks about how he became friends with Maurice Sendak and the most inspiring piece of advice that he had for Rocco if he ever got stuck: "Don't draw for the publisher," Sendak told him, "or for the author or even for the kids. Draw what you want to draw and if you like it, others will like it too."

For me, that is definitely words to live by...i'm already stuck in the mud as it is, trying to get a decent out-of-school portfolio going...and the pressure of trying to get somewhere and make a name for myself is a heavy load, indeed...so i'll leave it at that...if you like my stuff, then thank you...i appreciate it...if you don't, then you are entitled to your opinion...but i'm drawing for myself and my happiness...and that's all that matters...

eh...

so here's me messing around on photoshop...just trying to get a feel for the program again...

hooray for friends!

With the purchase of my friend's used laptop, i have begun the long journey of getting back into my artistic groove...she was ever so gracious to leave me Illustrator, Photoshop, and Flash...so once again, i have the power to revamp my website...although i will say, that task will take quite a bit of time since i have to become reacquainted with the programs...

and with that being said, yesterday i started working on my new logo...i won't post it just yet since it's not finished...only outlined...but i must say that i like it compared to my current logo...for so long, i've come up with countless thumbnails of what my new logo would look like, but for some reason, i could never settle on one in particular...and with the one i'm working on now, it hit me like an epiphany, while i was at work...isn't it grand when inspiration comes out of nowhere?

so now i must go finish working on my logo...the creative juices are flowing through me once again...hehe...

so it starts...

bonjour! so this is my first blog...be nice...as of right now...my artistic life is flatlining...it is in desperate need of the paddles of inspiration...hopefully through this blog...i'll be able to find my muse...that je ne sais quoi that helps kickstart the artist in me...

so far...i've only been able to come up with sketches of characters...(e.g. the platypus pictured above...and that one is even lucky to get colored)...i've been trying to work on my style...and i think i've got it...but that nagging feeling of "it's not good enough" is always present...how do i know when to say "just screw it" and go with what i'm comfortable with...i'm so lost to the point of wanting to abandon the whole thing...i don't know what to do...

i need help...does anyone have any ideas? tips? anything?