Work-In-Progress Part 3

Now I've finished most of the girl. I need to soften the darks underneath her neck a bit more. I faded out the wisps of hair at the ends. I like the white of the shirt. Having it vignette works fine. I don't feel the same about the hand. It's actually drawing more attention to it then I want. It looks kind of awkward. Like I didn't know where to stop, which is true. So I will be including her wrist.

Once I've got the form down, I really like drawing hands. Seems like most people don't, but I find if you look at what's really there, and don't let your mind tell you what to draw it's not so hard. Same thing with ears. Draw what you see.

The other thing that happened, without me realizing it, is my paper angle had shifted. While focusing on the details I lost sight of the original placement. Here I have angled the image properly and will have to extent her hair (hair extensions!) and sleeve down to make the bottom edge horizontal again. I guess you can see where I'm going with the color now.

To see all the steps of this work-in-progress click here.
To find out how you can win a signed print of the finished illustration click here.

Work-In-Progress Part 2

Here I have finished up her hair and face. As I work down her neck, I will decide just how "finished" to go with her shirt. I'm picturing having it vignette. I like the whiteness of the shirt. I'm noticing a dark, hard edge under her neck where I left off. I'll be softening that as I go. I'm considering doing a vignette with her hand too, but will have to see how it looks. Even though I'm working in values of gray here, I know as I work that she has blue eyes and sandy blonde hair.

To see all the steps of this work-in-progress click here.
To find out how you can win a signed print of the finished illustration click here.

Work-In-Progress and a Prize!

Prize!
Each day this week I'll be posting a different stage of this illustration. In celebration of hitting my 10,000th visitor to this blog, I will be giving away a signed print of the finished piece. Since it will be difficult to know exactly who the 10,000th person is, I'm going to open this up as a contest. Just stop by any day this week, check out the W-I-P, and leave a comment. Each comment will count as an entry in the drawing. (There will be no limit to the numbers of times you may enter.) On Monday June 23th I will post the name of the winner. So stop by and have a look. Good luck!

Work-In-Progress Part One
At this point I am using Graphite pencils on Duralar Matte. The overall size is 9x18. I know this piece will be mixed media, I know I will be combing B&W with color to push the "concept" of the piece. I'm undecided on where the two will meet. I'm approaching the girl as a complete B&W drawing that can stand on it's own, but keeping the option of it becoming an underpainting, with some color being added, in the back of my mind.

To see all the steps in this work-in-progress click here.

A Notice from my Library

So, I go to renew some books online today and had to laugh out loud when I checked the reason why I wasn't able to renew them. It said:

You cannot renew items because:

• You owe too much money

Oh, well. I guess it's time for my annual donation to my local library!

Orphan Works Website

Anyone who opposes the Orphan Works legislation can get pertinent, up-to-date information on a new website put together by a group of involved, knowledgeable, and passionate visual artists. Action can be taken, but it needs to be done quickly. This site has links that make it very easy to see just what you can do to help, and in turn protect your artwork in the future.

If you are undecided on this issue, take a look at the professional organizations listed on the home page who oppose this bill. Then scroll down, and find out exactly how this bill could effect your future rights.

Orphan Works Opposition Headquarters

Back to Blogging

Seems like I've let this blog become neglected this month. Sometimes life just gets in the way. So in an effort to get back in the swing of things, here's a run down (in no particular order) of things to come:

Conference notes from the SCBWI-AZ
"Welcome to Our House" May Editor's Day

"A Day in the Life" Yeah, my life that is!
Thanks to a tag by Holli Conger

Featured Interview on Susan Sandmore's Blog
(You can read why here.)

Designer Mom

Step-by-Step,
Work-in-Progress of my latest Illustration.

The Biggest Party Favor Ever!

And a couple of surprises...

Graduation Day

Was it really only four years ago? How could four years go by so quickly? Time is a funny thing. It seams to go fast and slow at the same time. Right now, my mind is blurry on the details with time spinning by so fast. But it really was four years ago when my daughter moved off to college. I had just broken a toe so I waited, crutches propped up next to the pick up truck, mesmerized at how much the wind blew in this little mountain town, and kept an eye on her belongings as everyone else carried load after load up to the seventh floor. A seventh floor with an amazing view. It made it hard to be sad leaving your child behind in such a beautiful place. A place where her adult life started and she discovered a way to share the beauty around her.

It’s with great pride I introduce my daughter,
graduate & photographer,
Bailey Wilson.