KMB sketches and doodles

Day 28 Drawing

2012-01-29T22:26:00.003-06:00

I think I'm slowly figuring out what I actually like to draw. Still playing with techniques. Today for my draw each day blog I did a sketch of Edgar Allan Poe. My other blog, draweachday.com can be found at:

https://draweachday.wordpress.com/

drawings

2012-01-27T22:39:00.004-06:00

I've got another blog - where I'm trying to post a drawing each day. Visit https://draweachday.wordpress.com/ to see what I've managed. Today's post is a drawing off my Kindle of Virginia Woolfe.

today's drawings

2012-01-24T22:54:00.007-06:00

Sat down and painted for about 3 hours tonight. Maybe 4. Here's the three things I worked on - mostly testing how gouache works, and some watercolor techniques I watched in a youtube video I found a link for on twitter.

flowers

2012-01-24T09:22:00.000-06:00

Flowers in a vase.

coffee cups

2012-01-23T11:51:00.003-06:00

This is something I'm working on at work that I thought I'd share.

flowers

2012-01-18T12:16:00.001-06:00

Work project in process.

Gourd Watercolor

2011-10-14T19:23:00.002-05:00

I recently had another big life change - I got a new job. I may have more time to draw now. Here's hoping. These are some gourds I purchased a few weekends ago to draw from.

Things I do

2011-09-16T16:11:00.002-05:00

This is what I do sometimes at work. Remove logos from packaging so I can put our customer's logos on them. The last image was hardest to do since it has so many reflections. Click below to see more.

face doodle

2011-08-03T23:15:00.001-05:00

I did a face doodle. But somehow lost it while saving. Sigh.

sketch

2011-06-28T22:46:00.003-05:00

i've been falling behind quite a bit. I have been drawing, just not posting, and I hope to remedy this soon. Here's the beginning of a sketch I'm working on. The park closed and security shuffled me out before I could get very far. Who knew parks in the city close so early! It was a lovely way to spend the evening after work. I'm trying to get practice in drawing buildings, something that was never a strong-suit with me.

other art

2011-03-10T23:01:00.001-06:00

a photo by bluelily17 on Flickr.

Art I post here is usually vector, or photoshop. Thought I'd post a picture I took of a few rocks I painted after listening to a TED conference.

its snowing out...

2011-02-01T20:56:00.002-06:00

Felt the need to change my background to reflect what the city will look like tomorrow (on twitter). When lake shore drive is shut down, stuff flies off of Wrigley field, and CPS schools are actually closed for a snow day, you KNOW the weather is bad in Chicago.

rabbit

2011-01-23T21:41:00.001-06:00

2011 is the year of the rabbit, so I designed a cute bunny. I'll put it on something in my zazzle store.

pinup

2011-01-23T13:46:00.004-06:00

Ok here's the pinup illustration I've been working on. I think it's as far as I'm going to take it.

baby shower illustration....

2011-01-19T22:32:00.003-06:00

I'm working on invites for my friend's baby shower. I'm quite happy with how they're coming out since I have free reign to design. I still think it needs flowers in the grass below the stork.

I've also been drawing different exercise drawings this week, I may find time to scan and post them here later this week. For now, here's a low-res preview.

Oh twitter.

2010-10-26T23:05:00.002-05:00

I was going to update my background with a WIP background until I made a new one that's even better...but turns out I can't seem to update my new Twitter background. So here's a doodle I did.

big jaw

2010-10-18T21:47:00.002-05:00

This is my sketch for the "sketch of the day" on sketchaholic. I'm trying to draw more, since I love to draw and I don't really get to do so in my day job.

Fungus Creature

2010-10-06T22:21:00.003-05:00

Here's a look at my sketchoholic entry for their daily drawing topic. This is my version of a fungus creature.

whiskers sketch

2010-10-04T22:57:00.003-05:00

I'm sketching a topic of the day. Whiskers. As you can tell, I only spent a really short time on it.

Survey

2010-09-22T16:17:00.003-05:00

This is off topic of my normal drawing posts. I work for a small company that does sales and I created this survey on holiday office gifts. It's completely anonymous, and only 3 questions long. I'd appreciate your honest opinions on this as answers will be in our next newsletter.

LINK

Relax Label

2010-09-17T17:07:00.003-05:00

I did another label for TEK, this time a c0-branded item that will be handed out at a convention. I didn't have much room to work with but I think it looks fine. The customer had a specific font and colors.

Dessert

2010-09-09T22:46:00.000-05:00

Candle lid labels

2010-08-18T17:14:00.001-05:00

So they went with another direction. I like these best anyway.

Product design

2010-08-17T09:55:00.002-05:00

The candles with my labels have been put together! This is one of their school fund raising kits, retails at $19.00 from The Enterprising Kitchen. Its neat to see a design put together and raising money for at least two good causes!

skull

2010-08-11T16:10:00.001-05:00

Take 2 on candle labels

2010-08-02T13:39:00.000-05:00

Here's a lighter version that the client asked for with a few minor changes to match the tin that the candles come in.

I'm still drawing!

2010-07-30T15:08:00.004-05:00

I've been busy enjoying the outdoors, drawing a bunch and getting things done. Here's something I just did for a charity. They're the holiday candle labels for some new scents.

midnight drawings

2010-06-30T07:44:00.003-05:00

Last night, midnight. Me= drawing due to sketchaholics, a website I learned about through imaginism's newsletter. Its a website full of interviews and drawing groups via the internet. Its a live broadcast, you log in, and they suggest a topic, and everyone draws. You post your drawing after an hour, and then everyone votes on their favorite. If your into winning, you can usually win something in their contests. I joined up because I like drawing with others. Check out ttp://www.sketchoholic.com/ for more info!

Oh and here's my drawing from last night - the ancient spiritual leader.

Drawing Progress

2010-06-26T16:14:00.003-05:00

Illustration I'm working on

sales flyer...

2010-06-15T17:10:00.001-05:00

sketch

2010-06-08T22:37:00.002-05:00

evening sketch

The Enterprising Kitchen

2010-06-08T15:31:00.005-05:00

I designed these labels for mini body butter party favors for a wedding shower.

I got word today that the Enterprising Kitchen who manufactures the product loves them. I kinda like them too.

My own personal sketchcrawl

2010-06-07T23:14:00.005-05:00

I went to the She & Him concert here in Chicago with my brother and spent the evening just sketching whatever. We were standing so it was a little bit difficult but I managed.

Apple a Day

2010-06-07T16:22:00.001-05:00

I did this vector apple for an e-blast at work that I'm working on the other day.

Preview

2010-05-19T22:21:00.003-05:00

This is a preview of a project I'm working on.

I'm still drawing

2010-05-16T10:16:00.003-05:00

I've been pretty busy, been doing some drawings on paper - haven't scanned em' yet. Here's a quick vector I did this week.

glitter bows and Eggs...

2010-04-04T09:24:00.002-05:00

I got invited to paint eggs at my friend Carmen's the other day, it was a LOT of fun. Nice to not have to think about composition and just loosen up. Here's a sampling of all the eggs.

2010-03-31T07:45:00.002-05:00

And here's a picture of my Gulag Mouse Ad.

Gulag Mouse

2010-03-31T07:24:00.005-05:00

Most recently I was working on scenic painting and some props for the Babes With Blades' production of Gulag Mouse. (I love working on theater and film sets.) It was a fun project. I got to do blood spatters, made the bunks looks crappy and old, paint the floors to look dirt-like, and I also made fake tree branches for them to use in their stage combat. Its a small stage, and a small theater group, but very nice people. I loved having the actors help-- they were lovely and did a great job listening to my directions, and the director was right there telling me where he was thinking blood splatters would fit best. It was an ideal situation since I wanted the set to fit the directors vision, and be helpful to the actors staging. My favorite part of doing the art for this production was the branches that I made to look like they had been burning for a while. I don't have a photo of it glowing (I should work on that...)

Here's some images:

blood pool soaked into the dirt. Not quite dry yet....

Wacking stick #2 with a fake knot. Made of PVC and that foam stuff to insulate pipes.

A bucket of fake sticks. And in the back you can see the Yes Promotions bag - anyone need promo items? (That's my full time job)

This is actually a shot of the full stage. You can see the fake stove far bottom left. One of the bunks is holding up a sheet that's drying after being soaked in a dirty paint bucket to make it dingy. I'm glad to have gotten the opportunity to do this!

Caspuuuur

2010-03-27T19:16:00.000-05:00

in progress

the pilot

2010-03-10T21:56:00.001-06:00

and another character just popped outta my pencil...

quicksketch

2010-03-10T21:27:00.002-06:00

I said I'd draw today. Did so in a sketchbook, but my scanner's not hooked up, so I played in photoshop. Here's a doodle.

Ahh well. Gotta admit to it.

2010-02-17T22:00:00.003-06:00

For a while there I had it good.

I had access and used a Wacom Intuos tablet at work. I had to give it back since I wasn't going to be doing any graphic design for the old place anymore - and I'm back on my 4x5 graphire. The small graphire works, but its definitely not as awesome or big or sensitive as the intuos. (((sigh)))

At least I wasn't spoiled on a Cintique. I think I might give up on creating digital art ever again if I ever get a Cintique and it's taken away from me. At least with the old Intuos I was using, well, I can get over it. ..... right?

...right?

...at least a maybe??

music draw

2010-02-04T23:23:00.003-06:00

I sat all evening listening to music and just doodling. This is what came out.

I don't know what to call this

2010-02-04T20:08:00.001-06:00

This is me playing with my digital paintbrushes. I started out thinking of a genie...then there came wind and clouds and stardust. And a trapped feeling. And the crow just showed up because I felt he belongs.

new blog

2010-01-18T20:13:00.003-06:00

Ok. So I decided that I needed another blog, just for my writing, photography, and random web links. I come across lots of articles and artists that I like to follow, and crafts that are interesting. Usually I post them in my facebook, but that has to annoy people because then their feed is full of my links even if they aren't interested in them.

Creating another blog also allows me to be able to see what I've found inspiring, and should curb the amount of time I spend posting links randomly. Basically, I needed a place to store things I come across, things I want to write about, a personal news blog that is filled with things that I find interesting. I figure maybe others might also find them interesting but even if not, whatever! I've got to write more and keep track of my interests, goals, and the journey I'm on.

So if you are interested in seeing what I've found during the day or week, and hear how the day's going - well you can visit my writing blog. I will continue to post pictures here, on a more consistent basis. Oh and I drew a digital picture just for the first entry. The blog is called "writingslink"

http://writingslink.blogspot.com/

dark winter

2010-01-15T12:48:00.001-06:00

005
Originally uploaded by bluelily17

cleaned my desk and this is the first thing I drew. Not loving it, but wanted to sit down and draw on paper.

madge cat

2010-01-15T12:47:00.001-06:00

002
Originally uploaded by bluelily17

she sometimes perks up and does cute things. Like hiding in paper shopping bags.

Flickr

2010-01-15T12:46:00.001-06:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Reed Re-design

2010-01-12T14:27:00.004-06:00

Just trying to make the design better. Here's what I started with:

I sketched out some ideas on a post-it note, that I don't have copies of. But I wanted the logo to tell more about the company, and also match their current website colors. I first tried to see what it would look like if I just changed the words, only to get a starting point for ideas.

There's too many colors, gradients, and that bar at the bottom just doesn't work, the name is hard to read in the center, and the book cuts it up funny. It feels imbalanced.

So I streamlined it, cut out the gradients, added a simple gavel to infer the law connection, and punched up the size of the font, added slant for "movement".

Since not everything falls under the multistate, then I made one that just focuses on the whole topic in general. It kinda reminds me of the USPS logo, also something to do with government.

feeling sick

2010-01-07T22:52:00.000-06:00

caught a cold. This is a drawing of how I've been feeling....

Logo creation

2009-12-30T17:52:00.003-06:00

In the new year I hope to establish myself as a freelance artist. I'm implementing my business plan, and laying out goals for the new year. I created a basic logo for my online persona. I think its cartoony enough to represent me, yet elegant. I also attempted to make the whole shape in the form of a "B."

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T11:56:00.006-06:00

I made some cards this year, only sending paper cards to people who asked me to send them a

card. I think they were fun to make, I went with a simple holiday ornament theme. I was happy with them and I hope the recipients enjoy them. They can easily be cut out to hang on the tree every year.

My pallet is looking very artsy. I always like it when they start looking very used.

Now that all the gifts are packed, cards sent, books read, knitting done, I started to doodle for fun. I bought some white ink and a white gel pen the other day so i decided to test it out. This sketch is of my current facebook profile picture. I used pencil and inks on craft paper.

Photo Choosen

2009-11-15T13:56:00.004-06:00

One of my photos was choosen to be included in a digital map by Schmap, to Chicago! Here's the link, mine is the photo of the red dinosaur statue:

Flash training complete!

2009-11-11T23:55:00.000-06:00

New cartoon illustration

2009-11-04T18:09:00.003-06:00

I did this for a friend of a friend who teaches fitness based pole dancing. She's got a pack of kids and is in great shape. I had a lot of fun doing this illustration.

Skinny

2009-11-02T13:04:00.003-06:00

Haven't done one in a while for Illustration Friday. Thought I may take a crack at it.

Gallery Show Entries

2009-10-30T19:41:00.004-05:00

three photos I transfered onto gessoed canvas, and then silver leafed and coated with a wash and a clear coat. Its not the same gel medium I used before, and I found it a bit tough to work with, but i'm definitely playing with this technique.

New Twitter background!

2009-10-29T23:29:00.002-05:00

I don't know how long I'll keep this one up there, but it works for now. I just wanted to see what uploading a personal background on twitter would look like. I'm not too happy with the hair, but I can keep messing with it, right? ;) see it in person on my twitter page, LINK

vector illustration

2009-10-28T12:22:00.003-05:00

workin' on getting the shadows and lines right on a portrait...getting there. Slowly. Gotta get em' looking right!

Sketching, leafing, and practicing

2009-10-20T23:20:00.005-05:00

I'm trying something different. I'm practicing using indesign to create a vignette into my day, kinda like an album page with a bit of description. The advantage is that I get practice, and I can put in all sorts of images and text to create something I have more control over in the end.

I'm very excited because I got my sketchbook for the sketchbook project yesterday. I drew in it today, but since it's not quite finished I've not uploaded it yet. I only have a short month and a half before i must send it back, but that's plenty of time! My topic is also quite fun, it allows for creative interpretation and freedom. I was a bit worried before I got the book that I might get a bad topic, but this one turns out perfect for me. Here's the link to my sketchbook's page link

Indesign Certificate of Completion!

2009-10-16T13:18:00.000-05:00

falling in

2009-09-29T09:58:00.003-05:00

Fall's started, I've gotten some new art projects started, books ordered, and gallery show competitions I'm going for. Also doing some training courtesy of the recruiter I'm with, hoping to find a job soon. But in the meantime, I'm doing art. I came across this magazine, which has one of my favorite current artists in it, and the layout is fantastic. Check out Uppercase magazine's October issue, they've got a free digital you can flip through.

and a fit of boredom

2009-09-17T00:11:00.004-05:00

One of my friends posted a picture from my birthday party that made me laugh. So I made a poster.

Power Yoga Project

2009-09-16T23:00:00.002-05:00

I have a friend who does lots of fitness stuff. I asked her if I could help her out with some fliers because I needed practice using InDesign. So I started out with a photo and added to it.
Then I created some fliers. These are my favorite two.

running

2009-09-01T13:39:00.002-05:00

2009-08-20T10:02:00.000-05:00

"If they have them, get yourself one or more Bini bakery honey twists, in the fresh baked good section in the produce aisle. They're like the Big Man himself came down and said to man, 'No no no! You're getting this donut thing all wrong! THIS is what I had in mind!'"

- quote from a yelp review of a Korean grocery store by me.

I honestly don't know how I landed up on this page, nor why that quote actually pasted itself into this message. Strange things happen in Internet Explorer I guess. Its a grey and wet day outside, the kind that arrives at the tail end of summer and reminds you there are cold days ahead. I cleaned out some canning jars and am determined to pickle the cucumbers I have in my fridge. Much more preferable to actually eating a bucket size portion of cucumbers. No matter that I love them, this will just go really well with my sandwiches and burgers in the future. I've also got a bunch of tomatoes from farm and garden, which I'll make into pasta sauce. Nick's mom taught me how to make her sugo (sauce), and she's as italian as you can get.

I love the sound of the raindrops falling on tree leaves outside, with the cool air drifting in the lightly opened windows. It's pretty warm in the apartment, quiet, and the churchbells toll on the hour reminds me that it's already pretty late in the morning. I stayed up too late last night writing. Today I plan on drawing in my new sketchbook, found in a wonderful unexpected sale at the artstore. I miss drawing on paper sometimes, but its much more economical to draw and color digitally.

waterlily day 3

2009-08-16T21:44:00.002-05:00

Final Melanie Cartoon Rendition

2009-08-12T22:58:00.002-05:00

She likes it! Yeah!!

waterlily day2

2009-08-12T18:22:00.001-05:00

melanie exercise junky

2009-08-12T15:26:00.002-05:00

Here's the next mod to the design I made for my friend Melanie.

waterlily study day 1

2009-08-11T23:08:00.003-05:00

This is in progress, took a photo and am practicing painting in photoshop on the big wacom.

feathers

2009-08-10T15:51:00.002-05:00

this is my first drawing on my laptop.

Dawn of a new age

2009-07-28T23:41:00.003-05:00

I have a laptop.

Some may not see this as any unusual news at all. But for me it's quite a step. I have always had a computer provided by my father who builds them and they last for a long time. Unfortunatley this computer required me to sit in my room late into the night. And any time I'm out of town or not home I'm thinking of all the work I could be doing if I had my desktop with me. Turns out standard laptops these days actually have more stuff built in than my home-made desktop. Which I will still use, of course.

This is the first computer I've purchased on my own. My boyfriend helped me pick one out since he knows more about all the stuff underneath the hood. All I know is there's a whole lot of stuff packed in here that I don't know how to use. Like a webcam, windows vista, and a keyboard that I'm still getting used to. I now have to just install all the stuff I need, and probably uninstall a bunch of unnecessary crud too since it is Windows Vista. But I've got a lot of freelance work to finish first and since all my software is on my desktop I'll still have to work there for a while....

Oh and it's name is "Dug" like the dog from Pixar's UP

a coloring contest page

2009-07-28T09:49:00.004-05:00

This is a yet-to-be approved image for a coloring contest promoting the Zoo's involvment with the parade this year. I almost think it needs a border. Was also thinking the bear needs to be holding balloons but that's up to the zoo.

moonday

2009-07-16T19:36:00.002-05:00

A is for Angry Unicorn

2009-07-16T19:16:00.000-05:00

Hide n' Seek

2009-07-16T18:57:00.002-05:00

Drawing for work

2009-06-29T16:56:00.001-05:00

work in progress

2009-06-26T15:25:00.001-05:00

This is for one of my friends, totally work in progress....

quick vector...

2009-06-23T15:23:00.002-05:00

I made this for a thing at work. Just to spice it up. It does the job, and the image is MUCH smaller where I'm using it.

trying week

2009-06-17T21:40:00.001-05:00

goodnight city

2009-06-09T12:29:00.001-05:00

my adventures continue

2009-06-03T23:55:00.002-05:00

hummingbird

2009-06-03T15:58:00.002-05:00

Tales of the Wonderfully Wierd (Continued)

2009-06-02T23:57:00.001-05:00

And so my day goes...

SHEEP

2009-06-02T21:47:00.001-05:00

Plans

2009-05-28T21:30:00.000-05:00

So my regular day job cut my hours, and now I have more time to draw. So this blog will have more drawings! And possibly crafts too since I find myself doing crafty projects on occasion. Tomorrow I'm planning on going out and doing my own personal sketch crawl and posting the stuff tomorrow early evening. Hope I come up with some nice stuff.

9-5 or Freelance?

2009-05-27T14:19:00.001-05:00

patterns

2009-05-18T15:55:00.001-05:00

Wolverine and Hulk

2009-05-11T15:31:00.004-05:00

So I drew this back in 2006, for my friend Melanie

And this in 2005!

Wedding Singer

2009-04-28T23:34:00.001-05:00

So I've been busy as of late as I was cast in a production of "the Wedding Singer". This is a rendition of the size of my hair and my last outfit in the show.

The Terrible Tragedy of Red Riding Hood

2009-04-28T21:23:00.002-05:00

Ok this is a work in progress. I decided to try to work on something for more than say an hour. Lets see where it goes. The hood is all wrong, and it needs work but I'm trying it out.

rain

2009-04-21T14:41:00.000-05:00

Juice

2009-03-24T19:58:00.002-05:00

Head In the Clouds

2009-03-03T16:42:00.002-06:00

Nice new Blogger feature via Google!

2009-02-26T16:28:00.000-06:00

Bloggers Connect!

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/blogger-connects-to-google-friend.html

skywindow

2009-02-23T22:56:00.001-06:00

Lincoln 16th

2009-02-03T22:12:00.002-06:00

The 16th President of the United States

Cancer

2009-01-30T13:01:00.003-06:00

A friend of mine posted a message on facebook that I feel the need to share. Her friend Will Schutz, theatre-actor extraoridinare, just found out he has pancreatic cancer. He doesn't have insurance, so they've set up a fund where you can help. You can donate even a $1.

http://willschutzpancan.chipin.com/mypages/view/id/5288b4172bcf91e2

Here's his story:

http://www.examiner.com/x-1033-Chicago-Theatre-Review-Examiner~y2009m1d28-Because-he-is-beloved-Chicago-artist-form-a-supporting-cast-in-Will-Schutzs-battle-with-cancer