Edwardian Lady

I love the Edwardian era for its beautiful fashions, hairstyles, and hats.  Basic info on the era can be read here (X).

Illustration Friday: "Vacation"

I'm so late on this that there was no time for ink to dry before painting on it!  So I shaded it with lines instead.  This was drawn with 0 and 00 brushes and Speedball Super Black ink, which is easy to find and I think makes nice lines.

Illustration Friday: "Surveillance"

I'm a huge fan of the (sadly cancelled) Showtime original series "The Borgias".  It's like a really great historical fiction book come to life and is, well, eye candy in every way.  It makes me want to draw every character and facial expression, not to mention the beautiful lighting, scenes and costumes.

Since I've been dying to do that, I chose a scene that would fit this week's IF theme, took a screenshot on my desktop, and sketched from it!  This is Lucrezia Borgia as she stands on a curtained balcony above the hall where her suitors are being presented, observing them.  Holliday Grainger is the actress who brilliantly plays Lucrezia, and this scene can be found in Season 2, Episode 6.

I have not decided if I will push this further, or if I will go on to sketch more faces instead!

Illustration Friday: "Tension"

I wish I could spin some meaning into this, but in reality it was just about procrastinating, doing a fast sketch for fun and drawing thick lines with my brush pen!  It felt great.  When I realized it would work for Illustration Friday, it was a nice little bonus!

"Marielle"

"Marielle"

I named her after I drew her.  I don't know why but the name just seemed to fit.  She's a pencil sketch I did from my imagination last night while watching television.  I really like sketching while watching TV;  the TV keeps me from over-thinking!

Illustration Friday: "Talent"

Betsy Ross, 2.5"x3.5", ink with watercolor

Betsy Ross was a talented artisan and businesswoman.  A trained upholsterer, she maintained a successful upholstery business throughout her life.  One interesting place to learn about Betsy online is at the Betsy Ross House website here.

Illustration Friday: "Glow"

For this illustration my idea was to show a little something...without really showing anything!  It's done in pen and ink and is small, ACEO size 2.5" x 3.5".  I've been thinking a lot about ACEOs lately and I'm very interested in doing a collection of them to sell.  This is the first time I've drawn directly on a trimmed card-sized paper.  Usually I've drawn on a larger size and cut it down.  This worked just as well I think but I might feel differently when I try one right to the edges with color!

Illustration Friday: "Snow"

Illustration Friday: "Explore"

There's no need to rough it in order to explore!

I love Valentino's haute couture.  Click here to see the dress I chose to draw.  I used Pentel brush pen and watercolor on Arches watercolor paper.

Another 1920s girl sketch

Actually it could be argued that the title of this post is wrong since there are two girls in the sketch.  But the one on the right was the first attempt and didn't look right so....she doesn't count in the title.  I could have Photoshopped her out but I think she's kind of interesting lurking there! 

1920s Girl, WIP

Lately I've been sketching lots of girls from the 1920s.  I think maybe
it's because of the dramatic eyes and lips, and the cute, wavy hairstyles!
This is from my sketchbook.

Illustration Friday: "Identical"

I'm calling this week "vector week" and making myself do any personal work in Adobe Illustrator.  I think vector skills will be good for me in the long run and, hey, I might fall in love with it!  This illustration is 100% vector art, created in Illustrator.  It took what felt like a long time to do but I think speed in the program will definitely come with time.  But I had fun!

ADDED 9/5/2012:

I got a request in a comment to post a more detailed view of one of the faces.  It's great idea!  I'm posting all three.  There's nothing too fancy here;  just simple shapes on several layers!

Medieval in ballpoint

I love medieval images.  And nice, non-blobby ballpoint pens.  Right now I'm using Bic Round Stic Grip in black fine point.  Nice!  This was scanned out of my sketchbook from this evening.

Today's favorite sketch

This gal is wearing some large-sized shoes, eh?  I always did have trouble with feet. And today I wasn't looking at any reference to help me!  Still, I like the feel of this sketch and drawing a fashion-style figure felt really good, like going back to my roots. This was drawn in ballpoint pen in my sketchbook, scanned and laid on a pink background in Photoshop.

Illustration Friday: "Remedy"

"Now, let's see how I can help you...."

Illustration Friday: "Swept"

This was so much fun.  I've been enjoying my pen and ink more than ever and working on getting more interest in the lines and contrasts in my illustrations.  I've also started experimenting with hand-drawn background textures.  This turned out to be very "busy" I think, but maybe not too much?  I asked my daughter if I'd gone overboard and she said to leave it alone.  So here it is!

Illustration Friday: "Cultivate"

Illustration Friday: "Slither"

Nothing like a last-minute submission!

Illustration Friday: "Early"

Illustration Friday: "Tango"