Sketchbook Project update

Is anyone doing the Sketchbook Project this year? As you can see I'm way behind on mine. I still have about a month and a half before mailing it in, so there is hope---plus I'm a frugal Yankee---and I refuse to waste $25.

Vita's Sketchbook Project

The story continues.... I'm really considering adding some color after I finish laying it all out....maybe....

More of the Sketchbook Project

Here's one of the latest pages I've been sketching for the Sketchbook Project. Only 20 more pages to go before the deadline (or 10 full spreads)!

The Sketchbook Project continues....

My main character has arrived on pages 4 and 5. It's time for him to begin his adventures on "uncharted waters!"

In other news, I've finally opened an Etsy shop! It's still a work-in-progress as I post more items for sale. The shop's name is JGTentas. Stop by and take a look!

Uncharted Waters

At the Smells Like Crayons critique group meeting last night, one of the things we talked about was the Sketchbook Project sketchbooks we had all ordered. We all had different themes and ideas, but agreed how hard it is to make the first marks on our pristine books.

I decided this morning to jump into the "uncharted waters" and start my first page. Due to the thinness of the paper, I think I'm going use mainly colored pencil. I tried a little watercolor wash to see what the paper could handle, and it wasn't too bad, just a bit wrinkly. I'm excited to keep drawing, and to discover where this sketchbook tale will take me.

Repeat Fun

This is some work I did for the Sketchbook Project. It was fun trying out a repeat design in Photoshop--not something I normally do. My theme was "Jackets, Blankets, and Sheets." The above became a blanket traveling with the elephant.

You can see more work from my sketchbook here.

Illustration Friday - Resolution

One of my resolutions for 2011 is to complete the Sketchbook Project. I will be working on it intensely to meet the deadline. I'd love to hear from you if you are doing the project. Here are a few more pages:

Sketchbook Project Progress

This is from my sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project 2011. If you are doing this project, you know how terribly flimsy the paper is. Some people actually rebound their books! I really didn't want to do that, but I found a great idea on how not to have to do that here. I used pages from an old book I was going to get rid of and gave them a light coat of white acrylic paint. I used a glue stick and viola! I had pages with more body.

Here are the two prior spreads:

Sketchbook Project 2011 Page

Here is a page from my sketchbook. You can tell what my day was like--endless laundry and an endless customer service call.

The Sketchbook Project 2011: More sketches

Still plugging away at The Sketchbook Project.

I like to think that one day when I'm big and famous, a household name, and all that - people will enjoy looking at my old sketchbook: full of sketches, ideas, and experiments.  It's not a polished piece of art.   I do LOVE, looking at other people's "polished pieces of art" sketchbooks.  However, for me, this project is more about my growth by drawing, experimenting, and taking risks.  Some of the sketches work well, some not so well.  It's part of the process.  I'm hoping that those who take a look at my Moleskine, will get a small glimpse into how I work, and who I am.

Jacket Love

I signed up for the Sketchbook Project. This is my first sketch. My theme is "jackets, blankets, and sheets." I didn't know where to begin or what medium to use. I decided on colored pencil (at least for starters) since the paper is kind of thin. My daughter left her pink sweatshirt jacket hanging over a chair in the kitchen so that was the starting point. The jacket tells a story. It's about my need to have things in order and my daughter's belief that other things are more important. It's about conflict and compromise. I drew the jacket seeing her for who she is. In those moments there was something wonderful and endearing about that object messing up my kitchen. I never mentioned that she left it there and the next morning it was gone.

The Sketchbook Project 2011

I've begun work on my Sketchbook Project.  The Sketchbook Project if you're unfamiliar with it is a fantastic collective artist/art project led up by the Art House Co-op.  You pay $25 for a sketchbook.  You fill said sketchbook.  You mail sketchbook back to Art House.  Your sketchbook goes on tour around the country. Your sketchbook becomes part of the Brooklyn Art Library permanent collection and can be checked out just like a library book.

It took a while to pick up the pencil.  Seeing that blank sketchbook and knowing where it's going to be going makes it a bit daunting.   Some artists have amazingly, tricked out sketchbooks.  Seriously, Faberge eggs of sketchbooks.  There was no way I was going to be able to compete with them, so mine remained blank.  But then I realized something.  That's not me.  I'm not a tricked out sketchbook girl.  I'm just me.  So, I picked up my sketchbook, and put down my sketches.   It's actually quite liberating once you begin.

Below is one of the sketches.  (You can see some of the others over at my site).   If you haven't considered doing it, I highly recommend it.  (And they have cool T-shirts too!)

Sharing a Couple of Things

I have been testing out colors for a project I am working on. While doing this I got a phone call from my son and I kept painting around my little experiments while I talked with him. I find the process of these so enjoyable and as I may have mentioned previously, my goal is to have my finished work be closer in feeling to my experimental stuff. I think of these painted sketches as warm-ups before I start a project. What do you do as a warm-up?

On another topic, last night I had a meeting with my Smells Like Crayons group. One cool thing about these meetings is that we share pertinent info about the world of illustration. I thought I would share a little gem with you fellow illustrators out there. Michelle told us about The Sketchbook Project. You can enter for $25 and you receive a Moleskine book which you fill according to one of the themes listed on the site. Then your book becomes part of the Brooklyn Art Library's permanent collection with a unique bar code and everything. These sketchbooks get to tour the US and will be exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the country. If you want to do it for this go around, the deadline to submit your completed sketchbook is January 15, 2011. If you decide to do it, it would be great to hear from you!