Illustration Friday: "Tea"

Illustration Friday: "Green Tea"
(watercolor)

Staying with my current 'Zen' theme, I felt it would make sense to do the Chinese character for "Tea" in green... hence, Green Tea. Also, this is my first stab at trying to do Chinese characters.

Illustration Friday: "Glamour"

Illustration Friday: "Glamour"
(water color)

This is my second stab at watercolors. I decided I needed to give it a good try, so I bought some water color paper and some very good brushes (Cirrus Kolinsky Sable's - one i each size) and my goodness, what a cost that was!!! Anyhow, I decided that to me, Glamour is a Geisha. I had wanted more detail in the background but was having issues on what layer to start on. I am thinking you need to do the background first, not last? Ugh... I'll catch on one day.


Illustration Friday: "Glamour"
(pencil)

I have the WORST time with faces (mainly, eyes and lips!) So, for the glamour idea, I also wanted to work on sketching faces. This is just a quick sketch of Zhang Ziyi so I could practice. I think the eyes and mouth came out horrid, but Linda (my wife) says I am way too critical.

Illustration Friday: "Cats"

Illustration Friday: "Cats"
(water color)

This is my very first attempt with water color, and to be honest, I had NO CLUE what I was doing. But I guess this is how you learn, right? I had some good water colors, but only one fat brush and no idea how to mix color with the water. Need to start looking this up somewhere!

I think I will redo this guy in pencil to see what the difference would be.

OK, here is a quick pencil sketch I did while the other picture was drying:


Illustration Friday: "Cats" part two
(pencil)

Illustration Friday: Flavor

Illustration Friday: "Flavor"
(color pencil)

This is my first work in color pencil. Was time to experiement. I was actually stumped this week on what 'flavor' meant to me. I first thought Baskin Robins, but was in no mood to illustrate a bunch of ice cream cones. Then I thought about a pepper I ate on Thursday night. It was in my General Gao's Chicken and it bit hard, but was full of flavor. So, I figured that the pepper currently holds the most influence over my taste buds today!

Illustration Friday: "Imagine"

Illustration Friday: "Imagine"
(Photoshop - left : Pencil - right)

updated!
Here is my original version, done in pencil.

OK, this isn't my style. I actually have a pencil version of this that i will post as soon as my scanner is up and running. For now, I just did a modified version in Photoshop using a 10px brush and making little 'squiggly' motions. I do promise to get my actual pencil work up soon!!!

Illustration Friday: "Blue"

Illustration Friday: "Blue"
(pencil)

For this week's inspiration, I took Pablo Picasso's 1902 work entitled 'Blue Nude'. I had muled over what speaks to me most on this subject for several days. I started off with an Eastern Bluebird; but that was not capturing the artist in me at all. Then the famous "Blue Period" came to my mind. Inspired by Pablo Picasso's wonderful work, I wanted to see how she would come out in pure pencil, with little shading as indicated by his work. So, here you have it! I hope you like it!

Illustration Friday: "Small"

I am sorry I have not posted this one yet, but I do plan on getting it up soon!

Illustration Friday: "Free"

Illustration Friday: "Free"
(pencil and ink)
Inspired by my sister-in-law, Maricarmen, I have decided to pick up my pencil for the first time in 15 years; so forgive the roughness of my first drawing. This is my impression of "Free". When a leaf falls from its once secure perch high in a tree letting the wind carry it to its final destination. No attachments. No agenda. Just free.