This is a portrait of Louise Brooks, the 1920s silent film star, which I created to accompany a book review I wrote for The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty.
Louise Brooks
Illustration inspired by novel about the 1960s
This picture is inspired by a novel I read by Jennifer Egan called The Invisible Circus. The narrator remembers a time when she wondered into the kitchen in the wee hours of a morning in 1967 and found her beloved older sister hanging out with a group of her flower child friends. On my other blog I write book reviews and often like to create an illustration inspired by the book.
Can you feel it?
Picturing possibility
I did this picture a few days ago and paired it with a poem by Emily Dickinson, my favorite poet. It started as a charcoal drawing which I find increases the feeling fluidity. Then I worked it over with fixative and Prismacolor markers. Then I scanned it in and id some digital painting.
I feel almost guilty when I illustrate a poem, as if I am giving it crude help it doesn’t need. The imagery of the words, if it’s a good poem, stands alone, allowing the reader to create his or her own mind images. I hope my picture doesn’t take away from this great poem, because sometimes a poem inspires me and I can’t help drawing a picture.
Possibility
I dwell in Possibility–
A fairer House than Prose–
More numerous of Windows–
Superior–for Doors–Of Chambers as the Cedars–
Impregnable of Eye–
And for an Everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky–Of Visitors–the fairest–
For Occupation–This–
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise–
Refreshment through nature for this week’s Illustration Friday prompt
The Illustration Friday prompt this week is “refresh” One thing I find refreshing is taking a walk in a place where I can enjoy natural beauty. My favorite choice in my area is the the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. I will go there in almost any weather, except the kind of weather we have today – about 101 degrees with intense sun and high humidity. I think this girl is refreshing herself on a much cooler day. I’d say the temperature in this picture is about 75 degrees with a gently breeze.
Illustration Friday: Girl with a secret
The Illustration Friday prompt today is secret!
This little girl is definitely up to something. What is going on behind her back? No I didn’t draw her this way to avoid drawing a hand. She really has a secret.
Girl with a secret
Captain “Shiny” sparkles for this week’s Illustration Friday
Captain Shiny (who happens to moonlight as an illustrator by the way) is spreading his magic for this week’s Illustration Friday theme.
Captain Shiny
I recently completed a fun project in which I was asked to draw a bunch of software development people as superheroes, according to their jobs and personalities. I happened to know most of the people, so that made the assignment as little easier than if I had to draw strangers. This guy happens to the the graphics arts person on the team and he is probably one of the shinier ones.
Illustration Friday prompt: Hurry!
Hurry!
In the spirit of this week’s Illustration Friday prompt, I hurried and actually posted my picture on Friday, before noon. I happened to have a pictue that I think fits the theme. It’s dark, it’s windy, and this lady is in a hurry to get home. Have you ever had a job where you had to walk home at night? There were times in my life when I did not just drive straight into my driveway to get home. There were times I took public transportation, rode a bike, or even walked to get from point A to point B. This picture reminds me of those exciting times.
Illustration Friday prompt: Sight
The first things I think of when I think of the word “sight” are colors and visual artists. There are surely many more metaphorical and creative ways to interpret this word. To see what I mean, check out the incredible collection of art at Illustration Friday.
But this lady is my offering for this week’s prompt. I did this picture for a friend who requested a picture of blonde artist using Prismacolor and Faber-Castell art markers and then did some brightening and smoothing using Gimp software. Next time maybe I’ll paint someone painting someone who is painting someone….
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Planting a kernel for Illustration Friday
Planting a kernel
This week’s Illustration Friday prompt is “kernel.” I had never done anything to illustrate this unusual theme, so yesterday I tried doodling with that word in my mind and this is what came out. Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms who plant kernels of truth and memories every day.
Illustration Friday prompt for this week: “Hitched”
The Illustration Friday prompt for this week is “hitched.” I guess I will go with the old slang meaning of the word and post this picture of a famous newly married couple from the mid 2oth century.
Although I draw a lot of people, most of my people are imaginary rather than “real.” But lately I’ve wanted to learn to do portraits and starting with this picture which I did a couple months ago, I am practicing on celebrities. I think I am improving. All it takes is practice – lots and lots of practice!
Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly
Illustration Friday prompt: Jump
Jumping is part of dancing, an expression of joy, a real commitment to life. Sometimes it seems like life is passing you by, like the world doesn’t want what you have to offer, and you could use a little encouragement to join in. I did this picture while idly doodling recently when I felt the need for some encouragement like that. Anyway, I never posted it here (until now), partly because I had the feeling this picture was a little on the weird side.
When I saw the prompt for illustration Friday I thought this picture said something about jumping and also about not jumping, so what the heck – here is my offering on the them.
To see other great illustrations on “Jump” just jump over the wonderful Illustration Friday website where the ideas are really hoppin’.
A puzzling creature for Illustration Friday
This weeks’ Illustration Friday prompt is “Puzzled.” This is a scene from an old George MacDonald fairy tale called “The Golden Key.” The character Tangle is puzzled to find that she is being followed by an airfish. Who wouldn’t be?
To see lots more great interpretations of this prompt, go to the Illustration Friday Link Viewer. I am always amazed at how one work can inspire such a variety of art!
Puzzled
