Rome is burning..I didn't fiddle tho! sleep... zzzzz

Rome will be finished before I go to bed sometime tomorrow morning...

Rome wasn't built in a day......

 

How are things shaping up.... very slowly. We're seeping Sepia over here...

The Smiley Family in action

All day I drew this! Oy Vey!

I have been working on this story for two years. It's near and dear to my heart. It's not an easy family nor an easy story to tell. At it's heart is Baby Gail, the little big eyed girl on the left. It's her story and it's a story of a quiet person who's in the background of a family of very, very aggressive personalities who do big things. The simple act of this little person documenting the family history in a big 'ol photo album and passing it on may just be the biggest thing anyone in The Smiley Family has ever done.


The color in the story changes from sepia to gorgeous black and white to full color- as photography does. It helps the passage of time.

My studio is wall papered with this family. Generation after generation. Til now- I have done portraits mostly. I have some candid pics. The 1960's which I was drawing last, get pretty fun.  Over many years,
I have amassed a huge collection of old photographs and albums. This project grew out of my unending love of old stuff. Old clothes, old photos, times gone by- and the death of my Grandmother.

I hadn't put that last part together until recently. I think it's my way to rewrite the end of her life. My character is not her, but it's a character that is content with the way things play out.



I've gotten a lot of good feedback on the illustrations. It's now my task to finish the story. Baby Gail deserves that much.


 Lower word count - 700 being the sweet spot, means more story in the pictures. This sketch was an attempt at that.

Now to paint!

Color Study:

The 3 P's

The 3 P's of Success!!!

 

Ok - Passion: CHECK! Got it! 

 

Persistence! CHECK! - refer to post about Frank Sinatra song below.

I pick myself up and get back in the race.

 

Patience?... Well, that's harder. That's relative.  I am both patient and impatient. You all get that right?

OK- back to work. End of the illustrator's P.S.A. for

today.

Whadda'ya doin' Kelly?

Tryin' to cram a whole lotta art out in the last week before LA?

Just cause it's new - does that mean it's good?

It's existential art crisis time here in the Light Studio.

Hazy Crazy Summer

All Prep for SCBWI  LA was stopped for a week as my computer died, freelance spot illos (above) called and Summer came along and whacked me in the head - literally - migraines.  

My last minute postcard is off to the printer today.Fingers crossed all that it gets here by August 3d!!!

We now return to our regularly scheduled art cram......

Hey!?  Can a girl get some sodas and pretzels and beer?!?

Tootsie popping

How many bad drawings does it take to get to a good drawing? The world may never know.


Image of How many licks

Louise Took it

Up there on the header? Louise! - by a landslide...  I decided to keep her name and her hair. She is who she is.  Now, let's tell her story.

Main Character Smack Down! Vote for Winner

Ok- We have reached the pivotal moment. Who will be the main character? Who do you think best represents the character?

Character traits again:

2nd grader
Art enthusiast- like a Pokemon fanatic but with all things artsy fartsy
Needs to come across as kooky yet sweet and appealing

OK! Let me know what you think... as I thumbnail....

Final Contender : Norma

Character Challenger: Louise!!!

First Up: Jessie Poses

Battle Round!

 

On to BATTLE ROUND!

Louise and Jessie were the clear winners of the first 2 rounds. 

Norma surprised many. Was it the blue hair? The china flats? Watch this one - she may yet take it.

They were not my first choices- but I am trusting in the educated tastes of my com-padres... as I tend to like drawing less appealing  characters. It's a good lesson for me.

Now I will give them each 3 pose suggestions.

1. Exclaiming "I LOVE IT!"

2. In class desk top doodling

3. important pose from double page spread - reveling in art

Off to draw!