Illustration Friday: Clutter

Not finished, but I've run out of time, and didn't want to fill the spaces with just anything. I guess it's cluttered enough to qualify.

Illustration Friday: Memories

Because I wanted to avoid cheese, and didn't want Barbra Streisand's mug on the second page of my sketchbook. It's a bit cryptic.

Illustration Friday: Routine

Too late to submit -- last week's topic, but wanted to draw this one.

The legs are too short! Ran out of room :-) The first pic in my brand new sketchbook.

Illustration Friday: Detach

The exposure of the photo from which this was drawn made her head look detached from the rest of her.

Also, I love the Olympics. I get so excited every time it's on -- I am the opposite of a cynic (what's that? I could just look it up). I watch it as much as I can, I cheer, I shed tears occasionally.

I firmly believe that the Olympics should transcend politics and unite people in spite of, yet respecting, cultural, religious and personal differences.

I know that these Olympics are particularly tainted with political issues, and while I think it's crucial to address these issues (and loudly!) I really wish the western media would back off on the many gratuitous attacks against Chinese culture. All it will achieve is ill feeling, and we do, not, want, that, because it will piss off a billion people, and make dealing with the real issues that much harder.

Illustration Friday: Electricity

We all know this feeling.......right?

Illustration Friday: Primitive

I remember from a very early age my mother telling me that when it comes to organisms/life, there is no such thing as simple. Even a single-cell organism is incredibly, miraculously, complex.

Although something may be primitive, its complexity should be something we marvel and puzzle at.

I might have a go at colouring this at some point using Photoshop.

Illustration Friday: Fail

Some people will understand.

Illustration Friday: Blanket

She needs one (although it seems she is quite happy regardless).

A hand-carved eraser stamp (Versa Color ink in Hyacinth and Indigo).


Next week I will use the colours pale mustard, lilac, ivory and black.

Illustration Friday: Tales & Legends

So I promised to include a pair of red patent leather shoes in my IF illo this week. You can imagine my triumphant cackle when I read this week's theme -- I must've read their minds! Hans Christian Andersen's tale, "The Red Shoes" provides the inspiration. This tale used to creep me out as a child (as did most of his tales, much as I love/d them) and it still does. In my illo the shoes are becoming the world, sapping reality from the surroundings, and the girl herself.

Here is the tale.

And here is my illustration.


Next week I will include a self-carved rubber stamp in my illo.

Illustration Friday: Plain

Illustration Friday: Plain
Originally uploaded by cherryskin

I have promised myself to recommence submitting illustrations to Illustration Friday.

This is for the topic, "Plain."

Drawn with a plain old Crayola (pretty sure it was "red violet"). From a photo on someone's blog -- I can't remember whose, so if this is your pic, let me know!

In next week's illustration I will incorporate a pair of red patent leather shoes, because I would love a pair, but don't think I would wear them.

IF poem

I put more time and effort into my IF offering this week. Pencil on pastel paper. This fits into the theme because it is drawn from a favourite photo of my daughter, which reminds me of a favourite poem: the much-loved "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost (on account of the yellow leaves, albeit there is only one road in the photo....).
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

IF Discovery

My second submission to IF. Sketched with pencil then coloured with Photoshop.

This is my younger daughter at almost-five months discovering her foot. There is little more satisfying than witnessing these kinds of discoveries.

Illustration Friday

I haven't drawn in years. How sad is that?! But recently I joined the "Illustration Friday" mailing list, and this week I bit the bullet and this is what I am submitting.

The topic is "Camouflage." This is what my 3-yo did when I asked her to hide. I love how kids do that.

I drew it on thin writing paper, using a (greylead) pencil, then coloured it with watercolour pencils, and drew the outline with a fineliner and a Sharpie. I like how the paper is wrinkled.

I can't believe I finally did it, and that I didn't try too hard (that is a big problem I have when I attempt anything creative), especially considering many other contributors are professional illustrators, and submit amazing illustrations. Hopefully the more I "have a go at" the less I'll try.