How to Steal Like an Artist

Today I came across a really inspirational post entitled "How to steal like an artist" by Austin Kleon. I find it fascinating and encouraging when I read about the processes of others. Of course even the best artists get inspiration from others, but somehow we newbies think that others generate their ideas all on their own.

Homework

With my focus on Drawing Tutorials Online, I thought I might post some of my homework assignments.

This was an exercise in angles and measurement...


A sketch of G, working on line, continuous line, fabric and reverse gradations...



An attempt at step 22, an exercise on advanced surface planes - after looking at this again, I realize that I need to go in and push this a little further. It's one of those exercises where it got so frustrating I had to walk away from it, but after a week break, I'm feeling I am ready to make another attempt at it.

Drawing Tutorials Online

I have been MIA from my blog lately. But I have been very busy sketching. I need to post some of my sketches. In December I discovered a fantastic website - Drawing Tutorials Online. Matt Archambault is a fantastic teacher. He has been an illustrator for 20 years, a teacher at the School of Visual Arts in NYC, and has developed an amazing website that is an absolute dream come true for me. It's a place that I can go whenever I have a minute in the day, to learn about drawing techniques that I have studied for years, but somehow Matt creates 'aha moments' for me all the time and has really opened my eyes when it comes to approaching a figure drawing. I couldn't be happier with the course and what I am learning. I now have my mojo back and am so motivated to improve!!

Inspiration

I have been so grateful this week for artists who are willing to share. Lynne Chapman has an amazing blog which I have referenced before. I always have a window open to it as she is such an inspiration and is incredibly generous in providing info and encouragement about drawing and the business of illustration. I have also been introduced to Drawing Tutorials On-line and Painting Tutorials On-line. These websites were just what I needed and have signed up for a year's subscription. So count on seeing more of me in 2011 as I get more serious about working towards developing the skills and becoming an illustrator! :)

IF - Beneath

One of the things I look forward to most during the fall is the harvest moon. While sketching one afternoon this composition just came together and thought it was fitting for this week's theme. The coloring phase was a bit of a disaster, but that happens sometimes...

"Beneath the Harvest Moon"

Lynne Chapman

Lynne Chapman posted another video, this one about sketchbooks and the love of drawing...I had to add this as well today since I find her inspirational!

Lynne Chapman on Sketchbooks from Open College of the Arts on Vimeo.

The Process

I find it amazing that artists will take the time to outline their process to tackling a project - it's such a helpful tool for newbies like me. This week I have come across two artists who have great information to share (and interestingly both Chapmans) - Katriona Chapman and Lynne Chapman who has two great videos posted. A big thank you to artists like these who are willing to share!!

How to illustrate a book - Part 2 from Open College of the Arts on Vimeo.

The Sketchbook Project

Alina Chau inspired me last night as I was reading her blog about her participation in one of the Brooklyn Art Library's projects through their Art House Co-op. Basically for $18 they will send you a moleskine to fill up with sketches etc...through to the end of May, at which time each participant is to send the sketchbook back and it will be housed at the Library, available for anyone to look through. I think it's a neat idea, so I have just ordered my moleskine as well. Mine won't be filled with the amazing drawings Alina's is, but it will be a fun spring project for me, and perhaps Q to work on together. Perhaps with every geocaching find we'll sketch the scenes around us.

IF - rescue

Emily Gravett

I just can't get enough of Emily Gravett. I think she is such a wonderful illustrator - I love her work, I love her stories, I love her personal story. Recently I came across a couple of YouTube videos that for me were both inspirational and instructive - I really enjoy seeing how illustrators work.



and from the Rabbit Problem:



In the Rabbit Problem video Emily Gravett uses a cool Photoshop tool to extract her sketch, a tool I had never seen used before, so I did some Google searching and found a tutorial here.