drawing

Made With Human Intelligence

| terriaw

There’s a protest going around on social media apps who recently announced they are going to use artists’ content to train their AI.

Beth Spencer of @bethspencerart recently initiated a cool prompt to artists to draw in our style (#dtiys) our own badge to represent what “Made with human intelligence” means to each of us.

I filled up a page of thumbnail sketches in my sketchbook; a few I love, and some I don’t love.

I tried to think of things I love to draw and things that represented humanity and artists sketching and learning and practicing.

My two favorites are the sketchbook of butterfly drawings and the mountain landscape.

If you’ve read my blog for awhile you’ll notice that I prefer to do my illustrations with traditional mediums because I sit in front of a computer screen all day for my day job, so drawing with a pencil or paintbrush on an actual piece of paper feels good for my soul!

Drawing character sketches

| terriaw

I’ve been having some fun drawing character sketches in my sketchbook.

These foxes and crows were inspired by the shenanigans I see in the neighborhood. They will join the owls I sketches recently in my upcoming stories.

These characters are part of a new series of stories I’m writing and illustrating, inspired by the animals in my backyard and my neighborhood.

I have the character names and storyboards done; now I’m working on character sketches and dummy books. Excited to show you more soon!

New Work! The Locals

| terriaw

It makes me happy when I can share new artwork! I’m calling this “The Locals,” wildlife commonly found in the Great Lakes area.

It was great fun filling up this 14″ x 17″ page with animals – a deer, bear, wolf, coyote, fox, raccoon, badger, skunk, squirrel, rabbit, groundhog, porcupine, eagle, great blue heron, great horned own, cardinal, blue jay, did I miss anyone?!

One of my goals in life is to draw everything so this page full of animals is a great contribution to that goal, as well as my zoo-inspired animals.

I Photoshopped this page so each animal is on its own layer and ready for a variety of uses, from the cool web banner above, to icons on maps, mixed up in surface patterns, perfectly placed on greeting cards, strategically referred to in editorial illustrations and more!

I could keep going and fill up more pages like this with so many different themes, like underwater sea life, birds, butterflies, zoo life, and the list goes on.

Printable Coloring Pages

| terriaw

I’m excited to share these free printable coloring pages with you today. The set includes a raccoon, groundhog (woodchuck), badger, weasel and fox, inspired by the critters I see in my backyard.

I think these critters would make great icons so contact me if you’re in need of a set of icons!

*Feel free to share a link to this content with your followers!

Click on each image to download and print on 8.5 inch x 11 inch paper. Click here to download all five pages.

New Work! Zoo Life

| terriaw

I’ve been working on filling up a page of random animal drawings to add more spot illustrations to my portfolio.

I sketched out the page first with graphite, painted the body shapes with a watercolor wash, and then filled in the details with colored pencils.

I photoshopped each one so they are now ready for many possible uses, such as editorial illustrations, maps, web banners, surface patterns, greeting cards and more! I had so much fun with the page that I’m going to keep going with more animals.

Member, Illustrators For Hire

| terriaw

I have good news. This year I applied to join Illustrators For Hire (@illustratorsforhire ) and I was accepted—YAY! I’m happy to be a part of this curated group of professional freelancers. The specific type of illustrations that I have chosen to promote on this site are my ANIMALS + WILDLIFE.

I really look forward to growing this facet of my illustration practice. If you know someone who needs an illustration, please let me know!

Behind the Scenes

| terriaw

Behind the scenes, I’ve been filling up pages of owl sketches for a character I’m working on, inspired by a great horned owl hanging out in my backyard recently.

This is part of a new series of five stories I’m writing and illustrating, inspired by the animals in my backyard.

I have the character names and storyboards done; now I’m working on the character sketches and dummy books.

I love simplifying these sketches with just two colored pencils. Next up, I’m finishing sketching the storyboard panels and then the text and the dummy book!

A to Z Animal Zine

| terriaw

I love to draw animals! I’m so excited to finish this illustration project, which has become one of my favorite pieces!

This is an A to Z animal zine, inspired by Sarah Dyer’s Patreon drawing session. I tore a piece of paper out of my Moleskin A3 sketchbook (16.5″ x 12″) and folded and cut it into a snake book so it would have 26 panels. Sarah provided a selection of reference photos for each letter. I couldn’t attend her live session so I worked on mine in my spare time over the course of a week. The folds end up with a few hidden panels so I added a little nature scene on those end pieces where the book turns.

I painted the back side of the paper with a blue and green wash and used colored pencils to draw a faux topographic map pattern.

I adore this project because it got me to draw a great variety of animals.

I love making zines, a mini “magazine” from one simple piece of paper, so I’m excited to make more like this.

I often hear the advice to make the kind of artwork you would like to get hired for so I’m going to make more art like these zines!

Character Sketch

| terriaw

I loved dreaming up this random character with her friend while doodling in my sketchbook.

Next up I want to do more sketches of them on their adventures through the outdoors together and cook up a fun story.

I also want to dream up more characters to build a library of characters to tap into for a variety of art and storytelling.