inspiration

From My Sketchbook: January and February Doodles

| terriaw

In order to fill up more sketchbooks, which is on my bucket list for 2015, I have been coming up with lots of drawing prompts. One thing I’m doing is a monthly calendar. But instead of using it like a diary, I’m using it to do a daily doodle.

I’m happy to report that I completed my January calendar of doodles in the month of January.

sketchbook page january doodles

And my February calendar is ready for a  month’s worth of new ideas and new doodles!

sketchbook February 2015 doodles

I’m hoping to have a theme for each month’s doodles. It’s a great way to get started with my drawing projects for the day.

Terri

From My Sketchbook: Drawing Inspiration from the Greenhouse

| terriaw

Trips to the greenhouse are a pick-me-up during the winter months when everything is dormant and gray outside, but they also provide inspiration for my drawing, illustration and surface pattern design projects.

Here are a few color palettes I’m working with these days using tiny plants on display at the local greenhouse.
tiny plants color palettesSince I can’t bring all of them home on every visit, I try to bring home pictures to use for reference for new illustrations in my sketchbook.

sketchbook tiny fernssketchbook tiny plantssketchbook tiny plantsMy plan next is to draw these sketches digitally and turn them into a new collection of surface patterns! So fun!

Terri

 

Inspiration Wednesday: From My Sketchbook

| terriaw

I’ve been enjoying making more time lately to experiment in my mixed-media sketchbook. As usual, once I get going, I realize how much I miss this creative freedom to just experiment, paint, draw and doodle with different media.

In order to fill up more sketchbooks, which is on my bucket list for 2015, I have been coming up with lots of drawing prompts. One thing I’m doing is a monthly calendar. But instead of using it like a diary, I’m using it to do a daily doodle.

sketchbook page for january 2015 doodles

It’s a great way to get started with my drawing projects for the day. I’m hoping to have a theme for each month’s doodles. It’s growing to be one of my new favorite things to do!

Terri

Inspiration Wednesday: From My Sketchbook

| terriaw

I’m immersed in Lilla Rogers’ course Make Art That Sells right now, so it’s great fun to have assignments to work on in my sketchbook.

sketchbook painting root vegetables

The first assignment has to do with root vegetables so I bought a variety for in-person drawing reference. I really wanted vegetables that still had the stalks and leaves on them because some of the leaves are so beautiful.

sketchbook root vegetables - carrots

sketchbook root vegetables - beetssketchbook root vegetables - radishessketchbook root vegetables -parsnip

sketchbook root vegetables - sweet potato and turnip

One of the many things I’m learning is to pay closer attention to my own process and how I work when doing illustration. That is helping me figure out what I like, what my style is and what I like about other artists I admire.

1. First I do research, learn about the subject matter, make a word list, find photo reference and live examples if possible.

root vegetables reference

2. Then I do a couple quick, rough doodles with a ball point pen, sort of like an outline.

sketchbook root vegetables word list3. Then I do a detailed drawing with pencil and loosely go over it with a Micron pen.

4. Then I might try to do a realistic rendering, which I go over with a Micron pen so I can scan it later for digital work.

5. Then I go back to drawing my own interpretation of the object, sort of realistic, sort of stylized.

Similar to most illustrators and artists, I really want to have my own unique style, so it’s important to me to also understand and develop my own process. I love drawing with pencil and then Micron pens, so I enjoy this process of illustrating. I also like using my travel watercolor paints, but I love the digital process so I’m excited for the next step in this assignment.

Now I’m looking forward to baking roasted root vegetables!

Hope you’re on the look–out for things that inspire you.

Terri

Hand-Lettered Friday

| terriaw

I’ve been practicing my hand-lettering more lately, traditionally and with my drawing tablet, so I thought it would be fun to share a hand-lettered quote this fine Friday to inspire you.

Do what you fear

“Do what you fear and the fear disappears.” – David Schwartz

There are many things I don’t do as an artist because of fear, such as more hand-lettering, using my drawing tablet, showing my work, putting myself out there in the marketplace, and marketing myself and my work. So this print has a little bit of all that!

I experimented with a few fonts, which I actually liked better, but the point of this exercise was to try more hand-lettering, get used to and learn to like my hand-lettering. The background print is a sneak-peak at something else I’m working on these days 😉

Hope you enjoy a great weekend!

Terri

Inspiration Wednesday: From My Sketchbook

| terriaw

It’s been fun getting reacquainted with my watercolor sketchbook again. I’ve been working on some fall-inspired illustrations.

sketchbook page apples

sketchbook page apples

sketchbook apples sketchbook sunflower illustration

sketchbook sunflowers

sketchbook pumpkin illustration

sketchbook pumpkins

I have really missed experimenting in my watercolor sketchbook. I’m excited that I only have about 3-4 blank pages left to fill it up!

Hope you’re on the look–out for things that inspire you.

Terri

Field Trip to Botanical Gardens

| terriaw

Speaking of being on the trails, another one of my favorite things to do is make a field trip to the botanical gardens. There are so many wonderful nooks and crannies to investigate.

Olbrich Gardens Olbrich Gardens Olbrich GardensOlbrich Gardens Olbrich Gardens swamp at Olbrich Gardens alpine garden at Olbrich Gardens Olbrich Gardens

Olbrich Gardens Olbrich Gardens Olbrich Gardens

There are always so many unique and unusual plants and flowers to see.

frog at Olbrich Gardenswater lily at Olbrich Gardens rose at Olbrich Gardens Olbrich Gardens Olbrich Gardens Olbrich Gardens tiger lily at Olbrich Gardens monarch at Olbrich Gardens globe thistle at Olbrich Gardens huge leaves at Olbrich Gardens Olbrich Gardens Olbrich Gardens coreopsis at Olbrich Gardens glowing at Olbrich Gardens

I’ve decided to make this a regular field trip by going every few weeks to see what’s new as the seasons change.

Terri

Inspiration Wednesday: From My Sketchbook

| terriaw

I’m continuing my quest to manage my time so I can keep sketching and drawing ideas in my sketchbook while keeping up with my licensed art projects and graphic design clients. I have quite a collection of sketches, so I’ve been busy inking and digitizing them to further turn them into marketable work. Here are a few recent illustrations from my sketchbook pages, along with some reference photos that inspired me.

sketchbook secret garden gate

sketchbook page wood nymph butterfly

I love the eyespots on Common Wood Nymph butterflies and on some birch trees!

olbrich birch forestbirch eye

sketchbook page birch eyes

I’m continuing my quest to Make More Work on advice from established designers and illustrators. Make so much work that you can’t be ignored. I love to draw so it’s a great challenge to draw more, to draw all the time, to continue to develop my unique illustration style.

Hope you’re on the look–out for things that inspire you.

Terri