House on Mango Street

Here's a book cover I designed for class! I always loved this book, but all the covers were really REALLY lame. So I made a new one!!

I should be all caught up now!

or close to it anyway...

This is a project I am working on now!! Visual development for.....WICKED!!!!

I am so pumped about this! I love the music, I love the musical! It's absolutely wonderful! And I'm dying for it to become a movie, not live action, I think it would make an awesome animated movie. I really do. It would be beautiful!!!

So heres what I'm working on, I'm focusing more on the first part, where they are at Shiz University.
I think I'm going to continue this into the summer, but theres a lot going on right now and I don't want to pile more on the already heavy, heavy plate.

So for characters, right now I'm just focusing on Elphaba, Galinda, and Fiyero.

with semi victorian flair mixed with straight out whimsical

Elphaba and Galinda's dorm room sketch. Galinda of course has all the fancy stuff and the walk in closet, while Elphaba has the basic necessities. 

To be continued....

Some character designs...

I am taking this awesome independent study this semester, and its focusing all on character design!!

I picked a story to sort of make into an animated movie pitch, with a simplified storyline, character designs, environmental studies and such. It's a lot of fun!! I love doing this kind of stuff!! oh so much!

I decided on the story, "The Red Shoes" by Hans Christian Andersen.  I decided to set it in the 1920s, and change it up a bit, where Karen is a dancer and the red shoes help her, you know, instead of destroy her life, cause her to cut off her feet and eventually kill her. Good 'ol fairy tales!!

These are the first sketches I ever did. I wanted to make it so 1920s. The anatomy is berserk, but I still love the overall style and art decoish quality and that is gonna be a part of it. 

Another assignment not relating to the red shoes story at all, unless it took place in space. but these are some robot butlers!


It's been an interesting study, I've learned alot and the characters have evolved so much, its really awesome to look back at the first sketches. Ill post the finished project later!

ANIMATION!

I majored in animation for 2 years before I transferred to Uarts and switched to illustration. Luckily they allow minors there! So, it seemed like a good idea to do it, and it is, it just rough doing to 2 very time consuming majors at once! But, I'm learning a lot and despite my whining, I do love it.

So my short is about a cat and her treats. Based off my own cats greediness and love for any kind of food and her determination to eat everything, and I mean EVERYTHING!

Her favorite food is whipped cream and you do not want to be the one not to give her some. She will bother you and hate you forever.

Prime example: Chinese food.

She thought she was sneaky but I know whats up!!

staring at my delicious food. for awhile. it was uncomfortable.

thinks she's being sneaky creepin up behind my mom.

until eventually she walked up and stared until I gave her some rice. which she didn't like.
I am not giving her general tsos. She does sleep in my room on occasion.

So yes! A cat animation! 

here is some concept art!!

Hopefully I can animate like the wind so it actually looks this nice...

we shall see....

found some sketches...

I was putting away old sketchbooks and found some sketches from a project from last semester, the heaven and hell piece.  It was some quick brainstorming sketches, the first week of school doing them in my history/literature class, I haven't gotten to do this in a while. Deadlines are quicker and its not the first week of school anymore so I have to jump right into a project to get it done in time.

planes!! with help from my brother as to which planes to draw. I would get in so much trouble if I didn't pick the right model or kind of plane. I'm the only one in my family that isn't into aviation all that much.

space stuff!!! 

there was alot more stuff, but it was mixed in with notes from class and conversations with my friends who were writing in my sketchbook.

it makes me sad that lately I haven't had time to do this kind of stuff for everything. if I have any free time I'm usually passed out in bed. Animation and illustration majors will be the death of me.

Stuff from last semester!!!

It has been so hectic lately, I haven't had 2 seconds to scan the stuff I've been working on. Finally here's some stuff!!

theres about a month left of school and I am so excited for summer!!! Warm weather, a chance to relax a bit and work on personal projects, and maybe some art related jobs coming up so maybe I won't have to suffer through another summer as a camp counselor! I love it, but the bugs are getting to me.

the pencil drawing for my final assignment last semester! 

The final! I finally figured out how to use corel and went a little crazy with the textures hehe

Heres some oil paintings I did from a model!

totally not finished, but I'm kind of liking it this way...

SO MUCH REDDDDDD

2 people??? whaaattt I managed to get it done somehow, my oil painting skills before these were, well, nonexistent.
but hey! now these look like paintings!!

Some Delightful Butterbeer!

I have a ton of stuff to upload! I've been super busy!

But while I am in class, might as well upload my latest project.
We had to make beer labels, and of course I chose Butterbeer!!
I wouldn't really consider myself a Harry Potter fan until this year, I seem to be doing alot of Harry Potter inspired stuff.

Here's the label!
I wanted it to look old fashioned, like it could be related to the movies.
and just look generally awesome!

And because I felt like doing something crafty, I made a prototype of the bottle!
Instead of Butterbeer, I used candle wax for the inside, so it wont go bad and I can keep it forever!!

There's alot more to come!!
As of now, I'm attempting to start a tumblr, not entirely sure what it is or how it works, but everyone seems to be posting stuff on there so I'll attempt to learn the ways of the internet s'more.

Gidget!!

I am really happy we got to do whatever we wanted one week. I am so busy with school and all the homework they pile on that most of my personal projects never make it out of my sketchbook.
I have been on a Gidget kick since the summer. I love the movie Gidget and Gidget goes Hawaiian. They are really old, really cheesy 1950s surfing movies-a summer classic. I've been wanting to do something that emphasized the retro look and colors of the film, and the fun in it.


This is the sketch I did, and I really liked it! I wanted to do a paper sculpture, and i thought it would look cool if some of the paper stuck out over the matting.
I love the colors, unfortunately, I realized that paper was harder to find than I thought. So I had to settle for different blues.

Almost finished!! I hate the background. Pretty much I fell asleep when I was doing this and woke up and had to leave in 30 mins for school, so I threw something together, it works I guess, but not how I wanted it. 

close up shot. that wave was a pain to cut out.

but I love Gidget and Moondoggie! <3

The Little Mermaid

No, not the Disney version.

For this assignment we had to do a portrait, and I have been reading up on fairytales in the hopes I would get inspired for my animation piece I have to do next semester.  The little mermaid had always been my favorite Disney movie ever since I saw it, and its also one of my favorite fairy tales. The original story is so much darker and really sad.  I really like the original story because it focuses on the fact that she wants a soul, and its not all about falling in love with the prince, the prince is merely a way to get a soul.  And when its clear the prince isn't going to marry her, she is given the option to save herself by stabbing him, but she doesn't. Sooo sadd

I wanted to make this totally different than the Disney movie, and wanted to emphasize the sadness and that awful choice she had to make.

and I wanted to make it pretty.

Still a work in progress....the painting isn't all that great, I am still getting the hang of it.

I really like the sketch, this is like my fourth draft of the sketch...and I LOVE her hair!! Seaweed and kelp does make for beautiful locks. And I wanted her to be human, but also still have her mermaid/fish features, some scales and her side fin, which would have been covered with a dress if she was on land so its plausible. 

the work in progress....I have to finish her body...I got way to obsessed with her hair!!! it was so fun to do....and it caused me to rush everything else to get it done :-/

I am still in the process of figuring out digital. I don't like the clean cut look of a default brush, I like a rough brush with lots of texture, so it looks like gouache. I'm having a hard time getting that look, and it tends to look splotchy in some areas.

Illustration!

So far my favorite class of the semester is illustration methods!! I love this class, and it's my most hardcore one.  My teacher is kicking my ass and I am experimenting with different mediums, so I'm pushing myself so hard!!! I had never used digital beyond simple vector drawings, so actually doing a finished piece in photoshop is quite an accomplishment!!

A lot of them are still works in progress and need major changes, but overall I am pretty proud of myself, mainly because I threw myself in the digital realm. But thats the best way to learn.


Our first assignment was a heaven and hell piece. So I went in this direction:

I tried not to be literal, coming more from the angle of a contrast of freedom and total dependancy.
I think everyone knows at least one kid who's attempted to build a contraption that they think will actually fly. I definitely know a couple, and I may or may not have been one of them. :)

Figure Drawing!!

It's been awhile...and now I'm stuck at school on an extended break and class and thought I'd upload what I have with me!!!

Here's some of my stuff from my figurative communication class...the usual nude...nothing too fun :(
Although we did get to use gouache...which I am kind of psyched about...

5 mins...with charcoal!!
(her torso is too long...note the lines...that part is to be taken out)

both giant 18x24
I hate working that big....
but I think they turned out ok

not bad photos for an iPhone.

I love drawing people, I just wish they wore costumes or something...to make it a little more fun. It doesn't help that this class is on a friday and at that point I am BEYOND exhausted....since this year is proving to be extremely work heavy and overnights are a usual thing...I usually only get a couple hours sleep between monday and friday. :(


despite this, I am really enjoying myself this year.

Olympic time!!

I love the olympics!!! makes me wonder what I might have done if I hadn't been such a lazy kid. I was actually pretty good at gymnastics...all the flipping around all over the place...good times :)

This particular pose always makes me nervous. It looks awesome but there are so many ways this could result in injury.

It's not that good...just a quick little doodle while watching the USA beam routines....I'm still trying to work on the photoshop painting skills. I have no idea what's wrong with me, I'm good at painting with paint, photoshop shouldn't be any different. I honestly think I over think everything, thus always making it look like a 2nd grader did it.

i regret the gray background. :-/

but eh, it was just a quick little doodle....

Summer Camp!

I work at a cub scout camp during the summer, where I teach arts and crafts!! So last week's theme was Australia, and I had a few free periods and I got bored. I forgot my sketchbook but luckily I was helping the kids make cave drawings, so I had sandpaper and crayons handy! And being Australia week, I had of course been quoting Finding Nemo like crazy to try and get an Australian accent...

Finished Stamps!

I finally am getting around to posting this!
I finished the other two stamps awhile ago, and gave them to my mom and grandma as mother's day presents! They always take me to musicals and our favorites are always Rodgers and Hammerstein's musicals!

So the finished Sound of Music, Cinderella and The King and I!

I saw this at the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia! (which ironically my school now owns)

I recently took my grandma to this at the Walnut Street Theater for Christmas. I love this musical!! I had the cartoon version as a kid, but nothing beats the version with Yul Brynner! etc, etc, and so forth

This is by far my favorite one!! The hills are alive with the sound of music!!! Julie Andrews will always be the one and only Maria.

I love musicals, I was watching the movie versions as I was making these.
And now I'm posting and I want to watch them all again!

It will be awhile until I post some more, I'm the maid of honor at 2 weddings!! I'll be super busy!

Some life drawing

There's a bunch of stuff I haven't gotten around to scanning yet, mainly for my anatomy class.
But these were in my sketchbook so I decided to scan some!!!

Some quick 2-5 min sketches

leanin on a wall

20 mins

20 mins

extended drawing - maybe 1 hour?

The Stamp Collections....

Here's a little something (literally) that I've been working on all week!! It's a postage stamp!!

I still have 2 more to do in the set, but the theme is Roger's and Hammerstein's Musicals!

So this is Cinderella!

(not actual size)

Yes, i know it looks a little like Disney's version of Cinderella, but what can I say? Most people associate "Cinderella" with the Disney version, and on a postage stamp thats less than an inch big, you gotta go with something instantly recognizable. Cinderella is known for her blonde hair and big blue puffy dress!!

This is kind of more of the size?
on my screen it looks really small, but it says its the actual size.
liar.

But basically, its a really small area, so you have to go with a super simple design.
(the awful font is just a fun placeholder...im gonna wait until all the other ones are done and then pick a nifty font!)

"The Sound of Music" and "The King and I" are still to come!!

As for now, I have a paper to go write. :(

Spring Semester '12

Spring semester is still going!! I have about a month left until SUMMERRRR!!! my favorite time of year!!! I love going outside in flip flops and getting a tan and of course, THE SHORE!!

So here's some stuff I've been up to in my illustration class this semester, I'm going to update later with stuff from my other classes, anatomy and typography.

But for now...

As part of our assignment over winter break, we were given the prompt,
'God is a beautiful little girl who changes her mind'.
It took me most of break to come up with the idea. I like it for the most part,
except the meteors. I feel like they don't fit all that well.. :-/

Princess and the pea!!

Yet another 'seven deadly sins' assignment.

Over our spring break, we had to paint a GIANT oil painting. Which basically means I didn't have a spring break, which is why I am so excited about summer!!!

We had to reinterpret a master's painting. So, using Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" as inspiration, I came up with a fun Moulin Rouge/ Burlesque thing. 

I really enjoyed doing this, so I guess it was a good spring break. :) 

le sketch

Le finished painting
I got the hang of oil painting as i was painting the people.
I might go back and fix the background later when i have more time.
But overall, i LOVE LE COLORS!!

The newest thing I've done!
We had to create a circus sideshow moister if we were a circus freak.
Basically making fun of ourselves.
Which was of course, super fun for me because I'm obsessed with Disney and thats pretty much what I'm known for.
It's acrylic on canvas and then i beat the hell out of it to make it look super old. :)

Fall Semester '11

This past year I switched schools, moved back home (sadly), and switched majors. I am now an illustration student at Uarts!!
I definitely think it is a better fit for me all around, and while I love animating, it didn't leave much time for me to do other stuff.  I love it, but definitely not as a career choice. So I'm setting my aim for being a concept artist for animated movies!!!

So here's some stuff from my foundation illustration class this past fall!

So as part of the illustration curriculum, I also had to take a photography class. It was kind of fun (although the projects were super intense and didn't take into account that we ARE NOT photographers). But at least I got an awesome new camera out of the deal, since I needed a DSLR vs. the cheap-o point and shoot I had.  It gave me a reason to buy a fancy pants camera!!

SHOESSSSSS!!

We had to do a major project during the semester, 'Seven Deadly Sins' (which you only had to choose 4)

It was right after Halloween and I was in a spooky mood so I ran out to Halloween Adventure during their super-mega-awesome-clearence because we are closing-sale. I got a whole bunch of glow in the dark skulls and painted them like day of the dead skulls, and made matching altars!! I was so excited about just painting the skulls I didn't fully think about the idea and the lighting (since in drawing you can make up the light and make it work how you want it. proof I am not a photographer)

Greed
(probably the most obvious out of the set)

Gluttony

Vanity

Wrath

I still have all of these in my room, and the paint doesn't fully hide the fact they are glow in the dark. It gets creepy at times. haha

A perspective assignment
there was a place in reading terminal market called the 'flying monkey' bakery. They  made super cute cupcakes!
so what if the wicked witch of the west wasn't wicked, but sugary sweet enough to open a delicious bakery in the emerald city?

Shadow box!
we had to actually build it then draw from life.
So, heres a little more about me!

just a little sketch.
About a lady who doesn't really have hair, but when she wants to change her hairstyle, she takes them off other people.
(she has an assortment of heads to choose from)

Part of an acrylic set of self portraits we had to do.
I wasn't very good at first, I was having a lot of trouble. (I don't think it was the actual painting, I just hate self portrait assignments)
So this is me and my cat, Sassy! She's adorable and I love her!! And most days, she loves me (especially when I give her treats!)

As part of our assignments, we also have experimental portfolio weeks! It's just a time when we can do whatever we want in whatever medium we want!!!! 

I always want to experiment with different mediums and styles, but I'm super dedicated with school and hate turning in unfinished works. So if i have a week to do a painting on top of work and my 3 hour round trip commute and all the other homework assignments I have, I won't really experiment, because I am so exhausted I sometimes just want to get it done. It's sad to admit that, but i know i need to work on that.

Anyway, for my last experimental portfolio (which was right before christmas), I wanted to make a gingerbread house!!! So festive!!

It's entirely made of all edible ingredients (except theres wire in the tree, but theres icing on the outside!!)

It's a combo of gingerbread, fondant, cake, and icing.

and it was delicious!

I love the colors!! So cheery! 

Little snowman!! He was the only part I kept before my class destroyed and at the house!

yumm yumm :)