San Diego Progress...

Comic Con is around the corner and I am still in prep mode! I'll have a couple of new books coming out next month, and will be taking commissions during the entire weekend. Booth #1803!

(I so wish my blogpost could look/sound more exciting than this :P but I will have my new book cover image to share with you next week! Now that IS exciting!...)

xoxo
~LB!

Blog Much??

I've dropped the ball on my Wednesday Blogdays last week as well as yesterday. Tisk. I had knee surgery 3 weeks ago and I am alone with a toddler, as my husband is away on a vacation with his dad. That is my plight. Not a huge excuse for being absent from blogging a little something -- Lord knows I've been on facebook enough :S -- but the truth is I have been very preoccupied with my job search. Much of my time spent on facebook has been networking with industry friends and cooking up plans to relocate to the center of the Animation Universe. Tricky to do without an official job offer on the table -- in fact, it's a huge leap of faith -- but I have decided to move to LA to emerse myself at the hub of it all, to be on hand, ready to jump at a moment's notice, and meet any potential employer half way in that there'd be no hefty relocation costs in having me, just the cost of sponsoring my work visa. C'est fini!

That said, here's the link to my online portfolio once again, and a few choice images to stoke the fires, should the right eyes stumble upon this blog site:  ;)

www.lauriebportfolio.blogspot.com

My pertinent contact info is included on each image. Serious inquiries only, thanks.

I see by the job walls that many of the positions I've already applied to are in fact still posted...meaning those studios are still soliciting applications...meaning submissions probably haven't even begun to be viewed or evaluated yet. I am hopeful that no news is good news at this point, and praying that the Fate Gods will not just nicely see me settle into the greater LA area when an offer comes in from the east coast. ...Still, there is a lot of flex in this Spirit of mine!

That's another wrap, and I shall get better at sticking to my Wednesday regime!

xoxo
~LB!



B!'s Knees

So I had my ACL reconstruct surgery less than a week ago. Hindsight, the whole thing really isn't/wasn't all that bad. However, prior to "going under" I was sincerely not digging the idea of having hardware drilled into my bones. Every time I visualized it, all I could think of was how unnatural that is. AND IT IS! I'm sure many a caveman tore an ACL clean-through whilst chasing her next meal across the tundra. What did they do?! They just healed as best as they could and lived on.

Perspective.

Now, I fully realize that we are no longer Neanderthals. Thus, I am grateful for the profound knowlege and medical sciences that we have evolved to at this point. However, when I awoke from the anesthetic: Full. On. Pain. My surgeon visited my bedside and I asked him what size the screws are. He said, "Only about 20mm long". I said, "Oh that's not so bad; less than an inch!" ... "and 7mm thick." At which point I'm sure I looked as if I were going to faint. Which is why he promptly gave me Percocet! Weeeeee! Free Meds! I heart Canada!

LOL! Here's my weirdo sense of humor while high on Percocet. Enjoy!

That's it for now...No news to report on the job front. Maybe within the next handful of Wednesday Blogdays there'll be something exciting art-wise to write about! It's only been a week since my portfolio has been floating around in the ethereal, so I know I need to exercise greater patience. Just that these painkillers make time seem to go byyyyy soooooo sloooooow....!! ;)

xoxo

~LB!



This is Me, in Mad Job Search Mode!

YES! I've finally started sending out my portfolio, creating log in accounts, and applying online! So far I've hit up a few of the big guys, as well as a couple of choice places in Montreal. I already snagged and interview, so I'm pretty stoked about that!

I was in Montreal last fall for Comic Con and fell in love with the city. Plus I have a TON of friends already living there so I feel really comfortable about the thought of possibly living there. It's a beautiful city, nothing like the kind of beautiful city that Calgary is. Everything in Calgary is new and clean and shiny. Montreal on the other hand is a charming, old city with stunning architecture, and I could really get used to that! And soooo much poutine!...

I've got to keep this post short, as I have to get up at ass-o'clock for knee surgery tomorrow morning. My job search will be cut short this week, but I hope to be alert, painfree, and feeling well enough to continue with my online applications as I rest and recover at home with a laptop in my -- wait for it -- lap. That, and/or I'll finally have ample time to return to making some art! Imagine that!

Over'n'out!
xoxo
~LB!

CALGARY EXPOlosion!!!

First off, I missed blogging last week...but for good reason! Calgary's Comic & Entertainment Expo was. da. BOMB.

WHAT A SHOW!

Watching the entire cast of Star Trek The Next Generation reunite for the first time in convention history was by far the highlight of not only the weekend, but probably my life! Sir Patrick Stewart is larger than life, and the whole crew had so much awesome chemistry, it honestly was so surreal!

RIDICULOUS Saturday of the Calgary EXPOlosion! Warm, wonderful fandom all day long, capped off with a little bit of history-making. Check out that assigned seating! Whatta day, whatta night!!!!! Beyond awesome = B-AWESOME!!! (This pic was taken after hours, at late night sushi with good friends!) It's a good life! ;D

My husband usually manages the business end  of "Art of Laurie B!", but I of course was in Seattle for Emerald City Comic Con a month ago, and then Vancouver FanXpo the weekend before last, and he of course has been increasingly less available to me due to his involvement/commitment to the Expo. Thus I have begun to take more command over my business: display, printing, inventory replenishment, etc. and I'm actually digging it quite a lot! I suppose it was never fair to him or me that he was responsible for all of that before. Nonetheless, I'd been busy planning and preparing for the Calgary Expo, and WOW was I impressed with the results! The attendance was record-breaking, and the fandom was unending! I kept busy at my 10X10' booth -- run off my feet is more like it -- all weekend! Thankfully, I enlisted friends and family to help at my booth, so I was constantly covered, and I'm eternally grateful for their presence! Couldn't have done it without them! <3 The home-ice advantage didn't hurt any, either!

I definitely suffered a lot of sleep loss, but ahhhh it was worth it! Plus, give me through to the end of this week and I'll be completely recouped! I had so much fun catching up with friends from out of town, playing host, all with the creature comforts of home and the convenience of being able to sleep in my own bed each night, limited as it was! It's definitely got me thinking about how I can improve and run things differently at other shows...The gears are turning!...

Next up is San Diego Comic Con, July 11th-15th, 2012...In a way, still a couple of months away...in a way, right around the corner!... ;)

I'd like to remind everyone again about my fanpage: www.facebook.com/artoflaurieb
If you have any suggestions for pieces/projects you'd like to see from me at Comic Con this summer, or better yet, place a commission with me to have ready for pick up in July, please "Like" my fanpage and send suggestions that way.

Thanks again for reading and keeping up with me! And I promise to resume posting more art again reeeaaaaal soon!

xoxo
~LB!

My Character Design Portfolio LIIIIVES!

Without further ado!..........


http://lauriebportfolio.blogspot.ca/


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Wow, that was simultaneously the easiest and most difficult blog post ever!


In all sincerity, at the time of this posting, there are a few images missing from the grand scheme of things. They are the last few edits needing a bit more additional work yet. I will update/upload them as they are completed. I spent the last two days writing my resume and cover letter and I am ready to roll out so those edits will be coming soooooon!


I'm slightly nervous and excited for what the future will hold for me. Knock wood, my portfolio will garner some attention and before I know it the shape of things to come will slowly start coming into focus. Just like a Polaroid picture! ;) My trip to CTNX last November solidified my need to relocate if I'm ever going to realize my true career goals, and the five months since then have been very eventful! Sometimes I feel like they've gone by in a blink, and at other times I feel like I've lived five lifetimes. I like it! I like feeling alive. I like the element of surprise. It keeps me on my toes! And I embrace it! Here's to 2012!


I will be in Vancouver, BC, for FanXpo this weekend at the Vancouver Convention Center, then back in Calgary for the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo at the BMo Center April 27-29. If you're attending either or both of those shows, do stop by to say hello! ;)


xoxo
~LB!


ps: "Happy Birthday" to my mom, and Conan O'Brien! :)

The Little Portfolio That Could

...I think I can, I think I can...


Not unlike my excursion to Emerald City Comic Con two weekends ago (in accordance with last week's recap) it seems that life wants to throw me every possible and obvious curve ball to deter me from this path of completing my portfolio. My laptop finally died, and I've been working off of a back-up-of-a-back-up system. Over the course of the past week, I did get an amazing opportunity to test out a Cintiq on loan from a friend. :) Alas, Photoshop crashed upon installing the driver. :( Not just crashed. Died a horrible and glorious death. Over the course of the last week, I've been: sick with recurrent ConSARS, playing single parent, running on a fume, and tried and tested in ways that I cannot explain and do not wish to discuss in a public forum.

OK. I'll quit feeling sorry for myself or making excuses...

Here is another image from my (yes, upcoming) portfolio, a sketch from life, done last week at my favorite local coffee shop (so I know it's new -- just for you)! ;)

I've taken quite the hiatus from my facebook fanpage daily uploads. That was unannounced and unplanned. I'll get back to that soon. A soon as possible. First comes meeting the personal goal/deadline of completing a portfolio ready and worthy of presenting on a broad scale, despite all obstacles. Then comes the fun and frivolous objective of getting back in the saddle with my 'dailies'. Sad but true. The "Emerald City fiasco" threw me. Had to break indefinitely. Nonetheless, I know what's ahead of me and where my intentions lie. I trust that the Universe will take care of the rest!


Until then,
xoxo
~LB!

Emerald City Wrap

Well, where to begin!? Emerald City was...an experience!...


The night before I left Calgary, I received a call from my counterpart in Seattle who said that none of my inventory made it to the show. So I stayed up all night (re)packing all that I could manage. Fair enough. It's not the first all-nighter I've had to pull, and it won't be my last!


...Then I show up at the airport at 6:30 for an 8:00am flight, only to be told that my flight was booked for the wrong weekend, the wrong month altogether! whoopsie.


I still made it to Seattle that morning, via some quick thinking, a shot in the dark, and a little bit of kismet! And I was only about 2 hours behind schedule from the original plan! Not bad! ...Long story short, the lesson was reinforced that with focus and determination, anything is possible. That, and for the right price, a person could flee their current setting or circumstances in a heartbeat! Lol!


Anyway, the show was good, all things considered, but not surprisingly I came down with Con SARS rather immediately (as opposed to immediately-following) SO my apologies for spreading the plague due to my compromised, sleep-deprived immune system. Would I do it again?! Absolutely! Meeting fans and hanging with friends makes it all worth it in the end. True story! 


I did manage to get my portfolio uploaded online before travels, but it is still in its beta-testing phase. That is, it's been sent it to my tried and true network of pros, and is garnering feedback before getting the final spit-shine. Exciting times!


Anyway, I am still recovering, and have an early morning doctor appointment, so here is another image from said portfolio, as I inch ever closer to finalizing!

Ballet Trio

pencil on paper, and digital

Au revoir! Until we meet again next Wednesday!

xoxo

~LB!

Emerald City Love!

In mere hours, I'll be heading to Seattle for Emerald City Comic Con this weekend! In 10 years, I only missed it once, and that's because I was full-term pregnant with my due date right around the corner! (For the record, I still would have gone, but my baby-doctor ordered that I not even leave the city limits. Kill-joy.) (JK!) Emerald always treats me right, and I'm looking forward it! 


Portfolio assembly is progressing nicely, despite my laptop dying a slow death. This is why I work traditionally, FYI. Pretty much everything just needs the digital touch -- add copyright, contact info, and layer adjustments, etc. Tedious and annoying work (in my world anyway!), but I like to think I can still knock it outta the park! ;)


Here are a few more portfolio pieces:

As always, please respect the art and copyright.

That's all for now! Lots to do before I drag myself to the airport! Hopefully by this time next week, my portfolio will officially be floating out there in the ethereal! Wonder what THAT blog's gonna sound like!... ;)


xoxo
~LB!

My Computer Wants to Die!

If my laptop came with a "Do Not Resuscitate, Do Not Put on Life-Support" clause, I'd be in a heap of trouble right about now.

As stated by the title of this post, my computer does indeed want to die. I not terribly gifted at technical trouble-shooting, but thus far I have managed to Frankenstein my way toward adding a few more pieces to my portfolio. (Still not complete...but rounding out nicely...)

Here is the latest of said installments:

"Fly Me to the Moon"

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 9 X 15"

This piece is my contribution to the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo's 2012 Exclusive Artbook. http://www.calgaryexpo.com/artbook/ Artists were invited to create an art piece based on the theme "Dreams and Wishes". I often have dreams that I can fly (and of course I wish that I could)! "Fly Me to the Moon" is an old Sinatra song that's been stuck in my head for the last week or more as I've been plowing through portfolio development and visualizing what dream job will come my way, where I'll relocate to, my new apartment, and all that jazz!

Detail of "Fly Me to the Moon"

 Copic markers and col-erase pencil on Bristol

Figures shown here are approx 2.5 X 5"

This art piece was inspired by my son and I dedicated it to him on the occassion of his 2nd Birthday, which was yesterday! ♥

I would definitely be interested in doing more illustration work like this, for children's books or other purposes, and am heavily considering/seeking how to have a gallery showing of my work. If anyone has a solid lead for me in this department, please contact me via my website www.artoflaurieb.com or facebook www.facebook.com/ArtofLaurieB. Brownie points if you do!

xoxo

~LB!

Portfolio & Plague

Just a quickie update to say I'm not posting the link to my portfolio just yet...I'm giving myself a couple extra days to fine-tune. That, and I have apparently caught the plague. Been having fainting spells yesterday and today for the first time in my life. Been asking people if they've been feeling the ground move, like an earthquake. Might sound commonplace if I lived in LA, but I don't ...yet... I live in the freaking Canadian Rockies!!! WHY is the ground moving??! Turns out...it's just me. :(

Time for bed.

Here are a few copic sketches from the past week. These will more than likely find a place in my portfolio.

"Blowing Kisses!"

Copic markers and col-erase pencils on bond paper, approx 5.5 X 5.5"

"Strawberry Blondie"
Character study

Copic markers on bond paper, approx. 3.5 X 7"

Geisha Girl.

(This one's a digital study.)

xoxo
~LB!

Portfolio Progress

Since returning from the CTN animation eXpo in Burbank last November, I've been working toward revamping my portfolio. I received tons of feedback and positive responses from industry pros and trusted peers while I was there, so all that's been left is finding time to devote to new works! This page of pigs in particular seemed to catch many people's attention:

Pros really liked the exploration of face shapes -- circle (one squashed, one stretched), square (one squashed, one stretched), triangle (one squashed, one stretched), etc. I was surprised at their strong reactions; I knew this page presented variety, but I felt the sketches were grossly 'unpolished'. No matter! Every single one of 'em paused on this page and pointed all around! (This is essentially what my "Dailies" were born out of, btw -- a variety of pushed and pulled shapes -- except that I poured much more time and attention into each of the character dailies!)

So, naturally, in response to their high praises, I decided to explore another subject in this fashion -- this time "Geishas". I feel these ones are much more polished and non-amateur looking this time 'round. As well, I explored more than just the dead-on face views and approached some other angles and expressions:

I feel a little at a loss at times for selecting portfolio pieces though, as I don't consider myself as having a great body of work to chose from. The more pin-ups I draw, the more commissions I get; the more commissions I get, the more pin-ups I draw, lather, rinse, repeat.

I love my career path so far, I really do! For the past 4 years, my commute has been non-existent (unless you count bouncing down a flight of stairs to my drawing table a commute!), I've created my own hours, slept when I wanted to, woke the same, and throughout pregnancy and the arrival of my son, I've so far had the flexibility to spend his first two years with him, taking days off based on our local weekly weather forecast! But this 'self-employed/freelance/independant' status is not all rainbows and unicorns. It has come at its costs, too -- lack of social outlet, a wasting of my time and untapped talent spinning my wheels in the same place month after month after month, and what I fear most, getting older without necessarily getting closer to my dream job of working in feature animation. (For the record, I'm cool with getting older -- I kick more ass as I go! -- it's the getting COLDER that's got me stepping it up a notch, or 10!...) Needless to say, I feel the pressure and excitement to create each new portfolio piece from basically scratch! Not sure if that's what's necessary...But I know what I'm capable of...And I've never been more ready for the challenge!

Anyway, our current childcare arrangement is about to get turned on its head mid-month, so that sets March 15th as my deadline to get my portfolio completed! I imagine next Wednesday's blogpost will be much of an after-thought and will probably consist of minimal keyboard mashing and just a lazy cut'n'paste link to my online portfolio! Hopefully I can be a man a few words next week, in lieu of the pictures that will speak thousands of words for me! ;D

Until then, here's one more W.I.P. to tide you all over until then! (...It took me a while and I was too embarrassed to ask, but I was finally able to deduce that that stands for 'Work In Progress'.) These are hair/facial hair style and color explorations for a character I call "Peter", still unfinished mindyou, but you get the picture! ;D

xoxo
~LB!

Drawing to a Close...

Happy Leap Day!

Hoppy

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Well, I made it to the rare and exquisite Feb 29th and I am now also making the executive decision to halt with these "Dailies", at least as we've all come to know them. It has been a good, steady run of 9 weeks (10+ if you include the ones from December 2011) and I honestly feel that this lesson have served its purpose, which is of course to draw everyday!

I have returned to work only part-time since having my baby nearly 2 years ago, and that means that half the time I am home with my little guy, on Mommy duty. I have found that on some days it is all I can do to get a single daily done while he naps and/or after he's gone to bed, and I feel that that precious time is better spent working on other projects. It's been an adventure, one that took on a life of its own that I wasn't expecting (creative writing/character bios) and I'm proud that I continued with my commitment, until I said so!

I will still draw everyday and I will still post to my facebook fanpage everyday, but it may just not be the Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5" format. (Sometimes it will!) The exciting part is I am working on updating my portfolio, so there'll be lots of new and refreshing art to see!

And with that said, here's the cole's notes version of the previous week's worth of dailies, all animals!

Soooo I roughed out this sweet little panda and the only name that kept coming to me was "Po" (as in Kung Fu Panda), but I couldn't rightfully go with that...So I took it a step further and went with PoPo instead.

PoPo is a punctuation policeman who eats, shoots, and leaves. He's a timid little law enforcer who needs to nibble when he's nervous, which is basically all the time. He packs heat, too, but his gun got lost in his fur folds. :/

Watch that you cross all your t's and dot all your i's, or he's a gonna comma getchu!

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Huge shout out to Lynne Truss of "Eats, Shoots & Leaves - The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation!" fame. xoxo

 

 

Elephant Shoes!

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

 

 

I like you an ocelot!
:)

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

 

 

Smoked fish.

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

 

 

Cheeeeek-munk!

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

 

 

F-owl

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

 

Baby Ariel and Flounder

 Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 11 X 14"

This Little Mermaid tribute 'bonus' artwork is a commission piece I managed to get done this past week as well. THIS is more of the stuff I'd be stoked to be uploading and blogging about on a daily & weekly basis, and I'm sure you fans and readers would agree, as that also means that the commission request lines open up again!

Can't wait to see what the rest of 2012 has in store!

xoxo
~LB!

Dailies -- Week 8

Here's the next weekly edition of my daily draw-rings!

Doug

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Jon

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Michel

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Kierra

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Angie

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Gerald

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Wasabi the Lovebird

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

xoxo

~LB!

Valentine's Dailies

Here is another week of dailies, spanning the week leading up to and including Valentine's Day, hence the couple of bios inspired by the special occassion. Enjoy!

 

Constance

Copic markers on Bristol 3.5 X 5.5"

Auren is a supreme being. This cosmic species is most closely likened to the fictional character Leeloo from The Fifth Element, except that these entities are incapable of crying, due to lack of necessity. That, and there are a whole lot more than just one of them!

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Carmen and Miranda

"Happy Birthday, Randa!"

Copic markers and colored pencil on bristol, 3.5 X 5.5" each.

Dalton

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Abbey didn't have a really great childhood. She and her little sister were raised by their mother in a single-parent household. They never seemed to have enough money and year after year the girls would enter another school year in second-hand clothes and recycled binders. No new white sneakers or back-to-school haircuts for them (unless done by their mother). But Abbey loved to draw and design dresses and pretty clothes, not so much as a wishful thing, but because it brought her such happiness when she did, and she was good at it!

Abbey and her sis were always full of laughter, and it wasn't until high school that their appearances really began to play a role in how their classmates treated them. Rail-thin, there's no way Abbey ever dated in high school -- no boy ever gave her a second glance. So Abbey was able to focus on her studies, and her fashion designs...and she eventually graduated with honors. After high school, smart, smart Abbey managed a women's clothing store, then a lingerie boutique, then opened her own boutique featuring her own creations. Less then 10 years after graduating, she's doing very well for herself indeed!

OH! And did I mention she AND her sister are lingerie models as well now?! Yes, these days smart, smart, rail-thin Abbey has no problem finding a date for Valentine's Day, or any day for that matter!

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Hi, my name is Noah. I'm almost 23 months old, I weigh 26 lbs, and stand 2'10" tall. I have brown hair and dark brown eyes. I enjoy running, climbing, and cars. My favorite foods are 'green' and juiceboxes. My short-term goals are potty training; my long-term goals include full sentances, permanent teeth, and voice acting. Seeking same.

If interested in a Valentine's date, please text my mom.

Copic markers and colored pencils on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

 Richard

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

xoxo

~LB!

Another Week of Dailies!

Just as the title suggests, here is the next batch of character designs. I've omitted a few bios this time around, though. I definitely have ideas of who these folks are, but I A) partly want to fine-tune their bios before posting publicly, and B) kinda want to purposely withhold their short stories! You all know it's my plan to publish and release these as a compliation series, so, you know, this is just me being evil...or business-savvy...whatever you want to call it, be my guest! ;)

This is Valerie, a 17 year old self-proclaimed 'Queen of the Fun Bun'! Her hipster glasses are fake, but you can bet that everything else about this fab gal is the real deal. She's heartful, soulful, honest, intelligent, and wise beyond her years. She can sing, she can dance, play guitar, play your heart, and play along. The only thing she can't do is play dead. She's about to graduate high school and she's already been offered full scholarship to 4 different schools. She'd make an excellent dorm roomie...if she decided to keep her feet planted in traditional education. Instead, she's going to take a year or two off to travel.

The world is her fun bun!

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5

9 out of 10 'Brian's I know resemble this guy.

This is former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulrooney, pictured back in his University days. Seriously, google image that.

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Carl

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Cassandra

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

So, I struck up conversation with this guy the other day. He was very quiet and soft-spoken, he came off as a little bit meek, and he had a very petite, albeit lean, frame. At first I thought he was just shy or socially awkward, that I couldn't hear him well enough. Then I realized he had a very thick accent. Turns out he's a many-times-over gold- and silver-medal winning Olympic athlete from Romania, named Roman, who'll be in Calgary for the next 3 months training at the world-famous Canada Olympic Park.

Awww...And I thought he was just some tiny nerd. Who knew!?!

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Carol

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Cliff

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

That's another week and another wrap! Thanks for following along, and as always, "Like" my fanpage for access to the daily uploads: www.facebook.com/ArtofLaurieB

xoxo

~LB!

1 Month Down, 11 More To Go!

Here we are into February already! I'm so happy with where these dailies have headed! I am having a lot of fun with these! Some days I feel that writing the bios is the hardest part, but I just take some time to reflect on it before uploading to my facebook page (www.facebook.com/ArtofLaurieB), and I always manage to work them out! Sometimes I look back on them -- sometimes immediately -- and I think "How did I come up with that?!" All I can say is I get lost in trance while I'm drawing, and I let the sketches speak for themselves.

Here is the past week's worth!

Ever meet someone and they look EXACTLY like their name, and EXACTLY the way you'd expect them to look?!...

Yah. This is Edwin. Edwin O'Phiester. AKA Ed O'Phiester Island, as he has aptly been nick-named since elementary school. He's cool with it, though! In fact, he thinks it's pretty clever, and he's proud of it. He's 'solid' like that.

Second of all, he's a personal trainer and his career path led him to become a stunt man and, eventually, a body double for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The irony is palpable.

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

This is Rita. She's a soap opera star whose on-screen character is going through a sordid and tumultuous divorce. Off-screen, she has 4 step-children who hate her guts, and whose real husband just gave her the long overdue gift of divorce papers. All Rita cares about is how serendipitous this all is, and if it will finally help her deliver a performance worthy of a Daytime Emmy.

The answer is 'no'. She's a horrible human being, and an even worse actress.

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

This young man is Jason. He's a big ol' bear at 6'3", 235 lbs, but a teddybear at that. Jason is kind and funny, intelligent, and surprisingly philosophical. Surprising because he came from a terribly abusive home. He got mixed up in drugs for a while, just to help himself cope through the worst times, and this sweet young man spent more than his fair share of time in jail cells and emergency shelters.

I wish I could say that he's living clean and sober now, is getting professional help, has found a stable home and a purpose in life -- as I have no doubt he's capable of all these things and more -- but the truth is I have no idea where Jason is these days. He just fell off the radar...in true Jason style.
He knows he's loved, though. Despite all hardships, misfortunes, and just plain old shit-ends of the stick, he knows his worth and that he is cherished in this world. He's gifted like that! ♥ Besides, who couldn't love a teddybear?! xoxo

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

This is Shirley, but everyone calls her Squirrelly because, c'mon...let's face it.

Copic markers and colored pencil on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

This spry guy is Kevin! His personality is totally animated, so it makes sense that he's a professional animator (3D), and a really good one at that! He can do it all, from broad action to tear-jerking subtlety. Not only is Kevin a skilled 3D artist, he's an incredibly talented 2D artist as well. His only downfall is that he downplays his abilites -- not *toooo* much, but *juuust enough* -- and it has caused him to miss opportunity after opportunity for real success: raises, promotions, travel, title roles, credit, recognition, personal satisfaction, a sense of real accomplishment, peace. Etc.

The good news is that soon...really soon...like, in a couple of days from RIGHT NOW, my friend Kevin is going to have a breakthrough. And it is going to be a game-changer. ;) His career, his personal life, his mental health...his whole entire perspective will never be the same!

And he deserves it! He will have earned it! And he will finally *finally* KNOW it!

Yup! In a few days from NOW, the flood gates will open...and there'll be no stopping him!

"Congrats, my friend! ALWAYS remember this feeling!" ♥

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

This is Cynthia, lead singer of "Original Cyn".

I really wish she wasn't a walking stereotype, but *yawn* she is. She knew about all the cool things before you did, but now she hates them because they're popular. Anxt, daily drug use, political dissatisfaction with countries she's never even fucking been to. All of her 'songs' are hate-filled screaming rants, she uses loud, graffic language in public places like she's the first person in history bold enough to do it, and she's always on hand at public protests, especially ones to "legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes". "Think about it, 'Cyn'. Your mere presence is only hurting the cause."

...One more thing to get mad about. As she storms off to 'expose' me in her next 'song'...

Yah, no, don't look too deep into Cynthia to find the good in her. Sometimes yes you CAN judge a book by its cover.

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

This is an old picture of Annabelle, taken in the '40's post-WWII. Annabelle was a dancer before being conscripted into the war as a post-op nurse. She was with many a soldier the moment they crossed over. In fact, many of them requested "Nurse Anna" come to their bedside when they felt their time was near. With her loving smile and graceful demeanor, she was exquisitely gifted at putting them at ease and helping them find peace before they passed on, and many if not all of them, with dying breath, called her their angel.

Annabelle herself passed away today at the age of 92. And you had best believe that every single one of those soldiers were there on the other side, waiting to share a dance with her.

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Some people have been asking if these are true stories or made up, based on real people or not. The truth is, it's both. At least it can be both. The idea is that I don't censor myself. I usually get a feel for each one as I'm drawing them...something about a nose- or eye-shape or expression or hairstyle that triggers something I already know or imagine about someone I already know, and I just let it roll!

Soon I'll be trying my hand at caricaturing in public, at comic-cons and art markets, to see how good I actually am at capturing someone's essence...when they came first, not the drawing! Should be interesting! (Maybe I'll be posting some of those by next week!...)

Before I part for today, I just wanted to note how this February, of a leap year, I'll be making FIVE (5!) weekly posts because there will be 5 Wednesdays this month! That so rarely happens! And I'm excited for the extra 366th drawing that means I'll be doing this year!

xoxo
~LB!