Daily Progress

Here's another super condensed recap of the past week's worth of dailies! ENJOY!

This is "Ken".

Ken is a really, really good man. Loyal, generous, the most honest guy you'll ever meet. Wouldn't say shit if he had a mouthful!

If he had one vice, it would be that he works too damn hard. No other addiction gets as many mixed reviews as 'workaholism' which makes it hard for those who love him to attempt an intervention. Generous as he is, it's clear that his friends would love nothing more than for him to come out and play a little more often.

He is also a ninja.

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

"Happy Birthday, Kandrix!" ~ ♥

This is Jacques. He's a real man's man. He's a natural mechanic, a skilled hunter, a gifted carpenter, and can somehow manage to 'make better' things that didn't even need fixing in the first place! He's always happy to help --Service with a Smile -- he's even great with kids. If it weren't for the fact that his favorite food is "sammiches", as he calls them, that he refers to himself in the third person, and that he ends every other sentance with the words "right 'dere", he'd easily be married by now.

"Jacques could really go for a sammich, right 'dere."

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

This is Becca. She has 5 siblings -- all brothers. She doesn't know it yet, but when she grows up she's going to be a defence attorney.

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

This is Susan. She's super sweet and a real cutie-pie. But, like many women who seem perfectly healthy and beautiful on the outside, Susan struggles with body image issues. She's saving up for braces...and otoplasty...Botox...and maybe a chin implant. Laser hair removal would be nice... OH! And a tummy tuck!...once she's done having kids, of course! (although she's yet to be pregnant) ;P ...in which case a breast lift might be in order then... Hmmm...Lipo...fillers...brow lift...

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

This is Candace. She's a Vegas showgirl, and although she doesn't look it, she's 46 years old and just became a grandmother for the second time. She's raising both of her grandchildren because their mother is too into partying right now. Those babies are the light of Candace's life and she just wishes she could retire already, A) so she can spend every single moment with them, and B) she's getting pretty tired of this 'showgirl' act. People think her life is so glamorous, but if they only knew...!

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

"Rock-A-Billy & Rock-A-Betty"

They are in love :) ...with themselves! :(

Copic markers on Bristol, 3.5 X 5.5" each

This is Trent. He was a total bookworm in high school -- still is! He was bullied almost daily by boys and girls alike -- verbally, and sometimes physically, like having books thrown at him -- but he never said a word.

I'm happy to report that Trent eventually found his voice. Soon after high school, he began recording audio books. And following that, he helped develop the software behind Amazon's Kindle. He was a multi-millionaire by age 27. "Take THAT, 10 year high school reunion!"

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

xoxo

~LB!

2012...A "Daily" Evolution!

It's hard to believe I only just began using Copic markers 5 or so months ago! Feels like it's been YEARS! As an artist, I have been so liberated by this medium! And as said artist, I feel 100% liberated as a person as well! I owe this, too, to open-mindedness, as I recently shifted in artistic style and objective, and it has opened the creative flood-gates! This new exploration is so freeing!

"Vivienne"
Copic markers on bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

"Peter"
Copic markers on bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

"Kim"
Copic markers on bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

I have easily kept up with my commitment of doing these 'dailies' -- it is sooo much fun! -- and over the past week that has evolved into something even more!...

I have been giving these characters names since the get-go last month (these all began in Dec 2011). It's a sort of game I used to play with my older brother when we were growing up. He'd draw a face and ask me, "Who does this look like? Who is this person?" and I'd promptly give each one a name! Or he would ask me to give him a name to start, and he'd draw what he thought that person would look like. We'd be entertained for hours, which was a challenge growing up in the middle of no where! ;) Anyhow, I've now evolved these characters into having personalities and back stories! Here are the handful from this week -- the lucky few who got a 'sketchy' past *wink* attached to them!

This one looks like my dad, therefore I named him "Paul"!

This guy is kinda one part Bobby De Niro (minus the cool), one part Carl Fredricksen, one part Ebenezer Scrooge. That's a chequebook in his chest pocket -- the nearest and dearest thing to his heart -- and he thinks people only ever want him for his money! Can't say he'd be wrong about that...it's not exactly like he's sought after for his winning personality! ;)

Copic markers on bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

"Kendra"
 Copic markers on bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

Kendra's a real hard-ass. She came from money. Her daddy was something of an authority and it paved her way a lot in life. Her family is always about appearances -- a picture of perfection at all times. But she's had her hardships, too, although she doesn't open up about them. Too bad. Maybe if she did, people wouldn't think she was such a cold, callous bitch.

This is "Sergei".

He is a veteran member of the Imperial Russian Ballet Company. He encountered major delays during his commute to rehearsal due to a sudden torrential down pour. He arrived late to the theatre, only to see the Director looking on with great approval at the replacement who is standing in for him as lead dancer...much to Sergei's shock and disapproval, of course!...

 Copic markers on bristol, 3.5 X 5.5"

This is "Vicki".

She's made some mistakes in life, like running away from home as a teen, keeping over $300 cash from a wallet she found, and lying to the police about a then-boyfriend's whereabouts. She even slept with a married man once. BUT, she turned her life around, made ammends, and is now living an honest and authentic life following her passion for interior design!

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

I'm a little OCD in ways (Not really. But I am particular, and a perfectionist.) so I may have to go back over all the previous characters and give each one a sordid little history!

..."SKETCHY PAST"...That'll be the title of the 366 pg book I publish at this time next year! Mark my words! ;)

xoxo

Laurie B!

New Dailies!

Here's my down and dirty blog posting for this week...an update of my daily color sketches! I am creating these sketch cards, one per day, as a way to shake me out of my comfort zone and change my approach to designing characters! I'm having A LOT of fun with these and I hope you are enjoying them, too!

"Hope"

Copic markers on bristol

3.5 X 5.5"

"Daniel"

~Inspired by Dan Levy, son of Eugene

Copic markers on bristol

3.5 X 5.5"

"Kelly"

Copic markers on bristol

3.5 X 5.5"

 "Max"

Copic markers on bristol

3.5 X 5.5"

"Sam"

Copic markers on bristol

3.5 X 5.5"

"Wesley"

Copic markers on bristol

3.5 X 5.5"

"January"

Copic markers and colored pencil on bristol

3.5 X 5.5"

"Grace"

Copic markers and colored pencil on bristol

3.5 X 5.5"

I have other topics of discussion that I will save for another time...when I have more time! ;)

xoxo

~LB!

New Inspirations

Happy New Year! 2012 is going to be a BIG year for me, and I hope it will be for many of you, too!

I have committed to blogging every Wednesday. I have also created a facebook fanpage which I upload a new sketch to every single day! www.facebook.com/ArtofLaurieB "LIKE" it to be privy to these daily uploads AND MORE...if nothing else than just to brighten your day! I will eventually start selling these 'dailies' online as some people have already been asking how they can go about owning them. That will be sorted out in the coming weeks and I'll announce that here, there, and everywhere once I figure out a system for doing that, too!

Here are a few of these recent dailies!

"Dawn"

Copic markers and colored pencil on bristol

3.5 X 5.5"

"Faith"

Copic markers on bristol

3.5 X 5.5"

"Joy"

Copic markers and colored pencil on bristol

3.5 X 5.5"

This style is a break from my usual routine, and the reason is simple. I constantly seek to evolve and improve as an artist. I feel that the more versatile I am, the more 'employable' I am as well. Ironically I've not yet worked in the mainstream industry, but I will be sending out my portfolio this month!

Today I want to bring attention to the someone whose art has inspired my recent change/exploration in style. I stumbled upon her at the CTN Animation Expo this past November. Her name is Zaruhi Galstian. I was instantly attracted to her style and when I struck up conversation with her she told me she had just newly been hired at PIXAR! (Is there any wonder why I fell in love with her art from across the room!?! Haha!) "Congrats, Zar! I hope we cross paths again...very soon! xoxo"

Here is a link to her interview with "Character Design Blogspot" which showcases a lot of her work once you scroll down to the bottom: http://zaruhi-galstian-interview.blogspot.com/

I bought her sketchbook and immediately began "reading" it back in my hotel room at night. Her style has had an instant impression on my work as of late and I can't say how exhilarating it has been to break loose of old drawing habits!

And here are the first handful of sketches I did as I was learning, unlearning, and interpreting her style.

Coloring aside (which is all done with Copic markers, btw), I see that I've had to 'stand back' a lot more from my usual approach, to be looser and more vague by just playing with basic shapes. Sometimes scribbles. Anatomy be damned!! This is also what makes a great caricature artist, and in turn, a great character designer, which I hope to be...WORKING IN FEATURE ANIMATION sometime in 2012!

Again, my sincerest wishes for a ridiculously amazing new year to all!

xoxo
~LB!