Saturday, March 23, 2013

Blog Facelift & An Extra-Special Process Post

(Or, "Hey! The blog is blue! What the-- !")

Yep. The blog is blue! Like my mom plopping a bowl on my head when I was 7 and taking the scissors to my locks, my sweet little blog was in desperate need of a new style (though hopefully more appealing than my childhood bowl-cut: true story! My sister and I refer to this period as the "Dutch-Boy Haircut Phase" and shudder.)

I hope you like the new look! My new header is one of my most recent and well-received illustrations, and the buttons and sidebar have followed suit in a cool, gauzy palette. And I've even added in an Instagram button! Are you as addicted as me?

And in honour of the new look,
we're sporting a special process post! 
Recently, I've moved more away from concept art, and into the realm of fashion illustration. It's already familiar territory, but now I am focusing my efforts on a very feminine, delicate style, with washes of watercolour and ink, and thought-provoking imagery. And of course pretty clothes.

In this process post, I will share shots of my work in progress of another of my most recent illustrations, "The Birds". This piece was created on 22x30" Arches 300lb Hotpress Watercolour paper, using graphite, watercolour, and india ink. And would you like to see it in full colour? Scroll on!




Finished!
This was truly a labor of love for me. I love the images that grow on you and excite you as you're working on them. Even if you're bone-tired, you're still ready to put the hours in to see it develop. (And birds are sweet things to draw.)

And if you'd like to see the digitally-coloured version,

I hope you liked seeing some of my process, and I am planning to update the blog much more now! 
Thank you so much for reading, and Happy Spring!
Today my boyfriend and and I finally got to relax, go to an amazing bakery for lunch, and then take a long, leisurely walk through some really adorable parts of Atlanta. And my sweet Southern Gentleman held my hand the whole way :) We saw giant koi fish, pond turtles, and lots of furry buddies. Who needs a zoo?!

Did you do anything fun this weekend? Any Spring plans?

18 comments:

  1. Wow! I just went to purchase this print and see you're in Atlanta! Hello from a fellow Atlanta dweller, lol. :)

    I hopped over from the Etsy Blog Team and am so excited to have this beautiful piece on my wall. So glad I found you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey girl! You are the sweetest, thank you so much! Hey-o from the ATL! Great city to be in :) I just ate at the Highland Bakery for the first time today, and it blew my mind!

      I'm so glad you found me too! And I'm glad I found you! Just followed you on Instagram and FB ;)

      Again, thank you so much :) I will be packing up your print and shipping it out to you on Monday!

      Delete
    2. Oh, I haven't been to the Highland Bakery yet, lol. I grew up in the suburbs my entire life, but it is only in the last few years that I have been discovering the inner amazing-ness of Atlanta.

      Oh, and my print arrived yesterday. It looks fabulous!! I already ordered 2 more from your shop. One is for me and compliments this one so nicely, and the other is the skull treasure hunt, and I think my husband is going to totally freak. We are very into surreal artwork, and he loves when I find pieces with skulls, lol. On anyone else it would be cliche, but it suits him. I can't wait to frame them all and hang them! :)

      Delete
  2. Love the header... what I thought when I opened your blog... then I saw the rest of your work. Talent!!!


    Stopping by from Blogging Buddies

    <><
    http://christiecottage.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. The update looks awesome! And I love that piece! It looks amazing finished but I loved watching your progress on Instagram. I'm pretty addicted to it too...

    My sister and I were both subjected to the bowl cut phase too...not our happiest school photos....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Chelsea! I'm glad you liked the process shots. And I know... my friends constantly tease me for my addiction to instagram hahah.

      Nooooo! No bowl cut! I'm sorry you had to go through it too :(

      Delete
  4. Your new work is amazing. "The Birds" seems to have a nice, almost weightless flow and sense of movement that I really admire. :) I'm eager to see more stuff from you in the future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, lady! I really appreciate the feedback :) I'm definitely planning to post more on the blog.

      Delete
  5. first - i really like the new colors of blog, even though they're more of wintery blues than happy greens of a spring. but hey, still great!
    second - 'the birds' looks amazing! mixture of pencils and watercolour washes ook so nice and match the mood of a painting (drawing perhaps?). would love to see more from this series/technique.
    take care lovely!
    Betty
    betty-art.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks girl! I am glad they still read well. It might be a move away from Spring, but I really wanted to highlight my latest work. And I'm just partial to the bright red/ice blue and mint theme.

      And thank you for the compliments on The Birds. I will definitely be pursuing more of this technique - my professors have really been encouraging it.

      Take care as well!

      Delete
  6. WOW, Erin. Your header is AMAZING! You are really incredibly talented :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Irene! :) I really appreciate that!

      Delete
  7. The new look is beautiful! I follow you on Instagram, so I've been seeing your work evolve. This goes with it perfectly. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Paige! I've been following you too ;) How's school going?

      Delete
  8. Your art is simply amazing! And love, love the final fully-colored version, absolutely beautiful!

    Stopping by from Blogging Buddies and a new follower of yours!

    xo,
    Jessica
    http://thedoilyduck.blogspot.com ... Come stop by sometime :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey! Thank you so much, Jessica :) I really appreciate it!

      Delete
  9. Very beautiful! I love the detail especially in the birds feathers and also the touches of red in the picture.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...