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lamp lights

lamps

I created the top illustration 4 years ago. The bottom one I created last week. Why did I redraw this illustration? I don’t love or hate it, but I knew (or I hoped) I could re-approach it and do better. I remember creating that illustration years ago and even now I don’t see much WRONG with it. It contains all the elements I focus on today: character, storytelling, composition, mood and lighting.
The differences between the two are fairly clear. I understand the clothed figure better: arms and necks can be skinny if that’s your artistic style but not so tiny that it wouldn’t be able to hold up that large head. I know that it’s quite rare to see a table directly without any perspective. I am no longer sloppy with my lines and shapes, a trash can has a bottom, top and sides, and the legs of a table and chair have to feel solid and secure. I utilize reference to draw a lamp so it isn’t simply my mental idea of a lamp. My understanding of color has also improved. I know when to make a light warm or cool, I understand better how strong and mild highlights and shadows are depending on the light source.  I add texture for an organic feel, which I have come to love and appreciate in any digital work.

How did I learn all of these things? I read articles, talk to artists but the way I’ve seen the most direct improvement is by drawing. Sketching from life, with different materials, creating and sharing complete illustrations, comics, and painting. Each time I try something new I am not just nervous – I am TERRIFIED!

Draw a shark – Um, what does a shark look like? Like JAWS?
Draw a crowd of people – No, why!? Whyyyyyy! Can we just change the scene?
Draw a bird’s eye view perspective – Okay, that’s it. I give up. I’m going to pursue a career in kitty cuddling!

Even the idea of a throwback illustration made me nervous: what if my new version looks the same? I was very worried the early version was better. There’s a spontaneity and love that comes with original work – revisiting or copying doesn’t hold the same passion. Ultimately, I am happy with both. That’s not typically how I feel about my work. Those changes are the result of 4 years,1,040 weekdays, and probably 4,000 hours of drawing.

Creating regularly, sharing regularly has taught me that it doesn’t matter if I love it. As the creator I will always wish I could change. I have to get out of my own way. I must focus and produce, even if it means sharing work that I am not pleased with. I used to think that if I didn’t love it, as long as someone ELSE did that was okay. But it’s not about me, you or anyone else loving the work.

It is quite simply about making art.

Making art is joyful and painful. It is an awful feeling when you sit in front of a blank canvas and struggle with your limitations. And when people walk past your art without noticing, or worse yet when they comment negatively. It is the greatest feeling when a stranger can connect with a piece of art you’ve created. It will always make you happy when someone says they have your art proudly displayed in their home. I have been lucky enough to experience all of these things – even the negative experiences help me grow, thicken my skin and push me forward. But I wouldn’t be able to experience any of it if I didn’t keep making art. I didn’t wake up good at art. If I didn’t try and fail again and again and AGAIN, I wouldn’t be able to share either of these.

Keep drawing. Keep making art.

we’re off!

weareoff

we’re off to san diego comicon today! we will be in small press, table o-13 with tons of large and small prints as well as greeting cards, magnets and of course the panda love tee! if you’d like to keep up with team everyday love you can follow my instagram account. comicon runs through this sunday so i’ll be back next week with an update, until then have a lovely week ^_^

lion’s gate & more

lionsgate

we took a quick trip to vancouver a few weeks back and fell in love with that city! we took a lovely bike ride through stanley park and saw the canadian version of the golden gate ^_^

meanwhile, back in the studio, i can’t believe we’re only a few weeks away from san diego comicon! we will be in small press again this year ^_^ i’ve been spending my evenings burning mini wood burnings in preparation. we will also have an exciting new product TBA, too!

meanwhile, if you’re attending and have any specific prints you’d like please let me know (we can hold them at the table under your name) – hope to see you there! ^_^

happy 4th!

july4th

i created this illustration for a commission, but i thought it was perfect to share today. happy 4th!

pride

pride

happy pride weekend everyone! ^_^

sailor moon dream

sailor

I watched hours and hours of Sailor Moon growing up. This is my take on my childhood dream of being a long-haired super powered character with a talking cat. ^_^

lotta love

lottalove

Reading about the repeated violence makes it harder to see beauty through the horrible headlines. We must stop hurting the planet, the animals and each other. I have hope that we can arrive at a place where we see our time here as precious and treat the world and those around us with respect. I believe we can change. Because I believe we have a lot of love. If we can free ourselves to share that love – to release it into the world without reservation – perhaps we can arrive there soon.

a grand adventure

grandadventure

one of my favorite older illustrations – life is an adventure and i’m so happy to be on this journey with my hubbahubba ^_^

night walk

nightwalk

spring forward

springforward