Sketch Diary: Buns and butterflies

This is kind of throwback sketch but shhhhhhhh it's been a busy summer. So here's a babe I back in Japan. I was a little obsessed with those head buns thing. I still think they're pretty adorable. I should figure out how to do them since my hair's so long now... and look! Butterflies! Hehe,

with love - M

Sketch Diary: TBT - a throne to rule by

Time for some throwback! October of 2009 and I can't for the life of me remember what I was thinking when I did this drawing. Is she the kind sister aiding her ill brother? Is she like the witch in Snow White, having weakened or killed the king, she happily takes over the kingdom? Anyway, I still enjoy looking at it and wondering about a story.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Contemplative vest kid

Ugh, the anatomy here is all wrong. Didn't much care for this sketch when I made it, I don't feel much differently now. I wanted that kinda scrunched up, hunched over feeling but the head looks oddly place. Ah well, NEXT!

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Assateague ponies

Quicky sketch from my camping trip to Assateague Island. Wild ponies are super cute... but also rats with hooves haha. Ask anyone who's had their campsite raided by ponies.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Patsey

This was an interesting sketch to do. I was watching 12 Years a Slave when I got inspired by Patsey. I honestly don't like how the sketch turned out. I don't feel it captures anything true about her (except that lovely long neck). But it was still a good challenge. I don't usually draw with any particular race/ethnicity in mind. I think it's about time I started paying better attention to all those unique details when I draw. Or not. Who knows.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Colored Carolina Girl

COLOR! Here's your surprise color piece! Mmmm I love Copic markers. The hairpiece was inspired by real hairpieces made by a talented lady in Calabash, NC, that I saw in a little art gallery a few days before I sketched this out. I was trying to go for a watery feeling when I colored this but mainly, I was just playing around. I like how it turned out, for now. I was worried I over did the white paint splatters.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: TBT mer-person concept

Androgynous mer-person! The written note says "no males or females - fins fold up for courting and defense". An old sketch from the year after I graduated college. Not sure what the bun looking things on it's forehead are... maybe hair? I forget.

Sketch Diary: Belt buckle girl

Nothing special here. Just a girl with lots of belt...buckles. I don't know. I just work here.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Carolina girl

Cute, random, story behind this drawing. when I did the initial sketch, I was in North Carolina visiting my family. They were going to church one Sunday while I was there and I decided to tag along for the drive since the church happened to be near a cute town I had visited once before called Southport. So I dropped of the 'rents and headed into town to find the little sitting area by the waterway. I found an open picnic table and sat down to sketch a little in the beauty and peace of the waterside gazebo-type area. My peace and quite did not last long...

First, this group of ladies nearby were talking (loudly so it was hard not to eavesdrop) about how they like being near the beach but can't handle the sand. One would say something about how gross sand is or how it gets everywhere and they others would respond with something like "OMG yes! You're so right!". The kicker was when the one girl proclaims that she needs one of those pools that sits next to the beach, so the sand is right there... but she can be safe in her clean sanctuary. One of the ladies proclaimed her a genius and they sighed in unison, I'm assuming while they imagined how wonderful that would be. I guess there also wouldn't be wind in this pool bubble world. Then the fun began. This big old salty lab comes barrelling up to the table area and proceeds to request pets. Then he climbs onto the table, yeah onto, and lays down so that these ladies can have better access to petting him. Meanwhile they're scrambling to get their purses and such out of the way because this is one salty, salty dog. Also wet, presumably from the water, you know, 50 feet from us. Soon after, a time-worn, gentle soul comes wandering up, apologizing for his dogs ridiculousness. I was just smiling the whole time. The ladies were good humored about it and actually pet the lab as well as his other friend (she remained on the ground). Evidently both dogs were rescues that this man had taken in after putting his daughter through college. That was after he'd been through at least 1 major war. People are fascinating.

Eventually, the ladies left, the salty dogs and gentle soul went about their business, and I was left to draw in peace... for a time. Soon enough, one of the ladies sitting behind me stood up and gasped really loudly and for a moment I was concerned something was wrong. She leans forward to look over my shoulder and apologizes for startling me, but that she was surprised to see that not only was I drawing, but I was drawing something good haha. Her husband agrees in a harumph and chastizes her for surprising me. She suddenly gets worried that I might have drawn a huge line across my page and ruined the "30 hours" I had put into the drawing. I giggled and insisted myself and my drawing were fine and thanked her for the appreciation. She gave me a hearty "Keep up the good work!" and left. Another young girl came over while this all went on and got very wide eyed while peeking over my other shoulder. I asked if she liked it and all I could get out of her was a very excited, rapid nodding of her head.

I finished up in about 45 minutes total and headed back to pick up my parents. It amazes me how many interactions a person can have in such a small amount of time. Reminds me of goings to conventions and wandering the artist alleys. The moral here is to always bother artists. Let them decide if they want to put down their brush and converse further but always express your feelings when you find beauty in something. It always means the world to me and I imagine most other artsy folk feel the same. We love what we do. It's an added bonus that you love it, too.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Arrow fanart

Look! I'm still here! Mostly. Fulltime gig has me beat when I get home but I haven't forgotten my pledge to improve my artsy skills. I've got one nice (colored up) surprise coming up for the Sketch Diary this week but you'll just have to wait!

Ah Arrow. I wish I could keep watching this show. I can't put my finger on it but something about the live action TV show has become tedious, boring. It certainly isn't the man himself (I could just watch him walk around picking daisies all day and I would be entertained). Maybe I'll come back and try to finish it in another month or so.

Anyway, about the sketch - I'm not good at doing manly bits. The arms, the abs, the jaw, the knee caps... it's all a bit overwhelming for me sometimes. But this was quite calming. "Just draw him standing there" I told myself. "But I wanna do something coooooool! Like him crouching, taking that kill shot, his hood caught in the wind, angels flying out his butt!" myself responded. "No, Meredith. Keep it simple. The crazy stuff will come later." "Ok... I love you." "I know."

with love - M