Illustration Friday Submission for September 23 - "Nest"

Illustration Friday topic "Orange" - September 9th 2016

Illustration Friday September 4th - Topic: OLD

Illustration Friday - Hearts - August 14

Illustration Friday - August 7th - Pointy

Purple Pointy Pete - the Porcupine

Illustration Friday - Octopus

This is my very 1st submission for Illustration Friday.  It's for Friday, October 10th topic "Octopus".  Had fun creating this in Adobe Illustrator!!!  Thanks for taking a look at my Octopus creation.

THE NOT-SO-ACCIDENTAL BLOG TOURIST HOP

Welcome to this wandering tour of blogs by artists – writers, musicians, painters, photographers, and more.

I was invited by Bobbie Dacus, a good friend and great artist.

Please make your acquaintance with Bobbie at her blog:
http://artsyteapot.blogspot.com

Bobbie Dacus is the illustrator of Saving Emma which is the charming historical fictional tale set in Alexandria, VA in the 1700’s. Designing and illustrating fashion comic books for teenage girls was Bobbie's favorite pastime at age 12. Her love of drawing led her to study graphic design at University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi University for Women and she received her BFA at Arizona State University. Bobbie has worked in the field of Visual Merchandising utilizing her creativity in window display and winning numerous awards. She also worked in advertising corporate graphic design, freelance design, medical graphics and art instruction. It was after Bobbie's children, were born that she was drawn to children's book illustration. With bright colors dominating her palette, she creates her illustrations in acrylics, oil pastels, oil alkyds and frequently combines digital painting with traditional.

Now, for my part in the tour …


1. What am I currently working on?
I am currently working on updating my website.  I recently took an online class from Holli Conger on Children's Books Illustration and Social Media. After her class, I took Tara Reed's class on Art Licensing.  Both online courses were awesome, and I highly recommend them.  I am also doing a freelance project, creating objects that will be used in an online game.  I am creating 50 images to be used as "hidden objects".

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Is my work different?  I tend to draw/paint/illustrate from the heart.  I always have enjoyed Mary Englebriet's work, and I think on some level, a lot of the work I do has been influenced by her work. I think developing as an artist is a process, and it takes time to feel at home with your own style.  I believe I am still developing a style, and as I grow in other areas of my life, my style will grow as well.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?
I believe being an artist is a gift from God.  It is something that is living inside of me, and it just wants to come out.  I draw, because it is part of who I am.  I enjoy Children's books and the fun they bring to our lives.  I create my art b/c truthfully, I don't know what else I would do.  I have drawn since 1st grade and was always encouraged in this direction.  I have always enjoyed reading Children's books.  My mom, was a Children's Literature/English major in college.  We had hoped to write/illustrate a book together someday.  She passed away in 1997, so this dream didn't take shape.

4. How does your writing/creating process work?
I don't have a real controlled schedule for my work, but usually I try and find a few hours during he week to sit at my computer, and just draw with my wacom tablet. If I am not feeling creative, I find things to do to stimulate creativity...like look at other artists websites, and go to stores with bright happy colors, or I paint a wall or paint a piece of furniture, etc... If I have a manuscript to illustrate, first I will read the manuscript, and then almost immediately, pictures come into my mind, and I draw them as I see them.  Like I say, being an artist is a gift, and I am thankful that I am an artist.

Now I’m going to pass the Blog Hop Torch to the following artist:  James Hough – who will participate beginning Monday, September 15.

James Hough


James is a designer, artist, and illustrator.  In his spare time he enjoys raising two children with his wife, quilting, and reading fiction with and without pictures.

He grew up in Broken Arrow, OK, where he drew pictures of baseball cards and Sports Illustrated photos.  Before moving to Dallas a few years ago, he and his family lived in Las Vegas, NV, where they took in healthy doses of neon, the Mojave desert, and the spirit of possibility and promise that endures in the American West.

He is the illustrator of The Official Sidekick Handbook (Gibbs Smith:2011), the author and illustrator of Starving Artist: Jim Public Presents, Volume 1 (Jim Public: 2013).  He sometimes exhibits artwork in the back of his pickup truck, and sometimes uses the nickname "Jim Public".

Please visit James's blog:  www.jimpublic.com