Scratch Board

This past weekend at Balticon I attended a class/panel on scratchboard. The Artist Guest of Honor, Ruth Sanderson http://www.ruthsanderson.com/ showed us how she does scratchboard. It was amazing work and she of course got many hooked on trying it ourselves. This is my test piece as started in her class using a photo reference she provided. I am not 100% thrilled with it but it was fun and I want to try more. "Scratchboard Lizard", 5 x 7. Picture 24.

No Spectrum For Me

Awhile back I mentioned that I had sent 2 of my pictures to be considered for inclusion in the next Spectrum Art book. Well a few weeks ago they announced those who's work would be in the next issue, my name was not among them. Not a surprise at all, I knew it was a long shot but still disappointing. Having my work in such a publication would be validation of my abilities and would make me feel less like I was second rate. I will say after paying $20 per picture just to have them considered for Spectrum, it would have been nice if they could have at least sent me an email saying my work was NOT chosen! :(

Woman WIP

I started this based on a photo with interesting lighting. It turned out that the lighting was a bit TO interesting and I could not get her right breast to look right...so, I had to improvise/experiment. The design on her breast, side, pubic area and upper arm is all metallic gold. I had considered doing it with gold leaf but that is such a pain in the butt and as this may never be finished/up for sale, I decided to just do it with gold Acrylic (and it looks amazing in person). I may or may not add a background/finish this. Any comments/critique is welcome. "Golden Girl"WIP (Bad title), 9 x 12, Acrylic, white PrismaColor pencil, Micron pen on grey tones paper.
  

Balticon Aftermath

Well, I only sold 5 pictures but overall I did not do bad money wise. Not rich but well worth doing. Next year Balticon will be in a new hotel in the Inner Harbor and George R.R. Martin will be the guest of honor so it should be huge! It will be a pain to set up and all new area for my Artists Alley, but I will get as many tables for artists as I can!

These are the originals that sold, so if you wanted any of these you are out of luck. Prints are still available of them of course. Steampunk Automaton Clock, Saint Wolf, Bat Light, Arashi no kodomo (Storm Child) and The King Fisher's Wife.

Last Picture Before Balticon 49

I was not sure I would finish this in time and I hope that the pictures I have of it are good enough (it is cloudy and grey out and I can not get good outdoor lighting photos of this. And I won't have a chance to get better ones if it sells at Balticon this weekend.) So anyway, I had a lovely oval frame, wanted to do something Steampunk for it and this is what I came up with. I had considered putting a couple of people in the foreground but after many attempts, it was clear I was not going to be happy with that. So I suddenly thought of doing a Unicorn, something I had not painted or drawn in many years. So here is "The Dragon and the Unicorn", 17 1/2 x 13 1/2 oval, Acrylic, watercolor colored pencil and ProWhite on Canson board. Original and prints for sale. Picture 23.

Sketch Book Boy

I may decided to add color to him, but for now this is finished. Just a semi quick drawing in my grey tone sketch book. Inspired by some amazing graphic designed art done mostly in black and white. "Boy with Flowers" (bad name), 9 x 12, Micron pen, white gel pen and a tine bit of Acrylic was on grey tones paper. Original and prints for sale. Picture 22.

Another Conundrum

Well, I started this and like how it is going but like the female that I was not sure of a background on and still have no idea how to finish, this one has no direction. I have no clue what to do with the rest of this...bugger! Not that I don't have a lot of art I should be doing, or even more ideas that want out, but I really dislike having pictures done to this point and then just stalling on me! "Warrior WIP", 13 x 16, Acrylic on Canson board.

 

Over the Rainbow

I have a commission for 13 pictures, all like this except one witch will have all of them in one large window. The Blue Rose window I did back in 2012 was the first of the set, this Rainbow Rose window is the second. 8 1/2 x 9 1/2 Acrylic and Prisma Color on black board. Picture 21.

Blue Cupid Finished

I decided to add darker shadows and butterflies and now I think it is finished. I go back and forth on if I like the face or not, in the end I think I am happy with this. "Blue Cupid", 11 x 14 octagonal, Acrylic, watercolor colored pencil, Micron pen and ProWhite on Canson board. Original and prints for sale. Picture 20.

Blue Cupid WIP 2

This may be finished but I feel like it needs something else or more work someplace. Any thoughts? Ideas? Comments?

Newer Picture, Maybe Blue Cupid

I started this last night and hope to have it done by sometime tomorrow. Right now the working title is Blue Cupid. The flowers sketched in on the side may or may not be in the finished picture, I am not sure yet. Roughly 11 x 14.

New Picture WIP 3

Well, I think she is 99% done but I still have NO idea what to do for background! So she may remain unfinished for a while.