Minotaur Revisited

I've been working on a piece the last few months or so, taking pictures as I went to give a little insight into my process.  The piece is now finished, and I will post the final within the next week.  Until then, enjoy the Instagram play-by-play:

I'm sure you notice some similarities in theme between this and the last piece I did in Albuquerque.  I'm not sure what the minotaur/woman theme is all about quite yet, but it's been popping up frequently in my drawings.

New Mexico

Some of you may already know that the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival was not my only reason for taking a trip to Albuquerque.  I also was offered a printmaking workshop (not to mention Thanksgiving dinner and walls for the booth) by printmaker and good friend Scott Swezy.  (You can view some of his art here.) He has been working with me to teach me the fine art of drypoint.  And now, to the point.  Here is my first ever foray into printmaking:

...and finished!

Preview

Getting down to the wire for the Albuquerque show, but found time to start a new panel while waiting for prints and packaging to arrive.

Christmas Cards!

Designs for my new line of Christmas greeting cards just completed today.  Get your orders in now! :)

Bird Man

I've lately been making a philosophical foray into feminism.  I can't help but think that this piece has something to do with that on some level...

Preview and Gallery Stroll

Tonight is Gallery Stroll!  I was invited to participate in Cat Palmer's show "i have a secret" and will also have a piece at Blonde Grizzly's 3rd Annual Monster Show.  And for kicks, a small Instagram preview of the piece on which I am currently working: 

Ship and Etsy

The latest.  This guy was a bit of learning curve for me.

Also, for those of you who've not heard, my Etsy shop is up and running again.  Check it out here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DesaraeLee

Drawing a Day: Second to Last

Quoth the Raven

As you can see, I took a short break from my drawing a day endeavor, but shall shortly resume.  As you wait (with baited breath, I'm sure) for me to continue, please enjoy this panel I just completed today.  I, of course, am not the first to attempt a mechanical raven and I am indebted to a couple artists for planting the idea in my head.

Drawing a Day: Days # 9&10

Drawing a Day: Day #8

Kraken...

Drawing a Day: Day #7

Drawing a Day: Day #6...kindof

Trading with Bedouins...

Drawing a Day: Day #5

On holiday in the Americas...

Drawing a Day: Day #4

Inspecting the troops.

Drawing a Day: Day #3

The gentlemen and ladies of the Royal Wiltshire Nude Bicycling Club

Drawing a Day: Day #2

Not entirely finished, but you get the idea:

Drawing a Day: Day #1

For the next two weeks, I will complete one business card-sized drawing daily. This is to prepare for the small art book I will be creating entitled something along the lines of "The Curious Adventures of Madame Trout."  (This title is a work in progress.  Feel free to make suggestions.)  For accountability and motivational purposes, I will post a photograph of each drawing on my blog daily.

Day #1:

Price has yet to be determined, but feel free to order your copy of the book in advance to help me determine demand.  Or just shout encouragement.  I'll need it. :)

Octopus

Glasgow

Something I worked on while overseas...

A Tantalizing Preview

Working on a new project involving much more watercolor than I've tried hitherto.  Again heavily engaged in the pure creative process, I've become somewhat obsessed with this drawing, thinking about it when I can't be near it, unable to sleep from dwelling on it.  I miss it when I'm away from home.  I imagine this is something akin to what a mother feels like when she first experiences her newborn child?  Amazement that I made this and where on earth did it come from?

Recuperation and Some News

I hope you'll forgive a rather large interval since my last post.  After an event like the Arts Fest, I find myself in need of a few weeks of creative recuperation.  In the interim, I have managed to eke out a piece or two, among them the following entitled "Three Sisters":

Also, I have been accepted into the Rio Grande Arts Festival and will be traveling to Albuquerque in November to attend. :)

Flamingo and Arts Fest

A small sample of what will be available this weekend in my booth at the Utah Arts Festival.  Come enjoy one of Salt Lake's biggest festivals!

The Birds and The Bees

Latest and Largest

This is the first 12x12" piece I've done with 005 Microns (that's .2mm line width).  I've done larger pieces, but always with larger pens.  This will be the beginning of a long love affair...

Bunny Chase

Serenading the Buffalo

Possibly inspired by my younger sister, this piece is perhaps one of the most personally meaningful in recent weeks.

Latest and Possibly Greatest

As promised, the culmination of all my talents and efforts... :) "Jesus Healing the One-Armed Wampa," on display this Friday at Blonde Grizzly in their Star Wars-themed show for Gallery Stroll.  Also this weekend, my newest pieces will be on display at Kayo Gallery.

Teddy Bear's Picnic and Boston

Two of my newer pieces, the first hatched from a conversation with a good friend, the second completed with another dear friend in mind.

Sidenote: While in the shower (the harbinger of good ideas) yesterday, I was blindsided by maybe the best idea I've ever had.  In response to Caleb's invitation to participate in Blonde Grizzly's Star Wars-themed show, I have embarked upon a piece entitled "Jesus Healing the One-Armed Wampa."  Yes, it is going to be as amazing as it sounds.  Come out to Gallery Stroll next week to witness its debut.

Danielle

This image is based off of a photo of one of my friends.  No, she does not wander around wearing ball gowns and Native American headdresses.  Sometimes when you're in the groove, things just come out that way.

First Foray Into Color

I've long felt the desire to experiment with color and washes in my illustrations but was too timid to actually give it a whirl.  After a long discussion with Nate Ronniger, one of my artistic mentors, I finally got up the courage to give it a go.  It's certainly a rather shy addition, but I'm overall pleased with the results and plan to continue experimenting in this direction:

Freud Would Enjoy

An image almost entirely composed of elements taken from my subconscious.

Greyhound

More Kraken and an Ostrich Farm

Here are two more of the latest.  Apparently the kraken is an ongoing theme, like Picasso's minotaur only slightly less overt.  Point of interest: while typing this entry I killed a fruit fly with my bare hands.  Don't let that distract you from the ostriches.

"Air"

This was meant to be one of three painfully obvious references to our failed stewardship of our planet.  So far there's just the one, but I'm hoping for cornfields and endless cattle pens in the "Land" installment.

Freak Show

I'd been wanting to do a piece involving the facade of a good old-fashioned freak-show for quite awhile, and finally got around to it this past week.  I've started pieces like this a few times, but never really got the feel I was going for.  I finally came across a couple of vintage photos that helped me work out the composition.  Here is the result.

Kraken

This is the first piece in awhile to which I've felt a major attachment.  I'm not sure if it's the look on the sailor's face or the fact that he's completely uncaring about the ship being attacked behind him.  Most likely it's the suspenders.

Latest?

Cats and Festivals

One of my recent pieces: Cat Lady.  Also, recently received word that I have been accepted into the Utah Arts Festival June 21st-24th.  Mark it on your calendar!

Jazz Bears

Latest piece, made for Gallery Stroll this Friday.  Blonde Grizzly hosts a show every year that is Utah Jazz-themed.  They asked me to participate this year but since I'm not really one for sports, particularly basketball, this is what came out.  Jazz Bears.  Ha!