actual art

I have a new goal, and that is to do a head painting a day. Just a sketch because I'll stress myself out if its a full rendered out painting.

Also because I feel like a super lazy artist lately. Half because I'm between commisions. I need to finish a mailer or something.

Because I felt like I was spamming my own blog

I have moved my TINACS to a different location. There were just so many of them and it made my blog look all confused to be a tutorial blog and a finished art work blog for my illustrations. So from here on out I'll post the finished product, but the tutorials will be on my blog thisisnotacraft.blogspot.com drop by and see the one post so far of my TINAC list, my wire medallions.

Sidetrack Saturday!

(London Jewellry School)
My internet was out for a real long time today, which was a downer, but at the same time kinda good for me, because if I get hooked to posting, then I become one of those Blogger Boobs with constant 8 posts a day and I don't want to be that person.

But I do want to post something for Sidetrack Saturday, and my TINAC this week is a little something unexpected, it's called Wire Wrapping a Stone :


no, I didn't make this, or take this picture, and I forget exactly who was the dude that did.

I feel like posting other people's stuff, because what I made is kinda so-so, see:

this is what I put together. Took forever, my thumbs hurt. I had a lot of problems because A.) I didn't set it up right and B.) I didn't use enough wires to make an edge and C.) I didn't straighten my wire and it shows. I have to post what other people made to make up for my semi-disaster, so on with other people's mesmerizing creations before I tell you how to do it.

talitha gems

Care More

DawnEllenDesigns

Care More

talithagems


So OK, the cooler part of this is that it doesn't take a lot of material to do. It only takes some of your round-nose pliers (and whatever random sized pliers you happen to have around) and about 20-40 inches of wire. A Rock is also necessary, but in my case I used one of those weird little bobbles I've been making for the intent to sell (if I ever feel like my products are good enough)


Another cool part of this, is that a 10 dollar rock and about 1 dollar of wire turns into a 50-70 dollar pendant. Woo-hoo. Takes practice, though, this was a very difficult TINAC. I had a headache.


The only decent tutorial I found for this, also, was at a site called Tumble Weed Glass

all the other tutorials either a.) cost money or b.) have some pretty awful video on you tube or c.) some bland tutorial with not enough details.


It's kind of sad, because if you do a Google Search on Wire Wrapped Pendants, you'll see that there is a very fine line between something that is cool looking and something that is tacky. Very Tacky. That, and wire is a little bit unforgiving.

However, there's something about using a bare rock and just a wire that makes it an experience for me that surpasses the confines of typical 'craft'. There's nothing I hate more than having to buy lots of little accesories to make just one project, and I feel like projects like those tend to be money-making schemes by some co-op somewhere pushing Cri-cuts down everyone's throat. One of the reason's I abhor scrapbooking and I try to, at all costs avoid Micheals and Roberts and try to buy all of my art supplies from Home Depot or Dickblick.com .

Not only that, but I've noticed there is such a lack in tutorials (other than the basic frame that can be found at tumbleweed) becuase the prettier part of the wire art really relies on the form of the rock, which is different for every peice. It's something that can't be a general format tutorial.

So go pick up that shiny rock that's been sitting in the back of your closet, some old jewelry wire you were going to use for something way-back-when, and try it out, because it's a nice Saturday Project and its hella better than this chunky-munky knitting craze.

looking through the archives

Whilst searching my computer for those gesture drawings I drew two years ago, I stumbled upon this picture I took of the Saratoga Heritage Orchard and realized I wanted to post it, but never did.

I didn't notice that pile of rocks when I was taking the pic, I wonder what its for?

and this is my last post for today. I think I'm starting to get annoying now with all the updating but no commenting on other peoples posts.

Still drawing

Silvia and Harriet really hated their Prom. But they did have neat dresses.

horse

A Horse and his Whisperer.

Still drawing concepts, will still be drawing until I have 15 pages of ones good enough for show

This looks a looot like this guy I used to know in High School. But he'll never see this. I think like 10 people total look at my blog. Actually, this looks like 3 guys I used to know. Hm. 3 different guys that all act a lot of the same so whatever.

In other news, I do my best work when I am frustrated/drawn out. (no I am not talking about above picture. Maybe I'll post my other stuff...)

I suddenly feel the desperate urge to make more concept art

Shoot. I need a lot of children's concept art in like two days. Shoot.

I feel like every time I find a job to apply to I have a weeks notice and it's a different type of art than what I was just doing. But at least it's doing something.

Rough Draft

We'll see if this goes anywhere. but this is where it is right now. I'm playing with digital brushes again.

Sidetrack Saturday!

Today's TINAC for Sidetrack Saturday is probably one of the coolest things I've seen in a while. It's called, and be ready for this:

Pies Baked in Tiny Jars.

I love Pies. I love tiny things. I love tiny things in Jars that you can give to other people. I also happen to love portion control. Why did it take so long for someone to figure this out?

Anyways, here's a picture of it after it's cooked and un-jarred.

The picture and idea are thanks to NotMartha.org and her wonderful camera skills. And here is the link to the Tiny Pies in the Tiny Jars. (http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/piesbakedintinyjars/)

I want to try this out, but my whole family is on a serious diet and my Mother is seriously doubtful about these because she is a pie purist. But it worked for NotMartha, it should work for everyone else. I also have to find a Mason Jar with the right lip, and my Mom is also a canning purist, so all of our lips don't work for this. One day. One day I'll have my tiny pie in my tiny jar.

This is what I feel like today

Robot

Today for my goal I used green, and green inspired me to draw a robot and I don't know why. A Robot with three fingers. There's no inside joke it doesn't mean anything at all.

My watercolors still look kinda tortured, but at least my ability to take a decent reference shot of my pic has improved. A little.

PS I usaully hate robots, but today since I woke up I had 'Yoshime' stuck in my head and out came robots.

2nd day of my goal

Second day, still guash. It turned out silly because I shot it with light coming from only one direction, my bad. In other news, I love stripes.

I'm glad I got a new scanner and all but...

...unfortunately this came out like this. Don't bother with an Epson V30. This looks cooler in real life.

O well. Anyways, I have a new goal, a new little black and white or one-tone figure a day. I need to draw/paint more non-digitally.

Sidetrack Saturday : 2

This blog looks like I'm totally distracted now, because I haven't been posting my illustration, but none of my illustrations are done yet, so I'll go along with Sidetrack Saturday anyways.

The other day I found the coolest tutorial for using wood inlay technique to put a monogram on your stuff. It reminds me of Victorian knick-knacks so I love it, and I'm trying it out with my brother's scouting wood carving kit from about 15 years ago. We'll see how it goes, I guess. At least see how much I can get done before I need to go back to doing real work.