Illustration Friday - Winter

This is my second entry, I don't usually do two but I didn't get much reaction from my first so i thought it might have been a bit dull :-P. Besides it is summer here so it is a bit hard to get into the idea of winter although we have had some unseasonable weather with days of 20 degrees Celsius - low for us at this time of year. Too cold for water fights and swimming and all the things that symbolise a Christmas in Australia, too cold even for the flies this year!

These little country mice obviously live in another hemisphere as they have had a cold Christmas day.

What could be better on a cold winters day than snuggling with the ones you love and having a nice afternoon nanna nap after a big Christmas lunch ....

Digital dabbling...

Ive been trying a bit of digital dabbling on some old works (well not old - old but works i have done a while ago) for fun and effect... ahhh I love to experiment

Sunflower

Orangatang in captivity - sad eyes

Tea anyone?

Whilst I am not really a tea drinker myself I thought a nice teapot full of steaming hot tea would fit the bill for a nice winters diversion from the cold.

So pull up a pew and enjoy a brew.... Take the chill out of your bones

I have coffee if you'd prefer!

Merry Christmas

To all my blog friends Happy celebrating!

Your support and comments since I started my blog back in July have been appreciated and have made my blogging journey so much richer and more enjoyable. Also, for the people who have clicked to 'follow' my page - I cant tell you how lovely it is to  see you there, thanks for following.

What ever your celebration over the festive period have a lovely safe and enjoyable time.

Janet

Illustration Friday - Mail

Bertram was only a pup but he knew he had a job to do! 

His family were relying on him....

Spring cleaning

I'm doing a bit of cleaning up as you do at this time of year and I was going through some piles of papers in my studio / craft room/ and came across these two little paintings i did earlier in the year and I thought I would pop them up. I quite like both of them and they are very Australiana for me and a bit Christmas too as I often used to use Australian Native flowers in Christmas wreaths I used to make. Half the fun was gathering the nuts and seeds to embellish.

Bottle brush flower

Gumnut flower

Ellie the show off elephant

Ellie loved nothing more than to perform to a crowd of people, she revelled in the cheers and applause. She never felt so at one as she did when she was centre stage....

I just really needed to create, I have been so busy lately and have had no time for art. I had to make up for it with a little digital work today.

Illustration Friday - phenomenon

Phenomenon =

• something that is unusual, curious or significant
• a fact or occurrence that cannot be accounted for 
• something viewed as astonishing by those who see it
• an extraordinary event or marvel

What an exciting word to illustrate. At first I thought 'what can I draw for that' and then I researched the word a little and thought about it and lots of ideas came to mind. This is a quick little digital study I have done this morning and i didn't have a lot of time so I may do something else later in the week as although I like this its not perfect and I think i could do better. I know what I don't like -  my basic drawing - I did it with my digital pen and i haven't quite mastered that although I know I am getting better. I draw wonky! I like bits of it.

So please if you have any artistic feedback for me ( constructive please :-)) I would love the benefit of your experienced / learned/ artistic input. Janet
Oh, by the way, this one is called "Never Alone"

Illustration Friday - Prehistoric

An excerpt from a prehistoric Christmas Newsletter complete with photo perhaps....
"The Neanderthal family have a new pet"

Bob, Jane and Tim welcomed a new pet into their house

this Year and Melvin thinks he will be very happy here!"

In other news from our end Timmy received a trophy

for his clubbing skills and ....



I really should be doing some of my course work not spending time playing with prehistoric illustration topics but this is so much fun! IF really appeals to the creative side of me that I love and which I must say, just wants to have fun, not buckle down and do what it should.

I am doing a course to improve my painting skills so I don't feel so reliant on digital 'fix ups' but i must say over the last 6 months I have worked more on my digital art painting skills than on my non digital. I think I am feeling less concern about it all and just accepting all of the creative sides to me.

This technique is helpful in either digital or non digital as I have practiced a bit with using thicker lines in my illustration to what I normally would and a very quick looser type drawing style so I guess in some ways I might be considered to have been studying. I like aspects of the line technique but think I need a mix of thick and thin not one over the other. The drawing - some bits still look very stiff. Its fun trying new things though.

Well I am signing off for tonight, I hope you enjoy this little illustration and I hope Melvin will be happy in his new home.
Addit : I thought I had better just clarify that i know there were no cameras in prehistoric times, in case anyone was wondering........

Nanny Goat

I have been having a play with another program and doing a little mix and match mixed media and quite enjoying the results. From pencil sketch to illustration, an enjoyable journey for mother Goat.

Another style. This gives an interesting effect.

Illustration Friday - Savour

Hi all, I have just done a quick little digital sketch this week as I am am sure everyone is in a similar situation to me with lots to do at this time of year. It may have been quick but the process was as enjoyable and relaxing as it always is. I find that illustration is my meditation.

These two are really savouring the enjoyment of their mega lollipop and why not! Enjoy!

A holiday at the coast

While friends in other parts of the world are freezing their bottoms off we are enjoying moving into our summer here and so it was off to the coast for a little holiday and what a lovely time we had. One of the biggest delights for me was seeing so many dragon flies, I love them but haven't seen any for such a long time. They hold a special place for me. There was certainly no shortage of them where we were and to top it off when we came home I saw one in our backyard, she must have travelled with us :). We also saw dolphins frolicking off the coast, bunnies, birds and crabs and all sorts of wonderful seaside creatures.
There was swimming, sun, sandcastles and fresh sea air so it was very relaxing and peaceful too. I didn't get much sketching done as there were so many other things to do but I can do that now to relive that wonderful relaxing feeling. Illustration Fridays word of the week is savour and I can certainly say I  savoured the peace and tranquility of the beach! I might get a sketch done this week if I am lucky :)

Illustration Friday - Burning

This is an older illustration I had that I thought fit the profile for this weeks illustration. As I have been under the pump this week I haven't had a chance to do anything new. Unfortunately the image didn't scan well but you get the idea!


This little dragon has a bad cold and his sneezes have been awful .... Uh - Oh

My alter ego.

Ive just found out that when I click to follow websites my alter ego comes up, so its not dibbydabby but Janet Cowra and my image is a section of this little artwork.

I just wanted people to know because I think its important to show your appreciation of others work and I guess I just want those I follow to know its me!

Janet

Illustration Friday - Afterward

This little image is a follow on from the last illustration Friday topic "spent". link here. It just seemed unfair not to not allow the girl the bear so ...

Before there were tears as she so badly wanted the bear...
Her grandmother snuck back and bought it for her and gave it to her that evening.
Afterward there was much happiness as she recognised the bear would be her best friend and confidante throughout her childhood years...

Experimental 'fruit'

I have been enjoying a bit of creative time today, this is a an older quick water colour image i did one time I was playing with colour. I like sections of it as individual abstract type images.

My Little Princess' "Little Princess"

This is my baby's illustration of her favourite (currently) cartoon character on TV, Little Princess. I loved it when I saw it and she was so proud of staying in the lines with her colouring and 'I even drew her crown'. I think she did a great job seeing she is only 4.
I know I'm her mum and Mums are supposed to see great things in their kids but that aside, on viewing a lot of her artwork, I think she has a very cute and special illustrative style!

Illustration Friday - spent

"Please just one more thing..."

But the money has all been spent!

Happy Haloween!

My girl and I were doing some artwork this morning and we decided we needed to do something for Halloween, even though we don't 'celebrate' it here, but to show support for those who do! 

Illustration Friday - Racing

When I saw the topic I couldn’t help but think of the Melbourne Cup which is an iconic event here in Australia and is only a bit over a week away.


It’s the 150th anniversary of the cup this year and we Australians love any excuse for a party and a bit of fun. It’s known as "The race that stops a Nation" and even if you don’t gamble, many people have a little 'flutter' on the cup.

So I thought about the theme and my take on the cup and I couldn’t go past fashions on the field and the tradition of race day hats ....it’s become quite a big part of the day and they often range from the amazing to the absurd. I’ll let you decide which of those categories this one fits into although I’m hoping the former….

This is image has been produced from a straw blown picture I did when my little girl and I were playing with paints one day, I stuck the original underneath to show her humble beginnings because I like it when people show some of the progression of their work. I thought I would give it a go.

Title: Race day fever and it is a Mixed media.

A sunny day

I have spent much of the morning going through my computer art folders but I can't just do that, I have had to do a bit of art in the process. At least my tidy folder filing system will help me find them again. :)

Its a lovely spring day here today.

Foxy lady

A quick digital sketch. I wasnt happy with "Frankie" for illustration friday so before I could down tools for the night I had to do something I felt okay with. This is it.

Not much of a blogger

I realise I have not been a great blogger of late, going back to work really slowed me down. I have also been busy designing some ACEO cards for sale once I find the best place to display and sell my wares.



I must say my goal of trying to do a least some painting everyday whether it is digital or other is really good practise for me. Often they are quick little bits that just get my creative juices flowing but its enough to keep art in my day and it fits into my busy schedule. I thought I would pop up some of my sketchbook pages.

They are non too fancy or even my best but I had fun doing them. The colours look crappy but ... I havent mastered scanning images at the best resolution yet so any advice would be welcome.

This is one of mine and my girls. She did two of the buzzy bees and made names for the ant and generally acted as my art director on the others.

Illustration Friday - Spooky

I don't know if he is that spooky... we know the story, maybe the spookiness relates to the people coming behind him with their pitchforks and flames.

Having said that, in relating him to childrens illustration it would be for older children.


Im not really that happy with this fellow so have been doing a bit of digital doodling in relation to the theme.

Little witch number 2. Still not happy, I love the theme of spooky so feel quite frustrated with my piccs. Never mind, had a minute so played some more...

The back gorund is an old trial from a while ago.

Illustration Friday - Transportation

Dare Devil Dan is always full of good ideas for his next stunt!

Lady Mouse Performs

What a lovely day we have had, good friends, nice food, relaxation and laughter. Wonderful. Add to that a bit of art a the end of the day and you could even say perfect!
Lady Mouse Performs is the end result of a water colour that went bad saved by a bit of a digital touch up and lots of loving attention.

Illustration Friday - beneath

My illustration this week relates to 'what lies beneath' and the Jungian concept of "the shadow" aspect of personality and the unconscious. It is often the part of us we dont want others to see and we may not even recognise it ourselves.

Pen and ink with a tiny dash of digital (red areas)

Digital doodling

By - ran the Tyranasaurus Rex

Just having an illustrative doodle on my pc.

Rahhhrrr

IF - Old fashioned.

This is an older quick little electronic sketch of mine I did for something I needed at the time however she has ended up being a sketch that gets used in a lot of little bits and pieces now, when I need a stern old lady character. In fact she is affectionately known to me as "old school marm".

As much as I love doing new illustrations for IF I just thought she fit the project so well this week that it would be unfair on her not to use her. :-)  (yes I seem to develop a connection with certain of my characters)

Illustration Friday - Acrobat

Oh nooo! Back to work next week after 8 glorious weeks off. Maybe these three little mice are symbolic of me once I start back in the rat race, trying to juggle family, full time work, and art. Hope I can do it with ease they seem to posses.