new posts in all blogs
Viewing Blog: Creative Whimsies, Most Recent at Top
Results 1 - 25 of 586
A Blog by Illustrator Laura Zarrin
Statistics for Creative Whimsies
Number of Readers that added this blog to their MyJacketFlap: 9
I usually try to keep things simple. I like simple. Simple appeals to me.
So why am I working on such a busy piece? I have no idea, but I can't help myself.
It just won't go away, so what choice do I have? I am really excited to start painting it, though.
Wish me luck.
You can follow my progress on Instagram
@LauraZarrin.
Not all ideas are worth pursuing, but this one was, at least for my portfolio.
I am so thankful my kids never did this. Have yours?
I'm adding to my Waddle of penguins. This one's taking a break from playing.
Now I need to get back to my real work.
I'm getting a jump start on Valentine's Day this year.
I listened to the ALA Caldecott Award announcements live this morning. So exciting. It's like the Academy Awards for Illustrators. I was thrilled that
Jon Klassen got both a Caldecott Honor Award for
Extra Yarn (gorgeous book!) & the Caldecott medal for
This is Not my Hat (this book is so fun) in the same year. Wow! Has that ever happened before? I'm also so happy that
Peter Brown got an honor award for
Creepy Carrots. I love that book! The best part is that I got to meet both of these guys last year at
Hicklebees.
(Affiliate links)
 |
| By Kelly Murphy |
Here's what was in the lovely package I received yesterday. My other favorite thing…art supplies!
I had a few colors of FW Inks. I was so happy to see how well they blend with my acrylic paints! They're just wonderful! I haven't used this paper yet, but it was recommended by Tracy Bishop, so I'm anxious to try it. I also got some Fabriano Artistico hot press paper.
Nothing's better than books and shiny new art supplies!
The above book links are affiliate links. How else can I support my book & art supply habit?
This little firecracker showed up in my sketchbook the other day.
I just had to paint her. She doesn't take no for an answer.
The penguins just keep on coming around here. It helps that the boys continue to make penguin requests.
I've been posting a lot of sketches on Instagram (laurazarrrin) You can see yesterday's penguin blog post
here.
I found out from my friend, Juana Martinez-Neal, that today is Penguin Awareness Day. There seems to be a day for everything under the sun. It just so happens that I have been drawing lots of penguins lately.
You might have noticed my new blog & website header already.
My kids have been requesting a penguin cowboy for weeks now, so here he is.
I loved playing Cowboys & Indians as a kid, and so do penguins. I always wanted to be an Indian.
I'm sending out these postcards now. Hoping they'll bring lots of good projects!
Just a little sketch from last night. I'd love to paint it using my new FW Inks.
A little test of the acrylic inks mixed with acrylic paint.
Working on a story ideas here.
I've had every intention of blogging more. I planned a big year in review post, a resolutions post, & lots of in progress posts. The best laid plans, you know. Truth is I thoroughly enjoyed the holidays and took full advantage of the break. Now I'm neck deep in deadlines and promo.
I've had kangaroos on my mind for awhile. I don't know why, but I don't mess with my muse. If she wants me to draw kangaroos, then I will. Good things happen when I listen.
I have a plan for these guys. Hopefully, I can squeeze them into my already tight schedule.
Another new piece for the portfolio. This is actually an idea I got while working on
PiBoIdMo last month. I'm thinking there's a story in this.
After a few frustrating weeks, I decided to take a break and paint for me.
I just needed to remember what makes me happy—painting!
 |
| I started with collage. |
 |
| Then I slathered it with paint. FUN! |
 |
| I painted Ellie, then cut her out. |
 |
| Then I sewed her a skirt, but as fun as it was, it didn't work. |
 |
| Painting in miniature. |
 |
| Assembling the elements. |
 |
| Finish! |
Well there was a bit of futzing around in Photoshop, but I won't bore you with that.
I've been experimenting this week. I'm trying to bring the pencil lines I love into my finished artwork.
This little girl is from my sketchbook.
Here I just colored the sketch in Photoshop.
And here she is drawn in black color pencil which I scanned &
layered over an acrylic painting in Photoshop.
I'll post another one in this technique tomorrow.
I think I've mentioned that I'm starting to write my own stories. Well, the whole idea can be paralyzing. A story can go in so many directions! It's almost too much freedom, to be honest. Anyway, all that fear can freeze up the creativity, don't you think? When I sat down to thumbnail out a story I'm working on, I just got stuck. No matter how much I tried, I had nothing. As a way to get myself out of that space, I decided to try thumbnailing a published book I really love,
Creepy Carrots, illustrated by Peter Brown. The way it's laid out is genius!
All I did was go through it page by page & drew thumbnails. I learned a lot and it kept me drawing even though I felt stuck.
I've since thumbnailed two of my own stories and it was so much easier
than it had been before this exercise.
Try it! You'll be surprised at what you notice as you do this.
Book links are affiliate links.
Tracy Bishop and I met the amazing
Peter Brown today at our local
children's bookstore,
Hicklebees. He's promoting my favorite book of all
run to the bookstore right now and buy it!
If I haven't already convinced you, this will:
After the signing, we got to hang out and chat. Thanks Peter!
We're so lucky to have a bookstore like this in our area.
Book links are affiliate links.
I was too busy yesterday with sketches. Today's painting reflects some disappointing news I got today.
I've done my moping and am ready to move forward. Things will work out the way they're supposed to.
Day #6 Girl with a flower.
It's proved difficult to keep this up everyday.
I'm juggling too many balls at the moment.
This little fox is having a very bad day.
Which gets better…
…with a little help from her friends.
I have work in another group show at Psycho Donuts. Please come by and visit if you're local!
The show is up now.
Psycho Donuts
2006 Winchester Boulevard Campbell, CA 95008
I used a combination of craft paper and an old copy of Huck Finn for
the collage. I had to work hard to keep this simple and let the paper shine.
I painted on top of the butterfly prints to make them pop.
If you were following my abbreviated attempt at Sweet Squares,
these may seem familiar to you. I was using the squares to test out ideas.
Over the years, I've resisted writing my own stories. Writing is hard! I see how much time I spend improving my artwork, so the idea of working on an equally difficult craft at the same time seemed too overwhelming. But the Universe has other ideas for me. I've been getting so many signs that I need to write lately. It's like there's a crowd of people outside with signs that say 'Write already!'. I still ignored them, but then the stories just started coming. I'm keeping them safe in a little notebook. Taking them out one by one & working on them. Some come as pictures, some as words. Here's a little snippet from one of those stories. I'm really hoping I can turn one or two into actual books.
Just a little something I'm working on right now.
View Next 25 Posts
By: Laura Zarrin,
on 3/12/2013
Oooh I love it!! Can't wait to see how you work it with color. Such fun Laura!
Good luck. This is wonderful. Great storytelling.
This is super, Laura! Wishing you the best..it's gonna be fabulous.