For the past few years, I have been participating in the annual illustration challenge Inktober, where artists post their artwork created with pen and ink over various social media platforms during the month of October. (Learn more at the official website inktober.com.) This year, I chose to focus on using ink, brushes, and markers to create brush lettering and calligraphy, something I've been interested in recently. I haven't had the time to work on it every day this month, but I try to practice as much as I can. And, of course, I plan to continue with it even after the month is over. I am absolutely mesmerized by some of the videos I have seen online of expert letterers. They certainly make it look easier than it actually is! Anyway, below are some of the results of my practice.
WIP Wednesday: Coloring pages and Christmas in September
Works in Progress: Here's a little glimpse into what is currently on my drawing board...
In the midst of trying to get a freelance career up and running, I've also decided to take some time for personal projects and portfolio building. Of late, I have fallen in love with creating adult coloring pages, and want to keep building on that.
Coloring one of the pages I created
Nowadays, adult coloring books are everywhere, for every subject matter under the sun. Despite the volume of output, I am finding that it is rare that I find coloring books and pages that I find impressive. I love to see designs that are hand-drawn, thoughtfully composed, and full of beautiful patterns and decorative elements, because those are fun to color. Most of the market has been flooded with work that is rushed, generic, boring, retraced, mechanical, and/or overly cartoony. So as a personal project, I have decided to create my own collections of coloring pages. My first subject: Christmas. Because I love it (who doesn't?), and it's fun. And let's face it, it will be the holiday season before we know it, right?
Some of my drawings for coloring pages in my upcoming Christmas collection
I'm not claiming that my pages will be the best things ever or will avoid all of the pitfalls I previously mentioned, but it will be an attempt to create the type of designs I wish I saw more often. What I can promise is that time, thought, and passion will go into these designs. Hopefully through the process I will develop a style and method that is unique and appealing and lives up to my own high expectations.
Global Talent Search 2016
Here's my latest piece. I created a submission to this year's Global Talent Search by Lilla Rogers Studio. It was a lot of fun to put together. The assignment was to design a tea set. I look forward to seeing what other artists came up with.
