Many years ago I got the classic Alice in Wonderland as a birthday gift. The book as you know is magnificent, but the illustrations are marvelous too, they immediately captured my eyes. In a matter of fact many illustrations of those old children books have a magical and mysterious feel.
Those images waited in the back of my mind for many years... Until now.
Two weeks ago I took some photos at the local dog shelter, one of the photos (of a cat) wasn't so good, but the composition and the shadows have triggered my imagination. Take a look at the picture:
I started to sketch using graphite, and those old children books images took over the paper. I really liked the final result:
I've always thought that 'the simpler - the better'. You don't have to try too hard, just be yourself, try to keep things simple, and you'll see that everything is easier, beautiful, approachable and natural. I wanted to apply this thought on the following sketch. The subject is a young woman, sketched from behind. The lines are simple and clear, the atmosphere is innocent yet sensual, and it is just a simple classic beauty. I don't want to talk too much. So, just enjoy it:
Last week I wanted to sketch something special, something different. I just sat in front of the table, and started to draw without thinking. I was sketching myself, in a point of view position - means I was sketching myself sketching. This unusual angle was very appealing and interesting, and I got a lot of nice comments on this draw.
In the little sketch that I was sketching, I decided to draw a portrait of a dog, as a symbol of my occupation - a pet portrait artist.
Take a look at the sketch and tell me what you think :)
By the way - if you want to see the actual dogs that I'm painting take a look at DigitalDogPortraits.com - Custom Pet Art.
Using various graphic software and digital brushes is fun, but sometimes there's something about a good old, down to earth art, with some old school equipment like pencil and paper. Oh... and a live model (in this case my model was a banana ;)). It is very refreshing just to sit down and start drawing quickly, without any preparations or interruptions (when I'm using graphic software, sometimes it takes forever just to start painting). All I wanted to draw was a rough sketch of this glorious fruit, and to make it as interesting as I can. After I've finished the drawing, I thought that it would be a good idea to paint the bananas with vibrant color, just to stand out. I really like the result. It looks rough yet compelling.
Take a look :
If you'd like to purchase a poster or a canvas of this piece - you can find it here
While looking for a suitable quote for this sketch (like I always do), I've found those 3 funny quotations:
"Times flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana" - Groucho Marx
"Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana" - Bill Gates
"I'm getting so old, I don't even buy green bananas anymore" - Chi Chi Rodriguez
And last but not least :) a cute Brazilian song by Jorge Ben - "O Vendedor de Bananas" - The Banana Seller
I was very busy the past two weeks, transferring my site (DigitalDogPortraits.com) from GoDaddy to BlueHost, it was a nightmare but it's all over now :)
Let me share with you a little sketch I made during one of the breaks.
The title is "Woman who seek to be equal with men lack ambition"-Timothy Leary.
I just love to sketch women and the woman's body, it is so beautiful :) Soon I think I'll sketch some more women, and be prepared for some surprises ;)
It's been a long time since I posted here. I've been busy with my site DigitalDogPortraits.com, but I wanted to post at least one post here in march. So... I made a special sketch for you, it's an artistic nudity, very tasteful and feminine. I hope you'd like it.
When I was looking for a phrase that will go with the sketch, I was listening to Carole King's wonderful song "It's too late", and thought that this phrase will be perfect - "Though we really tried to make it. Something inside has died and I really can't fake it." I really think that this phrase gave a new deep meaning to the sketch.
I won't say goodbye before I'll post here this wonderful song by Carole King. Enjoy!
I'm on the roll with the sketches :) I find it very simple, just to grab a pencil and to doodle something, so much fun :)
I haven't sketched many animals, but when I do, I like to expose an emotion there. I imagine the feelings and put them in the sketch. I never sketch from the imagination (It's too hard for me), but I try to put myself on the sketch, my thoughts and feeling, so even though that I sketch from an existing picture, I feel like I have created something completely different.
Take a look a the sketch, and the phrase that goes with it.
"I may not have everything I want in life, but I have all I will ever need to make my life complete, my family"
I just can feel the emotion in animals... they are so sincere and pure, and their love is genuine.
That's it! I'm done with the melancholic sketches!
Yesterday I've sketched my first sensual sketch. I don't know if it's perfect, but for the first time it's pretty good. I always thought that the woman's body is a beautiful art itself, so... it was pretty easy to sketch such a magnificent subject.
I had to find a suitable phrase for this sketch, and I decided to quote some lines from Prince's song "Damn You"
"When we're makin' love, I can't hold back / It's like having a hundred million little heart attacks."
I'll keep it short this time too... and let the art talk for itself...
Yesterday I've sketched the last sketch in the melancholic series. I got it out of my system :).
This mini project is done and I feel content.
"The eyes are not responsible, when the mind do all the seeing"
I like this particular phrase, because many times we see something very clear but our mind tells us that we see something else, we rationalize. This phrase comes to life especially when you're in love.
That's it, with those gloomy sketches!
I would love to read your comments :) did you like those sketches? did you feel the emotions?
Yesterday I've stumbled upon a country song "Whiskey Lullaby" , it is a perfect soundtrack for my melancholic sketch series. When I heard this song, I knew that I had to sketch something.
Those lyrics gave me the inspiration: "She finallydrank her pain away, a little at a time. But she could never get drunk enough, to get him off her mind."
