Art: “Just Raining”

I’m kinda proud of this one. Most of my pieces I sketch out before hand and paint around the white. This time I painted the background and freehanded the rest. I was scared the whole time, but I love the way it came out!

Acrylics on watercolor paper. Click to see the full size.

Art: “Swinging”

My new favorite piece. I highly suggest you click to view it at its full size.

Acrylics on watercolor paper

I think I’m going to make this into a much larger piece on canvas

Art: “Little Bird”

Click to view full size.

Acrylic and watercolor and micron pen 005 on watercolor paper

Today is my birthday and I’m going to spend most of it in my pajamas.

Today is my birthday. I have turned 29 years old, which means only one more year with a 2 as a prefix and then….well then my girlfriend of the same age will be going on a cruise to the Mediterranean for a little “reinvention” which is done largely with big hats and bright cocktails.
Tonight Ryan has planned a birthday party for me, of which I only know a smidgen about. Enough, pretty much, to dress properly. We’re going to a resteraunt with friends, the resteraunt I had already picked out. Since I was 21 we have gone to the same resterant for my birthday, a Japanese Steakhouse called Kobe. I love Kobe more than any other place to eat, I think. But I’ve broken tradition and this year we are going to Genji Japanese Steakhouse. I enjoyed them about the same but for a bonus they have sushi. I can get lost in a plate of sushi.

Afterwards we are going to my dear friends’ house for a birthday party, at which I have no idea who will be there or what will be done. Though I am not above playing the “It’s my birthday and I want to play Rock Band” card I’m super excited about the party because I know nothing about it except that, when asked by my husband what kind of cake I like, I told him I won’t eat any cake that’s chocolate anything. That’s all I know I won’t have.

So, for my birthday, I have a bunch of new art to post. So with no further ado, here’s the first:

Art: Doing what we know we should not

Recently I was inspired by the idea that we, day in and day out, do things that we know we should not do. It’s compulsory, we do it though we know we must not, must stop; know that it will bring is more pain than pleasure. We’re obsessed and ridiculous. We are our own menace.

I worked on four small paintings following this idea, and the four pieces are called, collectively: “Doing what we know we should not” and feature four heroines either on the cusp of, or engulfed in the aftermath of our very poor decisions. I’m slowly beginning to develop a style of my own and I’m kind of excited where it is going. I’m proud of them and I hope you enjoy their plights.

Each piece is sketched by me using Micron pens in sizes 005 and 02  and painted with Golden acrylics, both heavy body and liquid.

I highly recommend clicking on the pieces to see them at full size.

Enjoy.

“Foggy” art, last week’s Illustration Friday

Last week’s Illustration Friday that I never got posted. Oops.

Click on the picture for the full size.

Illustration Friday: “I’ve had enough.”

My friend L. has had more bad luck in the past few months than anyone I know. Probably every black cat, broken mirror, and full moon has come her way, making some emotional and mental damage nigh irreparable. And oh, she’s so sweet and soft and lovable that it nearly breaks my heart. The sorts of things that have happened could be best sellers. They really could.

So when I sat down to do this week’s Illustration Friday with the topic “enough,” I thought of her. In a few weeks she’s jetting off to grad school in a new state, a new world, a new adventure and she can (and I really do hope this) leave behind the people and things that cause the most trouble in her life. So this is dedicated to her.

It is a large piece, please click on it to see it better. It is acrylic on watercolor paper.

“I’ve had enough,” she said. “We’re flying away from all this.”

Pink blossoms in her hair….

Two new watercolor pieces, both are about pink blossoms! Click for actual size

Illustration Friday: “Sour Puss”

I apologize this week’s Illustration Friday is coming in so very late.

The topic is “Sour”

Please meet Mildred Q. The question is, is she a “Sour Puss” or is it that letter she has just read that makes her look so dour? We may never know. As soon as she tore it into tiny little pieces, she swallowed them all up!

Storyville Designs: The Etsy Store

This weekend had me all running around like a crazy person and not getting nearly enough sleep, so I apologize for not making any posts like I promised I would.

Here’s the skinny on Storyville Designs at www.storyvilledesigns.etsy.com I’ve been playing around with creating art for the past couple of months that really evokes my love of myth and dream. I spend a ridiculous amount of time day dreaming about fairy tales. I write modern interpretations, I draw my favorite moments, I write new endings. I’m obsessed, I can’t help it.

So was born Storyville. Within the walls of Storyville is a populace of characters that are constantly escaping treachery, sparring with the elements, escaping the witch’s pot, menacing others or being menaced. I draw them as I imagine them, and then I take an xacto knife and turn the whole thing into a three dimensional creation you can practically step into. I experiment and then just see what happens. No two will ever be alike.

After seeing them pile up in my office, I decided I needed to send them out into the world. So I started up my etsy site and started listening them. I have about 8 total, and I’ll get them all up this week. They all have different themes and moments, and I hope you like them all.

Even if you only stop over to take a look, I’d love your comments. If you’re interested in buying, even better! Many people who do the same type of work list their art much higher than my prices. I’m not a professional artist, I do it for the fun of it. I price mine really so that I can buy more materials.

I’ve also considered writing short stories to go along with some of the art pieces either for my own benefit or to send with the art when I mail them out. We’ll see.

So that is Storyville. I’m considering a line of hand made watercolor cards that follow some classic fairy tale themes. We’ll see. The current one I’m working on is pretty neat.

Sommer  @  www.storyvilledesigns.etsy.com