tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-128327512024-03-12T19:53:28.278-07:00My Work in ProgressA journal (of sorts) where I post my scribbles from a variety of works-in-progress of my rather random personal creativity outside of the daily grind...and I occasionally, but not always, post the final artwork.Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.comBlogger309125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-8871088873764181312014-11-03T16:09:00.001-08:002014-11-03T17:53:46.127-08:00All Hallows: Fall 2014<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Wrapped in various projects this Fall 2014, but that doesn't mean I don't try and sneak in a little fun drawing here and there as a warm-up sketch. For example, my "life" drawing for Halloween...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NUhHM_OQPSo/VFgYHNcdDRI/AAAAAAAAA3I/sAdDdQzjpMs/s1600/halloween2014sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NUhHM_OQPSo/VFgYHNcdDRI/AAAAAAAAA3I/sAdDdQzjpMs/s1600/halloween2014sm.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2B Pencil on Strathmore drawing paper</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Over the next few weeks, I'll continue to be chained to my drawing board, but I also expect to do some art progress posting again by the end of the month from my <span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://www.smarterartschool.com/" target="_blank">SmArt School</a></span> class as well as some personal work, and possibly even some client work if I can get approvals for doing that. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In any case, a few interesting things going on there, most definitely! :) </span></span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-14100843277336718372014-08-17T20:04:00.000-07:002014-08-17T23:13:59.962-07:00River City Comic ExpoAttended the River City Comic Expo (RCCE) in Little Rock, Arkansas this past Saturday. <span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Had a great time -- what a fun event! I met lots of really nice
people, and enjoyed chatting with them about my art for comics and illustration. Planning on being there again next year, hopefully with some new comics (at least two), and definitely with some new art. </span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Here are some con sketches I did at my table, possibly inspired by a few popular characters... :)<br />I'll color them (digitally) when I have some free time. For now, back to work! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tjhHGncWCbU/U2Qjleg45hI/AAAAAAAAA2A/TEamI4FcMIw/s1600/sketchbookstories_announcement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tjhHGncWCbU/U2Qjleg45hI/AAAAAAAAA2A/TEamI4FcMIw/s1600/sketchbookstories_announcement.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Received my first sketchbook collection today, just in time for next week's trip up to Spectrum Fantastic Art Live (SFAL) 2014! I'll be bringing some of them with me, and a few will also have an original sketch on the first page. Additionally, <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">I'll have some original art and prints as well as a few remaining copies of Issue #1 from WOMANTHOLOGY: SPACE!</span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> I'll be at table 78 -- stop by and say, "Hi!".<br /> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Here's the info about the conference:<br /> Spectrum art book comes to LIFE!!! Join me and 200 artists May 9-11 in Kansas City for Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 3 (<a href="http://www.sfalkc.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.sfalkc.com</a>).
Spectrum is a three-day celebration of the best in fantasy, science
fiction, horror, and comic art. You will interact with Traditional
medium artists, Digital artists working in th<span class="text_exposed_show">e
Film, Animation, and Video Game fields, Sculptors, Comics Artists,
Cover Illustrators, and more. Additionally, there will be opportunities
to attend workshops and panels, observe live painting and sculpting
demos, meet art directors, conduct portfolio reviews and attend the
Spectrum 21 awards ceremonies. If you enjoy my work and would like to
experience a wide variety of what the field of fantastic art has to
offer I hope you will meet me in Kansas City, May 9-11, 2014.<br /> <br /> Facebook: Spectrum Fantastic Art Live <br /> Twitter @SFantasticAL <a href="http://www.spectrumfantasticartlive.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.spectrumfantasticartli<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>ve.com</a></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gAhKA2BMh8/U0Bt-69b1zI/AAAAAAAAA1M/FuX7ub2ojfA/s1600/sawdust_sneakpeek_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gAhKA2BMh8/U0Bt-69b1zI/AAAAAAAAA1M/FuX7ub2ojfA/s1600/sawdust_sneakpeek_sm.jpg" height="154" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some snippets from various drawing boards with illustrations currently (or within the past few weeks...) in-progress. <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">I tend to rotate between working
on different illustrations depending on the various project(s) in development.</span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Primarily 2H
pencil on Bristol, with some of the darker values using HB and 4B pencils, and occasionally graphite powder. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CMlqrnLe9Bo/U0Bv5kecThI/AAAAAAAAA1s/L9dF1dqalf0/s1600/ss_wolves_progsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CMlqrnLe9Bo/U0Bv5kecThI/AAAAAAAAA1s/L9dF1dqalf0/s1600/ss_wolves_progsm.jpg" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-85181542882177781052014-03-26T12:43:00.002-07:002014-03-26T12:44:49.624-07:002014 SCBWI Bologna Illustrator Showcase<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Very happy and honored to find out that I received an honourable mention for one of my illustrations, <i>Dragonworld</i>, in the SCBWI Bologna Book Fair 2014 Illustrator Showcase Gallery!<br /><br />See the grand winner as well as other entries in the gallery link, here:<br /><a href="http://bologna.scbwi.org/scbwi-bologna-book-fair-2014/2014-illustrators-gallery-2/">http://bologna.scbwi.org/scbwi-bologna-book-fair-2014/2014-illustrators-gallery-2/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Original traditional pencil (left); digital color (right)</span></span></div>
Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-69084036926204098462014-02-14T11:10:00.002-08:002014-02-14T11:12:34.250-08:00Winged Battle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxr7ymkAkro/Uv5qCGiF66I/AAAAAAAAA0o/EerOB15eTtg/s1600/fb_battle_sm_pencils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxr7ymkAkro/Uv5qCGiF66I/AAAAAAAAA0o/EerOB15eTtg/s1600/fb_battle_sm_pencils.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Fantasy illustration which is currently in-progress (the digital painting part). The scanned traditional drawing shown above is on 11 x 17 Bristol paper, using 2H/HB/4B pencils, a variety of erasers and some graphite powder painting.</span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-50282075408650018522014-01-05T11:34:00.003-08:002014-01-05T11:35:15.107-08:00Happy 2014! This Year's To-Do List<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TXrAllCgzB0/UsmzaXdUiQI/AAAAAAAAA0E/BjZzPZkgyEg/s1600/010414doodle001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TXrAllCgzB0/UsmzaXdUiQI/AAAAAAAAA0E/BjZzPZkgyEg/s320/010414doodle001.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10-min."life" drawing of polar bear (Safari model) in new toned-paper sketchbook</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's good to have goals. :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This year's list of stuff to-do gets some inspiration from various items I had on my list last year, along with a few additions. To make it all a little more interesting, don't you know. So, let's get started:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Submit entry for Spectrum 21 Fantastic Art </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Participate in ArtOrder challenges (as time permits) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Sketchbook! Printing and selling my first sketchbook, collecting daily doodles and preliminary sketches from a variety of recent projects (not under NDA at the time of printing).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Conferences! Currently signed up for two art shows and bringing original art and prints to sell: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Spectrum Live (May)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">IlluxCon (September)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Picture Book(s)! </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Subbing one project to publishers in collaboration with a writer already this year (January)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Completion of two dummy book proposals as writer/artist</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Comics! Complete client projects already in the pipeline, and get some new ones lined up for end of Summer/Fall project development...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Graphic novels! Complete proposals already in progress and get to pitching </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Book Illustration! I have a fantasy project collaboration with a new writer that I'm very excited about; she has a novella that will be out late Winter/early Spring...I'll be focusing on the art side of things (cover illustrations) along with a few related items. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Traditional painting! I already have various studies developed, now I just need to get going on the final paintings, particularly since I intend to bring a few along with me for my conference art tables. From mini to 20 x24 (approx.), mostly acrylic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Update Portfolio(s)! Again. Finally? Especially my main one, <a href="http://www.tanjawooten.com/" target="_blank">www.tanjawooten.com</a>, focusing on book jacket illustration (primarily fantasy and sci-fi for YA and adult markets), middle grade projects (jacket and interior art), as well as assorted comic book and graphic novel projects. Lots of new art and some existing client art to show there. Like art from, for instance, the 2013 Harvey Award nominated WOMANTHOLOGY: SPACE! End of April deadline, but I foresee an "unscheduled" launch in March if not sooner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Drawing and Concept Art! As though I would not be doing that anyways...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In any case, I'm excited to see all the possibilities for the next year, and discover what all comes to fruition. :) Happy New Year to my blogger followers -- may you also achieve your 2014 creative goals!</span><br />
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Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-50012001351981376182013-12-26T07:08:00.000-08:002013-12-26T07:08:22.500-08:00Winter's Greeting sketching<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Working on this 11 x 17 illustration a few minutes at a time over the next few weeks until it's finally done -- have a few other projects that have a much higher priority at the moment which is not a bad thing. :)<br /><br />2H pencil on smooth Bristol paper, digital texture background added after scanning.</span><br />
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Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-62543160425095019422013-11-23T17:45:00.001-08:002013-11-23T17:46:24.578-08:00Kelpie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3v3S3kwglbY/UpFZlkIaJbI/AAAAAAAAAzA/6x48r7wOsnw/s1600/kelpie001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3v3S3kwglbY/UpFZlkIaJbI/AAAAAAAAAzA/6x48r7wOsnw/s320/kelpie001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A warm-up sketch from today, and an experiment: trying out graphite powder for the first time. It's a bit messy, but I like it! I could be just a little inspired by The Scorpio Races...really enjoyed that story, particularly since it brought back memories of my own horse </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(not a kelpie -- ha) </span>when I was a teenager. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Kelpie or "capaill uisce" or "water horse". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2H and 4B pencil with graphite powder on smooth Bristol paper. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Digital texture background.</span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-16680983915992688942013-09-05T07:55:00.001-07:002013-09-05T07:56:13.035-07:00Wild Horses, in-progress sketch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wgy1bsB7QnY/UiibMkDq9pI/AAAAAAAAAys/qyIKGtPn-x0/s1600/sketchhair_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wgy1bsB7QnY/UiibMkDq9pI/AAAAAAAAAys/qyIKGtPn-x0/s320/sketchhair_sm.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Another one of those warm-up sketches that suddenly took on a life of its own: Wild Horses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2H and 4B pencils on Strathmore drawing paper.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Think I'll color this one. :)</span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-68134112824251063112013-08-23T10:45:00.001-07:002013-08-23T10:47:30.890-07:00The Various Roles Illustrators PlayThis summer went by entirely too fast...officially only a few short weeks left. <br />
<br />
But as I juggled my various personal and client projects with multitasking fervor, I realized that all of the various roles I played as part of my illustrator job might have had a little something to do with it:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Marketing Agent</b> (art promotion, client and genre networking, social media posting)</li>
<li><b>Legal Agent</b> (contract development, negotiator, invoicing overdue accounts when applicable)</li>
<li><b>Accountant</b> (billing, invoicing, taxes, tracking expenses)</li>
<li><b>Clerk</b> (filing, art storage, categorizing and backing up resource files, documentation)</li>
<li><b>Model </b>(figure posing)</li>
<li><b>Photographer</b> (reference poses, shots)</li>
<li><b>Writer</b> (graphic novel development, blog and other social media posts)</li>
<li><b>Researcher</b> (reading and developing and/or following art specs, considering new art strategies to improve speed and quality of project development, keeping up with or studying esoteric topics that flavor both art and writing, considering technology application for current/future projects)</li>
<li><b>Scientist</b> (switching hats from biologist, zoologist, technician in order to design characters and/or creatures, and their environments)</li>
<li><b>Web designer</b> (website maintenance, updates)</li>
<li><b>Computer technician</b> (maintain my own equipment and some of the family's, on an "on call" status) </li>
<li><b>Graphic designer</b> (marketing materials, print portfolios -- targeted to various genres)</li>
<li><b>Artist</b> (illustration, sketching, anatomy practice, painting, layout design, color study, comics, all of the above)</li>
</ul>
And yet even after creating that list, I'm sure I managed to leave something out that is part of my weekly, if not daily, task list.<br />
<br />
Keeping busy....Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-37918978234839589452013-08-21T16:02:00.001-07:002013-08-21T16:03:49.072-07:00Painting Studies Prep<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axoIxTqCyF4/UhVFiKFbvHI/AAAAAAAAAww/UMLB4s104WM/s1600/study_jonsnow_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axoIxTqCyF4/UhVFiKFbvHI/AAAAAAAAAww/UMLB4s104WM/s320/study_jonsnow_sm.jpg" width="227" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've got a few traditional paintings I'd like to do before the end of
the year...but it's been awhile since I've done any acrylic painting, so I
figured I'd better get in some practice studies first. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The canvas -- gessoed illustration board. Each study is about 6 x 9 inches. At the moment I'm deciding what type of fixative (if any) will be used to save the line work, since I do want some of that showing under the paint. Maybe. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I did a quick sketch on each canvas with HB pencil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Above study is "Jon Snow and Ghost" inspired by GoT. The other three are also inspired by my imagination...mostly: "Horse," "Warriors," and "White Deer".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'll start applying color next week. </span><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Es297IXdKx8/UhVGX5jueXI/AAAAAAAAAw4/sozgB6T4ynY/s1600/study_deer_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Es297IXdKx8/UhVGX5jueXI/AAAAAAAAAw4/sozgB6T4ynY/s320/study_deer_sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WsmVtLTFx_A/UhVGb3tVgBI/AAAAAAAAAxI/IHUxvifS3Wk/s1600/study_horse_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WsmVtLTFx_A/UhVGb3tVgBI/AAAAAAAAAxI/IHUxvifS3Wk/s320/study_horse_sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cfKryYHzH0Y/UhVGZ21xCrI/AAAAAAAAAxA/5mPCvl8miw4/s1600/study_warriors_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cfKryYHzH0Y/UhVGZ21xCrI/AAAAAAAAAxA/5mPCvl8miw4/s320/study_warriors_sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-63705504400255846962013-08-12T15:04:00.003-07:002013-08-12T15:04:53.922-07:00Tiny Drawings: My 2013 Sketchbook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nAq_-qDXPrw/Ugla7Rx2hVI/AAAAAAAAAwg/ZR49QpP8gos/s1600/sketchcover_flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nAq_-qDXPrw/Ugla7Rx2hVI/AAAAAAAAAwg/ZR49QpP8gos/s320/sketchcover_flat.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As much sketching as I like to do when I get started on a project, it seemed like a good idea to pull a few of those together into a small sketchbook collection. This way, I could post it on Etsy and also take a few copies with me to conferences next year (something I hope to do).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For my 2013 collection, I think I'd like to include a variety of thumbnails that lead up to the more detailed drawings that I completed from 2012/13. I have a some of those. Might include a few other odds and ends for added interest, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The above sketch was a preliminary thumbnail for a cover illustration. About 3x5 inches done with a blue ball point pen on printer paper. After I scanned it, I converted it to b/w and then did a little bit of shading to push a few of the values. The final illustration for that one is currently in progress.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I like sketching out thumbnails with a pen because I have to deal with the permanent lines I've placed on the paper. It forces me to think more about shapes and layout as opposed to detail. And, if there are a few accidents, happy or otherwise, I can always write some notes along side it about what I'd like to change or keep...if I intend to push the thumbnail further with a more detailed drawing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But especially -- no erasing! :)</span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-58054369804591244822013-08-09T14:38:00.002-07:002013-08-09T14:38:21.782-07:00A Knife in the Dark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9k74qKqfoUI/UgVgWkPNFEI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/BKoqF1Fqt0E/s1600/knifeDark_smb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9k74qKqfoUI/UgVgWkPNFEI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/BKoqF1Fqt0E/s320/knifeDark_smb.jpg" width="277" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Keeping busy juggling a few projects this summer, which I'm happy to be doing. A few personal projects creep in now and then -- the above started out as a warm-up sketch and then, as someone mentioned on my Facebook page, it took on a life of its own. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">About to start a painting based on my Valkyrie portrait. I'll post a few stages of the progress at another time. It will be my first traditional acrylic painting in about 20 years -- whee! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-89901222299508466982013-04-29T13:27:00.000-07:002013-04-29T13:27:48.452-07:00Valkyrie portrait (drawing)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k0AFVgUExxM/UX7W-NVeXuI/AAAAAAAAAvk/E696bv0orhk/s1600/val_sketch_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k0AFVgUExxM/UX7W-NVeXuI/AAAAAAAAAvk/E696bv0orhk/s320/val_sketch_sm.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This drawing of a Valkyrie and her horse was originally inspired by a <span class="st"><i>Pre</i>-<i>Raphaelite</i></span> model reference photo I saw the other day on Pinterest. Have to see if I can find it again.... <br /><br />All else is my imagination. The texture is from my photo textures folder.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Created it as a warm-up sketch before work -- used a 2H pencil on 8x10 Strathmore drawing paper.</span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-18832447342650365412013-03-05T11:17:00.000-08:002013-03-05T11:17:09.424-08:00Dragon World: Final (almost) Pencils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvRiQb4T8HM/UTZD2LVvdqI/AAAAAAAAAvI/8ETUoZ-hXJQ/s1600/dw_twooten2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvRiQb4T8HM/UTZD2LVvdqI/AAAAAAAAAvI/8ETUoZ-hXJQ/s320/dw_twooten2013.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The next stage of my "Dragon World" illustration: pencils. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After gathering element references, taking a few pose reference photos and designing heraldry icons for the magical floating elements around the main character, I proceeded to create the final layout using 2H pencils on 11x 17 Bristol paper.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've posted more of my progress images of this stage on my Facebook page in the album called "<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TanjaWootenIllustration" target="_blank">Dragonworld</a></b>".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Considering some additional minor revisions before adding in more value with 2B - 4B pencils. Then on to final color in Photoshop!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WhAIHhtH178/UTZEEaP5V4I/AAAAAAAAAvQ/xynnDwVY3ng/s1600/AO_DW_final01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WhAIHhtH178/UTZEEaP5V4I/AAAAAAAAAvQ/xynnDwVY3ng/s320/AO_DW_final01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In-progress photo of "Dragon World" illustration.</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-68167129027475812732013-02-20T17:58:00.001-08:002013-02-20T17:59:22.490-08:00Dragon World in-progress<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The ArtOrder group run by WoTC art director, <span id="post_author_author"> Jon Schindehette, has a new challenge up that I couldn't resist developing some concepts for -- dragons! But there's a little more to it than that: <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span id="post_author_author"><i>Quote:</i><br /><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="background-color: white;">"</span></span></span><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="background-color: white;">Today, I’m going to listen to the call of the community. A dragon
challenge has been the number one requested challenge for years. I’ve
always begged off, because I haven’t been able to come up with a
challenge that befitted them. I mean, I could have just done a challenge
where I said, “draw a really cool dragon”, but that is kinda lame, and
judging that type of challenge can be difficult. One person’s cool
dragon is another persons cliche. So today's challenge is going to have a
spin…<br /> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you look around our mundane earth, you will
see dragons worked into everyday culture all over the place. They can be
found in tattoos, clothing, architecture, art, and so many other
places…and yet, dragons do not actually exist in our world. When I look
at so many of the worlds in the fantasy genre, I can see dragons flying
around, but I don’t often see them reflected in the cultures. Why is
that?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
This months challenge takes an iconic figure in the fantasy genre, and adds a layer of complexity.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>The Dragon</b> – Create a cool dragon and show me that you know
dragons. Show me the emotional resonance that comes with a dragon.
Capture the “essence” of a dragon, and breath some life into it.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>The World</b> – Now, you’ve got to integrate it into the world. And
by “integrate”, I’m talking about more than just dropping a dragon into a
scene. That isn’t integration, that’s just an illustration.
“Integration” is showing how the world lives with, reacts to, is
affected by, and influenced by the dragon. Maybe dragons are common
place in your world and they blend into everyday life. Maybe there is
only one in the world, and the myth of it is reflected throughout the
world. Maybe your dragon is simply symbolic and you have to show it’s
influence and integration in novel ways.</span>
</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #45818e;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
The more innovative and interesting you make your execution will affect
the judging...Also, do not feel you are limited
to a fantasy setting. Feel free to go off the reservation and find your
dragon in any genre, time, world, or setting. This could make for some
interesting editorial or book cover ideas – where you step out of the
known and normal."</span> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>End Quote</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">While I wish I could have had time to work up a few pages for the Dragon World comic idea I initially came up with...I just don't...client projects took priority. But, I have two other ideas I've chosen out of my initial rough sketches that I'm developing further. One fits squarely in the "Book Cover Adult" or BCA category. And the other should fit in the "Book Cover Children's" or BCC category...something that might one day be the cover for a story under consideration in "<span class="st">The <i>Andre Norton Award</i> for <i>Young Adult</i> Science Fiction and Fantasy"....gotta dream big and work hard! :)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="st">In any case, this sketch was the final rough version that I have since been developing further for the BCA category...and I'll post progress images for that in a later post:</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7CiJH5AMfk/USV9aKQ86cI/AAAAAAAAAu4/qxBM0D7VLUg/s1600/AO_dw_concept01b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7CiJH5AMfk/USV9aKQ86cI/AAAAAAAAAu4/qxBM0D7VLUg/s320/AO_dw_concept01b.jpg" width="210" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="st"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="st">Read more about the Dragon World ArtOrder Challenge, categories, rules and submission requirements as well as other art in progress by going to the AO site, here:<br /><a href="http://theartorder.com/dragon-world-artorder-challenge/">http://theartorder.com/dragon-world-artorder-challenge/</a></span></span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-39206310221895627432013-02-12T14:59:00.003-08:002013-02-13T15:06:27.974-08:00The Cover Reveal<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWFPv_ZmIN0/URrHO9sPezI/AAAAAAAAAuo/HuMas3trsXw/s1600/cover_reveal02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWFPv_ZmIN0/URrHO9sPezI/AAAAAAAAAuo/HuMas3trsXw/s320/cover_reveal02.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The mention of “cover reveal” is often an exciting time for writers, illustrators or readers – we’re offered a chance to celebrate with the
author; whether it’s their first book as a published writer or the next book of an
established series or the new stand-alone novel by a favorite story teller. It’s also
an opportunity to catch a glimpse of an artist’s interpretation of a favorite
character or characters, maybe in an exciting moment captured in the art that hints at a page-turning
scene in the story, or a designer’s motif that symbolizes a key element carried
throughout.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And then, think about how many times you've been in a discussion about a new
book or maybe even an old favorite book and said, “I can’t remember the title or the author, but it’s
the book with the picture of “(Fill-in-the-Blank)” on the eye-catching cover?”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My question for discussion of this post is –- </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Why aren’t the illustrators and designers also credited in
the “cover reveal” posts, especially when that reveal is done by the author,
publisher or reviewer?</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We know that the writer has invested time and effort in creating a wonderful
story to share with their readers. The cover artists and designers who created
the cover for the book have also invested their time and creativity to package
that story in an engaging way that ideally shares the
writer’s vision of the story…and will also help sell the book to its target audience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And yet a majority of those articles whether on blogs, Facebook, Tmblr, Twitter and
forum discussion threads don’t credit the artist, illustrator and/or designers
that created that beautiful, intriguing, hopefully eye-catching cover that grabs
the potential buyer to check out the book.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Why not?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's an example of one of the few “cover reveal” posts I found that
actually does credit the artist/designer in an excellent fashion, mentioning author, publisher and cover designer: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Quote: Today I have the cover for WEATHER WITCH by Shannon
Delaney!! It’s hitting shelves this summer, June 25, 2013 from St. Martin’s
Griffin! And it’s STEAMPUNK!!! YAY!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here’s what Shannon had to say about the cover:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“This cover is another example of the lovely work of
designer Ervin Serrano of St. Martin’s Press. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing
Ervin do beautiful covers throughout the course of the 13 to Life series and
was excited to know I get to keep him for this steampunk trilogy! He’s
wonderful to work with and great at bringing my vision to the public!” </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">End quote.</span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The artist, whether acting as illustrator or designer (or
maybe both), can also be a partner for the author and publisher that broadens their reach to more
potential readers of the book, increasing traffic to the “cover reveal” posts for
reviewers and authors, as well as garnering interest from genre fans who appreciate
the art whether it’s on a book cover, a card, or poster print; and, in fact, those fans might
consider reading or recommending the book themselves because it was done by an artist as well as author they
admire or follow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">From an interview by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph Mallozzi on July 25, 2008 with award winning
artist/illustrator/designer John Picacio discussing cover art and
design credit:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Do you think cover
art is as appreciated as it should be?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“I think that depends on who you want to have appreciate it,
and what you want it appreciated for. I think it’s maybe appreciated more than
ever by genre collectors and fans. There’s been a growing number of
cyber-discussions about cover art in recent months, and that’s a very good
thing. I hope readers and professionals continue to exchange views about it
because that will only raise the bar for the better.<br /><br />On the publishing side, there was a time when cover
illustrators weren’t even CREDITED with their work, which is absurd. <br /><br />Today, cover illustrators generally are at least credited
for their work, whereas I find that a lot of the pre-90’s paperbacks and novels
sometimes didn’t print the credit, and that was especially the case with
pre-1970’s books.<br /><br />I think knowing who created the art helps foster an
appreciation (and a marketplace) for the art itself in professional sf/fantasy
work.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So why is it so difficult to credit the artists, designers and illustrators
for these book covers...whether it’s for children’s MG books, YA books, sf/fantasy or
some other genre?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When the article by The Atlantic Wire 25 OF THE MOST
WONDERFUL BOOK COVERS OF THE YEAR<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was
posted, many of the “most wonderful book covers” were not credited with the
artists, illustrators or designers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Surprisingly so, when the title of the article states clearly and quite directly that it is all about the designs – not the
stories, not the authors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That being said, the article was later updated that same day with all of the proper credits not only because the information was easily available, but also because many of the commentors of the article
pointed that out:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><br />“… If the whole point of the article is to highlight visual design, it seems
incongruous for the accompanied information to consist entirely of the author,
title, and plot summary. I'd love to see the names of the designers,
illustrators, artists, and photographers, with links to their sites!“</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And so did an open letter by artist/illustrator/designer Marc Scheff, that was signed
by various illustrators (myself included), and artists, art directors, designers
and fans from the Facebook community:</span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><br />
<i>"Your recent article, titled, "25 of the Most Wonderful Book Covers of the
Year," celebrates the work of designers, artists, and illustrators (in
some cases, all three) yet you and Jen failed to credit a single one of the
image creators, save the ones whose names were actually printed on the cover.
This is not only poor journalistic practice, it is probably a licensing breach
to the owner of the image, the artist.</i></span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><br />In my own research on the books you list (see below), I
found authors who featured the book covers with great fanfare on their own
site, with no mention of the artist. Frankly, I just don't understand how that
even makes sense, never mind that it is not allowed. If you credit the artist,
the artist will likely promote your piece, bringing more eyes and subscribers
to your work. By crediting them, you harness the power of their social
networks, and you missed out on that online traffic by a factor of 25….”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So as part of your next exciting event called the COVER REVEAL, why not in the future include credit for the illustrators and designers responsible? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Cover image and design by me, Tanja Wooten.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Read more of the WEATHER WITCH cover reveal post here:<br />
http://www.thestorysiren.com/2012/11/cover-reveal-weather-witch-by-shannon-delaney.html</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Read more of John’s interview here: <br />
http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/july-25-2008-with-special-guest-award-winning-artistillustratordesigner-john-picacio/</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Read “25 OF THE MOST WONDERFUL BOOK COVERS…” here: <br />
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/11/25-most-wonderful-book-covers-year/59428/</span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Read the open letter addressed to The Atlantic Wire by Marc
Scheff, here: https://www.facebook.com/marcscheffillustration/posts/10151267056773376</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>
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Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-55029081495434002952013-02-05T13:44:00.000-08:002013-02-20T12:17:56.092-08:00Home on the Range<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xZUkKBkB3g/URF9CK9N9YI/AAAAAAAAAuY/SmnxSpmOLj4/s1600/Range_sf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xZUkKBkB3g/URF9CK9N9YI/AAAAAAAAAuY/SmnxSpmOLj4/s320/Range_sf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Early sketch for a middle grade sci-fi story. This is a crop of the larger illustration, focusing on the main character here. The final illustration is in-progress. </span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-15860400147282020102013-01-31T15:33:00.002-08:002013-02-20T12:17:12.199-08:00Old Knight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KPH4Y6P-pt4/UQr-5W6hdmI/AAAAAAAAAuI/-vPcLuRDN4c/s1600/oldman_post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KPH4Y6P-pt4/UQr-5W6hdmI/AAAAAAAAAuI/-vPcLuRDN4c/s320/oldman_post.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My panel of an old knight is getting a slight update as I go to final pencils. This comic short story (fairy tale) is one of a few personal projects for 2013.</span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-39187596312384516752013-01-21T17:08:00.001-08:002013-02-20T12:18:35.991-08:00Dragon's Perch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6jhVM3bS4Q/UP3kH8-HWPI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/h0uliUlAvNc/s1600/twooten_dragon_posting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6jhVM3bS4Q/UP3kH8-HWPI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/h0uliUlAvNc/s320/twooten_dragon_posting.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My first dragon post for 2013! The illustration was developed from a warm-up sketch originally created late summer 2012 (posted below). The dragon didn't change much from its original design, but I did change the pose of the girl and altered her costume as well, from fabric to style. The background was inspired by a photo I took at the Dallas Arboretum about 10 years ago (at bottom). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tCQNd0CWu30/UP3kgoT3AbI/AAAAAAAAAtY/ftwZqNnpHUM/s1600/dragonsperch_01sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tCQNd0CWu30/UP3kgoT3AbI/AAAAAAAAAtY/ftwZqNnpHUM/s320/dragonsperch_01sketch.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vSXmHybr300/UP3mPMt2U2I/AAAAAAAAAto/V943UjeHTC8/s1600/arboretum_twooten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vSXmHybr300/UP3mPMt2U2I/AAAAAAAAAto/V943UjeHTC8/s320/arboretum_twooten.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-62859910458113381872013-01-09T21:17:00.001-08:002013-01-09T21:17:15.104-08:00Something in Progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--mwz8Cv-xig/UO5OnorvZ8I/AAAAAAAAAs4/-KqtlBrJTBE/s1600/AO_banner_twooten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="60" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--mwz8Cv-xig/UO5OnorvZ8I/AAAAAAAAAs4/-KqtlBrJTBE/s320/AO_banner_twooten.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The above banner is one of the directions I'm considering for my portfolio 2013 redesign. This year I'd like to focus less on product design (although I still do some of that) and more on illustration, particularly for fantasy, sci-fi and children's books. Also, comic book art...want to do more of it. :)</span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-68413635153078403452013-01-04T17:09:00.005-08:002013-02-20T12:19:51.538-08:00Winter Greetings: work-in-progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-WKnU1er2Y/UOd8xM5n2hI/AAAAAAAAAso/qSvFv_z0SMc/s1600/hedgie_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-WKnU1er2Y/UOd8xM5n2hI/AAAAAAAAAso/qSvFv_z0SMc/s320/hedgie_sm.jpg" width="264" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A small unfinished hedgehog character from an illustration set in progress. As are many of my illustrations, this one started out as a pencil drawing that I am now digitally painting in Photoshop.</span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-17363522269785371842013-01-02T10:33:00.000-08:002013-01-02T12:16:54.382-08:00My 2013 New Year's Resolutions...sort of<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vGtqC7tr7U/UOR8qwPcooI/AAAAAAAAAsY/BAqhDwDpucY/s1600/snow2012_christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vGtqC7tr7U/UOR8qwPcooI/AAAAAAAAAsY/BAqhDwDpucY/s320/snow2012_christmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Happy New Year!<br /><br />Keeping busy, which is good; but I've also been rather neglecting my blog</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">, which isn't good. Admittedly, most of the projects I've been working on are work-related rather than personal creative study, so can't post those as of yet...the frequent truth of a professional illustrator. But that can be (hopefully) resolved by keeping my blog posts as part of this year's task list.... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Or that's the plan. :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So here are my New Year's resolutions...actually, more of a project list...of my creative intentions for 2013:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- update the portfolio with new art (!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- weekly blog and FB page posting of personal work (in-progress and/or finished)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- submit art for Spectrum 20</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- create 10 traditional fantasy paintings; taking various concepts I've created to final paintings this year (if I can do more, even better)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- develop fantasy illustration 12-month calendar to sell in Etsy shop (available November 2013) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- illustration prints and a few original paintings for sale in Etsy shop</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- finish custom painting of Disney figurines project</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- product design concepts (licensed art series)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am also involved in a few projects at the moment that will be subbed traditionally this year, or will be available digitally, or possibly both:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- picture book (artist, but not writer)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- picture book (artist and writer)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- comic book 4 issue mini-series (artist and adapter); official announcement of this project will probably be in February with a few sneak peeks at that time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- YA graphic novel (artist and writer)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My "plan-to-work-on-this-year" projects include:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- a new middle-grade graphic novel (draft script and concepts)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- 2 new picture book dummies (outlines already in progress)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- YA graphic novel adaption (ongoing project) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The above does not include other prospective projects that I've been queried about, so I may be making additional announcements about those later on during the year. And, of course, I'll be on the lookout for paying projects by prospective clients; whether for self-publishing, traditional publishing, licensed art development, comic books, or private commission. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Gotta add a quick disclaimer here: no Work-for-Hire (WFH) projects!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Attending conferences last year was an amazing experience, but I'm not positive I'll be doing so again in 2013. If I do attend any, these are the ones I'm currently thinking about:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- New York Comic-con</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Spectrum Fantastic Art Live</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- IlluxCon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- SCBWI Austin regional</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Austin Comic-con</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, that's what I've got for the start of 2013 -- what are your resolutions or project thoughts for this new year? </span>Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12832751.post-6968708305486693112012-09-29T11:32:00.001-07:002013-02-20T12:19:15.373-08:00Womanthology: Space #1<div class="title">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3uzcSNqn57U/UGc73rs-sXI/AAAAAAAAAro/Yd5rtSeCzdI/s1600/DA_pg03_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3uzcSNqn57U/UGc73rs-sXI/AAAAAAAAAro/Yd5rtSeCzdI/s320/DA_pg03_crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One of my cool summer projects this year: working as comic book artist for the anthology “Womanthology: Space” issue #1
through IDW Publishing. I partnered with writer Sandy King
Carpenter on her story “Dead Again". It was just released on September 19, 2012.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There is some preview material from issue #1, here:<br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/09/19/womanthology-space-1-preview-ming-doyle-stephanie-hans-jordie-bellaire/" target="_blank">http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/09/19/womanthology-space-1-preview-ming-doyle-stephanie-hans-jordie-bellaire/</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Quote: <br /><i>The preview material...includes excerpts from "Waiting for Mr.
Roboto" by Bonnie Burton and Jessica Hickman, which depicts the life of a
bored space-waitress; "Dead Again" by Sandy King Carpenter with Tanja
Wooten, which is a kind of ghost story in space; and "Scaling Heaven" by
Stephanie Hans and Alison Ross, a speculative piece about a race to put
the first woman on the moon. Not included but available in the
issue is an exceptionally cute story by Ming Doyle and Jordie Bellaire
called "The Adventures of Princess Plutonia," which puts a fun spin on
the John Carter/Adam Strange trope, as well as the first installment of
"Space Girls," a recurring humor strip by Stacie Ponder that imagines an
all-woman crew of Star Trekkian-style spaceship that's actually my
favorite bit of this ambitious new release. All stories (except Ponder's
strip) are lettered by Rachel Deering.</i></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This project was something different for me, a ghost story set in space;
but I definitely enjoyed the challenge and gained some valuable
comic book development experience once again. This was my second contribution as a comic book
artist and I plan on having more opportunities if at all possible...whether I work with another writer again, adapt a story for a graphic novel...or write and illustrate one myself. :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_jPwVUIot4/UGc9T7RleWI/AAAAAAAAArw/t8qFvFkzfTg/s1600/DA_pg04_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_jPwVUIot4/UGc9T7RleWI/AAAAAAAAArw/t8qFvFkzfTg/s320/DA_pg04_crop.jpg" width="284" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here are a few reviews for W:S issue #1:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.comicbastards.com/homepage/2012/9/19/review-womanthology-space-1.html">http://www.comicbastards.com/homepage/2012/9/19/review-womanthology-space-1.html</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.readaboutcomics.com/2012/09/19/womanthology-space-1/">http://www.readaboutcomics.com/2012/09/19/womanthology-space-1/</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.primaryignition.com/2012/09/20/first-impressions-womanthology-space-1/">http://www.primaryignition.com/2012/09/20/first-impressions-womanthology-space-1/</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Below is one of the early concept sketches I did based on Sandy’s
initial thoughts about the story. I posted some of the original pencils
over on my Facebook page here as well:<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> <span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TanjaWootenIllustration">https://www.facebook.com/TanjaWootenIllustration</a></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cfuwx4tdqwg/UGc-OR0atFI/AAAAAAAAAr4/75DbmvPTxTo/s1600/tw_deadagain_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cfuwx4tdqwg/UGc-OR0atFI/AAAAAAAAAr4/75DbmvPTxTo/s320/tw_deadagain_crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
Tanjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00026878597132595944noreply@blogger.com3