All Hallows: Fall 2014

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...

2B Pencil on Strathmore drawing paper

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 SmArt School class as well as some personal work, and possibly even some client work if I can get approvals for doing that. 

In any case, a few interesting things going on there, most definitely! :)

River City Comic Expo

Attended the River City Comic Expo (RCCE) in Little Rock, Arkansas this past Saturday. 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.

Here are some con sketches I did at my table, possibly inspired by a few popular characters... :)
I'll color them (digitally) when I have some free time. For now, back to work! 

Sketchbooks!

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, I'll have some original art and prints as well as a few remaining copies of Issue #1 from WOMANTHOLOGY: SPACE! I'll be at table 78 -- stop by and say, "Hi!".
 
Here's the info about the conference:
Spectrum art book comes to LIFE!!! Join me and 200 artists May 9-11 in Kansas City for Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 3 (www.sfalkc.com). 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 the 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.

Facebook: Spectrum Fantastic Art Live
Twitter @SFantasticAL www.spectrumfantasticartlive.com

Stuff on the Drawing Board

Some snippets from various drawing boards with illustrations currently (or within the past few weeks...) in-progress. I tend to rotate between working on different illustrations depending on the various project(s) in development. 

Primarily 2H pencil on Bristol, with some of the darker values using HB and 4B pencils, and occasionally graphite powder. 

2014 SCBWI Bologna Illustrator Showcase

Very happy and honored to find out that I received an honourable mention for one of my illustrations, Dragonworld, in the SCBWI Bologna Book Fair 2014 Illustrator Showcase Gallery!

See the grand winner as well as other entries in the gallery link, here:
http://bologna.scbwi.org/scbwi-bologna-book-fair-2014/2014-illustrators-gallery-2/

 Original traditional pencil (left); digital color (right)

Winged Battle

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.

Happy 2014! This Year's To-Do List

10-min."life" drawing of polar bear (Safari model) in new toned-paper sketchbook

It's good to have goals. :) 

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:

-- Submit entry for Spectrum 21 Fantastic Art
-- Participate in ArtOrder challenges (as time permits)
-- 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).
-- Conferences! Currently signed up for two art shows and bringing original art and prints to sell: 

1. Spectrum Live (May)
2. IlluxCon (September)

-- Picture Book(s)! 

1. Subbing one project to publishers in collaboration with a writer already this year (January)
2. Completion of two dummy book proposals as writer/artist

-- Comics! Complete client projects already in the pipeline, and get some new ones lined up for end of Summer/Fall project development...
-- Graphic novels! Complete proposals already in progress and get to pitching 
-- 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.
-- 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.
-- Update Portfolio(s)! Again. Finally? Especially my main one, www.tanjawooten.com, 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.
-- Drawing and Concept Art! As though I would not be doing that anyways...

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!

Winter's Greeting sketching

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. :)

2H pencil on smooth Bristol paper, digital texture background added after scanning.
 

Kelpie

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 (not a kelpie -- ha) when I was a teenager. :)

Kelpie or "capaill uisce" or "water horse". 
2H and 4B pencil with graphite powder on smooth Bristol paper. 
Digital texture background.

Wild Horses, in-progress sketch

Another one of those warm-up sketches that suddenly took on a life of its own: Wild Horses.
2H and 4B pencils on Strathmore drawing paper.

Think I'll color this one. :)