IF: Boundaries- Green Octopus

Study for a lady/"monster" themed piece!

I also felt this fit with Illustration Friday's "Boundaries" theme because I like how her hair is sort of a tentacle and how the boundary between what is her and what is the octopus....

Instagram Fawn

I posted this a while to my instagram account, but loved it so much I wanted to put it up on here for you non-instagram folks : D

Akhilandeshvari, or The Always Broken Goddess

So, a few weeks ago, I came across this VERY excellent read on Akhilandeshvari, or "she who is never not broken."  It was just very inspiring, and I found myself relating to many different aspects.

From the article:

"Akhilanda derives her power from being broken: in flux, pulling herself apart, living in different, constant selves at the same time, from never becoming a whole that has limitations."

Anyway, the kick-ass thing is that she rides a crocodile as well. I was agonizing over how to color this; I really wanted to make her skin tone blue, but I'm not sure if that's ... "correct" for this hindu diety? Is blue something reserved specifically for Krishna, or does it specify god/goddess?  Outside of this article, I couldn't find much about this specific deity (much to my chagrin)

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how to color her, dear blog readers! (And please, def check out the article; so worth the read!)

Why Lying Broken in a Pile on Your Bedroom Floor is a Good Idea

Lovebirds

Year of the Rabbit

Sexy Muppets

Animal Inspired sexy girl (from the Girls Drawin Girls blog theme, "Sexy Muppets")

Damon said my Animal girl didn't look like a muppet (she was inspired by, please), so I made a cross-dressing sexy Kermit just for him.

New addition

So, two Saturdays ago, Girls Drawin Girls held a party over at the Doll Factory between Echo Park and Silverlake. Halfway through the party, I found Damon out by my car in the parking lot, trying to coax out a mewing kitten. Twenty minutes later, we had convinced the little kitten we were ok, and we had an instant friend.

Stray kitten was also quite a social butterfly, and quickly befriended everyone at the party. We ended up taking him home with us, where Rocket was QUITE displeased with the intrusion. We quarantined the little one, checked lost and found, and made the call that he was just a super friendly stray baby (esp by the way he eats- he is a TOTAL scrapper- we've found him in the garbage twice already).

We took him in to the vet last Monday, got him fixed up and all up to date on his shots and a clean bill of health. The vet estimated him to be around 13 weeks (3-4 months) and he is a total love bug and has a great attitude.

A week later, Rocket has accepted Inky into the house, and they are wrestling and playing like lil' brothers. Anyway, here are a few sketches from the past two weeks of kitten madness!

rocket with some lady sketches

rocket very unhappy with the new little one

rocket relaxing

little one sleeping

Soo behind!

Man, I just get caught up posting to my blog only to fall behind again!

Well, I've been busy making art for a slew of shows (which I have been posting!). I also spent last weekend (well, the weekend before last) in Marshall Vandruff's Animal Anatomy three day workshop at LA Academy of Figurative Art, which totally kicked my ass! (In a good way!)

I literally have tons and tons of pages of notes and sketches of animal anatomy stuff, but I'm just posting a few of my gestural study pieces. But man, that class was awesome- if you ever get a chance to take a class by Marshall, DO IT! But seriously, it was non-stop drawing and soaking in information for three straight days! It was exhausting drawing that much!

Also, we primarily drew horses (since they are the "piano" of animals- you know the basics of a horse, you can apply it to other animals), which I totally LOVED. Seriously. Drawing horses for hours= daisy a happy girl!

We also did a fun exercise where we looked at a photo of an animal and drew a person based off the animal. These were two goats i drew into girls...

Get the Lead Out II

Here are my pieces for Get the Lead Out II, curated by Swoon Gallery, happening this coming Saturday, August 28th!

Both pieces are $100 each; also for sale will be smaller framed studies for each piece.

Facebook invite info:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140214886018034&ref=ts

August 28 · 6:00pm - 10:00pm

a one night only pop-up show at ronin gallery
4210 santa monica blvd
Los Angeles, CA

swoon gallery is proud to announce the upcoming exhibition, “get the lead out II”, featuring artist sketches, pen & ink drawings, watercolors and finished paintings.

incredible art comes from deep within the depths of one's imagination. this exhibition is about showcasing those ‘deep thoughts’ as they are sketched out on paper before becoming a final work. each artist pours his emotions into his work, and it all stems from a single thought, idea, dream or memory.... in essence, it is a moment in time captured on paper.

a wide array of artists & styles are shown in this exhibition. each demonstrates a unique vision and structure with their illustrative roots. artists were asked to submit a variety of works that show these beginnings and often tossed out "sketches" that are drawn before a final work is created.

artworks are priced at $500 or less, with at least one work priced at $100 or less from each artist.

please email hello@swoongallery.com to be placed on the preview list.

Swoon Show Pieces still available!!

These are the pieces STILL available from my show with Swoon Gallery!

If interested in purchasing, please email hello at swoongallery.com for more details

All bowls $65 each (if buying multiple, discounts do apply!)

Framed original painting $60

All framed & Original drawings $35

Swoon Show Wrap-Up!

Thank you to EVERYBODY who made it out last night to check out my show, hosted by Swoon Gallery and our friends at Tub Tim Siam!

It was a wonderful evening, and we had a great turn-out. I created over a dozen new original paintings for the show, as well as framed sketches and drawings of my studies for the final paintings.

I did a series of ten bowls, each representing a different Japanese animal and woman, and two separate pieces representing Japanese witches/demons.

Here are a few samples of some of the bowls and demon pieces:

You can see pictures of all the pieces and photos from the show here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=252293&id=506994044&l=242ddad096

If you are interested in purchasing any of the remaining pieces, please see the official gallery site for availability and prices!

http://swoongallery.com/julie-b-daisy-church/

Chameleon!

We were watching "Life" on the Discovery channel on Sunday, and I wanted to draw the awesome chameleons.  I love those little guys- I've been super close to owning one as a pet before, but they really take a lot of maintenance and knowledge to take care of. Such soft little feet!

Also, Oprah Winfrey sucks as narrator. SERIOUSLY.

Kitten playing with toy mouse

Kitten doodles, day three

And now for the kitten drawings!

I have a whooole bunch of days/drawings that are nothing but kitten doodles. You have been warned!

Say hello to Rocket O'Keefe!

Kitten stalking my sketchbook

Illustration Friday: Wilderness, plus bonus lady!

For some reason, when I was brainstorming what to draw for IF's "Wilderness" theme, I thought of a fox with some sort of nymph/ spirit guardian. There ya go!

and because I love all of you, BONUS DRAWING!

I started a new sketchbook with these two; it's so pretty! (and it's from florence!)

Baby Giraffe

Damon and I were watching the news up in Sonoma, and they had a short blurb about a newborn giraffe somewhere at a zoo.....