Time for Change

Hey everyone!

I apologize for my absence, but this past Tuesday things took a turn and I've been busy ever since! I got engaged and we're getting married in August...this year!!! So LOTS to do. We're trying to get the big stuff out of the way, and it has taken up most of our time since Tuesday all the way till today.

After a week I've got a better idea as to how things are going to run (as far as how I break up my day). So I might be a bit scarce here and there. I still have to paint and work, which is slipping away from me (it happens so fast!), so during the day my focus will be on that, and at night on the wedding planning. I will do my best to keep posting...I'm hoping I find time in the day to do so, or at least every other day. I miss socializing. :)

If you're interested, Brian and I have created a website (uh huh, we did) and you're more than welcome to visit it to see if anything else, pictures of who I am and what I do outside of the computer box. :P

http://www.mywedding.com/sarabrian2009

Also, how about two new members? I have some requests sitting in my inbox. Yes? No?

My re-doing of Clandestine

The Owl and the Pussycat

Whew, I've had the craziest past 3 weeks!! Forgive my slowness on the group @_@ ... I hope things are calming down around here now for me.
So I finally finished this painting based on my earlier Clandestine sketch. I'm not sure if I love it, but I think I do *like* it. Not going to re-do it again probably (but you never know), but I would love a critique anyway as that is always very helpful to see where my strengths and weaknesses are for future projects!
Oh yes, I wanted to ask if you all thought this would be good for a portfolio piece or if I should wait for something stronger.

Blog Header: hot or not?

I decided I should try to start a new blog, since the one I had was from '03 and was not kept up. What do you guys think about this header? I'm iffy about the font and font color, but I ran out of ideas. It doesn't completely fit the sides of the natural header either. If you want to see how it looks on the actual blog, see http://krisfulk.blogspot.com/

I'm so sorry, but I can't seem to figure out how to link the url -_-

Thanks and your helps much appreciated!!

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EDIT - 2/24
- lengthened the width by copy/paste + took off font effects + increased font size
- made the hair blacker again

Illustration Friday - Instinct

I promise to get something that isn't finished up here in the near future. I am about to start working on a larger portfolio illustration, so I will probably want some serious input. Until then, I was pleased with this new little watercolor that I put together.

Making up for lost time on these recent posts...

As promised, I've posted the sketch before the final this time around. I hope the image is clear enough for you all to get the main idea. The size is roughly 18" X 12" so it's going to be pretty large. The medium will be acrylic paint.

I'm trying to capture a dramatic moment between a hippo and turtle trapeze team. The circus tent ceiling will be dark red and white. Costume colors are yet to be determined but I'm thinking of doing a throwback to the trapeze artists of the early 1900s...Barnum and Bailey style. The spotlight will be primarily yellow with a very dark shadow cast upon the tent.

My initial thought/concern is that the turtle looks too large but I'm going to be focusing on creating some pretty dramatic depths within the field of view...so it may work out in the end. He's supposed to be pretty far in the foreground, so I'm really wondering whether that's evident or will be with color.

I'm really excited to get to work on this one. I've planned an interesting light source which should really make the hippo's spotlight shadow really pop!

Do you guys see anything I need to address?

Hmmm...website querey

I've had my website for about a year, and I'm trying to decide if some of my work is a bit outdated. I've been at this, more seriously, for a bit over a year and a few of my portfolio pieces seem off to me...they were some of my initial works and some seem less developed.

I'm referring to the pink gorilla, the turtle and snail, Santa, and the Goldilocks paintings. Do you think they're out of sync with my others? I'm kinda thinking they are...

I've heard of people up and redoing their whole portfolio and maybe these should go by the wayside. I could be just getting tired of looking at them there, too. Any thoughts?

My fear is that things don't seem consistent.

http://peteproctor.com/13858/index.htm

WIP Disaster

So when I started this painting I really liked it, but now it looks all wrong and overworked even though it is only in WIP stage. Did I go too dark too fast? Does the tree look horrible? I wonder if it is worth saving or if I should just start over. The girl is supposed to be on a camping trip, and she's out exploring the woods with her dog.
Bleh, help! :)

Working on human characters

I'm working on creating more illustrations that contain children for my portfolio. This is a new piece I have been working on but I wondered if it seemed to quiet or maybe I should try a different background?

Maestro

If you haven't figured it out already, I'm a pretty slow worker. Here's my latest. Its acrylic on paper. I'm trying to find that balance on my website for animals and children. I had originally thought of adding the highlights of a spotlight shining down from above, but I'm not confident on how to pull that off with paint. I had also considered adding a muted audience in the background but I really wanted to isolate this character...kinda like a spot illustration, I suppose.

(I reposted the image...it was fuzzy)

Time Flies

I wanted to add this to my portfolio, so I am looking for feedback first. :) I am debating whether to paint anything or not in the background...any suggestions?

Thanks,

Christy

Valentine Night (wip)

All finished. :)
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Did a few sketches last night for valentine's day, but never really thought I'd do a solid watercolor piece. But tonight I had the time...finished my freelance for the day, cleaned, watched some tv, and decided now is the time to work on something personal, tho I'm sure there's something else I could be doing that has to do with work. humm... Oh well. :P

So I thought I'd make some cards...well, then I saw a magazine rip out I grabbed that had this little boy fixing this little girl's bonnet. This is the result of that. It's 5x7. Thought I'd share. :) I'm thinking light reds and pinks for both of their outfits. James Browne did a piece that is sticking in my head that kind of reminds me of this. So I'm using him for some inspiration. Here's a link to his piece:

http://www.jamesbrowne.net/catalog.php?item=450&catid=2&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D2