At Long Last, Another Illustration Friday Post!

Wow, almost a month since my last post.  December happened with all its madness, relatives, travel and other excuses too numerous to mention (including the new Star Wars MMO, dammit!) I hadn’t even been doing any drawing, and getting back to it proved much more difficult than anticipated. I hope this will be a good motivator for not letting so much time pass with no art again anytime soon.  In any case, I managed the following, for Illustration Friday . The topic this week is “Grounded”:

Aviator Camel in Copics, "Grounded"

Derek, a veteran flyer of twenty-seven weeks, was somewhat peeved to find out he had been grounded for several weeks and required to re-take the Dirigible Flight Safety Class. I mean yes, he did come pretty close to clipping a stand of evergreens yesterday, and he did leave the engine running once last week.  Well, twice. But come on! Derek’s gaze lingered over the lovely dirigible for a few more moments before pulling off his jacket and trudging back to the flight school.

Despite the rather awful background, the too thick horizon line, the nose being too close in tone to the rest of the fur, and the fact I should have stuck to blue/brown/grey and avoided green, I am glad to finally finish something new.  And I do like ornery old Derek the aviator camel.  This is a 9″ x 6″ original illustration with Copic pens and markers. Here’s some progress pics:

IF Grounded, Sketch

IF Grounded, Inked

IF Grounded, Color 1

Aviator Camel in Copics, "Grounded"

I am very happy to be back. I look forward to looking at lots of other entries this week, making lots of comments and generally getting back in the swing of things.  Thank you so much for visiting!

34 thoughts on “At Long Last, Another Illustration Friday Post!”

  5. Stephen Ingram

    Thanks for commenting. I love the fact that you broke up the process step by step. Lovely illustration. I’m trying to do every post for illustration friday this year, but it is a lot to chew on.

  6. mardi speth

    I love this! Your juicy palette works beautifully with your whimsical, decorative style. The story is great fun too! You are wonderfully creative.

  11. David Jernigan

    I like your use of bold colors and textures. The aviator goggles on your camel are a nice touch. The step by step posts are a good idea. I enjoy your whimsical work.

  12. christina

    Love your stuff! An unfortunate turn of events for poor Derek, I’m sure he’ll be back in the air in no time. It certainly doesn’t look like he’s afraid of heights and would use a parachute with grace and dignity, if he should ever need one…

  13. Scott Spinks

    Really like your work, Cindy! I have to comment on the steampunk theme…I was first introduced to this “movement” about six months ago. Though I had seen animated films like Atlantis and Treasure Planet, so I felt like I had seen it before. I had no idea it had become such a thing. But, I really like the look and think it’s awesome that you have made it a part of so many of your designs. Keep up the great work!

    1. The Beast Tender Post author

      The steampunk thing is really fun. And depending where you look, there is a lot of it out there! Whether it’s folks playing dress up, novels, movies or art. Even the animals in steampunk gear are nothing new, but I have tried to put my own spin on things. Thank you so much for commenting!

  14. Gay McKinnon

    Hooray, you’re back with more mad beasts. I was afraid your herd would slumber forever. You have fans you know, and a responsibility towards them! Hope you enjoyed the break, and look forward to seeing more of your work in blogland in 2012!

  20. Koosje

    I’m glad you’re back, too! You managed to create a great illustration and a cool story again, your work always puts a smile on my face. So please keep on putting your own spin on things!

  24. Amanda Pollard

    Hurray! The return of the Beast Tender! I’m not sure which I enjoy more – your wonderful, vibrant, swirl-patterned illustrations, or the the brilliantly entertaining tales that accompany them! Suffice to say, you really are incredibly talented (and should definitely ease up on yourself a bit!) and I can’t wait for your next beast, be s/he of aviation stock or nay :) Thanks, also, for your lovely comment on my IF-illo this week – always v. much appreciated! A x

  26. Sjoerd

    I love the stories written with the drawings, real nice colors and these animals! you re working real tight! pure inspiration! love your work!

  27. ruthsartwork

    Glad to see you’re back. I think the holidays were hectic for everyone.

    Derek seems like a fun guy but he does need to concentrate more when he flies. I’m sure he’ll learn.

  28. Karen Sagovac

    You’re way too hard on yourself! This illo is brilliant and the background is wonderfully swirly (I love swirls…). Glad to see you’re back doing IF too :)

    1. The Beast Tender Post author

      Thank you, Karen! And thanks to all for the comments! I have the best visitors. ;)

  29. Leslie White

    I have not payed much attention to our sketches, before, Cindy, but did today. Maybe it is because you don’t always post the sketch and there is quite a bit of difference between the sketch and you take it down to the basic line drawing. Those sketches are awesome. Don’t know why but I have always liked sketches, drawings. They give art a life and I call them the bare bones or skeleton of what is to come?
    Don’t mind the camel’s face values being the same, so much, because the highlights are there and we can’t ALL have different value noses. :) Glad you are back from Holiday!

    1. The Beast Tender Post author

      Haha, that’s true, Leslie! We can’t all have different value noses. Sometimes I don’t post the sketch because the scan isn’t great, or because I forgot to scan it. I do like to see pencil sketches though. You’re right, sometimes they have a really neat quality. I will have to remember to include them. Thank you for the nice comments!

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