Yield for Illustration Friday, Puppy and Cow
Before the new topic came out at Illustration Friday this week, I had sketched a very silly but promising cow:
Cow Sketch
I figured she made the perfect platform for something, but what? And then the topic “yield” was posted, so I thought about how I could use this cow and that word and what I came up with was to put a giant pie on her head with the words, “The apple tree produced more than double the yield of the previous year due in no small part to the fertilization efforts of Hannah the cow.”
Cow pie. Fertilizer. Yeah, not a highbrow moment. I’m ok with that. But I didn’t think a pie would be visually very interesting. I have since decided a pie would have been totally doable – but I went with cute, in the end. Which may be cheap but so is cow pie. ;)
Cow and Puppy Sketch
Cow and Puppy Mask
This was actually a really great blue that I lost with too many light colored coats. Alas!
Cow and Puppy Color 1
And this is the stage where I say to myself, ugh, this is not going well. But that always happens in the beginning color stages so I don’t despair quite as much as I once did. Which is good. Unless you’re one of those people who thinks inspiration is only sparked by misery. I am not.
Cow and Puppy Color 2
Cow and Puppy Color 4
I really need to finish all of the color before adding the black ink (which isn’t supposed to smudge, but does a bit!) Lots of muddy spots as a result. Probably could have done more with the background but a decent effort overall. Thank you for coming!
Note: In case you didn’t know, I have put a detailed tutorial on how to make yourself a thumbnail for IF (or avatar or other tiny image), on my sidebar near the top of the page. I hope someone finds it useful! A thumbnail will get you more views than no thumbnail.
I have indeed yielded! It’s amazing what a difference – nice depth – all those swirls make to the finished piece!
Beautiful colours and great textures! I also like the expression on the doggy’s face!
I yield to the super cuteness of the steed and pup!
Super cute! I yield, I yield!
(I like the perspective on the cow.)
Love the cow and her nose!
This is great [ again.!!]
Amazing, I like your style :)
I yield! Although I confess, as a hopeless pun-lover, that cow pie idea sounded pretty funny to me… :-P
That is super cute! We all must pause and take it in.
I like your colorful style! You’re right, puppy is so cute :)
My dog seems to say the same thing to me every day :) I yield to her all the time and to your cute puppy too. Love the colors and patterns, especially the flowers on the cow.
I am yielding to the cuteness!!! great illustration. Love the big eyes of the puppy!
Love the textures and patterns! Very cute indeed!
How can you not yield to the cuteness overload? I like how you introduced a gradient to your background pattern. It gives the piece nice depth and adds interest.
At last I am on my pc and can comment. For some reason my husband’s mac doesn’t want me too. I love the little dog on his trusty steed. He seems to like his non-traditional mount. I liked the horses/dog picture several posts ago too. You seem to be using the frisket technique to good advantage in these.
I think a little book of your animals is a great idea. There are so many opportunities for self publishing now that are fairly inexpensive it seems silly not to at least check it out.
The curve of the cow’s head is so beautiful. I love big cow noses. And indeed this is a mighty cute pair!
Haha I yield to your cuteness! Love the angle of the cow steed and of course the lil puppy!
Cute :)
Brilliant, as always. And I, too, gladly yield to the cuteness :) I really love seeing your process sketches and how these marvellous, magical creatures burst into colourful resplendence over time – amazing stuff!
Me too! I yield to the cuteness. My knees buckle just from looking at the cow’s luminous eye!
Great perspective on the cow. And of course lots of swirly goodness.
awesome colors and design! great work!
This is so wonderful. I really enjoyed seeing all the steps of creation. I am new to your blog, so I’ll go check your previous entries to see more of your wonderful work.
This is awesome, Cindy! I love how you do your sweet critters!!! I finally entered one, just a minute ago. I hope I did it right, because I didn’t put any text on the painting or anything. Thanks for being so supportive and egging me on. :)
Cute-ness yields. yes. Like.
I like you’re texture/patterns in you’re work. Unique and lovely.
oh, thanks for stopping by too. ;_)
Best to you
I love the cow. Great work.
Hi Cindy–LOVE your cow! Such great expression! I actually really like seeing the pencils, too, as your line work is lovely.
I do yield, I do! Actually I don’t think the cow needed anything … it was lovely all by itself … but I do like the way the dog is riding on it. Hey, how did the colours get lighter – do you have white markers? The subtle variations in colour on the cow’s nose come through gorgeously at the end. I like the bulging eye with the eyelash too.
Do you know that picture book ‘Cow’ by Malachy Doyle with paintings by Angelo Rinaldi? You’d love the close ups of cows’ faces.
I love your creative style!! amazing!
I’m a big fan of your work and this has to be one of my favorite illustrations to date. Delightful image!
So what are you saying? Just throwing in a cute puppy makes everything alright?? Well, kinda I guess. Maybe we should pass out cute puppies in Afghanistan today. Worth a try. Ha.
Oh yeah; thank you Hannah. I likes dem apples.
Adorable! Beautiful color choices. I especially love the yellows and pinks together.
Really cute pair, great! :)
Well you simply ROCK for sharing “how to make an IF thumbnail”. THANKS!
Thanks so much for all the nice comments! I appreciate every one. :) Hooray Minnemie, let me know if you have any trouble with it!
I really love the pattern and colors on the cow!
Love love love the cow!! The position, the color, the pattern – everything about her!!!
Finally set up a blog! Thanks for the suggestion, Cindy!!
I am moooo-ved. No milkshakes from this cow, but I wonder if he’d yield milkswirls? I like his posture and foreshortened nose.
So good to see the process steps. The pencil and line work is so great!
Love love love your swirly effects (as you know…)! That little dog just looks too cool sitting up there like royalty. He has a look on his face that says “Whatever…”. Love the angle of the cows head too – definitely made for carrying VIRD’s (very important royal dogs) ;)
Love the cow, like all the stages on how it was created. Thanks for the comment.
Very fun to see your process. Love those swirly textures (especially on the cow’s nose)!
As usuall! fantastic color and textures!! :))
Yes, Master! Your wish is my command. Woweee, that is a superb cow. LOVE her pose. You should have been chosen to decorate one of those large cow sculptures that popped up around cities. And oh yes, I have puppy love! :D
I would have loved pie too.
Love your work and it’s fascinating to see the process you use. I haven’t used masking fluid for years – takes me back to art college.