Tag Archives: atc

Maidens in Profile and Retro Sci-Fi ATCs

Lena the Seer, 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners and white gel pen.

Lena the Seer acts as both Counselor and Matchmaker to all the races of people in the Wonder Woods. She is well-respected by all but a few stubborn goblins who rarely heed her advice. Inevitably to their detriment.

Peculiar Maiden, Mystic Princess and Retro Redhead
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″, Copics, pen and ink. Two on bristol, one on mustard card stock.

Despite an existing list of trades and swaps I need to do (plus the great topic “Book” for Illustration Friday this week!), sometimes I’ll take a detour and do something else. In this case, the “Pleasantly Pretty and Particularly Peculiar People Profile Swap” at atcsforall.com. As a bonus, this swap inspired five more maidens for my 100 Maidens Project, which is now up to 32 maidens. (I must admit I was too fond of Lena the Seer {above} and decided to keep her rather than send her in for the swap!)

The Fontaine X97 and Retro Rocket
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, white gel pen. Bristol, and mustard card stock.

The Fontaine X97 is considered a multi-class weapon. It is equipped with both long range and narrow beam lasers and a variety of explosive and cloaking attachments (available separately). It is rated M-14 and requires a Second Master’s Class license.

The Fontaine X97 is analogous to ancient earth’s BMW 300 series. This series was affordable to a wider audience than its top models, while still retaining the highest in early 21st century innovation and engineering.

For “Robots, Rocketry and Rayguns Swap” at atcsforall.com. If I haven’t mentioned it sixty-seven times already, I highly recommend atcsforall.com for anyone looking for a little inspiration, practice, feedback or ideas. It is open to everyone and features a huge range of art styles and levels.

At the risk of making this post way too long I just wanted to say one more thing. I sometimes get comments asking how I have time to do so much art! Well, I do have a regular job as an office manager, but because business is slower this year I am working about 32 hours. But the main reasons I think are, 1. I have no kids, and 2. I don’t go out much. Also, my current Artist Trading Card phase means tiny art that just doesn’t take as long as larger pieces. Thanks so much to everyone for stopping by! Progress pics below.

[portfolio_slideshow size=large]

Whimsical Robot Swap and More Maiden ATCs

 

For the Whimsical Robots Swap at illustratedatcs.com, each 2.5″ x 3.5″.
Copic markers, fine liners and white gel pen on smooth Bristol Board.

Hermes, the dog, is a very agreeable robot and will also serve as a beer opener. He makes a great companion for amiable-type hermits. Chelsea, the cat, is much more ornery, and suits the sarcastic hermit personality somewhat better. Of course the manufacturer insists that for optimum mental health, everyone should have one of each.

The pony is Gladys. Not recommended for hermits, because she is really too sweet-natured and were a hermit to go into a diabetic coma – nobody around to call 911! She makes a most excellent companion for small children, especially loners. (A blue version with a ball cap called Carlos is available for those opposed to purple.)

Roland the highland cow robot is a deluxe model companion. He performs admirably on guard duty, can detect gas leaks, put out small fires, and will alert you if you’ve left the stove or faucet on. Can also perform minor plumbing and electrical repairs. On pet mode he has a charming and goofy demeanor.

Modern Shaman Maiden (Bree), Green Gele (Nadi), The Nose Knows (Autumn)
Maidens 17, 18 and 16. Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copic markers and white gel pen.

These are maidens 17, 18 and 16 for my 100 Maidens project. Is this too many images and stories for one blog post? Feel free to let me know!

#17:  Bree’s mother was a missionary in Africa who went native and moved in with a tribal shaman. Bree was born less than a year later and grew up learning the shamanic arts. She spent many summers in Sheffield, England with her aunt’s family, but always preferred the tribe she grew up in. Reference photo.

#18:  In Nigeria, a tall elaborate head tie is called a Gele. On her visit there, Nadi got to try on several in a strange little shop lit by lanterns made of green glass.

#16:  Autumn was born to wildly hippie parents in the early 70’s. She is a caffeine addict who does tedious technical writing by day, and titillating Star Trek fan fiction by night! Reference photo.

[portfolio_slideshow size=large]

Thank you for stopping by!

100 Maidens Project and Illustration Friday

Celestial Maiden Fara, 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics

Celestial Maiden Deia, 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics

 

The topic this week at Illustration Friday is “Lonely” and there are few lonelier than the Celestial Maidens. Whether walking the stars or talking to planets, they walk the heavens and rarely meet. These are the final two in a group of four created for a swap at illustratedatcs.com. The first two can be found in my last post.

I joined that swap as a challenge because I so rarely do people of any kind. But I had so much fun I decided to embark on a new project called 100 Maidens. I figure after 100 I will be much better at drawing women, at any rate! It’s not 100 in 100 days or any madness like that. Just 100 in the next year or so, hopefully a really nice variety (and not 100 young, beautiful blondes, for instance). I’ve got a Flickr set created to collect them.

The one below was created for a trade by someone who liked the second maiden and wanted a version with warm colors. Thanks for visiting!

Maiden Number 5, Pharandra, 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics

[portfolio_slideshow size=large]

King Charles Cavalier and Celestial Maidens

So, it’s not just that making tiny works of art is immediately gratifying, it really teaches you things. In this installment I do a specific dog breed (rather than a cartoonish mutt):

King Charles Cavalier, 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics

And it didn’t go as terribly as expected! I used this reference photo. His name is Vincent and he is a snack fiend (just like my dog Wilson,  a King Charles mix)! I experimented a bit with a white gel pen outline.

Celestial Maiden 1, 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics

I also did some people! I never do people. For one thing, too many other people do it so well. And I didn’t take enough life drawing classes. And I haven’t practiced much. Lots of excuses! I bet you have excuses for something you should just go ahead and do. Really.

The impetus for the people was joining a trading card swap (at illustratedatcs.com) with the subject Celestial Maidens. And guess what? Not as terrible as expected! The one on the right is Rona, who creates the night sky for dreaming children.

The second is Jin, a starwalker.  (I got a bit frustrated with the hair so threw a big scarf on it, which turned out to be the perfect place for some swirly things.) I can see a lot of flaws but mostly I am happy they are not terrible! I still need to do two more for the swap.

Celestial Maiden 2, 2.5″ x 3.5″, Copics

Thanks for stopping in! You folks have all been so damn nice!

[portfolio_slideshow size=large]

Chameleon, Wombat, and Kettle in Copics

Strange Chameleon Two, 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics

Edgar Wombat 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics

 

 

Perhaps you are shocked to see more ATCs. For those of us joining for the first time, I started doing Artist Trading Cards about three weeks ago, and I’ve done about 20 now. Which is crazy. And I must mention illustratedatcs.com again because they are to blame. I mean, to thank. :) (They also have a bigger site, atcsforall.com.)

The thing about tiny cards is: instant gratification, nearly instant satisfaction and practically instant feedback. Ah, internet, you have reduced our attention spans to approximately 45 seconds. But I will try to work with you.

Edgar the wombat is a huge fan of the movie My Neighbor Totoro. Wombats rock.

Gnome Portal Kettle 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics

Slideshows for all three! If anyone wants to see. Thank you so much for visiting. :)

[portfolio_slideshow size=large]

Chameleon photo reference, wombat photo reference.

Another Art Trading Card Post: Cat, Kingfisher, Dog

 

Purple Peach Peterbald Cat ATC, 2.5″ x 3.5″, Copics on Bristol

I finally decided I should document these tiny arts just like any other. Or, some of them at any rate. So here you have the latest three (I am most pleased with the Cat), with a slideshow for one of them. It’s funny to see them in a blog post. I’ve saved them at 5 inches and on my screen they are the exact size of the original. Still trying to decide whether to list them for trade or for sale in my Etsy shop.

Green Crested Kingfisher ATC, 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics on Bristol

Orange Barclay, 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics on Bristol

Barclay the dog got a bit overworked, and the lighter background was probably a better choice. I thought about leaving him out  but this blog was not intended as a best-of production. (For one thing, way fewer posts!) Both the cat and dog could use whiskers and I just got a new Uni-ball Signo white gel pen, which came out on top after rigorous testing at ArtTrader magazine. I skipped the whiskers for now but I did use it on their eyes to good effect.

[portfolio_slideshow size=large]