Reluctant Swimmer

It started with a sketch...

She's one of many swimmers I've sketched lately, but I just loved her 'attitude,' so to speak.

So, out came the paper, Mod Podge, and paint, and I set to work bringing this little sketch to life.

 I spend a lot of time picking the right papers to use in my art. The paper combinations might look random and haphazard, which in some cases it is, but in most cases, there's a lot of thought as to which patterns and colors I'll use. For example, in a travel themed piece of art, I might layer my canvas with maps and old travel adds, or I might add recipe pages for a food themed painting. In all of my paintings and illustrations I try to use general, but bold patterns that have stark, contrasting colors to base my canvases because I know that once the paint is layered on, only hints of these patterns will sneak through, so the bolder the pattern, the more likely it won't be completely obscured.  Once the background is finished, I sketch out my subject and get to painting.

Then comes the fun part... dressing the subject.

 I generally have an idea for a color, or a particular look I'm going for, and I pick out a bunch of papers that I think might work. If I'm painting a bird it would be the feathers, or a robot, his metal casing, but in this case, it was this girl's swimwear. I thought I wanted a navy blue swimsuit, so I picked several papers that fit the bill, along with a few other colors with classic patterns. I held each paper up to the painting and tried to imagine the finished piece. Once I narrowed the papers down to a shortlist, I cut out the suit in each color, laid them out, and photographed them. The cutting was through trial and error. I started big, and trimmed it down to fit. If I'm illustrating a piece that requires more intricate scissor work, I'll have a detailed sketch and trace the images on my paper before making the cut, but I thought I could eyeball this one.

I had to call in the jury to help me decide the winning suit...

Then it was glued down, sealed and given some extra details before the I called this reluctant swimmer finished.

xo

nessa dee

Draw This! Bounce

SCBWI has started a new feature for illustrators to submit work based on a monthly prompt. The first month's prompt word is bounce...and this is what I came up with:

I'm going to try to participate each month, so you should be seeing more of these in the future.

Happy Memorial Day!

xo

nessa dee

Busy/Lazy Days

I’m sorry for my absence lately. I have to admit, it’s not because I’ve been super duper busy and haven’t had any time to sit down in front of the computer to write. It’s more of a kind of busy, kind of lazy about blogging kind of absence. I think my brain’s on hiatus and me not think too good right now. Plus, we’ve been trying to catch up on all of the summer activities that we’ve missed out on since I’ve been holed up in my studio for the majority of the break.

Now, we’re gearing up to start school, soccer, some projects around the house, and a bit of last minute travelling; and someone in our family will be starting a new job in a couple of weeks, while another person in our family will be working on art for a two month display at a coffee shop downtown. I’m not exactly sure who’s doing what, but hopefully I’ll figure it out before the job starts. Until then, I’ll leave you with a few pics of the lazy part of our busy/lazy days.

xo

nessa dee

Front Yard Circus

I volunteered to host a Backyard Bible Club at our house this week, which is actually held in our front yard. My job as a host is to provide snacks and a yard, while a team of very talented youth from our church does the rest. I’ve enjoyed having a front row seat to all of the fun and games. I love that teenagers lead the club. The kids really respond to them so much more than to, well, older folk like me because they’re so much cooler than I’d ever be. :) Here are some pictures from the circus that is our front yard this week:

xo

Nessa Dee

IF: Poof!

With school just around the corner, I feel as though someone took summer, set it in front of me, said abracadabra, and POOF!, it's gone.

Enjoy these last few lazy days of summer before the busy schedules begin!

Nessa Dee