So, over the last year or so, I have been dealing with a fair bit of pain when I work. I either have a herniated disc, or a pinched nerve, or both. The pain mostly occurs when I work at the computer. While this obviously sucks, it also has given me an excuse to get away from the computer more often and work on stuff I used to enjoy. Like drawing with pencils. So here’s the result of that.

I got some new semi-soft Koh-i-noor pencils and my older hard Derwents…

An awesome and cheap sharpnener from Mixed Media…

This was the original sketch. I drew it in my sketchbook and scanned and enlarged it.

My old computer table now repurposed for traditional work. Lots of pencils.

Work in progress.

Did this over the course of a couple of days. It was first and foremost a test for dry brushing oil on watercolor paper. I did the sketch (of 1920s starlet Agnes Moorehead) somewhat haphazardly in bed, and well, she’s not really lining up perfectly. But I think the painting part turned out pretty good! I do think the paper had too much texture (it’s a Canson cold press watercolor with a really heavy grain… makes it look almost like canvas paper), so when I get around to another test I’ll try a smoother paper instead.

It felt really good painting in oil, strangely. I used to hate oils, particularly when I was a teen. So either dry brush works for me because it feels more like drawing, or perhaps something has changed as I’ve gotten older and I now don’t feel as intimidated as before.

It’s that time of the week again. Watercolor, waterbrush and ink. Comments are welcome, even if they aren’t all super.

A somewhat tired looking Wonder Woman, with lines and all. Watercolor and ink brush over pencil.

Better late than never. As a side, I really do like her, even if she is sketchy and not finished.

She, on the other hand, is interesting. I’m not quite sure what to make of her. I was drawing loosely when I did this and this was the result. It is closer to the way I do my roughs, and the comics I draw when I do draw them these days. There is always a quirkiness and energy to things I do fast that I am never sure if I like or not; part of my likes the spontaneity of quick pieces. But another part of me thinks that one should be careful to not fall in love with speed because it can be an easy crutch to fall back on. It’s an ongoing debate as to whether I should loosen up and be more abstract, or tighten up and be more formal. Maybe one day I will be able to honestly settle for one side or the other and move on.

There is actually a poem thing in the center, but no, I will not subject you to reading my bad poetry.

Sophia Lauren, watercolor, acrylic ink, color pencil.

Mostly traditional… I ended up having to fix a lean in Photoshop and touched up some details.

So, it’s 2012 and I’ve been feeling like something has been missing from my art life. Things are going well in illustration, but perhaps there has been too much in the way of work and not enough left for me.

Sitting at the computer working, day after day, is bad not only for the body but for the soul. While I do still draw in sketchbooks for myself, it is sometimes soradic – sometimes I will do several sketches a night, other times I may not pick up a pencil for a week or longer.

I feel like I have to at least try to get back to doing something with traditional materials, on a semi-regular basis. So I’m thinking of trying to do something called Traditional Thursday. I will try to put up a new piece on Thursdays that is not done digitally.

So here’s my first (ok, I’m cheating a bit, I have a head start since I have maybe 3 others done too).  Enjoy.

Late night sketching, couple of pieces from the Gucci S/S collection. Not a real fan of it, but couldn’t find the Fendi collection I actually wanted to draw. I guess high waisted pants are back in for Spring.

Finally had some time to do up the new batch of thank you cards for my clients. Will send them out tomorrow, hopefully.