August Newsletter
Overview
What’s in this month’s issue:
Discussion about the #funwithfaces challenge
Reference image and final art comparisons
Portrait Pinterest board for your own art inspiration
A quick tip of the month
Basic life updates
A video for the road
Art Updates
At the end of last month, I spent some time participating in the #funwithfaces challenge on Instagram. I wasn’t sure I would make it through the entire week’s worth of prompts, but once I got started, I found I was really enjoying making the different portraits. It also gave me a chance to practice avoiding a thing I’ve been worried about recently, which is “same face”. I’ve been concerned that my characters sometimes look a little too similar and are really just the same character with different clothes. Participating in this challenge gave me a chance to stretch those skills and prove to myself that I do have some range.
It also made me consider running my own challenge eventually, but I am not quite there yet with going to anything more labor intensive than a draw this in your style challenge.
Behind the Scenes
During the #funwithfaces challenge, I used some reference to help me get a variety of poses and to bring in some fresh ideas for more personality and variety. I’ve included a few side by sides of the reference and the final piece. You’ll also find some of these included on the Pinterest board I created below.
Get Inspired
I’ve created a small Pinterest Board with some of the inspiration I used for my own recent portraits along with a few other images I found inspiring for future ideas. I’ve realized in hindsight it’s very female focused so that’s a board for another newsletter. I hope it gives you some ideas for your own illustrations and if you make something, let me know!
Quick Art Tip
Try using a color just off white for the whites of your eyes, then use pure white to create a dot to add a pop of shine to your character’s eyes!
What I’m Doing
I’m currently binging the Podcast “Obsessed with Disappeared”. It’s a podcast with a serious topic, but with hosts who aren’t too serious, which is exactly what I need at the moment. I also enjoy Art Slice Pod and Conan O’Brien needs a friend when I am looking for something a little less people are missing.
I’m also rediscovering my love for video games and I am alternating between Zelda: Skyward Sword and Stray. I’m determined to finish these games. I have a very bad habit of playing until I am almost finished and then moving on to something else. I never know how anything ends!
It’s summer and I am not teaching at the moment so I’ve got my full attention on my art. Several client projects are on the go in the background and I’m sneaking in some personal art here and there. I’ve also elected to stay in Austria this summer, which is VERY weird for me. I love to get home and see my friends and family so it’s been a bit disorienting, but I am adjusting.
Thank you so much for sharing!! 💚
🥰🥰