Don't go to bed hungry~

So... last night was the first of two performances of our children's Summer Theater camp, and I was there early and home late. That meant skipping dinner. So I guess I went to bed a bit hungry. And I dreamed about a kitten eating spaghetti of all things. I guess since we had been playing a game with the children before their performance... a game involving FOOD names, I must have had food on my mind. And this is what happened in this morning's sketching session.

©GingerNielson

And now I'm hungry all over again!

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ EMERGENCY

Oh yeah! Un huh! and will someone please tell Peter to RUN! It's an EMERGENCY and who knows what happened to the poor duck? ( I guess she forgot to....)©Ginger Nielson 2007

TWO FLUTES

Finished for now, but may have another revision. Click here to see the beginning stages.
©Ginger Nielson2007

Mothers always know best

When it comes to soothing a scraped knee, mothers always know best.


©Ginger Nielson 2007

To the Cintiq and beyond...

I have a few little index cards tacked to my bulletin board. They contain wistful 'wishes' for the future. One card has a Nordic Track C2200 treadmill listed on it, one has an Epson wide body printer, but the one that caught my eye this morning, as it always does, was the one that simply reads: CINTIQ 21UX




I use a Wacom 6x11 tablet, and am very happy with it, but I know I would be far closer to Nirvana with a Cintiq beneath my stylus. One of the things that I wondered was if the Painter and Photohop palettes would be visible along with the artwork on the CINTIQ so I went looking for Demos. On YOU TUBE I was able to find several ( actually a whole bunch) demos that are sure to have you salivating if you are a digital artist. I was pleased to see the palette on the screen along with the artwork. I don't know why I thought it wouldn't be there.

The most amazing thing, and something I had not even thought of was the ability to turn the CINTIQ into any direction for drawing. Just like your drawing pad, you can move it from angle to angle for the 'real time' feel of drawing on paper. I now know that I will have to keep walking outdoors (forget about the Nordic Track for the time being) and focus on the CINTIQ.



My favorite video can be viewed on YouTube if you do a search for : Wacom Cintiq 21ux in action

Are you an Illustration Athlete?

Are you an ILLUSTRATION ATHLETE?
Do you exercise your creative talent?
How?

It would be interesting to hear how others out there create an environment that encourages their gifts or talents.
Like any olympic swimmer, runner, or hurdler, there are obstacles to overcome in our everyday lives that may hinder our progress.

Are you ever burned out, facing ridiculous deadlines, worrying about an editor's comments?



In my own way I deal with these challenges on a day to day basis. But the most important aspect of my illustrating life is the time spent each day drawing, observing, painting, or photographing. Maybe it is the 'ink in the blood' syndrome, but for me a day isn't complete without a drawing either begun, finished or somewhere on its way to completion.

The reward, may not come in money or a new assignment, but in simply standing back and looking at the finished work, and being able to say... " Now that one, I really am proud of!"

What keeps your illustrating muscles toned?

Stages of development

Several stages in the ongoing illustration of two flute players... not nearly finished, but at least making some progress