from animals to fruits and vegetables, i’m thinking i can use this app for all kinds of illustration.

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Now I can’ stop using it.  So, while watching animals at the Turtle Back Zoo, I decided to paint a couple of the feathered sort.

I cant help but draw this animal (and the ostrich) in a comical way. They really are goofy looking!

And these chickens are the best to draw because of their pattern!

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I’ve been experimenting some. It’s alot less messy for sure, and it’s interesting getting to know a new medium. It’s fun. Here’s James and some flowers done with “watercolors”

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what a coincidence. I just got a copy of Workbook and my featured illustration on PAGE 115 is of Jane Austen. Perfect for posting on this day. 

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I’m not sure about much, but I know that animals will never stop blowing my mind! At the Turtle Back Zoo today, my son and I watched this kimodo dragon taking a drink from a little stream. It’s basically a dinosaur. And that basically blows my mind. ~Despina

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I recently worked on a color illustration for the L.A. based Swimwear designer Palmela G. It’s for the landing page of her website. She custom designs swimwear for her clients by doing careful measurements and giving consultations in order to make a very personal look for her clients. Her textiles and designs are inspired heavily by exotic locations, animals and flora.

For this job, the direction was to reach a level of realism and rendering without losing a the magical fantasy that the client loves to infuse in her designs. She loves animals and so I took good care of them! And I loved the idea of the Snow Leopard in the Jungle! Like a city girl on vacation in the tropics.

Above is the final. Below are some sketches and color studies I made as I worked towards a visual solution.

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In response to Hurricane Sandy’s devastating effects on the New York and New Jersey area, I and the other illustrators of Studio 1482 have each created a print of one of their favorite New York City images to raise money for the displaced victims of the storm, through the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

For each donation of $50 or more, you will receive a hand-signed 13 x 19 limited edition print from one of the Studio 1482 illustrators.

My contribution, shown above, is titled: South Street Seaport, Crew at Work

Please go to www.onedrawingaday.com for more details.

Thank you!

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I had such a great time working with the kids at the Freedom Academy this past August. We made 3 murals with the theme of Unity.

This was the second summer with the Freedom Academy. I really love working with children and these kids were a blast to make art with. Lots of talent, and lots of character.

Here is the bird mural the kids and I made. It is made up of individual paintings they made using feathers for brushes. When joining them altogether we created “Peace Through Unity”. The kids were thrilled to see it become a bird. And were very proud!

Here is the “Unity Tree” mural we made. The roots are the individual hands of the children. They filled their hands with symbols and drawings of what makes them unique from everyone else. When joined together, all their unique qualities built a strong root system for the future. They loved making hand prints for leaves.

And here is the Puzzle Mural. I had them paint in the separate pieces of this mural without telling what the final piece was. After working together to fit the pieces correctly they were surprised to see the word “Unity”. The theme of the overall Camp this year.

Working on the finishing touches.The kids would come to Art class after dance class, and they were fired up! So that’s why we kept the room dark and relaxing.

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I made this drawing 10 summers ago. It’s part of a drawing book that I hold very dear to my heart. One that is never too far from my drawing board. I’ve moved 4 times since I filled it with drawings and notes. With every move, I packed it with the “Fragile” and/or “Important” cargo. I drew this from memory and now I remember so much more whenever I look at it. Crazy what a sketchbook can do! ~Despina

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As promised, a drawing of what I actually saw in Aruba. My favorite sight of all was my boy playing in the sand. He used bits of coral for knights, a shell for a princess, and a dried up coconut for a dragon in the most rudimentary, lovely sand castle those two little hands could construct. -Despina

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Is that all? Is that all you think you’ll see in Aruba? Yes. In fact, that’s all I need to see. The horizon line. Anything more will be icing on a most lovely cake of sweet sweet relaxation!! –That’s the conversation I had with myself after I made this simple simple drawing before leaving for a trip to the Caribbean. Next time I’ll post a drawing of what I actually saw. ~Despina

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A great poem is City Trees by Edna St Vincent Millay. Love how she talks about the importance of context. I read it often and recently felt like making a few drawings. This is the first. ~Despina

The trees along this city street,
Save for the traffic and the trains,
Would make a sound as thin and sweet
As trees in country lanes.

And people standing in their shade
Out of a shower, undoubtedly
Would hear such music as is made
Upon a country tree.

Oh, little leaves that are so dumb
Against the shrieking city air,
I watch you when the wind has come,—
I know what sound is there.

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Every time I work in the garden I cant help but think of my farmer grandfather in Crete, may he rest in peace. This is a drawing of the small tomato plant I’m growing in his memory this year. The seed is from Greece.

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Here’s some book cover art that I recently made for Ohio State University Press.

The subject was the suppressed rage experienced by many members of Jewish communities throughout the world. I think it’s an issue that should be addressed by many cultures of the world. I believe that some of the biggest world issues stem from emotional baggage and rippling effects of traumatic events that just don’t or can’t find a way to leave the people’s hearts and minds. Almost like the world needs therapy!

The layers of masks depicted in this illustration were a way for me to talk about this point of view. The group of people spotlighted in this book have carried on successfully after one of the horrific and traumatic events the world has ever seen, but understandably, the rage still exists behind the “masks”. Very powerful stuff.

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My husband and I went to see Verdi’s Macbeth at the Met last night. On our way there I watched a guitar player performing on the platform of the subway. Later, while observing the sculpture at the top of the stage inside the Met, I decided I’d draw it like Japanese calligraphy because my thoughts were getting a little zen-like. Something about how music could be so grand and so simple. Or how it could be like water and become whatever container you put it in. So I used a brush pen to draw the opulent chandelier and sculpture.

PS- the show was great- amazing talents and I loved the scene when Lady Macbeth loses it- smart graphics in the set design.

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Had a great time last week at the ETSY Hands-On: Drawing. Thank you to everyone who came out to draw with us. Here’s a drawing of you all drawing the great Kika

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My fellow Studio 1482 members and I are going to be part of this great night!

On Thursday, March 8, the members of Studio 1482 will lead a lesson in observational drawing from a costumed model, Kika, at the Etsy labs in Brooklyn. The drawing event is promoting their new book, One Drawing A Day: A 6-Week Course Exploring Creativity With Illustration and Mixed Media, published by Quarry Books. You’ll also have an opportunity to purchase the book and have it signed by the illustrators of Studio 1482.

If you’ll be in the Brooklyn area, definitely stop by. We’d love to see you!

If you can’t make it to Brooklyn, Etsy will be live-streaming a demo by author Veronica Lawlor and interview with her and several of the Studio 1482 illustrators during the event. Visit the Etsy blog for more details.

Details:
Where: Etsy Labs 55 Washington St Suite 712, Brooklyn, NY 11215 (Between Front and Water)
When: Thursday, March 8, 2012
First Session: 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
(Demo for first session begins at 5:15 p.m., so please come at 5:00 p.m. to sign in!)
Second Session: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
(Demo for second session begins at 7:00 p.m., so please come at 6:45 p.m. to sign in!)
Cost: Free
RSVP required at Etsy Hands-On: Drawing.

Also check out the Etsy blog on Tuesday, March 6, to see One Drawing A Day author Veronica Lawlor demonstrate one of the exercises from the book during Etsy’s How-Tuesdays webcast.

To join the One Drawing A Day community, post your exercises on our Flickr page. You’ll receive feedback from the Studio 1482 illustrators, and other One Drawing A Day participants!

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Winter is German Expressionism. So, the gang at seasonsof1482.com has ended the year-long exercise and it looks great! Below are images/links.

First is Winter by me, then the gallery of the completed seasons project, and then a drawing that is today’s post on onedrawingaday.com

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Woke up to more snow than I was prepared for! My first thought was food. What will we eat today? Then I thought of posting a drawing. I thought it would be nice to share a frame from a storyboard I made about snow and gloves.

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I always think of this drawing of mine when the holiday shopping frenzy rears its ugly head every year!

Oh, what I would give to take a nap like the kid in this drawing whenever I felt too tired to carry on with the lists and the bargain hunting and the out of stock debacles and the long lines and the “who did I miss?” panick attacks and the …well…all the rest of that good stuff. What. A. Pain. But it’s tradition, right? But so was foot binding in China! Now, I’m not condoning Bah Humbugging the holidays. I love them. I just think there must be a less painful way to show my loved ones that I care!

Thanks for listening. I feel better!

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HappyH

appy Thanksgiving

with love from despina…

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Here are some drawings of leaves that I’ve made in recent days. I enjoyed sitting at my board, turning on the light and, after randomly scattering the leaves that I gathered while raking the lawn, marking down the beautiful nuances of color and textures of the leaves with my color pastels. It was quiet drawing time. Like a  meditation. I looked at the leaves and light and the colors. And it felt pretty good. I think it’s good to slow down sometimes. I mean really slow down. Slow down and look. and listen. and be still.

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The school of art for this season is Fruit Crate. I like the idea of using beautiful art for advertising. Today’s world is just sooooo….digitally enhanced. Why not think in terms of beautiful art to enhance, or project a feeling through an ad? Click here for more about Seasons of 1482

vintage. patchwork. pick

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