They are making its debut at a trade show…

My part was submitting the vector images, like the butterfly in the top left corner. They were cut out in a material that designers could apply enamel powders & assemble into jewelry.

The color & texture the designers came up with is so creative!

I’m happy to have been a part of this new exciting product line for creative people

I loved the character of Jeanne. Here’s a sketch of her from my “Portrait-a-Day” project. I added color and texture afterwards in Photoshop. Adjusting things is the fun part  

The movie’s visuals were stunning, lots of browns & blues. Great movie!

We watched it on a projector, but it’s overkill. The projector is the kind that is used for auditoriums & takes up way too much room in the living room. Time to downgrade!

This exercise below helps narrow down what resonates with you.

Exercises like these help spot recurring themes in your favorite artwork, wardrobe, home decór – even favorite films. 

I’ll play along with you, below… 

1) Collect ten of your favorite images.

This was the hardest part. I’m sure these will change the next time I do this exercise…
Mine are certainly varied!  (above) — from Illuminated Manuscripts to Hello Kitty. Most were picked by how the image made me feel. Like when I went on a trip to Washington D.C., I saw the Van Goh (left, the green one with flowers) It’s stunning in real life. Or I’m nostalgic for vintage Japanese manga. I read a lot of these as a kid. 

2) Ask yourself, how do the images relate to one another?

They show restraint; either they have lots of color but not much detail, OR they have lots of detail but less color/limited color palette. All are stylized in some way. Environments are unrealistic & ethereal. There’s soft shapes, curves & undulating lines. Lots of nature too. Maybe it’s time to go to the Sequoias again…

3) What five words describe the images you selected?

feminine, intricate, distinctive, stylized, emotive

I hope this exercise is helpful to you! I’ve learned a lot going through it. And here I thought I was going to have more realism in my selection!

It’s hard to have perspective when you’re so up close to it every day.

I’ve been working on children’s book illustration. 

Here’s a rough sketch & color version of a book cover.

News on an entirely different project—

I’ve been working on a children’s book – a project that’s lasted these past months! It’s painted entirely in Photoshop. It took longer then expected to complete cause it’s in a new style. I’m so happy with the great response it’s been getting from the few people I’ve showed it to (they check for misspellings) It was a Photoshop-or-die! situation, so now I’m much more nimble with digital painting.
I love youuuuu, Command Z If only I could apply you in real life. Think of all that midnight snacking that could have been set right!

I sweat like a pig in a factory farm when I spot a misspelling on an already-produced project. That reminds me…
Time to look over the book again for boo-boos! I hope to release more news soon~

I’ve been drawing a portrait a day — sometimes I like to mix it up, by drawing hands or copying Master Drawings. Have to use it or lose it
This was sketched with a Micron Pen.

Happy (Late) Valentine’s Day!

I like to celebrate Valentine’s Day Decor sales the day after.

Paul was Joe’s (my guy’s) Godmother’s Father.

During the service, I ended up drawing Paul from his wedding photo he took at San Francisco. The same sailor hat he wore back then was placed on top of his urn. They played “I Left my Heart in San Francisco” by Sinatra, it was a beautiful service. 

It was my first time meeting Joe’s Godmother, so I was a little shy to give the sketch to Melody — losing your Dad is in the top ten worse days ever — but at the end I did end up giving it to her through some encouragement … she smiled & liked it, so I’m happy for that. 

This took place in Apple Valley, the wide open spaces of the desert was gooorgeous. I live next to the ocean, so it’s such a contrast in environments! 

Going to any Memorial Service makes me renew my New Year’s Resolutions  

Before I ride off in the sunset, I’ll keep in mind to enjoy the ride by doing more of what I love.

*turns up Sinatra songs & croons along

Drawing on a small surface area is faster, but the detail is tricker. The next 20-min portrait will be on a large paper with charcoal, it’s good to mix it up

Stan: Hello Sophia, you’re looking younger every day. 

Sophia: Hi Stan, and that’s a beautiful toupee you’re wearing. Great, now we’re both liars.

It was fun to see such purdy things & visit Globecraft Memories’ Booth with product that I recognized working on! It was Globecraft Memories’ Piccolo DIY Home Décor Debut~

Here’s the progress of the Piccolo Brand Identity:

First a sketch, then it’s narrowed down before it’s refined in Illustrator. Here is the current Piccolo logo with decorative elements that may be used in Promotional items like Catalogs, etc.

I loovvve the sophisticated color palette, picked by Mae Lewis & Summer Spedowski. 

I worked for the Children’s Market for a long time, so it’s always refreshing working in something other then primary colors, haha!

When I used to perform at piano recitals, my teacher said that it was much harder to perform a song everybody knew, because if you screwed up people would know

I wanted to start sketchin’ famous people when I had more time to practice my drawing, further down the road — but it’s fun to see where I can improve. Happy B-day, Mr. Lincoln! ♥

I’ll draw a Portrait for about 20 minutes a day. It’s a great warm-up exercise!

I took a Portrait Drawing Class when I was working on my BA — we had to turn in a drawing a day. All this homework really paid off at the end of the class.
I could whip out a drawing soooo much faster & with more accuracy. 

Lately, I’ve been using the computer exclusively in my work. I draw directly into Photoshop using my Mouse Pen … BUT there’s nothing like drawing from life — it trains my eye + refines my style.

It’ll be fun to chart my progress + “Fill in the Blank” at the end of the year

What a FABulous year it’s been! Thank you for all your encouragement & support — here’s to an amazing 2012!! 

★ Wishing you a safe and happy holidays ★

xo, Anna

I think I’ll name my new printer GIGANTOR

I upgraded my ‘lil all-in-one HP printer to a Canon, which prints up to 13″ x 19″.

(I’ll be able to print out actual size pages of the Children’s book I’m working on, awwwww YEAGH!)

I bought it for… drumroll, please … less then half price on Craig’s List — MINT in box — from a film student that didn’t really have a need for it. I’ve gotten addicted to bargaining when I used to live in Thailand. But even if you detest bargaining, the people who posted on Craig’s List have already bargained the price down for you.

Joe was so kind to pick up this big boy, since it was on his way home from Long Beach. I didn’t know the pick-up place was in Crenshaw, Joe said he saw a police raid a house on his way there — Adventure Times!

(I bought my MacBook Pro from Craig’s List too, I recommend arranging the meeting somewhere public. Just in case…and you might want to go with someone too. Thanks to Liz & Cynthia for playing chaperon )

Here’s a progression of my office space below. I’ve found less IS more —

BEFORE :

AFTER:

— but, like Jello, there’s always room for a dollhouse shelf. 

—————-

Any tips for saving some mula? Please share! Since starting up my business, I’ve turned (even MORE) into a money-saving & time-saving tip junkie.