Keeping a Sketch Journal

Most people who know me know that I am an extremely busy person. 

Being such, I just have days where there is either no time to draw, no motivation to draw, or, I am just plain too wore out to draw. 

Last year when this happened, I bought a cute little sketchbook at Wal-Mart for about $5, and decided I was going to keep some sort of a sketch journal. At the time, I decided to theme that particular journal around Black Widow and Hawkeye Chibis...

I did pretty good at keeping up with this sketchbook. If I fell behind, I just caught up the next day. And, I actually managed to get most of the entries in that journal colored, too (which always seems to be a time thing for me)! 

And so after I pretty much filled up that sketchbook, I didn't keep another one for awhile. I had time to do some sort of art every day at the time, and so it wasn't as necessary as it had been before.  But this summer has been so crazy, jam packed full, that squeezing in any time for art has just not happened. I know I sound like a broken record when I keep talking about it, but when you're someone that wants to be drawing and improving all the time, it can be very discouraging!!!  So I went back to Wal-Mart and purchased another blank sketchbook to keep as a journal. 

Most people that keep art journals or sketch journals nowadays really do so much with them, that it makes mine look really shabby in comparison!  But for me, my sketch journal is just about taking a few minutes each day to sketch something. Some days, it's all I have time for!! 

Some days I have time to do some really nice sketches, and time to get them all colored in, too!!  (I recently purchased some new glittery gel pens from Sakura, and I love them!) 

 

                           Some days I only have time for something really basic and quick.

                        I have so many reference/concept ideas saved to my tablet that I've
           been wanting to try drawing, and some of my sketches have come from those!

It's really all about just trying to keep some sort of goal each day. And I have days where I fall behind and don't get the sketch done; so I just pick it back up the next day and draw two entries. I have managed to ink most of them, and color a few, but I'm pretty behind on coloring. They don't all have to be colored in, though I'd prefer that they get colored at some point!!  =-)    I decided to try drawing Alice (an original character) every day for now, because I wanted to practice keeping a consistency with one character.

  If you are like me and have days where you don't have much time to draw, I'd encourage you to pick up a nice blank sketchbook and start keeping a sketch journal yourself!!  I think it's one of the best things you can do as an artist, to make time for it every day. It's also a great way to relax at the end of a busy day, and, in a year, it's fun to go back and look through your entries to see how much you've improved!!!   =-)

-Stasia-Chan '15

Anastasia Romanov Progress Pictures

This isn't really much of a blog post..  I just thought it would be really neat to see all the progress pictures stacked together like this!!!    

I know I keep saying it, but life is just absolutely CRAZY this summer, and so I have a kind of drag right now when it's coming to rolling out new art. Right now, I'm working to sketch something  every day in my sketch journal, and trying to work to get a few things colored. This piece that I finished is a possible entry for the fair, but I also have two others I am trying to get colored that I am considering as entries. And trying to work out a crocheted blanket pattern... I wanted to enter that in the fair too, but it's a mess right now so that may not happen this year!!   xD   

Hope you like the finished product!!  <3

-Stasia - Chan  '15 

Off to Library Con!!!!

Hey guys!!!  Our local paper actually did a front page article today about the mini comic con at the library... I got a shout out as a local manga artist... DREAM COME TRUE!!!  <3   You can read the article here if you'd like!!!  http://www.timesreporter.com/article/20150715/NEWS/st_refDomain=www.facebook.com&st_refQuery=





Hey guys!!!  So, if you've been keeping up with me on social media... facebook, instagram... you'll know that my art life has been pretty crazy lately as I prepared for the biggest artistic endeavor of my summer:   A mini Comic -Con at our local library!!!  

I have known about this event for several months now. The library has a teen anime club that meets once a week, and I have presented and given demonstrations there three times prior to the comic con. =-)  I was really excited to have this opportunity, because, obviously... don't ALL artists dream about participating in a comic con?!   BTW... I know that we have small cons here in Ohio, but I don't drive, and so it would really be a hassle to go!!!   -_-;

The theme of the library's summer reading program is "Superheros", so I decided that would be a good running theme for any display art I would draw up, and also for the demonstration I would be giving in the afternoon.

This is the super hero I drew up, based on a chibi pose from Chris Hart's "How to Draw Manga Chibis" book. I modified the pose a bit from the original and obviously changed up the character's look, since it wasn't initially a super hero dude. When I give demos to groups, I prefer using a reference from a book that I can pass on to the kids to go check out themselves!!! 

This is a very poor attempt to recreate the Super Dude on a small dry erase board... You'd think I would be better at using the board by now... Nope.   xD   Oh well!!!  The kids did a great job following along, I saw some really nice chibis when it was done, so that's what it's all about!!   (Also this dude looks a bit squished there... xD ) 

I have been working really hard on my display items. I made two small display boards, one for a super hero, the other for a villain character. I also framed a few pieces of mine and set up a few that were not framed.  Quite a few people came up afterwards and looked and asked questions about media I use to color my work. I love answering those kinds of questions!!!  <3

I set up pencils they could take, and also I drew up a bookmark of Scarlet Witch, since I cosplayed as her, and my husband helped layout and print those. I included all my social media info and email on the back. A lot of the kids really liked those!!  

It was a busy afternoon!!  There was another local cartoonist that gave a drawing demo, crafts and video games, snacks, and prizes were given out at the end of the afternoon for best costumes. I got to be one of the judges for that, which was totally fun!!!  So many people came out in really nice cosplay, so it was a really tough choice!!!  It was also my first time cosplaying... so I was really nervous about that. But it was a fun experience, and I would definitely do it again next year.. since we are planning on another mini comic con!!!  =-)

This is my little group that went... Myself as Scarlet Witch, my sister Bethany as "Belle" from Once Upon a Time, and my sister Felicity as "Asuna" from Sword Art Online. My daughter Lucy also dressed up as "Princess Elsa" and came with us for a little bit, so she got to have fun and feel pretty too!!   =-) 

Since this kind of stuff never happens in our little town, my sisters wanted to go walk around our mall in cosplay after the con was over. The mall was dead though... but we had one lady come up to us and ask if Felicity was a nurse or a doctor...   ? This kind of stuff is REALLY rare happenins' here!! 

 

 Mind control....??    

My husband surprised me by taking off work early so he could come to my demonstration at the library. That was really special!!!   <3   And then we came back home and did some goofy pictures too... 

It was a really great day!!!  So glad that we took lots of pictures to remember it by.  The teens and kids that came out for it all seemed to have a really fantastic time as well, and are super excited about doing it again next year!!!!  Sounds like I am already planned to be there again, so yay!!!!  Looking forward to it!!!!!  =-)


Now.... some surprise art.  I was asked about a month ago to work on a poster for one of our local theater's upcoming shows.  They have asked a bunch of local artists to take a poster and create, and then that poster will be unveiled at the board meeting in September. I have been very excited about this, but just super busy, and decided I wanted to keep it a secret for a while... =-)   I got first pick of the shows, and since I'm already going to be the lighting designer/board operator for "Charlotte's Web" opening in April, I decided it would be super fun to do something for that show!!!  =-)  Now that life is slowing down a little, I broke out the book and started reading it again and looking over Garth William's lovely illustrations for some inspiration. I have a few rough sketches right now, so bear with me on those... Talking with the director about her thoughts and which direction she'd like to go with it, and should have something finished soon, since the deadline for submission is coming up in August!!!  

And so!!! That is what has been ongoing lately.. Things have been super busy, especially the last few days as I was kicking it into high gear for library con... I don't know how artists that go to the really big cons do it!!!  So much time and thought went into everything I put together for it, and I'm really excited at the outcome and the possibility of doing it again next year. It was really nice to have a slow paced day around the house today, catching up on housework and errands and enjoying some nice weather!!!  These things have been a bit overlooked this week.   =-)  

If you came to the library con and are reading this, thanks so much for coming out... What a fun time!!!   And MANY thanks to Ms. Darlene, who puts so much effort and time into these anime events!!!!!    =-)  

Until next post... Assemble!!!

-Stasia-Chan '15 

 

Works of Inspiration

Hey guys!  I have been tossing back and forth a couple things to blog about, but then I got sick and have been just EXHAUSTED...!!!  and thus, I decided to go with this post, since it would require less effort on my part (but hopefully still be interesting).  And so!! 

I've had a little bit of down time with being sick, and so I've been re-reading and studying a lot of my favorite manga works!  When I really like something, I re-read it A LOT. I thought it would be fun to share with you guys who some of my favorite manga artists are, and how they've influenced my own work!!

 

1. Sailor Moon- Naoko Takeuchi

The first time I ever saw anime, it was because I first saw "Sailor Moon" on Toonami. From the first time I saw it, I was awestruck. It was so unlike anything that I had ever seen in animation! Sailor Moon was also awesome because she was a girl super hero that was honestly, just a clumsy, cry baby girl... a lot like myself. Sure, there were other super hero girls on TV.. Wonder Woman was very popular in animation at the time.. but Sailor Moon was a girl on a girl's level. It was because of watching the anime that I started making attempts in drawing manga style art when I was around 10.. of course, my first attempts were from good. But the animation had inspired me to keep trying!! 

I actually didn't get to read the manga until years later... and I actually didn't even know when I was younger that most anime are based on manga stories. I was actually kind of shocked when I first read the manga, and saw how different the art style was compared to the anime!!!  O_o  It took me awhile to like the manga style, but now that I've come to appreciate it, I can see how much Naoko Takeuchi's art stands out from so many others... even today.





2.  Emma/ A Bride's Story - Kaoru Mori

"Emma" by Kaoru Mori was the first manga series I ever read. I was completely and utterly obsessed! Even today, it's still my favorite series and the series that I've re-read over and over again. Set in Victorian times, Emma is the story of a maid and a nobleman that fall in love.. which was strictly looked down upon at the time. Everything about Mori's works are fantastic and worth reading... The storyline and characters were interesting and gripping from the start, and I loved watching Mori's style evolve from the first book....

... to the fourth volume...

Her style just blossomed and became more detailed and intricate in every volume (seven books for the main storyline, and three "side story" volumes that end with the wedding of Emma and William).

From drawing crowds...

...to landscapes...

..and beautiful Victorian/Edwardian fashions..

Mori's works are just a treat to read and study over and over again.   I've had a few people tell me that my drawing style resembles hers a little bit, and if that's just slightly true... than I am flattered. She has certainly had an influence on me, if not being my biggest influence in manga art. And the woman is dedicated. So in love with the Victorian era and fashions is she, that she did a six page inclusion for a magazine just on the subject of the corset...  (this segment is included in her short story book, "Anything and Something")

Also, her newest and still ongoing work, "A Bride's Story", is just as richly done and perhaps even more detailed than "Emma".... ?   The picture below can allow you to decide for yourself.  ;-)

3. Gunslinger Girl -Yu Aida

Now that I think about it, I'm not sure where I first heard about "Gunslinger Girl"... I think I saw an ad for it in another manga I was reading and just thought that the title sounded interesting. I was not disappointed. In fact, I'm constantly surprised by hard core manga/anime fans that have never heard of it!!!  Aida's art style progressed greatly from the fist couple volumes of this ( fifteen volumes by the end) series.

I think the thing that captivates me most by Aida, is his story telling in this series. Each girl/cyborg has a unique, yet tragic background that plays a part in how she becomes what she is now. It's all very well done and layered, and you see some real character development through out the series.. something that sometimes never happens through out a manga series. The series concludes, I felt, in a bit of a shocking way, but after you have some time to think it over, it's a well done conclusion that wraps up all the loose ends. I'm still a huge fan of this series... the art style, and the action scenes, and especially, the story.

4. The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross- Arina Tanemura

 I discovered Tanemura San's works completely by accident. I was browsing through the bookstore, and I had enough money to buy a book. I had planned to buy another Chris Hart manga tutorial book, but I came across "The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross" art book instead. Just the cover illustration was so striking, that I changed my mind and ended up buying that book instead! Before that, I had not read a single one of Arina Tanemura's works, but after buying this art book and drooling over her gorgeous, colored illustrations, I immediately got on our library's network and began ordering them in.

While her story lines end good (though I've noticed a trend in her works, that the story usually takes time to really get up and go), the artwork is what really pulled me in. I've pored over the art book ever since I bought it, and I think over buying another manga tutorial book or buying the "Gentlemen's Alliance" art book, I made the better purchase. I brought that book home and I studied it ardently, especially her shading techniques, which was something that I wasn't yet doing in my own work. I started trying to mimic her color techniques in my own work, and slowly I started noticing improvement!!! Tanemura's work also tends to be very detailed and lavish, so there's lots to study. Her style in the manga doesn't stray far from her illustrations!

Her older work, "Phantom Thief Jeanne", has been recently re-released with new artwork, and I'd have to say that it's my favorite work of hers as far as a storyline goes. But I still appreciate most her artwork for "The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross"!






.... I feel like I've already written and shown quite a lot here, so I just want to add these last few as sort of "honorable mentions", I guess..? 


-Yotsuba and ! -  Yotsuba is an energetic little five year old girl living with her adoptive father in Japan.

It's more of a comedy, slice of life manga that is hilarious and laugh out loud. This is another series I am surprised to hear hard core manga fans say "I've never heard of that"...    O_O 

I've learned the most about facial expressions from Kiyohiko Azuma (the mangaka behind Yotsuba).
Yotsuba has an expression for EVERYTHING, and there's always a lot of energy put into her character!!


-Chobits/ Kobato -  I think it's safe to say that CLAMP has also influenced a lot of new manga artists, or young girls wanting to be manga artists... they have such a soft, shoujo style that is very feminine! I bought the illustration book to "Chobits" a few years ago so that I could better study their color illustrations. They tend to be very soft in their color schemes, something I desperately want to achieve in my own work!  (Maybe in the future...)  As far as a manga goes, CLAMP really does sell the whole package... from art work, to characters and story lines, their work is one that always leaves a strong impression. I've actually heard people say that they think CLAMP is overrated, and I was like...  O_O    I guess some people just don't see what everyone sees?!

I know I talked about quite a few different artists and styles!  These are just a few of the people that have inspired me. I hope that if nothing else, I've given you some new venues to maybe check out and be inspired yourself!!   


-Stasia -Chan '15