Notetaking..it's the first thing I do when I'm learning. I think it's the academic in me but it just helps the info stick a little better. Also like to work out things in monotones as seen below w vases before diving in.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 1 - student project

Just chose colors from the gamut with no real intentional theme in mind...quite freeing it was to just put down paint. Then added black scribbly outlines. Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 2 - student project

Wanting to make it my own..attempted to do some teapots but w/o line b/c i think I preferred the vases w/o the definition... Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 3 - student project

Still not quite satisfied..like it was missing something...tried a more familiar subject matter combining what I liked from above tries... no lines and white details Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 4 - student project

Still not quite there stylistically so decided to take a different route. Rather than paint..why not draw with the brush. This required me to lighten up on color and really rely on transparency of the medium. Been feelin’ pressed for time so of course, I decide to go for clock shapes…or more specifically, vintage pocket watches.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 5 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 6 - student project

So b/c the wash was light, couldn’t use white gel pen..hence the micron. Felt that the details were a bit heavy handed on this set so I decided to try again…similar theme…vintage floor clocks (fav of mine)

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 7 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 8 - student project

Felt that this style was something I want to pursue and want to see more of. The light touch and blend of the wc and hint of ink just seems to draw my eye. By doing the pocket watch, I was also able to see what colors I favored…muted, grayish, bronze-y family. The second one (maybe it’s payne’s grey?) is something I hope to incorporate more into my palette.

Now on to the prompts...

1. Write down any 5 adjective and 5 nouns…

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 9 - student project

ugh ( i was really pulling for dirt or plant). so when I think of sanguine, I think of feelings of optimism and hope and when I think of those things it makes me think of what we do to create our luck. Running with that idea...decided to do a charm bracelet with each charm representing any one of those things.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 10 - student project

the first..shows "happiness" written in Japanese..something definitely required for optimism. the second has Neko...also known as the lucky cat in Asian cultures. the third is a simple rabbit's foot. Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 11 - student project

and of course, can't leave out elements of nature ---flower, cactus, and tree.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 12 - student project

Fun warmup to get things on paper that is reflective of my current style

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 13 - student project

2. Garden of shapes

using notes from doodling section to inspire ..working again in limited colors to remove elements to help focus on one thing at a time

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 14 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 15 - student project

Saw this and immediately thought...pattern it...so

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 16 - student project

And another colorway..it was hard to play w color because I painted blobs and linework together. next time, will scan color and lines separately.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 17 - student project

3. Unity of stars

when picturing stars..i envision a galaxy..when i hear unity, i think balance and w balance a small cluster of flowers that seems "complete". just a sketch and watercolor for now…still trying to figure out how to take it a step further.

inspo for flowers Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 18 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 19 - student project

4. Cozy room without color - immediately black and white came to mind…then started thinking isn’t black a color…am i not going deep enough? in the end…what guided this scene was concept of hygge …Danish term to describe a cozy moment or feeling felt either alone or with others. So things that conjure that feeling…tea, books, blankets, pillow, blankets, rugs, blankets, wicker, warm fireside. Also, say it with texture (fur, cotton) and soft shapes (more round, less hard edges) to communicate that feeling.

inspo Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 20 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 21 - student project Added tip of pen to I guess to emphasis the “w/o color” aspect.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 22 - student project

5. Draw favorite fruit (cherry) 12 ways..love the fruit..don’t love the flavor. Exploring different ways to express the same object.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 23 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 24 - student project

Straight ink is still what I love best. With ink and the watercolor a close 2nd. Surprisingly I also liked the “abstract” and “negative space” versions as well.

6. Texture dance

Based on Dylan’s class, I established that I wanted to focus on texture as one of the elements of design. So collected nature items and whatever else was around to try to make my own.

First put down color then while still wet, placed different items on top.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 25 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 26 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 27 - student project

Not all of them turned out..think it was due to lack of pigment on my part. Still great exercise to incorporate natural elements into our art.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 28 - student project

7. Colors that pop

Working out color combinations/ harmony based on past sketches I’ve done that seemed to just have a nice “look” to them to try to apply to my bouquets.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 29 - student project

8. Subtle bouquet

Originally going for a subtle bouquet but learned that yellow can signify courage and so I kinda consider this a bold subtle bouquet…so a bubtle bouquet? The process was long to compose the pieces and with coloring, arranging, picking out lines. Prior to this, I think I was trying to include too many flowers believing it would make the bouquet stronger. By focusing on simple blooms, I felt more free to see it as a whole to achieve a sense of harmony. With more practice I hope to include more variety, more complexity but for now..i guess this is where i am.

Sketches brought into Ps and cleaned up.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 30 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 31 - student project

version that keeps inklines intact

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 33 - student project

Modified line version which I prefer slightly more.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 34 - student project

9. Bold bouquet (revisiting past piece)

A bouquet I tried when first taking Dylan's Illustrating Bouquets class a few months back. Never really finished it b/c it just didn't have that flow that I was looking for. Made some teeny adj but still not quite there.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 35 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 36 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 37 - student project

10. Bold bouquet new - A book cover caught my eye and sparked some color inspo for bold bouquet. Sketching out bloom ideas..then arranging…then coloring.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 38 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 39 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 40 - student project

first wanted to try monochrome/limited palette

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 41 - student project

Expanded palette and let go of the initial color scheme and tried to let it evolve. I think with line gives it a little more oomph but I also do like the light touch one without as much line.

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 42 - student project

Workshop Project - Delving, Searching, Seeking Still - image 43 - student project

Closing thoughts

I think I’m left with more questions than answers. So I guess I'm still delving, searching, and seeking still.

Though digital is an area I’d like to get a better grasp on….in the end, I think I slightly prefer the immediacy of traditional ink and watercolor. And having to work with what happens on the page…good or not so good. But rather than swear off one for the other, will try to merge the two to create something that feels like me. These prompts were excellent.

Thank you for this workshop.. for giving us permission, encouragement, tools, steps to try things…fail, succeed..then do it all over again.

Jamie

Illustrator

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