Blog Illustrations
There is so much more to art and illustration than picking up a paintbrush. Why didn’t anyone tell me! I get the image from my head onto the paper but that has only been one small step. The image then needs to get onto the computer – scanner? Camera? The computer shows up all the little flaws and imperfections in the original, some of which are necessary but others need to be removed. Then the image needs to get from the computer back onto paper!
After months of trial and error, frustration, really sore eyes and using muscles in my arms and hand that I had forgotten I had I do feel as though I am getting there.
I am learning so much yet there is still so much to learn. I know that I am a long way from where I want to be but I know that I can get there because I think the improvement has already been vast.
The drawings are coming quicker. The editing has become easier. The paint is handling better.
I am getting there.
Rebel Blogs One’s
Kids One - Information Overload – Bluebell Woods and Sofa
Sofa - April 2018
This is my favourite Rebel Kids painting to date. I sketched it out a couple of times but painted it only once. It was probably the easiest to do because the kids faces are all direct on and I have sketched them often. Also, crucially, it is a direct copy from a photo. I was not confident at the time to mess around with the composition too much so I left it as I saw it.
Bluebells – April 2018
This is a copy from two different photos. The bluebell woods were too ambitious a subject for me to tackle I think. The outcome is ok but I see many flaws and was a bit disappointed with it. The main problem is, of course, that the baby is out of proportion to the other two, she is way too big. I think I know how to edit that image size digitally and that alone would improve the whole thing but, in a way, I like to keep hold of those mistakes. It was an achievement for me to even be able to pinpoint the main flaw so for now I have chosen to leave the image as it is.
Faith One - Something Missing
M25 – April 2018
This was my first piece completely coloured in using copics and, although I see the problems with uneven colouring and splodges, I love it. I feel it is quite dramatic and depicts exactly what I wanted to say. There is one main road, like the M25, which everyone joins. Once you are on the road you hit the same sign posts as everyone else, the same milestones which take you to the same end destination. The tunnels beneath the main road show all the other possibilities.
Hair One - The Dream
Tropical Path– April 2018
The aim was to show the chaos and confusion of hair products whilst surrounded by all the stuff we actually need. The plastic bottles were meant to sit uncomfortably against the beautiful foliage. The result has not quite achieved this. I would love to say that the original is much more successful but actually no, it needs to be re-done. And one day it will be, but for now it is on display as a mini-stepping stone on the way to the successful final piece.
The Multi Coloured Medusa - April 2018
I wanted to paint something more grown up but the result is quite immature. The profile is not well executed and the lines are inconsistent. However I do like the colours and the sense of movement. It is all about the womans hair so it is good that it is the main part of the picture
Youth One - Gen Z
Generation Z - April 2018
I love bright, chaotic pieces with bold, striking colours. This is exactly how the world around teenagers en masse often is. I had fun with the background but found the figures frustrating to illustrate. As a result I seem to have shelved my pens to focus more on paints. I will come back to them though and beat the frustration
Watercolour Group with Selfie - April 2018
These are my stereotypical teens, a happy group with a selfie, a grumpy one with a stroppy parent. I like that the group in fare bold, the group in the background are faded, I like the characters themselves. The real let down are the random swirls – what was I thinking!
I was actually trying to create an interesting background but clearly I did not want to put any time or effort into dreaming one up.
Health One - Starting off
Wooden Steps and Native Indian - April 2018
I loved creating this and I do really like the outcome. Obviously it is not perfect – the foliage is almost incomplete and there is not enough contrast to the women BUT the fully natural feel of the scene is exactly how I feel about Rebel Health. Also, this is a path that I would love to walk, it is personal but I do really like this watercolour
The Native American Indian - April 2018
Rebel Skin was the original name for Rebel Health. With that in mind I some images of Native Americans with the beautiful face paint on and it showed off lovely natural skin perfectly. That is what I wanted to depict. The painting is fine but with a bit more skill and time I think it could have been dramatic and amazing. It just falls short of that.