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| © Jennifer Noel Bower 2012 - "Alice" |
Life is a wonderland if we but only open our eyes to it all.
I realize the more I OPEN myself up
the more WONDERFUL
LIFE becomes.
I am blessed with wonderfully supporting Blogger friends & SCBWI friends
who just continue to help me learn and grow!
A few of us have formed a critique group & then challenged each other to submit to the SCBWI-Carolinas Region 3rd Annual Art Contest.
Our challenge was to illustrate the opening 2 paragraphs of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
(I can't show it all but here is a sneak peek)
The most valuable lesson I learned was to own my process...I HATE sketchbooks!!!! There, I said it. My favorite way to work is on loose leaf & tracing paper. I find I hold my sketches as less precious which really opens me up to rip them apart until I get just the right image.
I also don't go into the painting process with super tight sketches...amazing magic happens when I allow the work to evolve even more in this stage!
Here is my sloppy copy sketch for Sunday Sketches!
A WONDERLAND of possibilities have opened up for me as a result of this project and the wonderful group of ladies that spurred me on.
Very cool! I totally can relate to the sketchbook issue too. Good luck with the art contest!
ReplyDeleteI love your Alice! Love her curly hair! :) Have fun to have a supportive and encouraging group like that... to challenge you to grow! Love it! :)
ReplyDeletebeautiful painting, I love her hair! And I think I prefer loose paper too now that I think of it.
ReplyDeletei too am a loose leaf girl - though i try to claim order and organization with sketch books it does not come naturally or stick :-) great hair!
ReplyDeleteCool!! I wish I could meet amazing artists here in Italy.
ReplyDeletebrilliant sketch! - i studied it for a while with my coffee...love the cat's expression and the look on Alice's face!
ReplyDeleteYOU are so creative!!! looking forward to thw whole piece in all of your COLOR!
your illustration is beautiful ~ love her hair and your sketch is wonderful ~thanks for sharing ~ namaste, carol (A Creative Harbor) Happy SS ^_^
ReplyDeleteAlice is brilliant and I love the way you have done her hair:)
ReplyDeletexx
WOw this is amazing!! Love, love the sketch!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for your wonderland of possibilities!
ReplyDeletesuch fun art!!
Your sneak peek is great as is your sketch! and how wonderful to have such a supportive group behind you!
ReplyDeletei completely understand what you mean about the sketchbooks. i find that the less i am trying to create something, the better it turns out. if i try to reproduce something that i just started doodling, i can never do it as well. for me, working in multiple sketchbooks at a time has helped me feel less like each page has to really count.
ReplyDeletei hope you're saving all your loose pages. they are awesome!
i love your take on alice... with the curly hair! so much more fun than the traditional alice! :-)
What fun sketches!! Like your views of Alice - head in her book, curly hair. And the flying rabbit!
ReplyDeletelove her wild hair in the color version!
ReplyDeleteThis is great fun... love the sketch with all it's detail coming through.. :)
ReplyDeletegreat sketch and I love that you don't like sketchbooks either... I work on loose paper all the time, then paste them in books so I don't lose them, but something about working directly into the books just freezes me up... have a great week and thanks for the sneak peak, can't wait to see the others...xx
ReplyDeleteOh WOW! This was so wonderful to wake up and read everyone's awesome comments. It's really nice to know I am not alone in the sketchbook thing. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteheehee..I've been itching to see this Alice with the afro since you mentioned it on linkedn...LOVE her! You crazy talented lady xx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenny! I really am so happy with how this entire piece turned out. I wish I could show it all, but have to wait until all the art has been judged. :(
ReplyDeleteP.S. - I am now addicted to painting crazy curly hair. My daughter is my inspiration, she has a whole head of them.
Loving your sketches, Jen. You first one is brilliant and loving the expression on her face. Nice to have you back! :) Hugs
ReplyDeleteI love sketchbooks, but maybe too much. I am really intrigued by the tracing paper way you do. Do you hang onto your tracing paper sketches?
ReplyDeleteI love how you draw mouths. Is that weird? :)
Stacy, I do! Typically I will take the tracing paper sketches and also a print out of the final sketch comp after I've compiled it in PS, and staple a packet together which includes any reference photos used and any color spec printouts.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't think it is weird you like my moufs!!!!! I like weird aspects of other people's art too. I think it is normal.
So many comments, I can't get a word in edgewise.
ReplyDeleteI had to stand in line all night to get here...
You picked a good'n for the subject matter, and this looks like it's going to be a great tribute. Looking forward to the finished piece!
Hey Ted! Sorry for the wait. :)
ReplyDeleteI am really, REALLY pleased with how the final turned out which is an exciting feeling. This is the piece where my style finally solidified itself and I didn't have to think so hard. It was just fun to create.
The work has to stay hidden until after the judging is complete. But I will definitely post when we've all been given the okay!
Oh! I've slacked off and so missed you, your humor, your work! This is wonderful! I can't wait to see all, but I do so love the sketch. It's got such energy.
ReplyDeleteAnd ok, the elephant in the room...sketchbook hate! I'm with you. Yesterday, before I read this, I started a new sketchbook (or different one...I have many and they're like beds to Goldie Locks...keep trying 'em out), and before I put the first mark, I said to myself, "Just sketch, who cares if it sucks, a perfect sketchbook is not the goal." Or is it. Voila, I tightened up, and pondered every mark... garbage copier paper is heaven. Brava on identify in the rooming and loving that elephant—and oh, how I adore those big lugs!
dam cute!
ReplyDeleteI love the whole image but just adore her hair - looks great!
ReplyDeleteGoodluck!
Welcome Amanda & thank you!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back P & Janet - I always love knowing that you ladies are out there following along. P - I am so with you on the garbage copier paper. I don't care much about archival quality since I am 100% digital. My digital scans of sketches are archive enough.