Finishing Up Just for Fun

I was doing this one for Illustration Friday several weeks back for the prompt Paisley, but life got in the way, so I finished it up today, mostly anyway. Just trying to make myself go back and at least take things to a level of finished that I can be happy with. It's great practice and a promise I made to myself to try and not leave things half done. I may keep playing with her tonight, I had initially intended on using her in a retro school or library setting.

...and again Jack has saved me from a lack of creativity and time, so thanks Jack, again!  I am using this for Illustration Friday's prompt Artificial, looking at the world through rose colored glasses doesn't seem to have improved her disposition, but it works for the prompt I think, no time for something new and I was totally stumped on something different for this one...

Watercolor Wednesdays Birthday

Watercolor Wednesdays is two years old this August. Stop by and check it out.  It's one of the group blogs that I take part in when I am able to find the time, which isn't as often as I would like.

I hope that everyone is having a great week!

I'm suffering from Sudafed balloon head myself. I don't know which is worse, congested muddled head or balloon head muddled-ness!  

ha, ha, ha...

So Jack made me realize this would work for Illustration Friday too! Thanks Jack, I love it when that happens, especially when it is already Wednesday and I haven't started another illo yet!

IF_Breakfast

Just a quick one for Illustration Friday's prompt breakfast. I was already doing this one and lost all the work except for the beginning of the doughnut and had to mostly start over, so it's messy and even quicker than I had intended, oh well. Another ant, I must have ants on the brain or something. Anyway, here he is the giant, he-man, doughnut steeling ant.  Hope every one is having a great summer. Thanks for stopping by!  and thanks for taking the time to comment! and Andrew, I am working on pickle ant, I really am! ; )

Version 2 of Picnic Ants

Thanks to my wonderful critique group I have redone this illustration. With their excellent advice I think the improvements so far have made this a much stronger piece. The ant carrying the watermelon still doesn't read as well as I would like, so I am still working on an effective solution for that problem without doing a complete redo by repositioning him. I'd like this to be a portfolio piece, so I am really trying to make it stand out. Things I am playing with are taking the whole watermelon out completely, putting the whole watermelon in shadow so that it recedes, maybe adding an ant to the top of the jar trying to pull out a pickle... still playing around before making any further permanent physical changes.  So, let me know what you think, I am always open to suggestions for improvement. Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to let me know what you think!

 *watermelon darkened

WIP finished

Ok, I think I am finally done. Too late for Illustration Friday since today is Friday and a new word. The ants were little buggers and took longer to do than I had imagined they would, but I am pretty happy with the outcome, even though I think I could keep working on it if I wanted to. I am making myself stop for now. The ants remind me a little of the dancing, singing Raisins form some old commercial, but they are pretty cute. Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment if you have time, because I love to read them!

WIP_Picnic

This is what I am working on this week.  Just a fun piece that will work for more than one theme.  I hope to use it for several prompts and for my portfolio. I'd like to do more, but just in case I run out of time I tried to make it work for more than one. I haven't had time to participate as much as I like to. I am also working on some older pieces, finishing those up and reworking a couple of others.  Maybe I can finish this one up tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by. You all are wonderful and I really appreciate your comments!

*updated 7/7

IF_ Satellite

Here is the finished version of Satellite for Illustration Friday. I'm headed to bed for some much needed sleep now. Thanks for visiting! Comments are appreciated.