Meet Kurag, the Antagonist

 I am rewriting the story a bit. I started writing my story boards but to me, it sounded weak and uninteresting. Then, I realized the story needed an antagonist to give it some action and drama. Otherwise, I just have these two guys climbing mountains and interacting with dragons. Then I thought, what if there is an evil person that is creating havoc and trying to stop the two guys from completing their quest. I did not want to have some random ogres and the like trying to kill the guys(those are entertaining but would require more hours of watching "how to" videos). Ha! Ha! But seriously, I just like Kurag and want to play with this idea for awhile and see if it sticks. Meet Kurag, the Seer/Oracle/Bad Guy:

 

 This is obviously a first and rather rough drawing, but it gives me a place to work from. And "No", I didn't get him from a "how to" video. 

I am having to start over with my story board and the whole introduction. This project is going to take months to complete. I spent the weekend watching tutorials on drawing people and did not draw anything. I think I'm just going to have to jump in and start drawing the two guys and see what works. I have to decide on their names, and then that will help me(I hope) to start to determine their looks. It's late. Gotta go. Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Night y'all.

Thank Goodness for YouTube

 This whole project to create a comic book that takes place in this imaginary place where there are mountains, cliffs, bridges, and a place that dragons inhabit is daunting. Oh, and don't forget the two teen boys that the story is about. Then we take a look at my skill set which up to now has been limited to drawings for mosaics which are mostly flowers, birds, a few trees, and insects. In the Art Book for my granddaughter, I did a few drawings but they were mostly in my comfort zone. I really love to draw which is good. But I NEED HELP! 

Whenever I needed to improve my drawing, mosaics, or whatever, I looked for places to take a class. I studied Mosaics at( IMA) Institute of Mosaic Art when it was on Fruitvale in Oakland, CA.  And I took art classes at Diablo Valley College (DVC).  And now I found a treasure chest full of tutorials on YouTube and I don't have to leave the house. No Traffic!  And it's Free! 

Trying to draw mountains was very frustrating for me and that is where I thought I would begin. Here are the results of my first two lessons:

My third lesson is very complex and the artist teaching the class took two (2) hours to complete the drawing. I started it today but will have to complete it tomorrow. The artists teaching these classes are so very talented. I found that if I watch the whole tutorial first and then start drawing with the artist, it's not so disjointed or as crazy-making.  Of the more complex drawing class, I also took pictures throughout to check that I am keeping up correctly. Good grief it's a lot to learn.

Yes, those are clouds in the sky. They're kinda wonky cause I just threw them up there while the artist was drawing them so fast it was a blur and there they were. Good News, there are cloud drawing tutorials!

So hopefully after the next drawing class, I can start drawing the village at the base of the mountains. Then I'll have the first page done.  maybe.

 Oh, I noticed that my stats show that people are actually reading my blog.  I started writing in my blog to keep a record of how this comic book all came together and show it to my grandchildren after the project is completed. I wanted them to see how much work was needed for me to make something that I wasn't sure I could do, and what a labor of love it was.  Knowing that I am also sharing it with you is an added pleasure. Thanks for checking out my blog. Appreciate it!  It's late, gotta go.  Night y'all.

I Picked A Title

 Last night I took one last look at the paper with the story line on it before I was going to bed.  The words, The Dragon Seekers, just jumped right out at me! And I thought, "That's the title."

So this morning, I thought it would be cool to put a dragon with the words, Dragon Seekers. Which got me started looking through my dragon stickers to get an inspiration for a drawing.  And here is where it took me:

 

 I'm really happy with the finished piece, but I have to tell you that working with colored pencils is hard to get the shading and the saturation of color that I want. I'll just have to keep at it and try some things to make it work.

I find inspiration in some of the work that I have already done. For Instance, with this drawing I drew inspiration from this mosaic. I was challenged to work with the color red as a dominant color in a mosaic. I had shied away from using red, so I had to allow the color to lead me to this mosaic and I felt really proud of the result. Since this comic book is so far from my comfort zone, I felt this mosaic could hopefully influence my effort as I work on this book.

 

Title Page (first draft)

 So, today I thought a good place to start would be at the beginning. So original.  This is a rough draft of the title page that just gives me a starting place to introduce my intentions for the story I aim to tell.  

From this opening, you can perceive that this is about a pair of 16 yr. old boys that are on a Quest to go to a place where there are dragons. And by doing so they will be in danger, but to them it is worth it because they will be getting this renowned membership into the secret society.

One thing that is missing from my Title Page is the Title. Which is another thing that will just have to emerge as I create this comic book. Before I go on, let me show you what I am talking about:

 

 

The Title Page is setting the scene of where this will take place that actually exists near Tibet but taking author liberties, I have created a village that doesn't or may have never existed in this place.  Other than the name of the mountains, everything else exists in my imagination, so much fun.

After looking very critically at this, I have already reworked the wording on this page and have rethought the buildings. That is the great thing about knowing that this is just the first rough draft. Nothing is permanent and it is screaming to be redone, added to, etc. 

So many things in life, once done cannot be undone. But this drawing and creating a story is not one of them. Maybe that is one of the things I love about Art and creating; that is the illusion of control one has. Whatever the motive, I have to admit to being swept up in the attempt to make this book work. And I cannot wait to see where tomorrow will take me. Night y'all.

A Comic Book, Me?

 I have been wanting to start this project for a couple of days, but my good friend, "procrastination", kept whispering in my ear that I should start later or tomorrow when I am really feeling the "vibe". Then I realized that time was getting away from me and I had started Nothing. And I realized that this illusive vibe didn't exist. That if I just start Something, then I will carve out time to make it happen. So, here are some pathetic drawings just a half hour before going to bed: 

 

 

 

This is going to be about two teen guys on a quest. 

This is nothing like what the finished drawings will be, but I Started! I have so much to decide on. I have to make drawings of my two adventurers in all kinds of poses, their clothes, names, everything.  And I have to decide on the story I want to tell and how to do this in pictures that I have to draw. Seriously, am I really doing this...This is very scary but exciting. What's the worse that can happen? I can't draw it and I end up using stickers, ha ha! Yikes! I have to get to bed. Night y'all.

   

 

 

 

A New Art Path [for now, anyway]

 I have been creating Mosaics for over 20 years and although I still have ideas and inspirations for new mosaics, the idea of executing a mosaic feels exhausting (for now). Coming to the realization that I was going to stop creating mosaics, and giving myself permission to do new things in Art was a very painful struggle. But once made, the new path was very much a relief. Sometimes, no matter how hard, it is good to leave an older, established version of yourself behind (with love) and have the courage to be someone trying something new.

My passion for creating is moving down this new path or paths. It's exhilarating to be free to explore new ways to express myself through my Art. Sure, I'll probably stumble along the way (already have) and feel like "What was I thinking! I'm not good enough to do this. Yada, yada ,yada" But I will continue on 'cause I know this is how you learn. And truthfully, I stopped listening to self criticism a long time ago. I listen to the challenge in the work, and believe in myself to make pretty things. Even if I am the only one who sees the beauty in my creation. 

I just finished my first Art Book, 'Day Dreams', and it was made for my granddaughter. So many pages were a first at trying to express an overall feeling and idea in drawings/collage, stamp art, and stickers. As they say, "Everything except the kitchen sink".

I had started an Art Book with the theme of fairies (Untitled as of now), but stopped to do 'Day Dreams'. I will be continuing that as I am also working on drawings for a new project. A comic book! It will be a very rough example, but hopefully it will be interesting. I also have a grandson that I wanted to connect with through art, so he is my inspiration for the comic book. 

 The following are photos I took of the Art Book, 'Day Dreams'. I made the cover very simplistic:

The first page:

The first page and several pages throughout the book are collages:

 Then I started combining drawings with collage: 

 then drawings with stickers:

then drawings with stickers and stamp art:

Some pages were made to complement the theme. Here it is Family:

Here the theme is Paris:

There are several other pages but I believe this will give you a sample of what I have been spending my time creating. I enjoy sharing my work with you. But I just feel like the rest of this journal is something that I really want to share with my granddaughter. 

"Summertime" Update

 Here is where I left off with my mosaic that I have given the title "Summertime"to. As you can see, I had done some work, but whenever I looked at the four bare triangles at the sides I drew a blank on what to do. I was starting to question the decisions I was making on the center part and had to admit that it was time to stop.

 I threw out two other mosaics that I had started, was displeased with, and were not salvageable. I almost threw this mosaic out also. But something made me stop and just set it aside. After a bit of time, I found an Etsy store that sold these beautiful glass Cabochons. The Cabochons inspired me and I will use them to finish the mosaic. I just needed something new and unique to tie the blank triangles into the theme of the mosaic. I will be finishing the mosaic when I am ready. I can look at it now and see the way to go. 

I don't know how many of you have started something and messed up and then had to start again in another direction, but I think you will understand what I have gone through with my mosaics. I wanted so badly to create something beautiful and magical that I tried forcing uninspired ideas and failed. I was getting a second chance with this mosaic when I stumbled. I haven't had this much difficulty before. I was always blessed with inspirations, and enjoyed executing them. Now that I have another outlet for expressing myself artistically, I have found that the inspiration will come for my mosaic when it comes and in the meantime I can do something else. 

So, I guess what I have learned from these angst-filled times is that inspiration and magic cannot be forced. They are to be sought through the labyrinth of life seeking joy in the fulfillment of passion through art. Wait. Believe. Be Open to Receiving. 

I used to see the next mosaic that I wanted to create before I had finished the one I was working on, but not so (yet) with this one. We'll see...