Breaking Through

I haven't had a lot of time for much creative freedom lately, but with some recent friendly additions to my circles, I felt inspired to push myself beyond the canvas.  Here are the initial products of my efforts:

Self Portrait | Muted Stealth

Self Portrait | Starry-eyed

Hidden Grotto

Self Portrait | Super Sepia's Show

Washed Clean

I may make a few more attempts with my camera before I feel I am ready to spend long hours with a canvas again.  Vertigo is a difficult monster to overcome.

Sketches for Ink: Part II

When I have managed to find time to continue with concept sketches for the next piece I want, I try to get it out then.  This day being no exception.

I had a breakthrough with something I was really stuck on, the part that begins the piece on my shoulder, but not anymore.

Here are two very rough sketches of the placement of some of the elements already previously drawn:

First attempt at drawing the kanji as symbols.  Made them too big.

Second attempt while using a mock shoulder drawing for scale.  Briefly sketched the string, blossoms, and how it will end at the wrist.

The hope is that the artist will be able to fit the following words around since my arms are pretty small:

"Regardless of time, place or circumstance, the thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break"

Hopefully, I want this to be somewhere near the shoulder:

"An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet"

Honestly, I am just happy I was able to find a starting and ending point for the sleeve. The rest is simply adding the symbols that mean something to me.

Music for Relief | A Great Challenge to Help Children

I recently came across the charity started by Linkin Park called Music for Relief.  This charity helps raise money for natural disasters and environmental conservation.  It's current project, in conjunction with give2gether will aid the children of Japan.

‎100% of the net proceeds benefit children affected by the earthquake & tsunami in Japan during March of this year.  It will provide child care services and financial support to children at risk of not continuing their studies, psychological support as well as play zones for those who cannot play outside due to radiation fears.

The challenge I accepted was to raise $500.00 for this effort.  50 people who can raise the five-hundred dollars wins tickets, but that isn't really my goal, I just want to help the children of Japan see a brighter future.

Tax-deductible contributions can be made at the web page provided (donations are secure through PayPal): http://www.give2gether.com/projects/music-for-relief.jadedpixels/

In addition, there is a Facebook page dedicated to promoting this project and eventually future projects from Music for Relief: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=pages&ap=1#!/pages/Music-for-Relief-Japan-Relief-Fan-Challenge-via-JadedPixels/114600935300925

Here is a little more information on the Music for Relief project:

Founded by Linkin Park (band), Music for Relief is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing aid to victims of natural disasters and the prevention of such disasters. Since its inception in 2005, Music for Relief has raised over $4 million for victims of multiple disasters across four continents. Music for Relief also supports environmental programs including the planting of over 810,000 trees to help reduce global warming. The organization was recently recognized by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for the Download to Donate program to raise funds and awareness in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. For more information visit http://www.musicforrelief.org/.

Even if you can't donate, please spread the word to family and friends. It will help brighten a child's future!

Sketches for Ink

Been considering a right arm sleeve and have been researching many different components for it.  Today was the day to start my first round of sketches and here they are:

Random Cherry Blossoms and other Florals

First attempt, it can only get easier, right?!?!

Workplace Work

I know, it has been a while, but it has been a busy time.  However, it isn't much of an excuse, so I decided to post something I began recently.

During a period of workplace improvement, I made the decision to work on some new announcement banners for the upcoming term.  This is how they turned out (well, the ones I really liked):

A few royalty free images, some PS, and a bunch of layers later....

...and some key words about the policies, too.

By far, this was my most favorite one.  It just clicked, you know?!?!

Now, I am working on a few sketches and may have those up within the weekend, or at the latest, next week.

A Few Sketches to Pass the Time

To commemorate the move into my new house and a turning point in my life, I have begun to do some concept sketches.  It has been a while and I have been super busy, but I did get some things done.  Here they are:

Kagero - Ninja Scroll

Suì-Fēng's Suzumebachi

Nel's Broken Mask - Bleach

Hidden Leaf and Shinigami Symbols (Bleach and Naruto)

Random Flower Patterns

I plan to ease myself back in with a lot of sketches and concept work.  After I get comfortable with that and I am able to get the creative juices flowing, I will start to paint and pick up the brush again!

An Interesting Link for an Interesting Time

This is a little outside the "norm" for me, but while I was watching Hulu with my boyfriend last night, he mentioned that a lot of artists were selling things on eBay to raise money for the relief efforts in Japan.

That being said, I was interested to learn more and found this link to the eBay Ink:

http://ebayinkblog.com/2011/04/05/emi-artists-songwriters-launch-exclusive-ebay-charity-auctions-for-japanrelief/

Seems like there are a lot of neat things out there for auction, so I thought I would share it.  Things from signed guitars, meet and greets, actual costumes from performances (the Madame Butterfly kimono sounded awesome to me), etc.

Anyway, have a great day!

Update: I finally had more time to really look through all the auctions, and just wow!  The Angela Gheorghiu Madam Butterfly Kimono & Signed Photo is so awesome, Daftpunk's 1987 Ferrari, Jane's Addiction and Beastie Boys memorabilia, Gorillaz lithographs, and so much more.  Everything is quite pricey, but at least it is going towards a good cause.