Fan Art Mash-up

Sailor Moon x Utena

Nicki Minaj

It's been forever. Here's a sketch of Nicki. Oh man, do I love me some Photoshop and some Nicki.

Sneak Peak

A teaser for our new collaboration. I'm trying to really focus on being consistent this time. Also, this will be hand-drawn, scanned, and inked digitally. If anyone can recommend inking tutorials, I'd be much obliged.

When is a door not a door?

A few months back, pre-engagement also know as "the time when I stopped working on everything", I was approached by a friend of my brother's to do the art work for a one-shot comic of his. I am, admittedly, terrible with deadlines, so the project floated in limbo until this past August when I finally buckled down and just did it. I owe Alex a thank you both for picking me to work on this as well as for his patience while I existed in the mind fog of a newly engaged woman.

Much like a good workout wherein you don't quite know how you lifted that 150 lb weight over your head, I am a bit baffled that it is complete. Stay tuned and expect more from our duo.

So without further ado, please enjoy Ajar.

Draw What You Love

Current mood board, really feeling Catwoman ever since I watched Batman Returns a few weeks back. Loveloveloved Michelle Pfeiffer. On a related note, I finally saw Beetlejuice, and I was equally smitten. As a kid I saw bits of it and never understood it, but having seen it in its entirety, I enjoyed it thoroughly. Tim Burton knows how to style a movie.

The cover of my new sketch pad. Could NOT resist the pink shiny paper.

Katy Perry, Felix the Cat, Gala Darling, and leopard hearts.

Betsey inspired collage, Betsey Johnson, Eloise, Dala horse.

Dala-corn (dala horse+unicorn), bunting and Nikki Minaj.

My "theme" or idea (theme sounds too grand) behind this newest sketch pad is to Draw What I Love. I was doing the 30 Day Project and I liked doing the sketches, but at a certain point (day ten to be exact: favorite candy) I decided, I just didn't care enough about the prompts to draw them. And I was never sure how to approach them, quick sketchs or fully resolved images? Quick sketches didn't feel long enough, but full images seemed like too much for topics that I wasn't completely invested in. I know myself enough to know that I need to draw something everyday if I'm to improve. BUT I am also a terrible procrastinator and spend waaaay too much time trawling the internet. Then it dawned on me, if I'm going to fritter away time absorbing beautiful images on the internet, why not try drawing them? Turn a bad habit into a good one. And that has turned into doing portraits of women who inspire me along with other random doodles.

What do you love to draw?

Batter Witch

I've had a hankering for zucchini bread for a a long while now. Last summer, on the way back from the Cape I stopped at a farmer's market and had the BEST zucchini bread ever. The baker had used pineapple to sweeten the batter, and I remember the base being crunchy and caramelized. Oh my! I didn't attempt to find that recipe, but I did find this from an adorable blog, Smitten Kitchen.

Can I tell you how amazing the batter tasted? A perfect blend of salt and sweet; I wanted to eat it raw. I did not. The aroma upon baking was lovely, perfect for warming an airconditioned house. Once baked, I didn't notice the salt/sweet as much, and the zucchini flavor was pretty subtle (the golden raisins I added might have upstaged the zucchini) but that didn't stop me from gobbling down two, warm. Mmmm. Especially good with Bigelow's Vanilla and Caramel tea, my new obsession.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

Taking a Break

It turns out there is a downside to spending so much time with my shiny, new laptop. Specifically, my eyes have become dry, red, and irritated. Therefore I won't be posting until my eyes rehydrate. The recovery plan is to:

-Get out more (I've been inside too much. And it's summer! I should be outside!)
-Limit online browsing to an hour (A friend describes the internet as a rabbit hole, and I fall into it waaaay to easily.)
-Take eye breaks during long bouts of computer aided drawing
-Use eye drops for contacts (in four years of wearing contacts, I rarely use drops. I'm even worse at carrying my lens case around)
-Wear glasses when using the computer for long periods
-Get a paper sketch pad (I've gone almost a month without one!!!)

Sounds good to me! How do you deal with staring at a screen for hours?

30 Day Drawing Challenge- Day 9

Favorite TV show-Pushing Daisies: I actually don't watch a lot of TV, so I watched this series on DVD rather than when it frist aired. I wish they had kept it going.

PS I would totally marry Lee Pace.

30 Day Drawing Challenge- Day 8

Favorite Animated Character- Did you even have to ask?

Also, Connecticon is tomorrow! Hooray for nerds!

More Mermaids

Phew, only a few more pages and this dummy book will be complete! Next stage will be editing then creating the final images. If anyone want to leave feedback feel free to comment below.

Blogging over this last week has been really useful and motivating for me. Usually I just let afternoons pass, only thinking about how I should be drawing. But blogging makes me feel as if I've made some tangible progress; it's like being published without being published. I've been thinking a lot about art and motivation and the conclusion I keep coming back to is that, even if what I create isn't perfect, its important to at least do something. The only way to improve at anything is to make mistakes and to not be discouraged by them, but to keep going.

For more on this topic check out: Timmy and Sarah Cast, Nextness: Patti Smith.


Images are property of Amanda Anderson. Please ask for permission to use.

30 Day Drawing Challenge- Day 7

Favorite Movie- Marie Antoinette by Sofia Coppola <3 The movie earned a lot of criticism, but I remember feeling moved the first time I saw it. There was a quiet desperation to the film, like that thing they say about swans, looking effortless but paddling furiously to keep afloat. Trying out a style like Cucumber Quest.

30 Day Drawing Challenge- Day 6

Your Favorite Book- Ok, trying to decide this would be like asking a mother to pick her favorite child. I love all the books I own equally. But in honor of N finishing Neverwhere, I came up with this image. I heart Neil Gaiman; when he writes I can see his character's clearly in my mind and I've wanted to do character sketches for this ever since I read it. From left to right: Door, Richard, Hunter and the Marquis.

Wedding Bells

Source: greenweddingshoes.com via Miss on Pinterest

Apologies for the disappearing act, I came down with a case of hardcore daydreaming, brought on by a friend's wedding N and I attended on Sunday (Congrats A + B!!).

Much to the dismay of my creative counterparts, ever since May 1, 2011 I have digging weddings like a mole digs earth (that is to say nearly all the time). I've created wedding Pinboards; I've registered at Wedding Wire and The Knot; I've watched a bevy of wedding movies; I've dvr'ed (that a verb now, right?) all of My Fair Wedding; I devour magazines like and blogs like so much nuptial cake.

Growing up I was not the girl who was obsessed by wedding plans. Unconsciously I recognized that there was no point in daydreaming about something that far off, especially when there was so much else to do in life: read, write, create. Then in the dregs of winter 2010, slogging through an internship and night classes, I came down with my first case of wedding influenza. The previously mentioned A was in the planning stages of her wedding and I was introduced to a world of pastels and cupcakes, chiffon and stationary. Out of the doldrums of student life here was a realm of feminine fantasy. I started to wonder, what would my wedding look like? N and I had been together for three years at that point and committed to a life together. So what was the harm in sketching out some ideas? It beat studying for the Praxis. So I doodled and took notes, etc. As spring/summer approached I was showing signs of recovery. All wedding dreams got put on the back burner.

Flash forward to this year. Ever since he popped the question, I have had questions of my own: When? Where? Who? And I will admit with no guilt that it is fun to daydream. Perhaps debilitating to my productive life, but as far as a vehicle for escapism, it ranks high on my list.

Currently, we (and I do mean we; he has been pretty insistent on certain aspects of the wedding) are planning a Cape Cod wedding. The only memory I have a wedding planning as teen was the time I told my sister that I wanted to get married on the Cape, have blue decorations and a live jazz band, which she promptly tore down ("Do you even listen to jazz??"). But now that I can seriously consider these options, here are a few of my top choices:

Wychmere Harbor Club, Hyannis

Source: longwoodevents.com via Miss on Pinterest

Clean lines, ocean views and a stylish planning team. This is my ultimate dream (read: when I win the lotto). Found this place through The Knot, and aesthetically it is everything I want in a wedding. One of my priorities in planning this event is to be in beautiful surroundings and to me nowhere is more beautiful than the Cape. With huge French windows overlooking the water, I want my guests to get a taste of the place N and I "grew up" on every summer. And if you visit the website, check out the food options. Hello, delicious!

Ocean Edge Resort, Brewster

Source: oceanedge.com via Miss on Pinterest

Driving down route 6A through Brewster, you are guaranteed to pass this grand estate. Growing up I always wanted to go in it, but was never quite sure what it was. A millionaire's vacation spot? A castle? A nunnery? Turns out it is a golf club, resort, and wedding venue! Getting married here would mean a lot to me, because I summered in Brewster and it is near the beach where N asked me to marry him. The patio over looking the ocean looks stellar; modern and chic.

The Beach, Anywhere Cape Cod

Source: fromportlandtopeonies.blogspot.com via Miss on Pinterest

Of course the most natural option would be to get married on the beach. I'm not sure what the logistics are of a beach wedding (permits, etc.) but it would be a blast. Would we wear bathing suits and jump in the water after our vows? Have a classic Cape clam bake? Roast marshmallows over a beach bonfire (dressed in Cuffy's no doubt)? One thing is for sure, it would be an occasion to remember!

Clearly, I'm still in the early-everything-is-possibile stage of wedding planning. But hey, it doesn't cost a dime to dream!

30 Day Drawing Challenge- Day 5

Your best friend- I'm sure she'll have a pretty good critique for this image and admittedly I didn't spend as long on this as I should have, but L. is hands down my bff. Lately, I've met more and more sisters who don't get along well and it makes me realize how blessed I am to have someone as funny, articulate, and caring as she is. In another world we could have been strangers under one roof, instead I was born with a bestie. Even though she is on another coast, she is never far from my thoughts. <3

Am I turning into a maple tree? 'Cuz this post is sappy.

Edit (7/6/11) I couldn't stand the image I had up before; it was such a rush job. Do over. Words can't express how silly the glasses are L is wearing.

Eden of the East

It could just be that I'm getting old, but I find it very hard lately to care about anime. The general consensus among my friends and myself is that "They just don't make 'em like they used to". So when a show piques my interest I feel it is worth noting and sharing. Such was the case with Eden of the East (not to be confused East of Eden).

It took me about two days to watch the eleven episode series. There are two movies as well but Netflix only offers the first. I plan on watching it soon.

The form: The animation is good; it looks consistent (as someone who grew up with the erratic animation from Sailor Moon, this is an important quality), has its own style (didn't look like a carbon copy of other series I've seen), and the colors palette is great (purples, oranges, golds). Another note, American voice acting has much improved since my formative years.

As for the content, I like how "of the moment" the series feels, which probably means it won't stand the test of time, but there is sense of dislocation and detachment that is immediate and relatable. The show doesn't consist of young girls mooning over demon boys; it's about 20 somethings trying to find their place in an aging, unstable economy. And one of them happens to be an amnesiac with a magic phone. The series felt real...

Yeah, that non-sequitur took me out of the show a bit, but overall it is worth watching. If you like Jason Bourne-esque mystery and social commentary, this show might be for you.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go yell at those damn kids for walking on my lawn.

30 Day Drawing Challenge- Day 4

Your favorite place-Without a doubt my favorite place is Cape Cod. I've vacationed there every summer and it is where N asked me to marry him <3<3<3 I've always thought it looked like a particularly beefy arm.

30 Day Drawing Challenge- Day 3

Favorite food- I wracked my brain and realized I don't have a favorite food. I love food/eating/cooking/baking. Therefore I'm going with the food of the moment: beer batter bread. It's a cooler day today (as far as summer goes) so my brother and I baked some bread today and the smell is overwhelmingly good. Butter, yeast and warmth. Think I'm gonna get me a slice. Yum.

Sailor Moon Comic

That's what happens when you don't drink enough water...

An idea I came up with a while ago. Still not sure how I feel about the execution.

Also, I didn't say it before, but Naoko Takeuchi totally owns the rights to Sailor Moon. All of them.

Update

http://artoutwithyourheartout.tumblr.com/

I know I posted this already, but you can find L and me here. Not at the other link.

Mermaid in my Fish Tank WIP

More scans from Mermaid. I'm digging on neon colors right now.

Property of Amanda Anderson. Please do not use without permission.

30 Day Drawing Challenge- Day 2

Favorite animal

"It's ok if our first kids are dogs"-N.

He wants a husky, I would be happy of these three (from left to right: beagle, husky, boston terrier).

30 Day Drawing Challenge- Day 1

Source: d3uwin5q170wpc.cloudfront.net via Claire on Pinterest

I found this challenge on Pinterest a while ago. I had started it in my paper journal right around the time when life picked up, and my art effectively shut down, so I'm starting over and using Gimp as my medium. Gimp for those who don't know is an open source drawing program, along the lines of Adobe Photoshop.

#1 Self Portait


I think I am starting to get a feel for the drawing tool. This image is a sketch of a sketch, drawn from real life. This morning I was fiddling around and trying to draw from my imagination, but everything I came up with looked wrong. Then I used my sketch pad as a reference and viola! It doesn't look like me per se, but it was useful for practice. It speaks to the importance of drawing from life to get proportions/shadows figured out. From there, you can play with style.

Who wants to take the challenge with me?

Doodle 1

I've been on a total Sailor Moon kick lately. It was my favorite cartoon of all time growing up and is the reason that I got into art at all. Drawn in Gimp. Still getting used to the new program. I can't seem to get the pressure sensitivity to work. It makes me miss Photoshop. But hooray for doodles!

Updates

Source: flickr.com via Miss on Pinterest

It's been too long since I've really posted in earnest. Life got crazy right around the beginning of May.

Specifically:

-N. asked me to marry him!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!!!!1!!!!! (In the most romantic way possible I might add. I said yes, of course!)
-My fiancee got a new job.
-I almost(!) got a full time art teaching job.
-I've had several whirlwind visits to/from NYC.
-L. came home for a week.

But now that school is out, I have oodles of free time. In my last post I indicated that I'd be doing plenty of art and today was no exception. Played with my oils and up-cycled some old jewelry. Now I am playing with my tablet, which does in fact sync up with my Mac (another change in my life; finally upgraded to a new computer and it is aMAZing). I plan on using this blog to record my art progress. I'll still probably muse from time to time, but my doodles will be posted here. I want to streamline my online presence, so I think I may take down my deviant art account. You can now find L and I blogging together at our Tumblr.

I'm looking forward to an exciting and productive summer. How about you?

Summer Time

Source: sociabelle.com via Miss on Pinterest

This is my motto for the summer! For the first time in several years I am not "working" over the summer. What's a girl to do with all her time? Create of course!

Plans include: crafting, bracelet making, wedding dreaming, illustrating, sleeping, walking, finding fun for free, sewing, making gifts, painting, reading, bicycling, etc.

Oil Painting

In other news, I've been taking an oil painting class. This was my first piece. My last attempt at painting with acrylics left me frustrated, but oil is so much more forgiving. My undergraduate acrylics were rife with hard edge forms. Now I am learning to blend my strokes, essential to creating any sort of realistic modeling. Enjoy!

Rad Dress

$4.99 at Savers!! Whhaaatt? I couldn't say no. This is totally going to be my party frock this summer.

More Sketches

...from the dummy book. All images are property of Amanda Anderson. Please do not use without permission.