Motivation

Lately it's been extremely hard for me to get motivated enough to create a blog post, let alone get on my laptop and work on something new. I apologize...to my one reader. It seems so sad since about a month ago I was hell bent on creating this outlet.

The truth is, my husband and I are in the middle of purchasing our first home and the escrow process has really taken a toll on my anxiety levels. I feel like we are busy and strapped for time even though we are literally just sitting around waiting for an email or a phone call. I can't even bring myself to crack open my sketchbook and when I do, I just stare at the blank pages.

This isn't a sob story. I feel very fortunate to be able to buy a home. I am the kind of person who if I see something I want, I want it right this second. And I want my house now. Hopefully I can push myself to just suck it up and find some inspiration.

OK, I'm done now.

The Prodigy

I wanted to post a new project that I've been working on for the last few days. It's still not finished but I feel like it's turning out well.

I'm still scouring the web for better techniques to add to my limited skill set and create better graphic art.

My reference photo:

BJ Penn

Vector:

I obviously want to add something to the background. This is being considered a work in progress

Cars on Fire

To be honest with you, I thought this project was going to be the death of me.
Not because I didn't enjoy working on it but because it didn't turn out as I expected.

As I stated in my previous post, I had big plans for the background of this photo. As it turns out, the background in the original photo wasn't worthy of my tedious work with the pen tool. I kind of feel like the car stands better on its own.

FYI: I did try to find a spectacular background to sub in photoshop but nothing was doing it justice. I guess I will just have to accept the fact that cars illustrated in fiery colors will have to float around with no background in my graphic art universe...

Car in Fire

To all my readers (because I have so many) - I'm working on another project right now, per my husbands request. UFC fan: Get ready to watch my pen tool take on an MMA Fighter.

over and out

Still in Progress

Despite other little projects, I've still been working on this car. I think I have the car finished but I'm still not sure on the color. I seem to be in a monochromatic rut. I love it. I don't Nissan ever offered this car in either of these colors.

Behold the Grape F50 Cima...

 And, Orange Dreamsicle F50 Cima...

Maybe once I start working on the background I can decide on the color of the car. 

Original reference image supplied by: All That Low

Sketching

Since I finally bought a new sketch book I've been trying to at least draw something once a day. Doing this has been harder than expected and  even though I've been trying to keep it up, I usually want to trash everything I put down on paper. I only keep my sketches so that hopefully sometime in the future I will be able to see how much I've improved.

Since I have a tendency to doodle I thought I would scan some of my "trash" and see if illustrator could help me out.

This is my original rough, and I do me ROUGH sketch.

 I scanned this into photoshop just to darken it up a bit. Then dropped it into illustrator to trace. As you can see a left some things out.

 I haven't made a final decision on the color yet but these are growing on me.

My attempt at making this a pattern. I am really liking how this is turning out. Still editing.

Looks like doodles might be able to work

Nissan F50 Cima

Ok, I'm back in what feels like full force. After about a week of radio silence I've started working on something new.

But first...

I wanted to say thank you to my dear friend in Japan for inspiring me to start this blog and get back to doing what I love. He is an amazing photographer, family man and friend. He's been wonderful enough to allow me to use some of his work for my personal projects, which leaves me very excited.

The majority of his photographs are taken at drifting events in Japan. Once I get on a regular blogging schedule I hope to be using many more of his photographs as references. All of the cars posted on his site are amazing. 

I'm still working mostly in illustrator with the pen tool. Practice makes perfect right?

Original image courtesy of All That Low - Nissan F50 Cima

All That Low

Here is peek of what I've got started. These are just bare bones but I have big plans for this beautiful F50 Cima.

Side note: I've been dying to get my hands on a Wacom tablet. It's been years since I've used one but I feel the need to paint! Any suggestions on what works best with a Mac Book Pro and CS5?

Sweet Dachshund

I've been working on a new project for the past week or so and I'm just finishing up tonight.

I have a wonderful little dachshund named Sophie and I thought it would be fun to work on a vector portrait of her. Little did I know that I would be taking on a long and tedious task. 

First of all, isn't she a doll? This is the original photo I was working with btw.
I took this with my trusty iPhone 4 right after a fun trip to the vet. I've been kicking myself for not cropping it closer to her face.

I brought the photo into Adobe Photoshop and simplified it to shapes. Then I brought that into Illustrator to complete. This took me a couple hours a night for about a week.

I could have added several more layers to this vector of my dachshund, and I lost a bit of one eye but I'm happy with the end result.

I went with blue because I thought it was fun but I ended up saving the original with all my layers in illustrator so that I can change it up if I choose to later.

There were a lot more layers and line work in this one compared to my last project but I'm glad I took the challenge.

Comments are welcome.