Log #2 Experiment

In this entry, I will cover my thought process and a smattering of materials I have been experimenting with.

Read below
and watch the video on you tube: https://www.youtube.com/@emilyzelaskoart

Because of the nature of my past projects, much of my work had been ink on paper then colored on the computer or all digital. I can paint with acrylic, too, but I do not have much experience in mixed media. Mixed media is combining a variety of materials. I have dabbled for fun but not for any major projects. However I believe mixed media is the direction I want to go for a couple reasons. As stated in the last log entry:
Save the energy of the pencil line, become more familiar with more coloring mediums, and get away from technology.

I really don’t like computers. I did Edme all on computers and it served its purpose but with much headache. This is a personal thing. Partly, due to my own incompetence. I also would rather have the art in front of me, in the same world as me, so I can see just what it is with no hidden layers, no misunderstood sizing, no format disagreements, and no hidden surprises or marks. It just is what it is. And I prefer that.

The other reason for mixed media is I want to preserve my pencil lines and the energy of the sketch of the original drawing. It is not uncommon for finished art to lose the energy of the original sketch. This is unfortunate. I have seen this happen with artists I like: their prototype work and sketches are fantastic, but when the project is final, it feels too clean. In my opinion, sometimes it loses some personality. It happens to me, and I want to avoid it. (Nobody wants that I’m sure)

In the past few years I have also been reacquainting myself with older picture books, like Madeline.  The illustrations are so crazy looking but it also looks done. I feel becoming more familiar with different coloring mediums will help with this and open doors for me. So, I want to incorporate methods that help keep the energy of the sketch.  I want to work with looseness and scribbles and texture. I want to move away from such clean work.

So, now, onto experimentation and over thinking!

I am torn between different styles and executions. This is fine. One can have more than one style. But it is not fine when everything is interesting and you want to do all the projects right now. That is uncomfortable.  So, I will look at some methods, one at a time, putting some aside, knowing I will come back to them later.

 Here is a short explanation of what I have done with different mediums.

I like the texture and gradient of graphite, like Chris Van Allsburg‘s art in Jumanji. ( also known for The Polar Express).  His art has a kind of surrealness to it and it is a bit spooky.  I like the vibe of his illustrations as seen also in A City in Winter.

Though I do not know if they are also done with graphite, the illustrations in My Father’s Dragon, art by Ruth Gannett are a similar motivation for me. (My Father’s Dragon has stuck with me since 1st grade when the teacher read it to the class)

1st Row: Art of Ludwig Bemelmans
2nd Row: Art of Chris Van Allsburg
3rd Row: Art of Ruth Chisman Gannett

Thinking about these illustrations led me to the style I would use for the cover of Edme: A graphite drawing that I colored on the computer.

So, as a test I drew out some graphite drawings.
But I chickened out and colored them on the computer.

The Images Above: All done on Strathmore mixed media paper. Under drawing done with graphite. Colored with, from left to right, Dr. Martins Bombay ink, Winsor Newton Gouache, QOR Watercolor.

I think they all came out well. A little hard to tell which way I like better.
This way of drawing is a little more time consuming and is more about the shapes then the lines. I like the look of these but I want to solve the line problem so this method is put on hold for now (but I do have a book in mind to be done in this manner)

I also did this illustration with Yupo paper. Making the gradient on the paper and coloring it on the computer. It was interesting. Yupo paper likes to hang onto any mark you lay down. It was also interesting to blend on, and fairly easy to get a smooth blend.

Left : Graphite drawing done on Yupo paper
Right: Color added in on Photoshop

This purple dragon below was done on the fly with Dr. Martin’s ink. These are really my first experiences with the ink. It is very nice. The building up of the transparent layers gives fun effects.
What I am not crazy about is that it dries very fast on the pallet I mix the colors on. I can think of work-arounds for this, but I have not found a solution for it yet. (I am using Dr. Martin’s without really knowing anything about Dr. Martin’s.  A little research would probably go a long way but I have not gotten around to it yet.)

Next, the bold ink and watercolor is how I did the bagpiper. It is not bad and I did get some good lines out of it. But I think right now I am drawn to pencil lines over ink lines. Ink is very solid and black and maybe I want a softer line that blends with the look of watercolor a little more.

Then this green dragon I like a lot. It was done with a black pencil and colored with gouache and there are touches of ink in it to make a few select parts darker. It is subtle, but has an impact.

From Left to Right: Purple dragon is Dr. Martins Bombay ink, Bagpiper is Winsor & Newton Gouache and Speedball Ink, Dragon is Winsor & Newton Gouache with Prismacolor Black 935 and Micron Pen. All were done on Fluid watercolor paper.

With these methods in mind, I did this kitchen witch illustration.
I used colored pencil as a base layer, slowly built the gouache up over the pencil, then color pencils again. I used Strathmore mixed media paper.
I like how this one turned out.

Kitchen Witch Above: Layers of Prismacolor color pencil and Winsor & Newton Gouache on Strathmore mixed media paper

I have to admit, though. In the past my art processes have been so straightforward.
Ink and color on the computer, or paint and that’s it.
These layers of mixed media make me a little nervous.  There are so many options and everything interacts with everything else a little different.  There is much more to think about and many decisions to be made. It spooks my order seeking brain.

I’m also concerned that I will continue to be able to repeat the same effect over and over, as would be desirable for picture books.

More experimenting.

Then, I bought some Derwent Inktense paints. They don’t reactivate, like Dr. Martin’s, once they are placed on the paper, but they come off a palette and can be reactivated on the palette. This makes them way more accessible then Dr. Martin’s. And I did get a nice bright green out of them.
Below are ink and color pencil, and I liked them a lot.

Above: All were done with Derwent Inktense Paint Pan, Prisma color pencil and Derwent Procolor pencil, Dragon was done on Blick watercolor paper, the other two on Strathmore mixed media paper

A couple more to note. This knight was done with a simple drawing of pencil, then colored with gouache, then more details over that with pencil.
This dark wizard was done in a series of layers of Dr.Martin’s Ink.

Above: Knight done with Prisma color pencil and Winsor Newton gouache on Blick Water color paper. Wizard was done Dr. Martins Bombay ink, Micron pen, white gouache on Stonehenge watercolor hot press paper.

All that to say, I did a fair amount of goofing around before picking a direction for my next project.

In future logs I can go into detail a little more about the how-to’s, but this is to get a quick overview of what I have been goofing around with in a nut shell.

Now, after some experience, I was excited to put my new materials and eagerness to the test and make a book. I have a few books plotted out and different styles in mind for them. First, I am curious to do a style that experiments with the energy of lines. I picked a folk tale and began to plot it out and that is where the next log will begin!