“Outtake” ink drawings from Los Pirineos

I thought it might be fun to share with you all a sampling of some drawings I did for my upcoming graphic memoir Los Pirineos that didn’t make the cut for various reasons.

Enjoy!

“Wow mom, those stories are REALLY great… Hey! I know, you should write a book!” … and SO it began.

The new year is usually a good time to step back and take stock of where things stand.  Being that it was a little over two years ago that Mom and I truly embarked on the artistic voyage that is Los Pirineos, its time to stop, get off the boat, and see where we have ended up.
At this time Los Pirineos is in the midst of a few stages:  There is the Full Color Final Art stage:

the Pen and Ink stage:

the Storyboards Stage:

- of course the Text only Manuscript, which mom has been working so diligently on editing and re editing.

I am pleased to say  that at this point the entireity of book one is a completed Text only Manuscript; The vast majority of book one is Storyboarded; 5 non consecutive Chapters are at the Pen and Ink Stage; AND THE FIRST THREE CONSECUTIVE FULL COLOR, FULLY COMPLETE CHAPTERS ARE ALMOST DONE!  Woo hoo!!!

BUT then again lets explore that word ALMOST…

ALMOST is one of my least favorite words.  ALMOST, close to but not quite…Almost , nearly, within a small degree of… DONE!    Jeez Sara, why aren’t you done?  Why is part way there something to celebrate?

BECAUSE any project really worth doing is going to kick your ass.  Its going to force you to learn new things and reinvent yourself, and will effect every other thing you do.   That is the effect Los Pirineos has had on my life, and I am very, very  grateful.  Throughout this project, I have learned more than I ever could have imagined when it was undertaken.

Because of creating this book I have (in no particular order) : More fully developed my drawing skills;  Not only learned to use digital media as a tool in my work, but now have it so deeply ingrained in my practice, that in fact I feel completely open and expressive in Photoshop…  and slightly naked working without it!  … Though I’m sure that will eventually pass.  It has made me cultivate a deeper relationship with my mom, my family and my background than I could ever have hoped to experience; and develop a sense of history and culture, that for me was very absent growing up.  I have learned to dance the ever changing dance of being a full time Artist and full time not profit Program Director.  (Its harder than it sounds, but also more gratifying.)  I am in the process of learning (this is a rough one) to stoping making art not showing anyone, and instead to share it as often as I can, through the magic of the interweb, with all of you.

AND last but definitely not least, I have learned in a multitude of ways, (most of them quite painful) the differences between creating individual images and creating sequential art.  I have been forced to changed my viewpoint from the individual drawing as the art piece, to the page, to the double page spread, and finally to seeing the book as a whole, because that is it’s actual final identity.  That is how some day, it will have to stand on its own.

- All great reasons to be very very excited about that word ALMOST.  I am making alot of progress.

I am ALMOST … ALMOST THERE.

Process process process… Who was it that said it is about the journey, not the destination?

Process process process…

Who was it that said it is about the journey, not the destination?  Everyone.  From Lao Tzu to Winnie the Pooh, it seems that the world has agreed to just relax and enjoy the ride.

For the New Year I am willing myself to channel my inner hunny bear (way more likely in my case  to have an inner Pooh than an inner Lao Tzu!) and stop measuring the quality of my art by my speed and prolificness, but rather by the process it takes to get there.  I mean, I don’t do anything else in my without there being a process, I can’t even get out of the house in less than a half hour… SO I suppose I might as well stop and sniff the rose colored ink splotches.

Ph Marten Dyes on watercolor paper

Besides, is there anything more fun than splashing ink around wet paper and seeing how the colors bleed into each other?  Not for me.   I love the unpredictable effects of different dyes as they absorb into paper.  I becomes like a game, all the color mixing and swirling and spreading… and catching the water just as it starts to drip off onto your table with a rag… its a really enjoyable process,  as long as you begin with the right paper, one which can handle repeated abuse.  If not, the paper will act like a sponge and just absorb too much water.  I prefer cold press watercolor paper, the heavier the weight and the more texture the paper has, the better.

When I started using a lot of dyes and watercolor in my work back in my Academy of Art days, I would stretch my paper in by soaking it my bathtub.  Before taping it down, only to resoak the crap out of it with water, paint and fabric dyes.  Honestly, I rarely bother with that now, although if you want control over where your color is going as you start it would be a very good idea.

This Video clearly shows how to stretch your paper, AND has the added bonus of a calm and happy host that brings back fond memories of watching Boss Ross on PBS after school.

Whether you choose to stretch your paper or not to, be sure to pick a heavy weight one with lots of sizing so that it can handle the repeat soaking.  I like for my paintings 300 lb Arches cold press watercolor.  For my Los Pirineos work however, I am scanning everything and assembling my images through digital collage.  As the heavyweight paper is difficult to fit in the scanner,  Iv’e started using a 140 lb cold press watercolor block.  Still lots of fun and no need to stretch anything as the paper on watercolor blocks are held down already by gum, so the pages don’t warp too badly.  Of course its me, and I am a mess, so with the amount of liquid I soak the page with, colors sometimes bleed onto the next sheet down.  Oh well- do what Pooh would do.  Just go with it.

Procion Powder Fabric Dyes, water, and sea salt

Why soak your paper so much?  Glad you asked.  To create amazing texture and rich color!  When the paper is really wet you can use dry fabric dyes and they will explode into a bursts of color like fireworks when the powder hits the page.  Its gorgeous!  There are no colors quite so rich and intense as those and they are light fast, and really stay down well if you work on top of them when your dyed paper is dry.

Salt

AND then there is one of my favorite secret weapons, ordinary SALT! Although they sell salt made for fabric dyeing, its not worth buying, just use the stuff in you kitchen.  When you are almost done, and ready to let the paper rest, if the paper is just wet enough, sprinkling large grain sea salt will make pin points of color as the paper dries.  Those are the aqua dots that look almost like frogs eggs in the sample paper image.  As the paper dries, the salt absorbs the pigment creating the amazing texture.

I used the dyed paper above in two different pieces so far, once as a back ground for Los Pirineos.

And again as the begin point for this odd creation for Lotos Collective’s Trial of the Mariner.

On my wish list? Writer,Director, and Special Effects Guru Guillermo del Toro’s book

Really, all I want for Christmas is to spend ten minutes in Guillermo del Toro’s head… and hopefully make it back out alive.  This great interview with him from the from the 2002 Special Masters of Horror comes as close to that as I’m going to get.  He discusses his childhood and his early influences that inspire such films as “Cronos” and “The Devil’s Backbone”. He also discusses his work in “Blade 2″.  My favorite part however, is where he talks about “Making friends with the monsters”… and then peeing regularly ever since!  Too much information?  Maybe.  But, I am really glad Del Toro is “Friends with the Monsters” so he can introduce his friends to me.

Suzie Templeton and Peter and the Wolf

I was obsessed by this recording of Peter and the Wolf as a child.  I remember listening to it for hours sitting on the floor of my room, drawing pictures as I listened to David Bowie narrate Prokofiev’s incredible musical tale.  Even the color of the vinyl record was exciting, a beautiful, bright emerald green!

David Bowie’s narration…

The other night I had the pleasure of watching the incredible animator and Director Suzie Templeton’s Oscar winning adaptation of Peter and the Wolf.   I’ve never before seen an animated version of this story that I felt really did justice to the music.  This version, is absolutely stunning.  I am always looking for artists who can capture the subtle expressions and depth children are capable of- this film really does just that.

Zombie Derby Girl: Send us your suggestions!

This Zombie Derby Girl is currently swinging a severed head but she could be swinging something else. Suggest a different item by clicking READ MORE.

Two great things, even better together: The MTA and Yuko Shimizu

I find my commute a little happier every time I see public art.  I LOVE the MTA Arts for Transit program. The sculptures and mosaics are great, but I especially love the poster art pieces.  I don’t love every piece every time… but the idea of art capturing how the mind can wander as you people watch, or stare off into the space between subway trains is very inspiring to me.  There is so much potential for the unexpected.

I have a serious Art Crush on Yuko Shimizu.  I have for a long time.  She creates incredibly detailed and meditative brush and ink illustrations that she colors digitally with a subtle palate.  The end result is reminiscent of traditional Japansese printmaking, but with a style that is absolutely, uniquely her own.

Visit her work at: http://www.yukoart.com/news/index.html

Now- when I look out the subway car window I get to see Yuko’s art for Transit poster on the platform.  Thank you Yuko.   It makes me wish I were riding those zodiac animals too.

Yuko’s poster: http://www.yukoart.com/news/mta_artsfortransit.html

Concept Art for Zombie Roller Derby Board Game!

Draw Cute Derby Girls?  No Problem!   Zombies you ask?  Also Awesome!  Draw the two together?  Freakin’ AMAZING! 

I recently got to do just this for an innovative new board game,  ZOMBIE ROLLER DERBY! http://zombierollerderby.wordpress.com/

Here’s what I came up with for them… ENJOY!

Mooooaaaaaannnnn… Eat Bwainz… LOVE … SKaaAATE!!!

SGT. Grubb reporting for DERBY!

A Color Test for SGT GRUBB Derby Girl…

Jammers are the only Zombie Derby Girls who can score points during a “Jam”, each team has one.  This one currently has a severed head… but perhaps she could be swinging something else?  I’d love a few suggestions!

You can tell the JAMMER apart by the STAR shaped target.. er.. symbol… on their helmet.   This one lost an arm in a JAM.  That’s ok.. it makes her more aerodynamic!