JESS N' ELLEN: Silent Night

JESS N' ELLEN : A Christmas GIF

My best friend Jessica and I are fucking weird. Therefore in lieu of "drawing/writing what you know," we are going to be making a Jess N' Ellen web comic for our own amusement (and hopefully yours too!) Here is a sneak peek of the Christmas one I am finishing up.

#Selfie

When studying portraiture, the most reliable model you have is yourself. This year I've painted more selfies than I've ever done before (more to come!) and have discovered all of the hidden colors in the human skin. Who knew desaturated reds and greens were in there? I wouldn't put that shit on my face! ahha.

Here are progress pics of the painting. I took them with my phone which is why it looks a bit wonky but nonetheless is interesting to see!

Holy improvement, Batman! These were all done this year, look how muddy my colors were in the beginning, and how weird my proportions are haha. I still have a lot to learn but I am glad I'm seeing progress. :)

Weekend Sketching

Overcast days are the best to paint because the lighting doesn't really change. 

Hanging out at The Lab in Costa Mesa. What I like about painting on location is the interactions I get with passer-by's because I guess they don't see someone with a paint set everyday painting. I have realized that it was mostly older people who actually stopped by to talk to me, the younger ones were too cool for school and just tried to sneak glances haha. 

My favorite- creep sketching at coffee shops. I need to get better at speed and memory because people tend to move, if you didn't know that. 

Instagram Fridays: Sleeping Through The Noise

When I am stuck on what to draw I usually default to drawing my dog, hands, or figures. You know you are a crazy dog lady when your dog has her own instagram and facebook page. And when your dog's instagram has more followers than your own. Don't judge me!

Ink and watercolor in a Moleskine sketchbook. 

Color and Composition Studies

Color and composition studies of Thomas Moran, N.C. Wyeth, Mead Schaeffer, Albert Bierstadt

Since being part of Noah Bradley's Art Camp this previous summer, I found out how important master studies are. I have learned how to see compositions as shapes, focus points and contrast, and not to be bottled up in the specifics. The new session has begun and here I am again still in my 9-5 chair wishing there were more hours in a day counting down the days until February 20th. 

Currently listening to: Boogie Belgique. 

Instagram Fridays: LAX to ORD

Sketched this during a 3 hour plane ride from Los Angeles to Chicago. I have always loved urban sketching, its when I am most in my element. All I used to sketch were people, so now I am trying my hand at complete scenes and to be mindful of the composition.

I bought The Art of Urban Sketching: Drawing On Location Around The World (which is an amazing book that shows you how other urban sketchers see the world as well as their tips and techniques) and took a really good tip from one of the artists: to sketch close to far, it worked very well for me. I really wanted to sit out in downtown Chicago and sketch the beautiful skyline and the quaint houses but I was with a group of four girls and were constantly running around.

I will now go and dream of this deep dish Chicago style pizza that ruined all pizzas for me. Damn you Pequods!!