Make Your Soul Happy

I knew I wanted to make some art today (cuz it's been a while, and when you're an artist not making art for a while, your soul starts to feel it). Wasn't sure how far I'd get.

Imagine my surprise when I was able to FINISH a whole piece.

Might touch up on this a bit tomorrow. Then it'll be posted all over the place, Redbubble, DesignByHumans, and the new store: TeePublic! Check 'em all out, which is your favorite?

TREES

I friggin' LOVE the line art of this. I feel like I was channeling Bill Watterson (look at the line variation, yo!).

So pretty

Even better in color (though my coloring is admittedly less Bill Watterson than I would like), check it:

More pretty

There ought to be something hanging from those branches RIGHT? A Facebook poll revealed a quick winner (as well as half a dozen amazing ideas that will shortly come to fruition):

Level up to Friggin' Sweet

Which is awesome...
but what about a family tree?

I just don't know WHEN TO STOP

O-M-G-O-S-H, Kenna, move on past this tree already.

And I'm trying. I really am.
I just really like drawing trees. Apparently.
To keep myself from doing yet another variation of this tree, I forced myself to move on to another family themed piece.

Imagine this framed and in your living room. Looks good, doesn't it?

This will be printed at 11x14" and available at the Cinco de Mayo Festival, you should drop by if you're in the area. Free event!
And if you're not in the area, fret not, just fill out the Order Form on this page (look on your right, yep, there it is) and I'll send it to you. :)

The Tree Addiction Begins

Once upon a time, not so long ago, I drew a tree.

This tree:

And I've been thinking about trees ever since.

I might be addicted to drawing trees.

Last night I drew this:

If there's a support group out there for tree-drawing addicts, send the info my way.

Skull Nouveau

Latest painting:

Made this with a specific friend in mind. Started as a really small sketch in a really small notebook. Thanks to the magic of technology, it's now a fully realized, inked and colored finished piece.

Thank you Wacom tablet I LOVE YOU.

Oh yeah, and Manga Studio. You helped, too. Thanks.

Deep Sea Line Art

Newest paintings...

For the deep sea creature lovers out there. All these can be printed on phone cases, tablet cases, notebooks, and more at the Redbubble Store.

Remember the Creepy Puppets? (of course you do, silly question)
They are PERFECT on these new Graphic Tees (also at Redbubble)




I would wear that. Freaking all the freaking time.

 I've got a lot of ideas, dishes to do, and a daughter to feed; there are not enough hours in a day. Can't wait to get on the Wacom tablet again.
Lots more to draw.

But not another octopus.

O_O

That octopus was INTENSE.

A Little Break from GAM Con Painting

Sometimes I miss pencils.

Everything I've been making for GAM Con has been digital. 99.9% of my gallery is digital.
There are a lot of advantages, and I enjoy it.

But.

Sometimes I just really miss using a pencil. Real paint. Charcoal. You know.
The traditional stuff.

So sometimes I draw stuff like this:

Aaaaah. Feels good.

Puppets of Hyrule

I know. I know.

Legend of Zelda.

Where are the Legend of Zelda puppets?

Good question!

Look no further, friend. Here they are:
 

Full color version, for people who are into that

Three tone version, for people who are into that

I really like this image for the fact that these three characters are bound together, by Fate, by the Triforce, but Ganon constantly seeks to sever the connection. The characters were loosely based on Twilight Princess versions, but I think this sums up almost all the Legend of Zelda games.

I've been playing Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask on the 3DS and holy-freaking-crap it's awesome. The graphics are beautiful and changes/updates to the gameplay are excellent.

It's also given me some ideas about Link, and masks, and strings, and puppets. Stay tuned, more Legend of Zelda puppet fan art is coming your way.

(btw, these pictures are available on shirts, hoodies, notebooks, and lots more over at Redbubble, give it a quick browse and let me know if you think they look good.)

Problem-Solving

When I look at this picture, I imagine this puppet is hard-core problem solving.
You can almost see the wheels turning in his head, right?

Which is fitting, because this painting sat for a LONG time, waiting to be finished, waiting for me to solve the problem I was having with the colors.

Took me (freaking) long enough. But now he's done!

I'm having similar issues with color and The Hobbit illustrations -

- but I have some exciting news about that. I'm going to collaborated with an artist I've been wanting to collaborated with for years (our styles just differ too much for us to do projects together before now), and she's agreed to paint them for me. :D

This may be premature to announce, she hasn't started yet and it may not work as harmoniously as we're hoping...but I am optimistic!

The artist happens to be my sister, Good Moe-Jo!
(aka: comicstrip, to some)

I think her more graphic approach to coloring will be just right. I'll post finished pieces for you as we complete them!

Hobbit Illustration: Smaug

Didn't have much to do today and realized I haven't drawn any Smaug scenes! ¡Que horror!

So I finalized a dragon design that matched the aesthetic I'm going for, snuggled him up against some gold, and here he is folks!

Next, I'll draw some interaction between him and Bilbo.

Commission!

I was recently commissioned to paint a puppet for a full chest tattoo.

COOL.
And also -
O_O

Never done a piece for a tattoo before. Slightly intimidated.

But what a COMPLIMENT to my puppets that someone wants it permanently in their skin!

They were great to work with, a perfect client. I hope they had a good experience commissioning me. (fingers crossed)

Here's the finished piece:

Want your own puppet? Just ask!

Burton Needs a Make-Over

You remember this puppet that I drew and I loved (still love) and it took me forever to paint him?

Yeah, this one. You remember. I call him Burton.

He's painted now, so he's done, right?

WRONG

It didn't come out the way I had envisioned and no matter how hard I try, I just cannot be happy with it.

So I painted a couple new versions (none of which came out how I envisioned. I guess I just don't have the skill yet to make him as I saw in my mind.) but they're better than what he is now.

In your opinion, which one is better?
I won't comment because my opinion is wrong.
Nonsense! Please comment, I really want to know what you think. There is no wrong answer here. 
I'll just look but probably won't comment. She's not interested in my opinion.
Not true! I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this, and especially yours. :)

Here they are:

I really wanted him to POP as orange, so I tried a green background.

Then I wondered what a more monochromatic approach would look like, still trying to keep to the orange.

I had this background already made and pasted him on. It would need more work, but the colors are nice.

These colors were surprising, but they add an interesting mood that I think is quite fitting.

Aaaand that's all I have for you. Please pick one so I can add a shadow and finally be done with Burton.

Two New Puppets

He's painted!
(finally)

Not exactly what I'd imagined, but it's good. And it's done.

 I'm lost as to what to title this one. I've been calling him Burton but...that's not really title.
(no, I don't name all the puppets, this is the first time. probably because he's been waiting so long to be painted.)

You know what else happens when you wait a LOOONG time to paint a puppet?

Puppets behind him in line literally POP OUT into reality.

w00t

This guy took a couple of days, whereas the one before him took over a month. O.o
I didn't even know he was waiting in the wings, or that he was getting so impatient, but judging by the speed at which he came into being I'd say he's been cooking in my subconscious for quite a while.

I've been calling that second one "Climbing." Uber boring, I know.

So what would you call him?

Thanks for reading! I hope to see you again for the next creepy puppet painting.

Re-Ignite!

I drew this puppet and I'm in love with him and I want to paint him.

Really want to paint him.

I think about it all the time.

But every time I've tried, I get...stuck.

Either the colors aren't right or the values are unappealing and it's been a really heart-breaking ordeal.

This puppet has been waiting to be painted for a couple of months now.

So what's an artist to do?
Well...I've expanded my toolbox to include Photoshop and Painter (to compliment my crazy Paint Tool SAI skillz), and I've been drawing a lot of things that are not creepy puppets. I read 3 novels and a self-help book, and I visited family for a week.

The result?

I feel rejuvenated and I'm ready to jump back into the creepy-puppet-painting saddle.
Everybody ready?
Yee--HAW!

Next time you see this guy, he WILL be painted and finished!

 (btw, Prince Lir is finally available on redbubble - yay!)

End of May. Finally.

Ran into a couple of speed bumps finishing this puppet (major one being I decided to change the light source - yikes) and even with all that, I totes finished within the 10 day goal.

< Victory Dance />

Here's the finished piece (in case you didn't see it on Facebook already)

Sinister Descent

Prints available on Redbubble (they have amazing prints - anything from paper or canvas to wood and even metal. Amazing prints, you've got to check it out) as well as cases and clothing.

Speaking of which, this is what he looks like on apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, and the like)

 I created products on Zazzle, and they will be published soon. All the other puppets are there, so you can check out puppets on stuff like keychains, buttons, playing cards, clocks, jewelry, etc etc etc...all kinds of random and cool stuff.

When I get 12 puppets I'm going to make a Creepy Puppet Calendar, and we're more than halfway there! Yes!

Alright you lovely people, keep sharing, liking, and spreading the word about Suspended Dreams, it really makes a difference. If you have suggestions for me, please send me a message or leave a comment, I love feedback.

Oh! One last thing!
You're awesome.
Don't ever forget it.

The Time Is Now Upon Us

I finished!!

I've been looking forward to seeing this guy completed since I first sketched him out in the margin of my notebook.

And he does not disappoint.

(well, I think he's pretty cool, anyway)

What do you think?

This puppet holds some meaning for me, but I'm curious, what do you think when you see this?

The insights of others gives me broader understanding of my own work. It helps me see the reasons behind decisions that were mainly instinctual.

Does it resonate with any experience you've had? Someone you know? Yourself?
I would love to hear about it!