escape!

illustration friday is a website started by illustrator Penelope Dullaghan to get illustrators to keep on creating when times get slow. someone suggests a weekly topic and illustrators can post their interpretations. (it reminds me of mini editorial assignments.) it really is a great idea. sometimes the most difficult thing to do is to try and figure out what to draw. (i've suffered this affliction since elementary school. in kindergarten, i just cranked out monsters left and right with total confidence and a lack of self consciousness.) artists of all kinds suffer from a lack of deadlines in their daily lives to force them to create. after weeks of seeing the weekly suggestions in my inbox, i finally got on board.

last week's topic was "Escape" and i've certainly had that idea on my mind:

where have i been?

good question. i'm not sure. guess i've been going through a creative slump/hiatus. that little thing called "my day job" has lately become something of a big thing and has subsequently been siphoning off my energy. i'll also admit that new york city has been doing some siphoning as well. it takes a simple visit outside the confines of the mega-opolis to realize the foolish financial, mental, and physical burdens we put up with to call ourselves New Yorkers. maybe it's all the bad news out there lately too.

i have been spending more time writing though. sometimes i find it easier to throw down the pencil and start typing. well not the blog maybe but a couple of children's book stories i've been working on are finally starting to take some solid shape. picture books may be the world's most difficult medium besides maybe poetry. less is more. every word must be essential. the monthly writing critique group i've been going to has been invaluable. it amazing what others can see that you're blind to. it also rams home the point how subjective everything is when it comes to creating. another person = another opinion.

i picked up some of those expensive markers i bought for my toy design class last year and did some coloring. i don't have the patience to use them the painstakingly slow way we were taught but they are good for throwing is some quick bright colors. this is a color study of a sketch i did awhile back: