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Welcome to my blog , The Hare Illustratère. I'll be posting about my art process and journey as an illustrator/author here.

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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

MATS - Cuckoo for Cell Phone Cover

Drum roll please and now for the reveal. Ta Dah! Here's my final Cuckoo cell phone cover design that I submitted to the MATS February Boot Camp Gallery.  You can view mine and my amazing class mates designs on the CLASS GALLERY. Please take a gander.
Cuckoo Cell Phone Cover Mock-up
Ink watercolor Photoshop
© Diana Ting Delosh
So what are my take aways from the class so far other than I have so much to learn and I should let loose more? Specifically:

JAZZ UP MY PRESENTATION:
To begin with I need a logo. I have an old logo from my ancient graphic design days that I have been using on my invoices etc. It looked fine on my invoices but when I put it on my mock-up page it looked so-o-o heavy & dated.  Did not match the breezy fun vibe I was aiming for. Even changing the colors to a current trendy palette did not help. As you can see I used my bird "ICON" as my logo. Will probably keep it as part of my logo but I need to work on the type. 

LOOSEN UP:
I think for March I'll doodle with my inking pens or markers from the beginning. This way I can just use it as an icon and not have to re-ink. Saves time and keeps the freshness of the original doodle.

There is no specific right way to design a cuckoo inspired cell phone cover but there are many interesting ways to do it.

To paraphrase Lilla Rogers: They Buy Your Joy!

You can view my warm-up doodles for this assignment on this previous post: MATS/February: Kookoo for Cuckoo Clocks 


Monday, February 24, 2014

Promo Postcard: Dancing!

Front & Back of 2014 Bear & Hare Dancing Postcard
Front & Back. all art © Diana Ting Delosh
Tah Dah! My first Promo postcard for 2014.  Here's my printed Bear & Hare Dancing Postcard, front & back, Freshly unpacked from the Vistaprint.com box.

For the front, I chose my current fave, an illo from my latest Picture book dummy.

For the back, I have all my contact info plus another illustration, just in case it lands on their desk face down, a sample of my hand lettering from the same book dummy. I don't always pick something from the same project, usually it's another illustration just for variety. There's plenty of space left for the address, stamp and even a bit of room if I need to write a short note.

Now off to update my promo list and get this round of Postcards off.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

MATS February: Kookoo for cuckoo clocks & Drawings 23 - 28

What have I been up to lately? I signed up for Lilla Rogers' Make Art That Sells Boot Camp. What attracted me to this e-course was Lilla's attitude and the "doability" factor. The course is structured as 1 assignment a month, starting in February, with April off and ending in July. 5 assignments designed to help build a more commercial illustration portfolio. Sounds like just what I need.

First day of class, Feb 3 the warm-up: Cuckoo Clocks. A prompt? But I don't know what the end use will be? Find it unsettling to not know what the end game is. We are told to just have fun. So I doodle away. I even make a horrific mess with dip pens and a bottle of ink.  Discover I'm not in love with Cuckoo clocks. I like the leaves, the bird, the pine cones, the rustic, folksey vibe but not the clock.

Feb 10th - The Assignment: design a cellphone cover. OK- Now I have my end use. More doodling - this time trying to think of how it will look on a cell phone cover.  BTW the assignment needs to be handed in by Feb 23, 3pm EST time - IF I want to be part of the MATS February Boot Camp Class Gallery.
#23 - Cuckoos - 2/3/14
© Diana Ting Delosh 

#24 - Our Cuckoo - 2/4/14
© Diana Ting Delosh

#25 - everything but the Cuckoo - 2/5/14
© Diana Ting Delosh

#26 - Squirrel Cuckoo - 2/10/14
© Diana Ting Delosh

#27 - Sunflower Cuckoo - 2/10/14
© Diana Ting Delosh

#28 - Bird Flower Cuckoo - 2/10/14
© Diana Ting Delosh
Having fun with this class, doodling Cuckoo clock cell phone cover ideas. Some of these doodles won't end up on my phone cover BUT I see lots of things I want to explore further. Lilla told us to think of icons. I'm not used to thinking this way. Also not used to doing a product mock up. Have lots to ponder and learn.

So did I finish? YES - and I'll show you in my next MATS post along with the link to the Bootcamp Gallery this Tuesday 2/25! I'm really excited about viewing all my class mates work on the gallery. Can't wait until it goes public.

And whats with the numbers? # 23 -28 refer to my personal drawing challenge of 365 drawings in 2014. Yup I'm falling behind. I admit it. But I think I'll continue to keep tabs for the hell of it. Who knows the year is young and I might just catch up still. On the other hand - theres' a lot of drawing I'm not counting because I'm not able to show them as I do them. So do I feel bad that I'm not current? Nah. 

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

365 Drawing 2014: No. 18 - 22, Kitties +

I find it best to sketch/doodle first thing in the morning while I'm having my  tea.  My preference is to sketch from life or to draw from my imagination. Although I do draw from photos from time to time as an exercise. It's a great warm up for other creative endeavors and it helps to set the tone for the day. No matter what happens afterwards at least I did this one thing that feels really, really good. Unfortunately my schedule doesn't always allow for AM doodling. A friend tells me to try getting up earlier. As a natural owl, I find it easier to stay up later. Perhaps I should work with my insomnia.
18 - Kitty Sleeping, Pencil
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/20/14
19 - Bottle, Ball point pen
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/19/14
20 - Me at 3, Ball point pen
© Diana Ting Delosh
2/2/14 
21 - Strawberries,  Ball point pen
© Diana Ting Delosh 2/2/14
22 - Kitty starting to nod while sitting. Ball point pen
© Diana Ting Delosh 2/4/14

Friday, January 24, 2014

365 Drawings in 2014: Sketches 16 &17 Nutcrackers & Orchid

2 quick Ball point pen sketches.
16 - Nutcrackers
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/17/14 
17 - Orchid
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/17/14
Been getting busier. Now comes the big test. Can I continue drawing, scanning , blogging, on a regular basis  even as my calendar fills up?  Hm-m-m-m.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

365 Drawings 2014: No. 15 - Peek-a-boo Skunk

Here's another peek at what's on the drawing board. A cart wheeling skunk.
Skunk
ink & watercolor
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/16/14
FYI - the sneak peeks are at a personal project. I would never allow a peek, sneaky or not, at a hush hush assignment.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

365 Drawings 2014 #14 Crab Sandwich #Twoodle

Drawing #14 & Twoodle - CRAB SANDWICH 
with words  brought to you by:
Crab - @aliciapadron
Sandwich - @Readitdadday
Feels good to twoodle again -haven't done this in a loooong time!
Crab Sandwich © Diana Ting Delosh
Ink & colored pencil twoodle
1/15/14
A twoodle is a doodle game on twitter. Use #twoodle to find out more.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

365 Drawings 2014 - # 8 - 13, Includes a Sneak Peek!

Getting the hang of it. Sketch, doodle, draw, ink, paint, then scan whatever in the morning. Here are 6 more - almost caught up! 

I find drawing for fun first thing in the morning is a very relaxing way to begin my day before the madness ensues. While doodling at night is a nice way to wind down. These am/pm drawings are usually not project driven, no planning, no angst, not even a finished piece at the end. Could be a drawing from life or my imagination.

Needless to say, drawing happens through out the day - but those usually have a purpose whether it's prep for a project or it is the project.
8 - SHRUBBERY
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/8/14
Ball point pen doodle

Inspired by prompt from the book, 642 Things to Draw, Chronicle Books

9 - Ball point pen Study of Skunk coloration for a current project. 
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/9/14

10 - BEAR - Sneak Peek at what's on my drawing board.
© Diana Ting Delosh
Ink & Watercolor
1/10/14

11 - CABIN
© Diana Ting Delosh
Ball Point Pen Doodle
1/13/14

Inspired by prompt from the book, 642 Things to Draw, Chronicle Books

12 - HEN© Diana Ting Delosh
Ball Point Pen Doodle
1/13/14

13 -  KITTY IN BED
© Diana Ting Delosh
Pencil from life
1/14/14

Monday, January 13, 2014

365 Drawings in 2014: # 2 - 7

I'm actually drawing on a regular basis what I seem to find more problematic is scanning and then posting them on a regular basis. Although I hope this will come easier once I fit it into my daily rhythm. At the moment I'm tripping all over my feet. Anyhow here are a clump of drawings. With more to come shortly.
Sketches numbered 2 through 7 were all done with a ballpoint pen.
2 - Eggs in a Glass Bowl 1/5/14
3 - Spent Tea Bag 1/6/14
© Diana Ting Delosh
 Sketches numbered 4 - 7 were all done on 1/7/14
4 - Rolling Pin Mice 
© Diana Ting Delosh
Inspired by the prompt, A ROLLING PIN, from 642 Things to Draw, Chronicle Books

5 - A Skunk or 2What is the black and white striped pattern on skunks? 
© Diana Ting Delosh
Inspired by the prompt, SKUNK, from 642 Things to Draw, Chronicle Books

6 - An Ottoman 
© Diana Ting Delosh
Inspired by the prompt, AN OTTOMAN, from 642 Things to Draw, Chronicle Books

7 - Sleeping Hubbie 
© Diana Ting Delosh
Note to friends and family NEVER dose off in front of an artist with sketchbook and pen in hand.


Friday, January 10, 2014

Sneeze - SCBWI Tomie Illo Contest

Elephant Sneeze © Diana Ting Delosh
Ink watercolor and a smidgen of Photoshop

I couldn't resist, I went for the funny with my illo.

However after Reading Tomie's comments I guess I should have followed my first instincts and gone for the sweet and cuddly.

Whatever  - I entered the contest for the fun of it and I must say painting this illo was a blast. Looking forward to more illustration contests for the challenge and of course the opportunities to show and be seen amongst my fellow illustrators. And I must say they are a very talented and awesome bunch and wonderful company to be amongst.