Discovering collage via Photoshop and Photography.

I've been experimenting with Photoshop and photography. These scarecrows are perfect for my new manuscript, "Scarecrows Winter Getaway" Can't wait to wander in the country for more images to use. I love the look of collage but hated using glue, this may be the answer for me.

 I've been using lots of patterns but this is my first time using textures. Most were photos of things in my yard and studio: birdhouses, rocks, cloth. I think the effect is perfect for my scarecrows. Now I'm excited about finding more. Fall is the perfect season for capturing beautiful foliage. Heading out to capture more before the snow flies.

Dani Duck's Smart Dummies.

I'm working like a fiend to have a dummy ready for SCBWI-IL's Prairie Writer's Day in November.

Lucky for me Dani Duck is having an event on her blog called Smart Dummies. I need all the help I can get. I've only made two dummies. One took a million years and the other one didn't sell. SO I'm hoping to pick up some good tips.

Here's the link if you're interested: http://daniduckart.blogspot.com/p/smart-dummies.html

I'll try to post a few "Work in progress images" as I go along. Right now, I'm trying to divvy up my manuscript. More to come.....

August 2016 Combining traditional and digital illustration.

It's been a very long and busy month. I've been at the studio getting my hands dirty, painting images, textures and patterns to import and use in photoshop. Overall, I'm pleased with these images. It's opened up a whole new layer of interest to my work.

My Eric Carle-ish Images

I have worked almost exclusively in digital formats since September '15 as I teach myself how to use Photoshop. But, I've been longing to get to the studio to muck around with paint and brushes without totally abandoning my digital exploration.

SO...I pulled out the paints and brushes and went to work.  I scanned these basic character images, imported the images into a digital file and finished using Photoshop.
 
Here's one of my first ones:

I added the facial features and the pelican using Photoshop.

Final image with digital background added.

I found the entire process exhilarating. I was usually able to finish about three images a night.

Midway through the exploration, I tried cutting out pieces of painted paper to shuffle, recombine and create new characters.

After working on a series of the "cut out" versions, I wasn't as pleased with the results. They seemed "stiffer", less fluid. So I'm returning to painting the whole image to maintain the fluid look I like much better.

Look for more images like this next month.

Dark Whale with cardinal

One advantage of this technique is the ability to repeat a character and vary the background. 

Original scan with Photoshop face

POLAR BEAR AT NIGHT  Louann Mattes Brown

 

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING by Louann Mattes Brown

AQUA POODLE by Louann Mattes Brown

 I discovered how to use filters. In this image I transformed a marker drawing of flowers to look like a metal relief.

NIGHT BIRDS by Louann Mattes Brown

SNOW BIRD by Louann Mattes Brown

FRIENDLY PUP by Louann Mattes Brown

HELLO NEIGHBOR by Louann Mattes Brown

LION"S LUNCH by Louann Mattes Brown

ICE CREAM BEAR by Louann Mattes Brown

HELLO PARROT by Louann Mattes Brown

PARROT'S NEST by Louann Mattes Brown

JUMPING ROPE by Louann Mattes Brown

THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF by Louann Mattes Brown

TOY DOG by Louann Mattes Brown

AQUA UNICORN by Louann Mattes Brown

BIRD"S NEST HAIR by Louann Mattes Brown

MERMAID by Louann Mattes Brown

BOUNCING BUNNIES by Louann Mattes Brown

BULLDOG IN THE CITY by Louann Mattes Brown

FOX AT SUNSET by Louann Mattes Brown

#scbwidrawthis - A monthly challege for Illustrators.

#scbwidrawthis

My submission to a monthly contest sponsored by the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators. (SCBWI)The contest is called DRAW THIS. This month's word to draw was "admire". I had fun creating this image. It was drawn with a brush pen, scanned and colored with photoshop.

 

ADMIRE for SCBWI's monthly drawing challenge, DRAW THIS  July 2016