How It's Going so Far...

Hey Everyone,
As you probably know I have been working on a Large Fantasy Painting for Dragon Con. This is a picture that I have been drawing and redrawing since I was a child. In all I have done this picture 4 times, it started out a small picture on notebook paper, then redrawn on 8x10 printer paper. The last one was about 11x17 colored and laminated then given to my mother as a present, not sure if she kept it but no matter because I’m doing it again. This time It is about a 30x24 piece and is the 2nd largest painting I’ve ever done so I’m kinda nervous as to how it will turn out.
I told you all I would keep you up dated on my progress so I included a few pictures so you can see how it is coming along.
Okay first I started with sketching a few of the creatures I wanted to have on it. I arranged the sketches on the canvas and once I had them where I wanted them I drew them on the canvas its self. After tracing over the lines in ink I started to paint the largest part of the whole painting…the Dragon…Ooooooo. I’m using a dark oil/acrylic paint to shade the dragon but once the shading is done I will paint over it in red.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=201883352&albumID=1828666&imageID=29568590

I have a few more pictures to post as I finish so keep checking my blog for updates.
Thanks for looking.

~Caralyn

Last Two...Don't Cry

Okay I know I said I only had one more picture to post but I forgot about a picture I was working on that I got TOTALLY frustrated with cause I couldn’t come up with a good background. So I kinda throw it to the side and worked on other pictures BUT I went back to it and was able to do a background that I could be happy with so I’m posting it also. But these two will probably be the last PhotoShop images for a while because I’ll be working on paintings and Myxies. You know you are all super excited about the new Myxies…Come on I can totally tell…just kidding :P

This first one is the one that I was having so much trouble with, see I wanted to do a stain glass window behind her that sort of told her story but for the life of me couldn’t get it to look right. After fighting with it for hours I took out a few of the images that I had in the stain glass originally and just went with the simple clouds and flames. It still gives the viewer and idea of what her story is but leaves more to the imagination then I had planned. But that’s not a bad thing. I call it Self-inflicted
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=201883352&albumID=1475118&imageID=29460684

I think this one is my favorite of all my new art. Took me FOREVER to do her hair and then about that long to get the bubbles the way I wanted. It didn’t come out at all the way I pictured it in my head but still came out great I think. I call it Posing Siren
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=201883352&albumID=1475118&imageID=29460747

That’s it for the PhotoShop pictures for a little while but I might try and post pictures of my paintings as I finish them so keep checking my blog for updates. Thanks for looking.

~Caralyn

Not What You Expected, Isn’t Always a Bad Thing

Well I had a pretty specific plan I was going to follow to get prepared for Dragon Con, but unfortunately time is running out so I have to make a new plan. I originally had about 15 pictures I was going to have completed for the con but alas I color too slow, so I have only finished about half that. I have a painting or two I still need to complete and then I have to get started on the Myxies. But I have finished two new pictures in PhotoShop that I am posting today and then I have one more that should be done this week that I will post. So don’t worry…you will have 3 more pictures to enjoy for now. :)

The first one is really just a doodled I did at a show that I never really intended to color but I liked her and it gave me a chance to try out a few of the tools PhotoShop has. Unfortunately it doesn’t have a title yet.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=201883352&albumID=1475118&imageID=29255600

This picture was drawn over a span of about a year or so. She started out as just a head and some hair…later I added the body and then much later I added her wings and the plant she rests on. I call it Lonely Fairy…probably cause she was missing her wings for so long :P
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=201883352&albumID=1475118&imageID=29255574

I have one more picture I will post next week probably, but I will keep you updated on all I am doing for Dragon Con so keep checking my blogs.

Thanks for Looking!
~Caralyn

My Ears are Burning...not literally

Hello Friends,
A talented artist named Fran Caldwell wrote a great blog about my Myxies. YAY I feel so important :)
It would be awesome if you all took a look at it. Be sure to leave her a comment about it.

http://francaldwell.blogspot.com

Thanks for looking.

P.S. I’m almost done with another picture, I will probably be able to post it this week so be sure to keep checking my blog for updates on my work.

Tootles Peoples!
~Caralyn

Unicorns and Happiness are my Forte

I finished a new picture, I’m really excited about this one because it is different from my other art. I usually draw either females or cute things. Unicorns and Happiness are my forte but with this one I branched off a bit and got in touch with my horror side. I call it “Full Moon” it is of a Werewolf…yeah you see how the name tires in. :P
It really didn’t take me as long as I had originally thought, from start to finish was only about 5 or 6 hours. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. All though I will admit I cheated a little. I have discovered more of the awesomeness that is PhotoShop. With this picture I played around with some of the features for certain things such as his glowing eyes and the bright moon behind him. Glowy eyes Oooooo Creepy.
Have a look see won’t you.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=201883352&albumID=1475118&imageID=28930996

I still have a few more pictures I will be coloring in PhotoShop before I start on more Myxies YAY Everyone’s Favorite :) And I will try to post each of them as I finish so be sure to keep checking my blog for updates.

Thanks for looking.
~Caralyn

And the Folks Like Me on the Job from Nine to Five

Ugh I have not done a thing this week as far as my art goes. When I work so hard on it for weeks and then just stop I feel so guilty. Things at my 9-5 have just been so hectic and with the holiday this weekend I was just so worn out. I really only have a few hours after work for my art anyway. Sometimes after coming home through the traffic…you all know…all I feel like doing is flopping down on the couch and watching TV. I have so much I want to get done before Dragon Con but at the rate I am going right now I’m not going to get very close. It would be easier if I had a full day to work on my art but what are you gonna do…you gotta pay them bills am I right.
Anyway let me tell you a bit of what I plan to work on tonight…cause I know you are all dying to hear all about it :)
I have been working on coloring a new picture in PhotoShop. It is of an Angel in front of a Stain glass window. It’s almost completely done I just can’t figure out what I want the stain glass to look like. I was thinking I would make a scene behind her on the glass instead of just splashes of color but I’m having a hard time figuring out what to put. Ugh if you can’t tell from all my other blogs…I have a lot of issues with backgrounds. Ay Me, it’s my cross to bear.
But tonight, I’m hoping I can figure it out and finish the picture Finally. If all goes according to plan I will have a brand new picture to show you next week….I said IF.

Okay well I have a lot to get done so Stop distracting me :P
Talk to ya later!
~Caralyn

Celebrate Good Times...Come On!

I’m FINALLY FINISHED! I think this calls for a celebration, everyone join me in the Happy Dance…okay enough of that you look silly :)
This picture took me such a long time…partly because it was taking an extremely large amount of time to color the characters. I was using a slightly different technique then I normally use, or at least one that I haven’t used it in quite some time. But it also took longer than expected because I couldn’t figure out what background I wanted to put behind it. I tried a forest scene, a few trees and greenery. I tried a sunset, lots of orange and yellows behind them. Then I tried putting them both together for a foresty-sunsety (sunsety’s a word) background…but I just couldn’t get it to look right. But then I scrapped that idea and decided to try something else, Like a stone border. Well it turned out to be a stone wall with a window in it when I was done but I was happy with the finished result.
Have a look-see.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=201883352&albumID=1475118&imageID=28441267


Unfortunately I can’t think of a good name for this piece, so for now it remains untitled.
Keep Checking my blogs for updates on my art.

Thanks for looking.
~Caralyn

Can't Think of a Good Name for This Blog

Man, I have been working my fingers to the bone this month. I’m trying to get a head start on the pile of work I want to get done before Dragon Con. I have so much to do but I think I’m making progress. I’ve finished up a few paintings, some scratch art and I’ve been working on coloring my newer drawings in PhotoShop. I posted a couple a few days ago that I finished last week and I’m going to try to keep posting them as I finish them.
On this picture I was trying to make it look a little more anime-ish then what I usually draw. I’m not sure if it came out that way but I think it looks good anyhow. I don’t have an official title yet but for now I just call it Angel. It took me about 4-5 hours to color in PhotoShop.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=201883352&albumID=1475118&imageID=28309871


Thanks for looking and keep checking my blog for updates on my newest work.

Tootles!
~Caralyn

I Been Working on the PhotoShop All the Live Long Days

Yeah so I have been blogging about a few pictures I’m working on…well worked on, I have finished most of them now… but I’m pretty happy with how they turned out, which is very rear :P So I figured I would share some with you. Oh Boy! Okay so the one I finished first was “Behind You” this is one of my few drawings that I did most of the details in photoshop. I usually sketch it on paper and fill in the details while I ink it before scanning. With this one I did a simple sketch, scanned it and it became what you see now with my good ol’ friend PhotoShop, I guess I was feeling adventurous. :)
Anyway it took me approximately 8 hours from start to finish, starting with the sketching and ending with the signing.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=201883352&albumID=1475118&imageID=28172153 Behind You
On this picture most of my time was spent on the background, I just couldn’t get it the way I wanted. I tried a few different backgrounds before ending on the one it has now. I was going for a sort of coagulated lava looking boarder…I think it turned out good. It looks hot enough for her :)
I unofficially call it Devil until I can come up with a good title but it took me about 5 hours to complete.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=201883352&albumID=1475118&imageID=28172156 Devil
I have a few more I’d like to show you all that I will try and post a blog about next week so check back later.
Have a great weekend.
~Caralyn

Myxierama

Good news Everyone, I finally got off my lazy tuckus and made some New Myxies. Hard to believe I know :P
Please check out the New Myxies on my Etsy Store

http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=handmade&search_query=myxies

Happy Monday to you all.
~Caralyn