30 Days of Donkeys

[wayfaringwordhack]

Once upon a time, I wrote down a children's story for J.

Once upon a time, I told him I would have that story illustrated by the end of 2012 (after promising spring of 2012 :-< ).

Time and again, I have failed to keep my promises because I have never hit upon an illustrative style that pleases me for the narrative. This is due to the fact that I have so far only done random little sketches.

Obviously it isn't by doing halfhearted once-in-a-while sketches that I am going to find a style that suits. Enter: 30 Days of Donkeys.  One of the first "images" that occurred to me in relation to this story was a donkey wearing mittens on its ears, so I am going to use Donkey as my muse. For the next 30 days, I will be doing one (or more if I have an idea that fires me up) donkey illustration per day in hopes that I shall, at last, home in on the type of art I want to do.

"Donkey Colt," acrylic paint and ink

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

This is gorgeous. I love your style. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

You are overbrimming with creativity. It's such a joy to see!

(Okay to Tumblr it?)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

:D Thank you. When I first did this, I thought, "now, I know this is not the style I want," but I shut that judgement down right away. I just don't know yet, and there is nothing wrong with the "style" even if the colors and content (cacti :P ) are not what I need for this story.

It's such a joy to see!

It's a joyful feeling, too. :D

And yes, I'm honored when you want to Tumblr my stuff, so go ahead. *hugs*

[coffeesvp.livejournal.com]

Totally, totally awesome. I am from NM and spent, and spend much time in the Four Corners. Love the donkey and the cacti background.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

It is funny, but I had no plans to add cacti when I began (I had no plans at all, really). When they occurred to me, though, I knew they'd be perfect. :D

[coffeesvp.livejournal.com]

About a week ago I suggested to Maggie Stiefvater that she might draw some saguaro cacti.
http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/246155.html?thread=11504011#t11504011
It seems the request was rerouted to you. ;)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Oh I love the covers of her books! Might have to check them out. :D

And I'm glad to have been on the receiving end of those cacti vibes. :P

[coffeesvp.livejournal.com]

I showed your drawing to my mom and she thought it was fantastic. I met Maggie at a book signing and took several photos of her.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/desert-sparrow/5934325103/lightbox/

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I showed your drawing to my mom and she thought it was fantastic.

That's sweet. :D

[coffeesvp.livejournal.com]

I came back to look at this donkey. It beautifully represents where I grew up in the southwestern US.

[msisolak.livejournal.com]

Love the background in particular. The colors scream southwest at me, even if the pattern in that upper brown layer weren't there. And I love the appearance of the images having been scratched onto the background layers of color.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I guess you can take the girl out of the Southwest but you can't take the Southwest out of the girl. ;)

I actually planned to put random patterns in each of the color layers using white acrylic ink, but then I had the idea to do the donkey challenge and changed headings a bit. I started from the top, which is why there are flowers in my "sky." I like the whimsical turn it took, though. :D

Oh! And the background was actually a silly thing I did because I had too much paint left over from another project. I hate to waste, so I used my finger to transfer the leftovers from my palette to a piece of watercolor paper in hopes of doing some random nice pattern like I mentioned above. :P

[frigg.livejournal.com]

I like! And I like the folk-art style. This just has Miq all over it.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

It was quite fun to make. :D

[mindseas.livejournal.com]

For some reason, I picture the donkey trotting across a bandanna or wall-hanging.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

As soon as I read bandana, I thought, "This would make a lovely hand-painted silk scarf!" :P

[clarentine]

I heartily endorse today's art. >:-)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Thank ye kindly for the endorsement. *tips hat* :D