Wednesday, June 30, 2010

deep sea life in willie's book







Lately I've been more into watercolors and figurative drawings - mostly animals of course. I was inspired and blown away by the work in Willie's Mole, and some of the sea life, including Aya's octopus and Ellen's two-page spread really inspired me to try some too. Being into things that are freaky and monstery, I went for the stuff that lives miles below the ocean's surface, and learned a lot in the process. That's what I love about these exchanges and drawing in general - they inspire me and cause me to want to learn about things I might otherwise know little about. Anyhow, it was an adjustment, working back in the smaller Mole again, being I've been spoiled by working in my newer A4 watercolor book, which I love to pieces. Still, it was kind of cool trying to draw so small again. I hope to get this journal out into the mail ASAP.

10 comments:

Something Different said...

Steve, these are gorgeous! I like the top and bottom creatures best. What type of black pen are you using? Is that a sharpie?

Also, this post inspired me to ask you ... if I buy a new watercolor Moleskine and mail it to you. Will you fill it with some of your fantastic washes for me to doodle over the top of? I suppose I could just do some washes myself, but collaborating with you sounds way more fun. Let me know what you think.

ballookey said...

I love them - and even before I read your comment I really liked the fact that you chose less-obvious creatures from the ocean as your subjects. :)

Unknown said...

wow! those are so awesome!
You just gave me such a cool idea for the next book that comes my way, damn! I hope it'll get here quick before I forget...

henniemavis said...

I agree with Ballookey, love the choice of fish! The monster-like quality is so "you." They are fabulous :-)

Thinking of Ballookey's comment, & Steve's style with the backgrounds & line drawing overlaid... I couldn't help but think it would be cool to see her dark-background application using Steve's mottled-wash technique, her white gel pen thing for the scary fish, but with Steve's linework? Wish you two would do a collab! If Steve makes some backgrounds for Andrea, that would be fun to see what she does on them... maybe Ballook should make some moody dark bkgs. for Steve & send him a white gel pen? I'd love to see what would come of that, HA! We do need a whole other exchange where we each take turns making backgrounds for the next artist's overlay...

henniemavis said...

@ Aya: Better write yourself a note then, HA!

Ash sent me a package tracking ID#, which I check every other day. It says the package has "left Canada"... no other details yet... been like that for awhile now, sigh. I promise to post the package the day it arrives. And then I will have to get busy!

milo said...

these are incredible!!! i want the series hanging on my wall :)

steve said...

Thanks so much guys - your encouragement means a lot to me!

Andrea, I love your idea. Just send one over to me anytime and i'll get to working in it!

Something Different said...

Awesome Steve! I will order the book today. Might have Amazon ship it right to you , if I can figure out how to do that. ;)

Mike Kline said...

Steve these are fantastic! Love the deep sea monster collection...I saw a few lake monsters in Possum Kingdom, Texas this week (near Graford TX). Dam fish.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

I'm still way behind from traveling!

These are GORGEOUS! WOW! Scary, wonderful colors and detail, great line-work, especially knowing they are in a small Mole.Wonderful choices of subject!!

I got one of those big moles, the a4s in case we were going to use it this round, but I have been sort of afraid to try it.

I love all the ideas that are coming from this work!!!