Ballookey's Arrives

Ballookey's Moleskine arrives in Detroit
in time for spring.

2-page spread
Glechoma hederaceae
click images to view larger

Glechoma hederaceae
botanical diagrams

Glechoma hederaceae
botanical painting, acrylics

I am sorry to report that I am not only still sick, but I am also getting worse rather than better.  I have a medical procedure scheduled May 30, which is supposed to help and I hope and pray it does.

I kind of messed this up a little, and I apologize.

A peak at Aya's

A hasty and blurry peek at the next two pages in Aya's. I stuck with the theme of Daydreams and Nightmares. These two pages illustrate a daydream, but are quickly becoming a nightmare. I was pretty happy with it when I'd finished inking all these fine lines, but now that I've added watercolor, it's muddier than I wanted and the lines are hard to see. I'm going to hang onto the book tonight and try selectively touching these pages up before I send it on.

Mailed Andrea's off to Mike

pear sketch

waiting

Mailed Andrea's off to Mike, made a couple very quick acrylic sketches on the envelope.

Fail Whale from Andrea in Ballookey's book.

Hi all, I got a whole lot of nothing done in Ballookey's book.  I am going to mark my pages and mail it on to Mary as to not make her fall behind.  Never fear Ballookey, I will catch it next time.  I have not had much time at home this month with sick parents and a funeral for my Grandmother in Colorado.

I vow to do better.  I'm still here, just limping along right at this moment.  I will recover!

I did a little decorating in the front of Ballookey's book when I first got it and managed to get the collab page started for Mary.

...And in the pocket

This time, I made the pocket item in the middle rather then at the end of working on the book. I wanted to make at least one thing for Mike's book on my trip and since I didn't bring the book, I decided to make the "something extra" on the plane.

So mike, one more vomit bag to your collection...

5 & 6 in Mike's book

2 more Mayan gods in Mike's book. A very funny god of the underworld and a goddess of suicide (how strange) on the half page. Can't wait to see what Ballooky makes of this.

more pages in Mike's book

I'm back from Mexico! I had such an amazing time, we were staying in the most beautiful place I can imagine, visiting Mayan ruines, swimming in the Caribbean sea and in underground mineral water pools. It was really out of this world. I haven't even scanned my mexico drawings yet, but since I got back I've been working on Mike's book, hoping to finish before the 15th.

I stated this on the day before we left, while I was packing my bag:

One of the things I really enjoyed is reading a book about Mayan mythology and their gods, It's really cool. it seems like the Mayan didn't like their gods very much and sort of treated them like a pesky landlord to whom you have to pay homage and scarify people and animals, but that god's as such don't merit respect or devotion.

One of the exception to the rule was  Quatzo-Coatel, who was actually a man who got reborn as a god rather then a born god. 

The other myth I really like is about Ix-Chel, the godess of rainbows, childbirth and all thing women related, who was stuck by lightning and then got to be dead for half of the Mayan year and covered in dragonflies who sang her back to life.

One and a half more page to go, and the book is really to take off!

Last one in this cycle of Round 4 in Andrea's: Moray Eel

Moray Eel
mixed media
by me, Mary Stebbins Taitt
first half of a collaboration with Mike Kline
please click image to view larger

Normally, When I am doing a collaboration with Mike, first half, I like to work in somewhat graphic black and white to make it easier for him to collaborate with me.  However, I had just received new acrylics from my kids for Mother's Day (HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!) and wanted to play with them.  You know, kids with new toys?

This is a two page spread.  The first 1/4 of the spread (half a page) is with the new acrylics. The second quarter (1/2-page) is with a combination of watercolor, gouache and acrylics.  Then, 1/8 spread (1/4 page in black watercolor, followed by Faber-Castelle pigment pens.  The purpose of all that was to hopefully create something to which Mike could easily attach his work.  (I hope).

Mike, please feel free to change any part of this piece, add to it, darken it, whatever, to make it work with your style.  This could be one long eel, an eel coming out of a hole, two eels entwined, an eel being scooped up by a new, or any number of things--so I hope you enjoy it, Mike.

This completes my work in Andrea's mole.  I have to gather up the pocket items, which I have already posted quite some time ago, and pack up the mole, but since it is Sunday, I cannot mail it.  Mike, it should be on its way to you within a few days.

Ballookey's Collab with Aya in Aya's Book

Just watercolored this in today:
Aya did the left page. I liked the theme and sketched in a scene from a recent dream that I really liked a lot, and it worked well as a transition to her oceanic page.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Me, Mary Stebbins Taitt
with my mother's day gifts
Click images to view larger

Moray eel, in progress
in Andrea's book
with new paints

I was very excited to receive a package from my kids for mother's day, new paints.  I plunged right in and have been having fun mixing violet, yellow ochre and blue in Andrea's book.

I wish a happy mother's day to your mothers, grandmothers, wives or to you, if you're a mother.

Worst Nightmares, Collaboration Andrea and Mary

"When Confronted with our Worst Nightmares
I like to fight back with Flowers"
Collaboration Andrea and Mary
mixed media
water color, acrylic, pigment pens, colored pencil
click image to view larger

I wanted to do the girl (standing in for my child-self) in water color, but ended up coloring the background with black Faber-Castell pigment marker (A gift from Hennie Mavis) and then painting over that with glazes of blue acrylic.  I drew the flowers on the girl's pajamas with colored pencil and then painted them in with watercolor.

I have a lot of dreams of being chased down dark alleys by men who intend me harm.  They are nightmares, because I wake up terrified.  Not sure if that's what Andrea meant.

Click on the image to see it much larger.

I am still sick and my work is going slowly.

Mr. Gnu in his Canoe

Mr. Gnu in his canoe
Raced Yak in his kayak
click image to view larger.

This is my second painting in Andrea's Mole, an illo for San Cassimally's Animal Carnival.  It is done in acrylics.  It took me ten days to paint it and two more to scan and post it.  I regret to say I'm still sick and it's taking a lot out of me.

I posted the steps (4 coats of paint) here, but don't have time to do it again.  At least, not now.

Ballookey's Round 4 Book

Hello!
Of course I shipped this way later than I ought to have. I'm sorry for the poor cell phone pics - I was determined to get to the post office no matter what, so I figured since it's my book, it's OK if I don't have the best pictures of it.

Page 1: Just inside the cover, a TARDIS. As much as I love Doctor Who, I've never tried to draw anything remotely Whovian. I had meant to draw the TARDIS and then cut the doors so they folded open, but then I realized drawing it at this angle, while more dynamic, meant the doors would open angled and so I didn't bother cutting through. Next time!



Page 2: Since I decided not to cut open the doors, this page didn't serve quite the same purpose. I stuck a few stickers on it - I drew the bunny and owl ones. If anyone else would like to add stickers or postage stamps, feel free. I'll be including bunny and owl stickers in the pockets of people's books.



Page 3: You've seen:



Page 4: I drew this in after page 5. I only meant to draw something that didn't clash with page 5, so simple black ink for this Andalusian stallion.



Page 5: this is a sketch that Dawn Wolf from Art of Dawn made in my sketch book during Wondercon. (also illustrator of Zombie Ranch web comic.)



Some slightly better photos I took earlier:



Page 6: I've been playing Bioshock Infinite, and I was maybe inspired by that to draw this songbird. It's not really the one from the game as I haven't gotten to a part where I see that bird very clearly yet, but I know it's important to the plot, so I just drew a steampunk-y bird and let it flow to page 7 for Andrea to finish. I don't know what it has to say, that would be printed on the scroll that spools from it's beak, so it'll be interesting to find out. :)



I received Aya's book yesterday and am sketching in it tonight, so I'll post some progress shots as soon as I have something. I love the image she put on the back pocket... ;)

Moleskine IV

Moleskine IV, a photo by Mike "Dakinewavamon" Kline on Flickr.

Collaboration with Mary Taitt.
Raven and Bald Eagle on Thunderbird

Like Snail, who chose the rail, Crane also took the train. Mary in Andrea's

Crane and Snail ride the train
acrylic on Moleskine watercolor paper

Like Snail, who chose the rail,
Crane also took the train. 

San Cassimally, Animal Carnival

This is my illustration for San Cassimally's Animal Carnival, which I am no longer officially illustrating.  I did it for Illustration Friday last week ("train"), but because of my illness, I was unable to get it done in time.  (Took me a whole week, so I may be running late!  Sorry).

This is actually on my LAST page, I think.  (The other pages are still blank.)  Because of my pain, which is usually worst in the mornings, I can't paint until evening.

Bon Voyage

I love Mike's book's theme so far, it's all about flights, planes and travel. 

And in a strange coincident, I got the book on the same week I'm going on the first real vacation I've had in over 7 years. I've traveled a few times , but it was always either Israel to see family or Chicago \ LA \ Louisiana for art shows.

Me and Ned are going to Tulum, Mexico for a week, to see some Mayan ruins and swim with sea turtles. I was thinking about taking Mike's book with me, but we are going to stay in a grass hut with no electricity and probably a leaky roof if it rains...

So, I wanted to finish at least one page before we leave, and I'm keeping the travel \ journey theme in mind.

Andrea's "Arrove"

ELEFUNKS!

As of yet unfinished painting

Mary's Last piece(s) in the first half round of Round 4: Dino-Drag

Dino-Drag
2 half collabs
Mary Stebbins Taitt first halves

Dino-Drag
half collab for Ballookey
Mary Stebbins Taitt first half

Dino-Drag
half collab for Aya
Mary Stebbins Taitt first half

I did Two more half-collabs this morning, and I did them together so that Aya, Ballokey and I can to a three-way collaboration.

Feel free to draw, mark or paint OVER any portion of what I did to make the wings bigger, add a damsel in distress, add flying teradactyls, or hunters with nets or approaching vampires or whatever.  Add clouds, change the color of the sky, alter the articulation of the wing bones, whatever you want--fix any mistakes.

And the same goes for the collabs I left for Mike and Andrea--too bad I didn't put those together, too.  For another three way.

Make yourself at home.  Have fun!

This is my last piece and I am hoping to mail today, but I think the post office closes at 2 and if I don't make it,t hen it won't go out until Monday.  Seems unlikely I can make it by 2:00--DANG!

Well, anyway, hopefully it will be on it's way Monday to Mike, then.  WAHN--I'd hope to mail it today.

Round 4 first half Mary's pix

Half a collab for Andrea in back of Mole
Faber-Castell PITT Manga Kaoiro set pens
Click all images to enlarge

The Arctic Trek
Watercolor

Leaopard Lept
Sloth Slept
Reptile Crept*
(*see note)
acrylics

Thunderbird
half a collab for Mike Kline
Faber-Castell PITT

I've been busy working on the Mole.  I intend to leave a collab for each artist in the back, except for Mike's, which is in the normal place in the front.  This may mean fewer pieces in the next half-round.

*San Cassimally asked me to illustrate a kids book he's written with nonsense rhymes and this is my first attempt.  I will probably fiddle with it some more.

I hope to be ready to mail by April 15.

Sadly, I got blue acrylic paint from the leopard etc on the arctic trek and the poppies.  I will need to be much more careful--I had waxed paper taped over the other pages and still messed it up.

Lakeshore Poppies, Approaching Storm

Lakeshore Poppies, Approaching Storm
Watercolor in watercolor moleskine A3
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
Click images to view larger

I painted this this morning in my round 4 Moleskine with watercolors. Last night, I did the one below, which is smaller and in a different oritnetation and with gouache instead of watercolor.

I am tempted to darken the Moley one a little (so it looks more like the Graham-cracker-box one), but haven't decided yet.  I guess Iw ill do more work first and come back to it if I have time.

This is my third page in the Round 4 Sketchbook.

If you are interested, you can read about my Graham cracker box sketchbook here. I also did a raisin-box sketchbook here.  Although some of the images don't show up in the small versions, they do show up if you click on them.

For some reason, the images look a little washed out on my screen--they look brighter if you click on them.

Lakeshore Poppies, Approaching Storm
5 x 7 gouache sketch
in Graham cracker sketchbook on Canson mi-teientes
by Mary Stebbins Taitt