I’ve been back to juggling my creative hats. Between multiple daily trips to Lincoln Center to play rehearsals and shows at New York City Ballet, I’m squeezing in my illustration work whenever I can. Fortunately, I have a love affair with illustrations. Which means that no matter how tired I get, sitting down to the drafting table will always bring me back to my happy place.
A Love Affair with Illustrations
My happy place involves repeated attempts to hone my technique so that I can get to the heart of what I’m trying to express with a minimum of lines. To that end, my soon-to-be-completed Talens Art Creation Travel Sketchbook is filled with quite a few “repeat” illustrations. Take for example the little girl above. She’s actually the 3rd freehand-drawn incarnation of the same illustration. I will be posting a sketchbook tour on my channel at Youtube when I finish the sketchbook so that you can have a truly behind-the-scenes look at my process.
Creating Stories for My Illustrated Characters…
Has also been a big part of the fun for me of late. As you can see, I’ve been posting more illustrated limericks over on my channel at Youtube. Creating a limerick stretches my brain in a different way from drawing. But the short stories that result are great for prompting my visual imagination.
Perhaps you’ve even come across some of my characters in your day-to-day life?
The Girl From Soho:
How (Not) to Diet:
P.S.
I post my drawing videos every Monday and Friday. If you haven’t subscribed to my channel at YouTube, I invite you to do so. And if there’s something you’d like to see me draw, please let me know in the comments below!
JOANA YOU ARE ROCKING THIS!!!!
Thank you so much, Susan! I finally understand aspect ratio (how to properly fill the frame size for YouTube and Instagram videos. Yay!) That said, with each new illustration I keep finding new things to refine and simplify. But that’s the nature of the beast, right?
I hope you are doing well and enjoying the ups and downs of the winter weather.
With all best wishes,
Joana
Looks like uncle Joe’s diet is for me!!!
No, that diet is definitely not for you! Tsk, tsk. What am I going to do with you.;-)
xox – J
Great job with all the juggling, that’s a lot!
Hi Helen,
The schedule would be doable, but having to be tested 2x per week does add in quite a bit of time. (We have to allow enough time for the results to come back so that we are cleared to rehearse/play. Most of the time, the results take about 15-20 minutes, but sometimes it takes as long as 45 minutes. Sigh.) But I’m grateful for the work…and grateful that all of my PCR tests to date have come back negative! May it continue!
xox – Joana
I find myself making time to write send draw even on my busiest days. It really helps navigate the ups and downs of being stuck at home
Hi Stefan,
My sincerest apologies for taking so long to respond to your nice comment on my A Love Affair with Illustrations blog post! For some reason, my site only alerted me today that you had left the comment. In any case, I hope you are still enjoying your drawing, AND that you are able to be out -and about more now! 🙂
With all best wishes,
Joana
No worries! And yes, I am enjoying it a lot 🙂