Robin Williams Tribute - Illustrated

Robin Williams, 2013. Coloured pencil on paper, 2014, © Ashley de Jong-Doucette

A legend died this month. When I was a child, every role he had made me teary with laughter. As I grew up and saw his more serious roles, my fondness for his warmth only grew. Mrs.Doubtfire, Patch Adams, the Birdcage, Aladdin's Genie... the loss of this wonderful actor and human being is heart-wrenching. 

"What's right is what's left if you do everything else wrong."

                                                          -Robin Williams

30 Day Art Challenge: Day 4 - Conjoined (siamese) Twins

Day 4 Challenge: Conjoined Twins

Comments:

I actually didn't draw this on the fourth, because I (stupidly) Googled conjoined twins and came across many sad stories and pictures. In the end, I decided to make Dolly the Lamb, if she had blended with Darcy to become a conjoined lamb twin.

30 Day Art Challenge: Day 3 - Nursery Rhyme

Day 3 Challenge: Nursery Rhyme

Comments:

Sing a song of sixpence,

A pocket full of rye.

Four and twenty blackbirds,

Baked in a pie.

When the pie was opened,

The birds began to sing;

Wasn't that a dainty dish,

To set before the king?

The king was in his counting house,

Counting out his money;

The queen was in the parlour,

Eating bread and honey.

The maid was in the garden,

Hanging out the clothes,

When down came a blackbird

And pecked off her nose.

30 Day Art Challenge: Day 2 - Book Cover Redesign

Day 2 Challenge: Book Cover Redesign

Comments:

I chose Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl as my book cover redesign. I think I could have done more with it - added a background for one. I find that I shy away from backgrounds, opting instead for the single, striking character. I may revisit this one later. 

Pretty Giffy

Some trippy gifs that I discovered saved in a folder somewhere on my harddrive. Enjoy!

30 Day Art Challenge: Day 1 - Self-Portrait

Day 1 Challenge: Self-Portrait

Comments:

I drew this (rather cartoony) self-portrait based on a photo taken by my husband over the weekend. I was going for a different style than I normally do, much more idealized and angelic. I'm not sure how I feel about the results - I think it's a pretty image of someone who looks nothing like me (aside from the hair). It might be a good direction in terms of character illustration, and I think that if I were to rework this digitally, I could really build it up into something new.

30 Day Art Challenge - Beginning August 1st.

Since I started my job as a full-time graphic designer, I feel I've neglected my illustration and fine art practice. Now is the time to challenge myself, to loosen those elbows and really work at some new techniques. 

I'm going in this with three main goals:

1) To make art-making a daily practice, moreso than it already is.

2) To broaden my colour pallette.

3) To improve my composition by not neglecting background elements.

I will try to post my results every day. Can I do it? Will I manage? I suppose we'll see!

If you care to join this challenge, do the same, and post a link to your progress in the comments.