Thursdaily with more paintings and (bad) coloring book news

[ellenmillion]

I did another batch of paintings last night, and will be scanning some more today:



These have a few more geometric designs than the last batches, but I liked them, and they seemed appropriate to the prompts.

I confess, I have been very nervous about these paintings - I am fairly confident in my ability to render things in graphite or ink that look like things they're supposed to look like, but color has always been much harder and when I take away my safety net of representation and try to express without set structure? It's like sky-diving. (Except that I can paint over my failures.)

On the plus side - and it's a big plus - I am not as terrified of color anymore. This has been a tremendously excellent exercise in putting aside my fear and gaining comfort with the medium. Squeezing a lump of paint onto the pallet has become more 'let's see what this does!' and less 'ohgodohgodohgodI'mgoingtoRUINthis.' I'm eager to do more in color. (If you have a favorite black and white piece you'd like to see in color, you might want to mention it...)

And, speaking of color, I have a new (actually rather old...) painting up at Torn World:



Deirdre wrote a story set in this location, so it can be posted as canon artwork!

Coloring books update:

Now, the bad news: I did not receive enough work to put out an Arabian Nights coloring book. I am bummed, but I needed at least five more pieces, would have preferred seven or eight so I had some choices when I went to lay it out, and I'm not willing to to provide that many myself (I already had three to contribute myself). No one asked for an extension, and I'm tired of nagging. You guys that got work in, you are amazing and wonderful and I am so grateful for your efforts. I'm sorry it didn't work out, and maybe it will later!

Please let me know if you are generally not interested in doing coloring books, or if this was simply a difficult theme. The next book I'm considering is one based on Fairy Tales, and if you think you're more likely to submit work for that, that will factor in on whether I move forward with it or not.

Reminder to submit 'Scandinavian Mythology' artwork and stories to EMG-Zine for October: http://emg-zine.com/guidelines.php

Now, I need to make bread, start laundry, find a password so I can fix a website, get some orders ready to mail and do some more scanning and painting.

Comments

[kittrel.livejournal.com]

For the coloring books, I think the theme was a little hard. I tried brainstorming several months ago but didn't come up with much. :( I think Fairy Tales would be a more popular theme, personally. :) A little more variety too - I think Fairy Tales is a broader subject.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

*nods!* I think Fairy Tales will have some more success, judging by the comments I've gotten!

[redokapi.livejournal.com]

I did find the Arabian Nights theme a bit difficult. I also find that the precise line-work of the coloring book page takes almost the same time/energy as a color piece, which makes them a little less attractive. (Maybe that's just me though.)

What counts as a "fairy tale"? Traditional, well-known, fairy tales (Brother's Grimm, etc), or any sort of folklore involving fantasy beings? Not sure how much free time I'll have in the near future, but I could try to do a page if this moves forward.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

I think that folklore fits. I'm pretty flexible about how tight a fit something is for my themes. A fairy ring would be close enough for me, too - as long as there's a fairy tale *feeling* to it.

I think people had a lot of trouble with the theme - which is unfortunate, because there's a *market* for this one!

[mathhobbit.livejournal.com]

Now I'm thinking about what it would mean to paint over your sky diving mistakes...

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

It would be... messy.

[eseme]

Argh! I was looking forward to that coloring book so much! I've taken belly dance classes, and was really intrigued.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

>.> It looks like it may still go through - I've had a few artists step up!

[shellstar-art.livejournal.com]

I would try my best to do something for fairy tales :) I did a few attempts for Arabian nights but nothing worthy of submission (trust me on this) and my studio is currently in shared space with Willow's cot which seriously reduces art time. Hopefully this will change soon if we manage to buy a place, and then I will be submitting things like crazy!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Fairy tales is definitely a go. :) Crossing fingers for a new place with lots of space!

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

Great paintings...sorry I haven't been around much...it's been a week!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Boy, has it been a week!

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

For both of us, I guess. I'll certainly try to be around more often my friend. I value my online friends, but sometimes distractions in real life keep ya busy!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

I've had a few artists say they can come up with something, so we maaaay still be able to go forward with Arabian Nights, but this was DEFINITELY a tougher theme. Fairy Tales is a go - a lot of people have assured me they have more inspiration for that one. :)

[jenny heidewald (from livejournal.com)]

I am late.....I don't really like doing any intenet stuff when on vacation.

You've heard me whining about trying to get stuff done for Arabian Nights. <:) I'd get a sketch going but I just didn't really like any of them, except the one I actually finished. Of course my other problem might be all the other stuff I've been doing, namely the EMG-Zine articles. How many more did you need for Arabian Nights? I...just got an idea for a picture, though how it will turn out is questionable... I know who I am drawing for faerie tales...Though, oooo, I wanna draw all the princesses! *hahaha*