Diane Young - Manic Illustrator

Portrait Painting of Toby

2012-01-30T15:25:00.001Z

This is Toby.

I am going to produce portrait painting of him and have chosen two poses to explore. The first pose below is from mobile phone photo whose resolution does not give me enough detail to be sure Toby looks accurately like the dog that he is! I have tried to compensate by using other photos of him too.

In light of the above I am also using a photo which I took of Toby recently for the second pose.

These are preliminary sketches to hopefully help us make a decision very soon.

Finished Piece - The Mountain Spirit.

2012-01-18T13:21:00.000Z

Below is my painting of the Mountain Spirit of Korea, a shaman or sanshin associated with immortality, nature and trees. The tiger here is deliberately larger than life to embue the calm power of the Sanshin. This is a spirit of ancient times and is seen incorporated within Buddhist temples when they were built in the 4th Century in Korea.

This piece was supposed to have been completed a couple of posts ago, but I had reservations about the bottom right corner.....I have promised myself to now leave it be.

Click this link to see a typical korean image : Sanshin Mountain Spirit

Korean Mythology - The Mountain Spirit

Workings -finding the right expression.

Owl strategy -the less he spoke the more he read.

2012-01-05T17:47:00.000Z

Strategy for the year as follows : do not veer from the topic of Mythology for a series of paintings, work on Picture Book Project, undertake any commissions, and keep drawing. So here is a drawing. Did you know owls are seen as a bad omen in some cultures ... shame.

FYKM6CFJG3BV

2011-11-28T12:44:00.000Z

Hare Scratching

Originally associated with the likes of Goddesses,
Christianity believed the hare to be the familiar of witches.

Mountain Spirit

2011-11-24T17:30:00.000Z

A few shadows to do but nearly finished. My depiction of the Mountain Spirit, the Sanshin and a tiger from Korean mythology.

Cobra

2011-10-26T19:32:00.000Z

Sanshin not quite finished but taking a break by starting to plan another piece of work.

A Snippet

2011-10-04T12:41:00.000Z

Just a snippet of the Sanshin my current work in progress.

Preparation sketch spaniel

2011-09-21T19:25:00.000Z

2011-07-22T07:32:00.000Z

I have decided my next painting shall be my depiction of the Korean Mountain Spirit San-shin and his tiger.

Sedna theme ends.

2011-06-26T15:31:00.000Z

Time to find further inspiration in myth and folklore. There is too much to choose from. First task is to decide what to do!

Fishy Hairy theme.

2011-05-19T16:08:00.004Z

2011-04-30T16:10:00.005Z

At last......well you only have to consider line, design, composition, shadow, light, transparency, opacity, shade, hue, tone, shape, realism (or not), and all the rest of that stuff and hopefully nothing drastic goes wrong and that finally it turns out ok. Phew, about time too.

2011-04-30T16:08:00.004Z

Mr Watchful, ever patient.....

2011-04-21T14:51:00.003Z

A a moment of spontaneity and surprising even me, here is my easter hare.

2011-03-22T16:49:00.003Z

A few adjustments, and just a little time has passed. One day all my time will belong to my artwork....

2010-10-06T14:46:00.006Z

The new drawing here is again of Sedna in preparation for a painting (see my previous post for the first). I have just counted up at least 13 preparatory drawings (even more are in the bin). This drawing is completely original, emerging as a combination of my imagination and the prep drawings. Sketches from different references enables me to amalgamate a believable rendering with the ideas I had in mind of how she should look and the head position I want. This of course being restricted to the fact that she must be the same person as depicted my first painting of her! Now to research the rest of the image .....

Additions

2010-10-01T15:13:00.004Z

MY NEW DISTRACTIONS

Preparation for my next piece

2010-10-01T15:09:00.003Z

It is good for me to stick to a theme and I wish to develop my Sedna image further. So first stop some reference sketches in order to decide on an idea.

Artist Gary Hodges and The Crucible exhibition

2010-10-01T13:57:00.004Z

I made a trip to the Nature in Art Gallery at Gloucester to see the Gary Hodges exhibition recently. If you like highly realistic drawings of animals these are a joy to behold in a gallery setting. His website cannot convey his images the same as seeing them in real life, ; although his recent book has some very good reproductions. The show at Gloucester is on until 10th October.

Also, I have been to see The Crucible sculpture exhibition at Gloucester Cathedral too and it is excellent.

The painting shown with this post is Sedna, who in Arctic mythology, either retains or releases the sea animals depending on whether hunters are respectful of animals souls.

Procrastination

2010-08-04T19:53:00.001Z

This is quite unavoidable, I have turned into a DIY queen just for the last few weeks. Soon there will be no alternative list and it's back to the creative table; won't be long.

Mythical creatures

2010-07-14T15:46:00.005Z

How welcome this rain is for thirsty plants.

For me at last a painting project 6 months old and with a sigh of relief emerges the completed Thunderbird; one magnificent mythical creature.

It is July already.

2010-07-06T19:14:00.001Z

Progress is good, but slow. Walking on Rodborough on Sunday blew away the cobwebs and an air of expectation has descended, perhaps something of an inkling of change to come.

Nearing the Longest Day

2010-06-20T20:24:00.004Z

Foxes calling and dogs barking, a baby deer with it's mum in the open across the valley, and buzzards arcing overhead in bright clear skies. These days are long. And I am grateful to live in such a beautiful place. At 3.30 am it was actually light, but it was not as if it was the moon, the skies were so clear and light and blue. A time for some of us to be restless, and for others returning , making it home for bed.

Today visits to other artists studios as part of the Arts Festival in Stroud....my favourites for today: Patricia Saddington's vibrant abstract watercolours inspired by the Cornish Coast, and Annie Williams' exquisite etchings of still life.

2010-06-15T21:06:00.005Z

Proof that I have actually done some work....this is a Thunderbird, a mythical creature with the power to bring about storms.

Artists in Stroud

2010-06-15T20:53:00.004Z

The Stroud Arts Festival and Open Studios (an annual event in Glos, UK) has some interesting installations and performances going on in town - Squid Soup is definately worth a viewing (to the left of Hargreaves), the Orchestra (near SVA) and Stroud House gallery has some really engaging performance and video installations. This annual event encompasses all aspects of art including painting, ceramics, a drawing exhibition, textiles, photography; there is definately something for everyone. Don't forget all those open studios all over the area this weekend 19th and 20th June. Click the link above for all details.

2010-05-27T21:24:00.002Z

2010-05-27T12:21:00.003Z

One computer is working at least... paperwork up to date, a web site job well on it's way, and some final sketches ready for Harvey's adventure with a balloon!

In between all this house windows, doors and walls being painted. It's all coming together!

2010-05-12T11:38:00.002Z

Ok ok, I am not keeping this as up to date as I should......had alot of computer based work to do but Harvey is still WIP!

2010-02-11T10:05:00.002Z

3 paintings awaiting attention, slow progress, paced decision making...... and soon the pub and restaurant beckons for a valentine's lunch.

8 February 2010

2010-02-08T13:09:00.002Z

Well 2009 got zapped away. So onto to 2010 and new artwork on its way influenced by myth and folklore.

September 08

2008-09-22T10:13:00.003Z

I am trying to write a new story about Harvey, who heads out on a trip to take photos with his camera. Funny thing I thought he would get his photos developed, what was I thinking, even I dont use film anymore!

Harvey is the ardvaark in cowboy costume in the pic.

I really ought to be at my table not my computer.

Web Design Promotion

2007-02-20T17:11:00.002Z

In recent years I trained as an illustrator. Subsequently I built my own web site to help me market my work (Manic Illustrations). A more satisfying result than artwork tucked away under the bed! My web site displays my artwork, and also has details of my web design skills. These are low-cost custom designed sites to help individuals to promote themselves. Look at http://www.manicillustrations.com/. Also see the links above to other sites I have created.

Meanwhile I am busying away in my attic studio and over the last few months have been juggling several projects including an adventure story starring Harvey the ardvark and creating vibrant and imaginative paintings with animal characters.