Three Spot Roosters

 After playing with several ink techniques we received our official assignment for the week. Make 3 "spot" designs of a rooster. What is a spot design you might ask? Well it is basically to create an illustration that may be inserted within an article with the possibility of having text wrap around it in a way. We were given guidelines- 3 separate spots able to fill an image size of 8"x6" on illustration board using black and white media only. They all had to be similar stylistically but with distinct different qualities.
 At first, I thought this would be a piece of cake! However I didn't realize how much more challenging it would be. I took to my sketchbook, grabbing my trusty ballpoint pen and doodling whatever roosters I could find using internet searches. I tried for realistic effects, cartoony, simplistic, and just about any other design in between. Before I knew it I had filled at least 4 pages of miniature drawings of various roosters. I just wasn't happy with any of them, I wanted to do my usual anthropomorphic cartoon style, but anatomically the roosters weren't coming out how I had imagined. I even decided to study some old cartoons like Looney Tunes (Forhorn Leghorn) and Rock A Doodle (Chanticleer) but still drew a blank how to interpret the designs into my own style.
 After a while, I finally stumbled on some ideas that worked for me and then the challenge became making them as similar as possible while still making them uniquely different. I settled for a unifying theme- using the image of a farmhouse somehow incorporated into the design of the rooster to unify all 3 images. I chose to use my Crowquill pen and ink method since I did have a bit of fun with the pens last semester and I love the effects I can get with various pen nibs and pressure. I loved how they turned out and had a bit of fun with the ink wash method to add value to the farm around (or in) the rooster. In the end I was very pleased with the results!

(Click the image for larger view)

Fish in Ink

 After a bit of stress toward the end of the week I was ready to get to Illustration class and unwind in an enjoyable class. After a bit of lecture, and looking at works of the "artist of the week" we were set to try a new technique. Today we would be working with ink.
 A paper was set before us and the instructor brought out some ink bottles. "First off, I want you to take your paper and set it on the floor. Now stand over your paper and drop some ink down onto it. Pick it up and shake it around a little- don't be afraid to let it drip. See what it does here? Neat huh?"
 Hooray! We get to make a mess! haha
 I personally love ink splotches and paint blotches. Things that look unintentional but are fully a part of the overall design. I remember having fun with paint on the walls of the garage, standing back and flinging paint everywhere just to get the blotchy-streaky look that came with flinging colors on a blank wall. There is no control, only chaos that creates an artistic feel.
 While the ink splatters dried everyone was given a ball point pen and a sheet of fish to reference and draw. There would be no underline sketch in pencil just the unforgiving ink that would become a finished sketch. By this point I've already become a "master" at ballpoint doodles. The evidence fully clear in my school notebooks that have pages upon pages of scrawled ink doodles along the margins of my notes or full pages when my brain just doesn't want to cooperate with the shorthand note taking.
 So I set to work immediately, working in light gestures and darkening areas with hatching and cross hatching. The real fun began when we were given a paint brush and told to use it to wash the ink across the fish. I remembered this technique from last semester in Drawing I when we were using ink washes to play with value. I loved working with the ink wash so once again my hand flew madly across the page bringing the fish to life with an almost watercolor feel.
 Then came the next experiment- drawing a fish in sharpie! I used to use sharpie for outlining work, but never to draw with straight on a paper. I will admit I didn't like the outcome, but what came next sparked some interest. Instead of using water to bleed out the ink- we used rubbing alcohol! It was an interesting concept and some of the other students had some really awesome results. However my own experience left me feeling less than excited over my drawing. But it gave me a new medium to experiment with none the less.
 "Now take your ink that you dropped on the floor and incorporate a fish with it using one of these techniques."
 It took me a long time to decide what to do. I stared at the blotches- I loved my blotches! Why did I have to draw an ugly fish with them? HOW could I incorporate the blotches with a fish? I had a hard time trying to decide what to do and finally resigned to draw a simple fish swimming below the blotches. I chose to use the ink wash with water since my first fish turned out so well. It was fun, but I don't think that the idea of incorporating the blotches worked too well. I will just have to try again! But I still love the results :D

Bad Apple

Illustration I project 1

  The first day of class was interesting indeed. I was unsure of what to expect in a class based around illustration to be honest. I'm used to going into an art class, being given a still life and told to draw from a specific angle in order to include as much variations of value as possible. So how would illustration be much different? Well for starters- everyone has their own style and way of doing things and that is perfectly acceptable!

 "I'm going to play the role as the art director." The instructor told us and the proceeded to explain the process. We are to be given guidelines, size and media restrictions, but the art is on us.

 This idea excited me. I would be allowed to draw in whatever way I wanted? Awesome! The thrill of the challenge would be placed on subject, media, and format. "this could be fun" I thought as we were given the first in class lab.

-20 Apples/20 ways-

 20 apples? Really? As the class brainstormed the different ideas you could do with apples, I was confused at the process. I sat quietly at first, observing the process and ideas that flowed. Apple pie, apple juice, apple... apple... apple... Sayings, quotes, movie references... What could be done with an apple? Its so simple and boring.

 A paper was set before us. "Now draw 20 apples, you can use ideas from the board or come up with your own ideas. Think of the color, texture, shape and just roll with what ever comes to mind. Drawing 20 apples may seem easy, but it gets harder as you go along."

 My first pencil to paper began. A doodle of a simple apple with nothing special about it began. As I moved on to the next drawing I realized the seed of creativity had been planted and was quickly growing and blossoming before my eyes as my pencil scrawled madly across my paper. Before I knew it, the large blank paper sitting on the table was filled with apples of all shapes and sizes. Apple carriage, apple planets, apple faces. I couldn't get enough of it! Such a small simple object soon bloomed into about 30+ sketches.

"Now take those drawings and turn one of them into a finished project in what ever media you want."

 Hooray! My first assignment for Illustration class. I left first day with a bounce in my step and the feeling of NEED for creativity. I just had to draw! All weekend I took every chance I could to doodle on nearby scraps of paper, trying to develop my apple ideas into something I could turn in and be proud to show the class come next Friday.

 Finally I settled on a design, playing off from words like "Bad apple" and "Rotten to the core" also taking inspiration from poison apples etc. Since the media was of our own free choice I settled for my comfort zone of working with my trusty Wacom and familiar programs. I did decide to try using a couple different techniques though- but in the end I was happy with the result!

Welcome!

Welcome to White Wolf Toonz (The Blog)

My name is Ksandra Jeffery, better known to the online furry community as "Makki Wolf". I represent myself online and through my art as a fun loving white and black wolf with bi-colored eyes. I'm currently attending community college with a major in fine arts and I'm loving every second of it. My plan is to eventually branch off and make it into an arts school where I hope to pursue illustration and animation. But for now I'm perfectly happy drawing for friends, family, and for myself.

First off, let me start by saying- this is my first experience with blogging in general. So as I learn and grow, I hope that my ability to keep an entertaining blog up and running will grow as well. My posts may seem a bit sporadic at first as I get into the swing of things. I may post every day for a while trying to catch up on the current progress. But it will inevitably slow to a possible once a week update and progress photos. For now sit back and enjoy the insanity!

So, a bit about what to expect here at White Wolf Toonz- well it is what it is. A creativity blog where I will be posting various work of art from class room work, to online commissions, even a bit of my personal favorites. There will be a lot of cartoon work of course! (I'm a bit of a cartoon nut)