Claire Has Dropped Off the Face of the Planet

Hello loyal people,

I must apologize for my absence, AKA dropping off the face of the planet. I have recently been doing some "Spring Cleaning" with my life, so to speak. And I have tossed aside what I do not wish to have in my life anymore. It has all been for the better and I am much more relaxed and less stressed out. That's really all I can say about that.

I would love to say that everything will be back to normal posting and furious drawing/painting/art-making, but I really cannot say. My muse has a funny way of dealing with my moods and feelings, and it doesn't always involve creating. I cannot force the muse. Though I will try to stay relatively active in my updates from now on.

Thank you for your patience and extreme support.

Snow White's Poison Apple... A Dash of RED!

"Snow White's Warning"

Original Ink Drawing by Claire Nobles

©2012

Size: 5x7

Medium: Ink

For sale: $12.50 -Click here-

I'm so excited that Snow White is back in style! --"Once Upon a Time" is my new favorite tv series (watched a marathon of it today since I have a cold again). And there's two movies coming out and whatever you think about Kristen Stewart or Julia Roberts, I know the movies will be at least artistically pleasing to the eye!

In the spirit of the hype, I've come up with a Snow White Ink called "Snow White's Warning." Her bird friend is trying to get her attention about the poison apple she's about to eat... But Snow White doesn't speak Bird... So we all know what's gonna happen!

I added in some bright red ink for the first time!! I love the stark effect it gives. I have been wanting to experiment with minimal color for a while now.

In related news, my brush pen is on its last "legs." I have been using it A LOT-- but the pen is also not *quite* what I want in a pen... For one, it is not waterproof. In fact, if you purchased one of my ink drawings, for the love of all that is precious, do not even sneeze on it-- the drawing will die. The pen is of good quality for what I desired as far as line work went, but now the lines are getting skippy and dried out and taking more concentration and longer to turn out what I want. So I don't know if that's from excessive use, or if it the quality of the pen...

So I bought five new brush pens of various reputable brands to try out-- and all of them claim to be waterproof! If this is true, then I can actually turn some drawings into paintings if I so desire! 

So if you're enjoying my ink drawings, don't worry, they aren't going away any time soon!

And here's a few more from the most recent batch!

"Dancer"

Original Ink Drawing by Claire Nobles

©2012

Size: 4.5x7

Medium: Ink

For Sale: $10 -click here-

I have always been mesmerized by ballet dancers...  They inspire my fairies' fluidity and inner light.

"Flying Home"

Original Ink Drawing by Claire Nobles

©2012

Size: 4.5x7

Medium: Ink

For Sale: $11 -click here-

I don't know why, but I am so in love with this drawing... I named it "Flying Home" because I feel at peace when I gaze at it... This was actually a fun experiment with duck drawing and it turned out something really nice.

To see all the ink drawings available -click here!- Thanks guys and stay tuned!!

Ink Drawings and Tattoo Commission Requirements!

Hey guys, 


So much has happened since last I blogged. Mots of the ink drawings are sold and I had/still have 10 commissioned drawings to do! 


Here's a few of my new favorites from the batch:

Encounter - Sold

Medium: Ink 

Size: ~4x7 inches

©2012

Sea Dancers - Sold

Medium: Ink 

Size: ~5x7 inches

©2012

A Duckling Meets a Snail - Still available for sale at only $8 -here-

Medium: Ink 

Size: ~4x5 inches

©2012

You can now view all the rest of my drawings at my website -here- They aren't in any particular order yet unfortunately, nor do they have captions, etc. I might do something with that page at a later date, but am unsure of what exactly that may be at this point. I have had great success selling the drawings on Etsy, and no real requests to sell them on my website, so I may keep them over there....


Also, I am able to take commissions for inked drawings as my schedule allows. Lately I have been telling people "give me requests" and people have been more than helpful! However, I would like to state the difference between a suggestion/request and a commission.


Requests/suggestions will be drawn if I am interested in the subject and if I have time and/or can think of a good composition, etc. Then I will list that drawing for whatever price I determine, and whoever is online and buys it first, gets it. Again, I will only draw these if I have the time. This does not give the person who requested it the rights to own the drawing or any rights to the piece. But if the requester would like to possibly own the drawing they suggested, they can commission me.


If you commission me, I will draw a previously agreed upon subject for you after you pay for the drawing. The drawing will be anywhere from $20-$50 depending on the size and complexity of the piece. I will list it as a reserved listing for you, plus, I will most likely draw 1-3 drawings for you so you can take your pic of your favorite and have first pick of the alternates if you would like to buy them as well. Again, I shall retain all rights to the image created. I will scan the image, and retain full rights to use and/or reproduce the image as I see fit. Unauthorized reproduction of my drawing will violate copyright laws. Please keep this in mind when submitting your commission request.


I also ask that my artwork not be altered. This includes adding color, writing on, adding to, subtracting from, or altering in anyway. It violates copyright laws and my rights as an artist.I also do tattoo commissions!! I'm working on one right now! =)

If you would like to use my image for a tattoo then please do so! I find it a high compliment for someone to want my work on their body. I cannot provide the stencil to create them however. The tattoo artist will do that. You may tweak and customize the image as you (or the tattoo artist sees fit) ie: adding color, or even moving body parts so that the image works for you (Not on the original drawing, please). THIS IS THE ONLY EXCEPTION AND TIME WHICH YOU MAY ALTER MY ART. You will have the image on your body for life, so please feel free to work with the tattoo artist until it becomes something you are happy with.

Tattoo artists are not allowed to offer my images commercially, because again, this violates my rights as an artist. If you get one of my images tattooed on you, please remind the tattoo artist that the image is copyrighted and may not again be offered beyond your use (they aren't to retain the stencil they've created and offer it again)


If you do end up getting one of my images tattooed on you, PLEASE send me a picture!! I would be overjoyed to see it!

Message me if you are interested in any of the above!!!

Owl for Auction

Nightfall - Original Ink Drawing by Claire Nobles

©2012

Since the owls I've been drawing have been flying off the shelves, I thought I'd give people a fighting chance to get one. This guy is up for auction on eBay, which I have never used before yesterday! 

Starting bid is at only 99 cents!! Listing is for the original drawing. Click here to view!

This is the last owl I'll have for a little while, just because I would like to explore other creatures. 

Original Ink Drawing -Drawing/Giveaway/Thing!

Hello all!

Whimsy by Claire Nobles

©2012

Medium: Ink

Size: 4.5x7 inches

I'm going to have a giveaway of a free original ink drawing --the one above!! 

The requirements: 

1) Share my Facebook page (this link) and tell your friends to like my page!

    -AND/OR- share my website -AND/OR- share my Etsy shop AND/OR this blog, etc (you may use twitter, tumblr, pinterest, a blog, your website, etc)

    I'll add your name for every extra share (one per site) 

    That means if you share my facebook on your facebook, that's one entry- if you also share my website on your twitter- that's two entries for you! However, one per site.

2) Message me (on facebook or claire@clairenoblesart.com or comment below) to let me know you have shared and I will put your name in the drawing for each share!!! --this step is important because otherwise I will have no idea!

I will literally write your name on a slip of paper and put it in a bowl-- and pick a name! The prize as I said will be the original ink drawing you see above! Just make sure I see the post!! (again, multiple shares in one location don't count though) 

Since I won't be doing anymore Koi Fish drawings for a little while, this is your last chance to get one for the time being!!

Giveaway ends Saturday at midnight California time!!!

Thanks guys!! Comment below or message me with questions and entries. I will try and stay available to answer your questions! And GOOD LUCK!

Still Working-- PROMISE!!

Various Inked Drawings (all roughly 4.5x7 inches or less) by Claire Nobles ©2012

Hey guys!
After having so much fun and success with my inked drawings last night (half of them are sold!) I returned to the drawing board for some requests --which turned out a lot better than I originally thought they'd be!

The requests I got were a phoenix, koi fish, and owl, daisies, a cherry blossom tree and "a giant squid fighting a rhino."

Above is a picture to prove I actually got the inks that were requested DONE!! (save for the cherry blossom tree-- but I added it to the owl one... sort of. And obviously the rhino idea was done away with)

The squid was the first thing I worked on. I had a doodle I drew on a stickynote so I went off of that! I'm really happy my weird friend asked for a squid!!

The daisies were funny because I started one, decided I hated it and started another! Halfway through that one I decided I hated that one-- but that the first one wasn't so bad and it just kept going on like that until I was satisfied with both of them!

The Koi Fish story is a secret for now! Heeheehee! (don't you love it when I do that!)

I'll try and get to the cherry blossom tree at a later time btw!

Anyways, I am EXHAUSTED!! and it's past midnight! So I'll upload them individually and list them all on Etsy hopefully tomorrow! The phoenix and both daisies will be under $10. The Owl will be under $15. And the Koi and the Squid (which is my new fave) prices are yet to be determined.

Once listed, they will all be available in *this gallery which you can view by clicking here!*

Let me know if you have other requests and I'll try to accommodate them!

I'm Working-- I Swear!

Night Hunter by Claire Nobles - $9.00

Medium: Ink 

Size: ~4.5x7 inches

©2012

I got a new pen! So I decided to give it a whirl and I turned out six new ink drawings! This is quite a treat because since my PC (big computer) is still being fixed, and unable to scan images, then these inkings are a great way for me to show everyone that I'm actually being creative!

In a class I took a few semesters ago, we used a Chinese Brush pen to capture 30 second poses by a model. We did them for twenty minutes at the beginning of class (making SIXTY 30 second ink drawings per class -- oh yeah, on ~18x30something inch paper). Most of the class dreaded the gesture drawings. It's much much harder than it seems. Sometimes 3 brush strokes was all it took to capture the model's movement, pose, mood -- and other times 5 strokes were too many or ten were too few!

Anyways, the new pen I purchased is a felt tip brush pen which is much different than a Chinese brush, but still has the same idea. All the inked drawings were done with that pen today. I was able to get super baby fine lines and big chunky ones out of one pen! Plus my drawings took anywhere from 5-15 minutes. I've listed them on my Etsy Shop under "Originals." Most of theses new inks are under $10. --Seriously. They are a great way to keep my creative brain going and to keep busy. And the low price is my way of saying "Thank you" to all of you for your support!

Koi Fish by Claire Nobles - $7.00

Medium: Ink

Size: ~4.5x7 inches

©2012

Two of my friends saw my fish and went nuts. I guess I'll be making some time in my schedule for some koi paintings....

Lonely Mermaid by Claire Nobles - Sold

Medium: Ink

Size: ~4.5x7 inches

©2012

My friend bought this one within 20 minutes of me listing it! I was worried that the black sketchy look wouldn't be popular, but what do you all think?

Little Fae by Claire Nobles - $4.00

Medium: Ink

Size: ~4.5x5 inches

©2012 

A popular pose with me. I meant to have her on a mushroom, but it didn't quite fit, so I cropped off the bottom of the page, making her a mere 4.5x5 inches! She's only $4

Scattering Fairy Dust by Claire Nobles - $20.00

Medium: Ink

Size: ~4.5x7 inches

©2012 

My favorite. I priced it at $20 so that I may have time to scan it in and sell prints of it as well. 

 Spark of Life by Claire Nobles - $5.00

Medium: Ink

Size: ~4.5x7 inches

©2012

It started with the flower and morphed into something quite extraordinary (or just plain odd).

To see my ink gallery on Etsy Click Here!

Also, let me know if you would rather see original inked drawings for sale on Etsy or for Sale through my Website!

------

P.s.

I'm having CRAZY SALES! I've listed quite a few product sets for more than 30% off on Etsy. Check them out by Clicking Here!

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P.p.s.

Let me know if there is a certain ink drawing above that you would either like to see offered as a black and white print or turned into a painting. Thanks!!

Spirited Away Preview

Spirited Away - Enchanted Visions Preview

Hello all, 

I know it has been a long time since you last saw my painting Spirited Away (from the Slightly Eccentric Tutorials). I wanted to let you all know that I finally finished the painting and that I'm finally pleased with it (don't quote me on it-- leave me alone with it, I'll probably fix something else)! I changed a LOT since you all last saw it and definitely pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I am used to painting washes in light colors and stopping after two or three because I'm always afraid to ruin the piece! In this case, even the title tells you that the painting will be extra other-worldly and different. So this time I pushed the colors to make everything-- especially the fae come to life!

Unfortunately during this time I didn't take very many pictures. I just kept painting, thinking I'd be done soon, only making small changes and could photograph afterwards! So the rest of the tutorial I'm sad to say will be jump pretty far from idea to idea, but I'll put it together for you all and explain as best I can what I might have been thinking (or not thinking!).

The painting will be released as soon as my computer comes back from "the shop."(once the piece is scanned in, I'll actually stop making changes to it!) (and to explain-- I am writing on my laptop right now, but I also have a PC which handles all my major photoshop, printing, uploading and downloading needs-- the PC is the one in the shop, and the laptop isn't powerful enough to do all the things my PC can take care of.)

In the mean time, check out my website and see all the changes being made and all the new products released! I've been adding whole new sections on a weekly basis! So there's always something new and fun times to be had over there!

To view the tutorial of "Spirited Away" -click here-

Bookmarks, Necklaces and Scaredy-Cat Updates

I'm so happy to announce that over the weekend I posted all the bookmarks listings on my website! You may browse through them -here-

All my 8.5x11 inch prints are also available -here-

Right now with any purchase, there is FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25 at ClaireNoblesArt.com

I have also updated all the listings on my necklaces on Etsy.com. I have very limited stock so get them now!!

And finally, the Jasper the Cat has overcome his fear of the papazan chair (read the Scaredy Cat post -here-) and he is now curled up in it and snoring loudly --as usual. Silly kitten... 

Scaredy Cat

Jasper the Cat is suddenly afraid of my papazan chair... The chair he sleeps in every day.

Afraid, as in, he literally tried to claw my face off and freaked out when I went to put him there... like I normally do, every morning....

This happens randomly every long once in a while. A few years ago, I had this penguin blanket that he curled up on every night. One day he was scared to death of it! My roommate, Rachael and I thought this was so funny we chased him around the apartment with it taunting "Jazzy is a afraid of penguins!!" A couple hours later he got over it and it went back to being his favorite blanket... So hopefully this new fear of papazan chairs will pass too...

Anyone else's cats get like that sometimes? Any theories? (besides the fact that cats are doofuses)

Shopping Cart!!!!!

Hello all,

I am SO flipping excited to share with you that I FINALLY have a Paypal Shopping Cart on my website! *angels sing somewhere* So please, check out my store at www.clairenoblesart.com -- and click on the Gallery tab to purchase prints!  or just -click here- If you experience any trouble accessing these links, try refreshing the page.

Also, while you're there, you may notice a few site changes, namely the crazy pink background is gone due to my eyes bleeding. However the American Heart Association donation at my shop is still going on until February 29th. I have changed the website's colors to green, my favorite color and in honor of March! I even painted my nails green, but that's beside the point.

I couldn't be happier to be making changes to my own site on the go whenever I please-- it is seriously awesome. I still have quite a few new additions in store so stay tuned!

Hunting Girl Scouts

If you have been reading my blogs from the beginning, you will know that every year right around this time, I make it my life's work (if I remember) to hunt down a Girl Scout or five for some delicious Samoas! Yes, it's cookie season again!

Every year my family and friends bring home Girl Scout cookies and every year they forget that Samoas are the superior cookie (and my favorite) and so I go hungry (for samoas).

Funny story-- I was a Girl Scout. Seriously. I started in 4th grade and went all the way up to Senior in High School, and then they gave me the Adult Girl Scout plaque for some reason, so technically I still am a registered Girl Scout! I even earned my Silver and Gold Awards, Gold being the Eagle equivalent in Boy Scouts.

And somehow after all that, during cookie season, I go without Samoas?!?! What travesty is this? I figured the Girl Scout Mafia would get me a hook up (yeah, they exist, I'm a member).

So if you happen to be a Girl Scout or know a Girl Scout, send her my way coz you don't want to see what happens if I have to wait a two years between getting my Samoas.... (imagine your scariest horror film)

----

On a completely separate note (the point of writing a blog today): My big computer which handles all the uploading, printing, etc has decided to go on strike and stop working until he gets higher ram or gigahurtz or some computer lingo I don't understand.... So My Valentine has actually told me that my belated Valentine's Day gift will be a new computer! Until then, probably no uploading paintings of any kind can take place... And I actually have two that still need to go up... So thanks for your patience!

Last item, remember to make a purchase at my Etsy shop so that $1 of each item goes to the American Heart Association. It's still going til the end of February!

On the Catwalk

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day, I know I did at Go Red Strut! As I mentioned in my last blog (which you can read by clicking here) I was going to be one of the Strutters for Go Red Strut-- a FUNraiser to raise awareness of Heart Health! I had a blast and somehow didn't fall down even though my heels were four inches.

All the Strutters were so great! There had to be at least 100 of them. There were Strutters on bikes, in balloon dresses, can-can girls, poodles, boxing cardiologists, and more... It was like the costumes changes of Lady Gaga! It was seriously epic! Every Strutter did their part to make the event SO MUCH FUN and to help raise awareness of the importance of heart health!

 On the Catwalk... Yeah on the Catwalk...

Here is where the emcee told the audience that I was a survivor of heart defects, so I pulled out my guns to show my tough side! Rawrrr!! I made sure to wear a dress that showed off my surgery scar, because I wear it proudly.

If you would like to donate to the American Heart Association, please visit www.heart.org

Also you can donate by purchasing some fairy art for that special weirdo in your life, and $1 of every product goes to the AHA. Visit www.etsy.com/shop/ClaireNoblesArt

Now for more pictures!!!!

 Before it started....

 Big Red Boa!!

I told you there was a poodle! (or maltese, not sure what breed)

These two were the boxing Cardiologists, figuratively "fighting" heart disease, doing push ups -- they were hilarious!

And the crazy people bicycling on the catwalk!!! (they were all telling me before they went up that they were afraid they'd bike off the stage! And they were thankful to be wearing sneakers instead of my shoes...)

Striking a pose!

 I think I meant to punch heart disease in the FACE!

Hope you all enjoyed the little slideshow, I might post more pics somewhere.... I'll link it if I do!

Thanks everyone who came to Go Red Strut! You made my Valentine's Day!!

STRUT!

Pleas join us for this FREE event!!

In celebration of Heart Month, the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women and Macy's invite you to GO RED STRUT

on February 14th, 2012

11:30am-1pm

Macy's Union Square, San Francisco, Ca!!!

This is the surprise I was waiting to share with you all-- I will be one of the "Strutters" for Go Red Strut. That means I get to wear my red sparkly dress and heels and walk a catwalk in front of tons of people. Just a bit of pressure. It's nothing I have ever done before and I just hope I don't bite it on the catwalk.

I am participating this event to spread awareness of the AHA. As many of you know, I was born with severe heart defects. My defects include ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, pulmonary stenosis and transposition of the greater arteries. I’ve had five surgeries, at ages 2 months, one and a half years, 4 years, 7 years, and 15 years old. Two of them were open heart, the major repair being at age four. I try to be stay active, and eat right, and I lead a pretty normal life aside from having several surgery scars. As long as I continue to be healthy, I won’t need another surgery for years to come. Otherwise, if my health is in jeopardy, I may have to have another surgery much sooner.

Thanks to research done by the American Heart Association, I am alive today. I am so excited to be supporting them and help spread awareness!

February is American Heart Month (and the month of Love!) This event will be amazing and I am so happy to participate in it! I hope that if you can come, that you will-- it would be so great to see your shining faces there to support the AHA and the fact that though I can't walk in high heels, I will be trying my best....


For all the details on this fab event, click here!
For more on the AHA, click here.
And check out their facebook page!

Slightly Insane Comics

I started a "Sketch-a-Day" journal recently, and for today's sketch I drew a really weird comic... Keep in mind that it was done without any preparation or planning (except for the last two panels). It's called "Stressed Out Claire" Click the first picture and just use the arrow key to view in order so it makes sense (and even then, it might not make any sense...) Also keep in mind that this whole comic is drawn in a 4x6 inch space and the pics were taken with my cell phone... I'm sorry.

This was an actual conversation I had with James. I like to label things in comics btw. And the sweatshirt I'm wearing says "SFSU." 

Jasper does this occasionally...

This is me as ClaireZilla. And it has been my mood unfortunately for the past couple of days...

Hope you enjoyed yourself-- or maybe are even more confused with your life... In which case I do apologize for any therapy you will be needing after viewing this...

PSP Tubes and Giant Aligators

Hello all, and Happy February!!

Last week I posted on my Facebook page about some super secret happenings and apparently nobody likes it when secrets... But I can finally share it with you! I just got officially licensed with PSP Tubestop so now you can purchase my art as tubes!

In case you're not sure, PSP Art Tubes are like digital scrapbooking images that you can piece together and make eCards and the like.

The site is run by an amazing woman named Lisa Cree. She is also the head of the Enchanted Visions Project and paints her own art-- so she is a busy lady! Check out and like Lisa's Facebook page!

As of right now, the website is being eaten by a giant alligator... I'm not even joking... There's a weird page-load error. But hopefully when it comes back, you can fully view the site! In the mean time, the Facebook page is fully viewable and filled with beautiful artists' work. Right now my "Love is Blind" Tube is available for Valentine's Day and soon to be much more!


Just a reminder-- this whole month at my Etsy Shop, I shall be donating $1 from each product you purchase to the American Heart Association! Spread the word!

Heart Awareness Month!

Valentine's Day threw up all over my website... It's really, really pink and scary over there... But it's for a good cause! (promise!) Read on...


February is Heart Awareness Month! This is a very near- and dear cause to me, because I was born with heart defects and have faced 3 open heart surgeries due to my condition. Heart health is very important to a person like me, and I hope I can help the American Heart Association spread the word about health and research!


So for the month of February, for every one item you purchase on my Etsy Shop, $1 will be donated to the American Heart Association! So if you buy 5 prints from me, $5 will go to the AHA-- if you buy 2 bookmarks and 3 prints, $5 will be donated to the AHA. It's all about quantity! If you feel inspired and just want to donate or just to find out more information about the AHA, visit this link. The red Donate button in the upper right hand corner.


I hope this year we can raise at least $50-- But let's try and shoot for more!


February will be a busy month for me and there will be a big surprise happening on Valentine's Day that I still cannot BELIEVE I got myself into, but I will tell you all about that closer to the date! 


So head on over to my Etsy Shop and check out my art!

A Sketch a Day... (Keeps Artist Block Away?)

Hopefully you all have seen some of the changes happening at www.ClaireNoblesArt.com --if not, GO THERE NOW!

As I stated a few blogs ago, my painting time will become rather limited since classes have started. Right now I'm in 5 classes, and none of them are Art Classes..... I'm getting a ton of extra general ed out of the way, being a junior and all... I won't be getting normal weekly practice and painting even once a week might not be able to fit in my schedule, so I bought a "Sketch a Day" Journal.

This journal works exactly how it sounds. It gives half a page for each sketch-- so it doesn't even has to be good or even resemble anything, it just has to be done every day. That's my challenge. Let's see if I can do it for a year-- or if I even last a week!

I decided first off that the sketches did not have to be fantasy related. I have given myself permission to draw whatever I want and in whatever style I want (stick figures, cartoons, realism, abstract) as long as its something! Also, I shall not allow myself to spend long amounts of time on these, just pure, quick, raw thoughts!

I won't be posting the results every day, but I might post the interesting ones, or at least group them together and post a bunch at once. 

This is Day 1

"Heart on your Sleeve" 2012, pencil and ink 
(done in 15 minutes)

Whenever I don't know what to draw, my fallback is my left hand. The sketch paper in the journal is alright for pencil-- not amazing. The blending I tried works only OK. I tried to draw some sketchy-stylized realism, probably my second favorite style of drawing. I love zig-zagged, harsh, messy grey lines. It just adds to the rawness and emotion for me. I drew my hand raw and messy pencil, and drew the tattoo clean-lined and in permanent black pen. I was trying to juxtapose the two concepts of emotion. The hand being real and raw and full of emotion, the real character of the piece. The heart is fake and precise, yet is suppose to represent love and emotion, it's in cold black ink. I added a second line to the right side of the heart- it was not a mistake- I like the design, I wish I knew why.

The idea of the tattoo on a person is to represent love and compassion, wearing your heart on your sleeve. I think it's a cool idea. I don't actually have this tattooed on me though, it's just pen.

I hope you all enjoyed this short detour from my fantasy art into my random feelings of love and such... Again, please check out www.clairenoblesart.com because it just keeps getting better each day!

On a side note, my left hand is in pain and lost all circulation from keeping it clenched in a fist for 15 minutes straight. That vein in the center of my wrist got more and more pronounced as the drawing wore on, so it does look a bit creepy now... But that's seriously how it looked at the end of the sketching. My vein is not usually that bulgy...

New Website!

Hello all,


As I'm sure some of you have found out already, my art website looks a little different. 


I met with Matt, the all-powerful webguy, and had him switch over the website we made in 2009, to one which I could update at 3am if I so desired! 


I know right now the new website is very bare. However, in the coming weeks, it will grow into something quite amazing, and you'll actually be able to purchase products straight through me!! I'm so excited to finally be able to customize my own website! Please let me know how the if I can do anything to make your experience at my site better! I will try my best to make your experience at ClaireNoblesArt.com amazing!


So stay tuned!!  --and thank you for all of your patience! 

Spirited Away: A Slightly Eccentric Tutorial - Part 2

This is part 2 from the other day's painting tutorial...


Part 1: Spirited Away: A Slightly Eccentric Tutorial

Here, I started doing some dark strands and shadows in her hair with a tiny round brush. Mostly a mix of Yarka browns. 


I also started worrying about the orb the little sprite was offering the maiden. I outlined it with Yarka yellow but kept the center and the wisps around it the white of the paper.


It was right about here that I started getting distracted by texts from my good friend, Alexandra and started skipping records of each step... You can blame her. =)

First off, I began darkening the shadows of her skin, clothing, etc. I also began swooshing lots and lots of bright colors wherever I wanted. 


I did a bit of skin tone and cloth detail on the little sprite, and the swooshing around the offered orb.


Right here is where I was deciding what color to paint around one side of the orb when the sound of the alert from my phone that Alexandra had texted again made me jerk out of my weird state of concentration and spill green in the wrong place! 


I had a split moment of panic and urge to murder. Fortunately for Alex's life, the weird green splotch turned out to blend in nicely with the already wet reddish pant and I texted Alex to inform her that she's awesome and should startle me more often. 
So she texted back "RAWWWRRR!!!" --didn't work the second time.

Sorry about the color inconsistencies! I don't scan each step because it takes me wayyyy longer, instead I take pictures in whatever light presents itself to me at the time.


Anyways, I just love adding swooshes! Can you tell it my favorite thing? I do a lot of wet-into-wet washes in this stage and I do what Alexandra calls "make backgrounds of doom"- which basically means epically detailed backgrounds... No actual doom involved. These "backgrounds of doom" require lots of tiny brushstrokes of many different colors. In this case I literally swiped a wet brush across my entire palette and used whatever color came out of it. I find this much better than going with pure colors because of the fun subtleties and interesting shades you can get.


I also paint the birds after asking Alexandra what color they should be (we miraculously text "Greenish" at the same time). And apparently Alex now thinks she co-painted this...

And here's where texting with Alex really got me distracted from progress shots! (Blame her!) As you can see, I painted in a ton more "doom," elaborating what was already laid down. The butterflies were done in a monarch-like orange (Yarka) and then accented with white gel pen (white gel pen rules). The figure was much more heavily shaded and shadowed and brought to life, and so were her clothes.


The rest of it went on as I grew less and less able to paint due to the insane cold I had. Plus, I had a crazy headache that made it really hard to continue between the sneezing and the coughing and the sniffling and the vision was getting to be all but hazy.


So here's the stopping point where I finally I left it as "Done." In my sick state, I really thought it was done. (Again, the colors are so far from the original painting's, taken with this camera in this awful light-- so the colors will change quite a bit from this monstrosity to the actual print.) Unfortunately, I put this up at my desk for a few days and after having the chance to really look at it from far away, I realize that I have to squint at it... I now see in my back-to-normal-not-sick-anymore-state that the colors are all about the same value, and since there's not enough contrast: the fairie and the painting disappear within itself. 


SO!: This means, more painting of the non-sneezing variety. I know that some of you are thinking I'm just a crazy artist and am being super anal about my work. You're right. But I'm still going to work on it to make it right in my eyes. 


Now hopefully some of you see why artists have the reputation that they do. =D


Next week classes start, so I will try super super hard to finish it before then!! I promise to try my best!


Stay tuned.......