Hurry

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A Note on Fairy Tales

Little Mermaid

I love fairy tales. I remember sitting down with my family every Sunday night to watch Shelly Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre on our pbs station.



My brother and I loved them. My favorite was the "Six Dancing Princesses" (I think because they had pretty dresses). But we all loved "The Princess Who Never Laughed" and "The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers" We still quote them to this day.

("e=mc not squared" So. Funny.)

Anyway... I think Faerie Tale Theatre + Disney started my love for fairy tales.

In high school I loved going to the library and checking out books from the J398's I loved reading the fairy tales and looking at the beautiful illustrations.

Three of my favorite fairy tale illustrators happen to be: P.J. Lynch, Trina Hyman, and Lisbeth Zwerger (I think I've mentioned this before but it never hurts to do so again. :)


My art is heavily influenced by them.

Now when I need info about fairy tales I always go to surlalunefairytales.com. It has so much fairy tale info I don't think I'll ever get sick of it. Here is the annotated Little Mermaid. On the site you can find not only text of the tale but illustrations, histories, similar tales across cultures and current retellings of the tales. It's so fabulous.

And just in case you were wondering, my current favorite is The Three Spinners , a tale similar to Rumpelstiltskin. 

What are some of your fairy tale memories. When was the first time you ever remember hearing a classic fairy tale?

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Kitten and other ways to be productive.

We just adopted a kitten.

She's cute and sometimes tries to clean my face while I'm asleep. I'm also more productive because of her.

Recipe: Ways to be more productive with your art
Materials needed:
1. Self control
2. Kitten  (can substitute bum glue)
3. Freedom


Step 1: Use three or more scoops of self control and face the silence.
Sometimes when I sit down to create art I am afraid of thinking. Sometimes I do everything I can to block out the silence. (and not I am not talking about those crazy aliens on Dr Who) This is the silence where my mind can think of awesome new stuff. The place in your brain that takes a little work and some quiet to get to.

But it's hard to to get there. It's easier to turn on Netflix or hulu and "listen" to movies while I make good enough stuff from my surface ideas.

When I turn off the noise all together, or turn on some good think-to-able music, then sit and work, I have more ideas, get more done in less time, and feel more refreshed when I'm done.

It's Great! But only after I get past the noise.

Suppose you don't have that many scoops of self control. Don't worry I highly reccommend getting your Freedom this way.

Freedom is software that you can use to block yourself from the internet. Just pick the  amount of time you want to make yourself work and tell it to go. Then when you would normally choose to take a little break check twitter, or browse Facebook and play bejeweled blitz etc, you can't. "Oh well", you say, "I guess I'll just keep sitting with this silence until something happens."

Sometimes I use it. Sometimes I just found self control at Sam's Club in bulk and have plenty of it. 

Step 2: Put the cat to bed
(if you are allergic or for some unknown reason don't like cats, bum glue will also work for this step. Please follow package directions.)

We got a kitten. She likes to sleep in my lap while I work. When she is asleep there I have to keep on sitting. I can't get up and eat, nap, go to the restroom, check the mail, read, go to the library, check facebook or twitter or my email, I just have to sit, and draw and think.

Kitten Variation:
We got a kitten. She likes to run around on my desk and chew my erasers, chase my pencils, and eat my snacks, while I work.

Because I this I have to keep my work area cleaner than I normally do and I can't distract myself from the silence with food as easily. In fact I usually end up hiding my trail mix, or chocolate chips from the cat and forgetting all about them. And a cleaner work space is just well... easier to work in. So it's a possibility I'll get more done AND loose some weight.

Who knew a kitten could do so much for your life. Who knew. (probably people who own cats I guess)


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Why NOT to steal ideas.

Two weeks ago I wrote a blog post about being inspired by other artists. Something I love to do. This week I'm going to tell you how it can sometimes be taken too far.

A couple days ago I came across this video interview with Iain McCaig. A very amazing illustrator and concept artist. It's kinda long but I highly recommend watching it all.

One part that really got me thinking was when he talked about taking books with illustrations by his heroes and putting them away. It is at about 8:30 on the video.

When I watched this video I was working on some dwarf character designs for a Snow-white eBook. It was being a real struggle and I just wasn't making headway.  I saw the video and realized I was guilty of exactly what he was describing. I had various books around me with drawing of dwarves by other people and was checking them out for ideas about clothes or beards, or gesture, etc. But I wasn't having any fun. (and BTW fun is the whole point of drawing a fairy tale eBook)

After watching the video I put the books away and have tried to be super conscious not to have anything like that in front of me while I am drawing. It's been a freeing experience.

I still love looking at great art I'm just not going to to it while I'm drawing any more.

Here are a couple of the drawings I did. They are not yet the finished designs but they feel more alive than my first attempts.

 

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Real life people get logged away & giveaway four

Artists get ideas from people in the real world. They do it all the time.

The other day I was sitting my car at a stop light and a man walked across the street in front of me. He had no chin, a giant nose, a skinny neck, and a comb over. He was drowning in his sweat shirt and had this way of walking that reminded me of a pigeon.

It was awesome. 

Since I was driving I couldn't pull out my sketchbook right then, but I logged him away in my brain for ... something later on.

Yesterday I drew him at the movies.

Observation is a great way to get ideas.


The winner of last week's giveaway is...
... J-Dawg!
(winner was chosen completely at random by drawing numbers from a bowl)
please email me at illustration(at)manelleoliphant(dot)com with your name and mailing address, and I will send you your prize 

Now if you didn't win no worries.
There are two more giveaways to go.

If you don't want to wait check out my print shop or card shop to get your own Manelle art right away. (once you have won you are no longer eligible to enter again but feel free to spread the word. ;)

Here is what you can win.

Three illustrated art prints. They are printed on Epson Velvet fin art paper and signed by me.
They are in two sizes one 5.75x8.5 and two 13x8.5 prints.  (not standard frame sizes)

To enter this contest here is what you need to do.

1. Comment below before Midnight MST on December 26, 2011 (p.s. Merry Christmas!)

You can comment anything but if you need a jump start I'd love to hear about any of your people watching experiences, or if there is any art in my portfolio that you would like to see as a print I'd love to hear that too.

2. Tweet or Facebook status a link back to this blog post.

I'll announce the winner next Thursday.
Good luck everyone. 


Love this art? Buy Prints or Cards and Gifts illustrated by Manelle.

Do you know where this idea came from?

Lots of time people want to know where ideas for things like art, music, writing, and the empire state building, come from.

The answer is everywhere.
But that isn't really what you want to know so... I'll tell you how I got the idea for this illustration:

It started  out with me thinking about putting more emotion in my art.

Some artists I think are brilliant at it this and I want to be better.
Pascal Campion and
James Abbott McNeill Whistler (painted "whistler's mother")
are a couple examples.

I also want to be brilliant at it, thus I was pondering on it.
(I think most ideas start with pondering about stuff)

This led me to thinking about trying to paint memories. One of the paintings I did at this time was Girl's Night Out.  Which started from a memory of my and some friends eating out for dinner.

Then one morning I got in my car and saw this:

(I may have been driving and taking pictures at the same time. But I'm fine no accidents or anything close. No worries)

And that is basically it. Snowy misty morning + thinking about memories = girls walking home from school.

And now you know where that idea came from.
The End

Check out my weekly Print Giveaway.
Love this art? Buy Prints or Cards and Gifts illustrated by Manelle.

Introducing... new stuff, and giving things away.

Hello my friends.
I've been pondering (probably not what you've been pondering pinky) about what to do with my blog, and I've come up with something.

The plan is this:
My new sketch blog is now here on tumblr. I will be posting on it at least 4 times a week until otherwise noted.  My sketch theme for December is "my sketchbook idea generator".

What does that mean you ask? I'll let you know next Thursday, here on Manelle Oliphant Illustration.

In Fact, I will be posting on this blog on every Thursday, also until otherwise noted.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL (I know the all caps are annoying but sometimes I just can't help it)

I also want to introduce to you my new card shop and print shop. And to celebrate the fun I'm having my first ever blog giveaway.

(I kinda love giveaways, even though I've never won anything.)

Here is what you can win.

Yes it's true, three whole signed Manelle Oliphant Illustration prints. They are in two sizes one 5.75x8.5 and two 13x8.5 prints.  (not standard frame sizes, nor are they the new and improved prints you can find in the shop.)

To enter here is what you have to do.
1. Comment on this post before midnight on Monday December 5)
2. Tweet or Facebook status a link to this blog post.

Easy!

Then I'll pick the winner randomly by putting your comment number in a hat. Then we'll have some kind of email get together where in get some into and mail the prints. (awesome!)

I'll announce the winner next Thursday here on this blog.

Ok one more thing.
I just happen to have more than one of those lovely little prints up there so I'm planning on having this give away each week for the next five. So if you keep checking back you have five chances to win. (Why not make it big, we are launching a whole new thing here?)

AND NOW THAT'S ALL for today. Don't forget to check out the shops (cards, prints), my new sketch blog , and start commenting.

New Post, New Poster, Funny Comic

You may have noticed my last post was a while ago.

Yep.

Me too.

We'll my excuse for not posing is that I was busy getting married, buying a house and fixing it up.

(I think it's a pretty good excuse.)

You may have noticed I didn't say moving in my excuse. We are still working on the fixing it up bit, then we'll get to the moving bit. bleh.

But on an art note. Here is a poster I did recently for the Empress Theatre.

and if you want to read the funniest thing I've read all week you can check out some comics my 11 year old sister drew.

My favorite is "Kistafer Cumulas". The the "Three Musket-teers" is also great.

Wizard Melwick page 20

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Here is the next Melwick page. I'm getting excited for next week's page as well. We are about to the climax. I hope it's climactic. I've learned a ton and think I will probably try a new story after Melwick is done, but do a better job of it.
Anyway, enjoy today.

Melwick page 19

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Here is out angry king and court. He ended up looking a little like that monkey ninja from that one movie. You know the one with Jackie Chan and the kid from Sky High. But than I gave him a mustache and changed his hair color. I think he is a little better now. Poor Melwick.

On a totally different note, here is a quote that I like.

"The work of a master reeks not of the sweat of the brow – suggests no effort – and is finished from its beginning." James Abbot McNeill Whistler

Sometimes I forget why I really wanted to be an illustrator. Usually it's when I'm so worried about living (eat, sleep, pay for stuff, etc) I stop actually doing it. It's those time I get worried about the deadline and what not then don't enjoy the work. But when I get in the right mode. Work is easy fun and fast. The deadline doesn't matter. It turns out great.

That's I remember why I do it.
Normally I produce good work, (I hope) in those moments I produce great work.

What are some things you all do to get in that zone more often?

City Girl and a blog award

It's Tuesday and that means that I'm supposed to post Melwick. He's going to be up tomorrow. Sorry for the delay. To hold you over until then here is another illustration I just finished and wanted to share.

This image is also the newest update on my newly updated website. I'd love to hear what you think about it. (meaning the website, but you can tell me what you think of the image as well)

And, last week I received this:

 Which was super nice of PZ desigs to find my blog and award it to me. I am finally finding time to pass it on. But first I have to tell you all seven things about me. Here we go:

1. In the very near future you may see me dressed up like Tinkerbell at a birthday party near you (if you live in Utah). I'm working on the ol' costume and will soon be attending parties as Tinkerbell.

2. Cooking is my new favorite Hobby. I just made some awesome bread and can't wait to eat it for dinner tonight.

3. Jeeves and Whooster is a really funny show. Doctor Who is my favorite show.

4. Going off of that last one, I have a crush on BBC drama's.

5. I didn't think I would like Twitter, but I really do. I've been a tweeter for a couple months now, and I have been avoiding Facebook as much as possible. It sucks away your time if your not careful.

6. I'm currently reading Linchpin. It's fantastic. My favorite of Seth Godin's books (that I've read) so far. I just have to apply it to life now... and I will so there.

7. I believe families can be together forever.

Ok, there are some things about me.
Now here are some of my favorite creative blogs for you to look at, and for me to pass on the award to:
Illustrators
Sherry Meidell
Shawna Tenney
Sam Ricks
Nasan Hardcastle

Food
ErikEats

Home Decor
Color Me Happy

ok so that's not 15 but, and I do follow a lot more than 15 awesome blogs but... well that's all I'm posting for you.  Have a great day!

If one of those blogs is yours and you want to accept the award this is what you do:

1. Put a picture of the Stylish Blogger Award in your blog.
2. Thank and link back to the person who awarded it to you.
3. Share 7 things about yourself.
4. Pass this award to 15 other creative bloggers!

Wizard Melwick page 14

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Girl's Night Out

Or Illustration Friday- Sweater
Really I have been working on this for a little while (not just this week) but one of those girls is wearing a sweater, so I'm posting it for Illustration Friday. I'm planning on using it for one of my next mailers.  I'd love to hear what you think about it.

Also I'm pondering the thought of opening my own online shop where you can buy some of my prints, or original paintings, maybe cards and the like. Do you think that would go over well? I can't decide.

Oh, and don't forget to check out my little blog story book about a confused but very famous wizard.

Winter

There is something about drawing long hair that is just super fun.

Letters Home

For this weeks  IF topic "Mail" here is what came out.  I just watched White Christmas so WWII was on the brain, my guess is the idea came from that some how.

Have you ever thought about how different movies are now compared to then? I love White Christmas but at the same time can't help but get a little annoyed at how much dancing they do. During those scenes I always think "Pretty cool dancing, but what does it have to do with anything?" I have the same problem with Singin' In the Rain when Gene Kelly is dancing in that one scene that really has nothing to do with the plot of the Movie. You know the one. I can't describe it really because let's be honest, the last couple of times I watched the movie I fast forwarded it. It seems like he knocks on some doors or something.
I love Singin' In the Rain and White Christmas but, yeah, movies are different now.
Manelle

P.S. If you haven't checked out my Blog A Story book called Accidentally The Greatest Wizard in the World you can catch the first page here. Merry Christmas!

Wizard Melwick page 2

Here is the first page of Melwick's story. It was a crazy day but here it is. Look for the next page on Friday. (although, after that I'm pondering making it a weekly post just so I have a little tine for other work, we'll see. :)
Previous page -- Next page

Manelle

Wizard Melwick page 1

Ta Da!! Here it is. The December surprise. This is the first page of a story I'll be posting up a picture at a time for the next couple weeks. I'll post every Tuesday and Friday. So if you want to find out more about our new wizard friend check back on Tuesday. That'll be when his story really begins.
Next Page
Manelle

Don't want to miss an update on the story? Follow me on Twitter. :)

What artists do when they are avoinding work...

Instead of working on the paintings I should have been working on my siblings and I had a little fun drawing on the kitchen floor.

This is my masterpiece.

My 12 yr old sister drew this awesome dragon.

And this was a collaboration between my brother (he wrote the note) and 10 yr old sister. She drew the drawing pigeon. Pretty great.

As you may have guessed that floor no longer exists. A new one is going in  at this very moment.

One other note. I have some fun planned for my blog coming in December. I hope fun for me and any possible readers, so look for it... if you want.

Cooking

Lizard

Here is a pretty fast little painting I did for Illustration Friday's theme "caged".