Cate Anevski

Harpy Birthday!

Kieran always puts up the best birthday decorations. Actually, I have quite a history of friends making awesome birthday decorations. In case you can't read it, the little note says "Equipment" and it's pointing to the pointy hat and "Blowout" (the blower noisemaker thingy, you know?).

And now, off to birthday adventures! (AKA an Indian all-you-can-eat buffet and the zoo)

A New Direction

I'm curious:

one. Is this too cutesy?

two. Can you tell what's going on here?

When I went to Border's to search for books on Painter, when I didn't find anything, I started looking through books on illustration in general. I found a really interesting one on illustrating for children's books, something I've always wanted to do. However, my illustrations tend to be a bit grim for kids. I think it's just the facial expressions (or lack thereof) that throws them off. A lot of kids like some of my illustrations, but they don't seem to be drawn to very many of them.

So... I decided to try doing some cuter stuff. I guess I just need to stop being afraid of having a dissonant portfolio. I like the fact that people can recognize my pieces immediately, but I don't want that to hold me back. I mean, Picasso has all sorts of stuff that looks completely different, and he's famous for it. It seems that in art school, a lot of professors try to force you to figure out a style and stick with it, but I'm not so sure that's the way to go. I feel a bit stagnant these days, as if I'm making images that I like but I'm doing it without emotion. I'm trying this new stuff in Painter to push myself a little harder, and I decided to take a bit of a new direction while I'm at it.

Basically, I'm just playing around, and it's fun.

The Cats Took Over My Computer

If you click the image to see it larger, it looks like they might have been trying to email something to pizza.

I left my computer on when I went into the other room to eat lunch, and they tried to send emails and deleted everything in my inbox. Very funny, little guys! (Nothing was ruined, thank goodness.) 

Flowery Eyes, With a Look of Surprise

This is another image done entirely in Painter. I'm still relying on outlines in this one, which I'm trying to avoid, but I'm allowing it since I'm using sketchy lines instead of my usual tight OCD inking technique.

I went to Border's today to look for books on Painter, and I was thoroughly disappointed. They all basically showed you how to use the bells and whistles that generally annoy me. It's like Photoshop filters; they're fun to a certain extent, but if you begin to rely on them, you're in trouble. I want to know how to mimic oil paintings in Painter, but I can't get the brushes to cooperate. This was supposed to look like oils, but I think it looks more like marker. It was still a lot of fun to create, though.

Strawberry Panda Hat

It's a strawberry panda hat plant. The only catch is that it comes with a head already in it. Just a couple of minor bugs to be worked out.

I did this entirely in Painter; no traditional sketching involved. I'm trying to lessen my dependence on outlines. I started another girl who has no outlines, but she doesn't have a nose, and I don't know how to give her one. She also doesn't have eyes, but that doesn't bother me as much for some reason.

Painter seems a bit tricky. This image has 10 layers, and it's pretty simple. If I start trying larger images, does that mean I'm going to have hundreds of layers? I feel like I'm just not doing something right, but I'm not sure what needs to be done. More grouping, maybe? Anyone out there in blogland have tutorials they'd like to suggest? I'm all ears.

This piece will be included in the next Pikaland package, which looks like it will be a lot of fun. It's like the Sampler, but it's exclusive to illustrators. Not to say I don't enjoy all forms of art and craft, but illustration has definitely captured my heart. Also, this piece was inspired by this month's Fauna Folk illustration prompt. I was only supposed to use three words, but I wound up using panda, delicious, hat, grow, and plant. It was also inspired by Katamari.

Forgotten

Do you know how hard it is to find static images now that digital television is taking over? The answer is very.

Hazmat

It's a dude in a hazmat suit. Need I say more? Yes, well okay. Here's the original from my sketchbook, just for fun:

Hazmat is one word, not two. Who knew?

Orange

This is my contribution to the print set that will be available with the Crammed Organisms book coming soon! There will be nine other artists involved, and all the art will be plush related.

P.S.: If you live in St. Louis and you haven't seen the show up at Starclipper yet, go. You're in for a real treat.

Inks

Just some funny little guys. I think they're character sketches for new plushies. I particularly want to make this one:

He just looks like such an unhappy camper, but I think he'd be fun. Of course, I'd have to make his dark cloud as well.

I wanted the black to be completely opaque, but it just didn't work out. I'm using FW acrylic artists ink, and I just don't think it's thick enough. Anyone know of something better to use? India Ink?

Kieran says he likes the texture of the uneven black, but since it's not what I intended, it's hard for me to see it that way.

Fiber Madness!

I'm not very far yet, but here is my latest knitting project. It's a capelet. Can't you tell? I made it from this beautiful yarn from Misfit Knits. She traded me for a couple of prints.

Isn't it incredible? It even has peacock feathers spun right in. It's so decadent!