Manelle Oliphant Illustration

Thumbnail Art

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:21:00 +0000

No, I'm not talking about...

I'm talking about...

Thumbnails are tiny drawings artists use to help plan an illustration or book before they get into the nitty gritty. Here are two sets that I made for the Snow-white eBook project (see other art for it here) that I have in the works.

As you can see they are scribble-y, small, and quick. With these I can see the whole book at a glance and know if one page or a group of pages is going to work. Some of them it might be obvious what is happening in the picture some of them might only make sense to me.

Here I am trying to decide first of all which way I want to orient my book. Landscape or portrait?

After I decide I'll go in and refine a lot of the scribbles until I have compositions for each picture that are awesome (hopefully) and work with the whole story. Then I start on sketches for "real".

What do you guys think should I go with landscape or portrait?

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

Kitten and other ways to be productive.

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:39:00 +0000

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)

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

Why NOT to steal ideas.

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:43:00 +0000

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.

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

The Last of the Giveaway Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:48:00 +0000

The winner of last week's giveaway is...
... Stephen!
(winner was chosen completely at random by drawing numbers from a bowl)

Thanks for your participation Everyone! Especially those of you who tried over and over and didn't win. I was routing for you but kept things random.

I'm sure I'll have more giveaways later but that's all for now. Don't forget to check out other Prints and Cards and Gifts in my shops.

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

Stealing People's ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:36:00 +0000

Artists steal from each other all the time.

I love looking at other artists work to get ideas. Sometimes I copy part, or all, of a painting or drawing so I can learn how artists better than me do things. This type of stuff no one sees but me, but it's in my brain somewhere.

Other times I look at other artists just to get inspired. Ask, how do they draw, expressions, wrinkles, shoes, or compose a picture?

PJ Lynch, and artist I am often inspired by, had a really great example on his blog a while back called "Inspired by Dulac". I really enjoy seeing how he incorporated another artists way of using space into his image.

When I created the Little Match Girl, and Cinderella illustrations I wanted it to be an exercise on using space the way Lisbeth Zwerger does. She creates paintings with beautiful areas of empty space. I really enjoyed working that way and hope I can incorporate more of that in my work in the future. Here is a link to an interview she gave about her art.

How are you inspired by other artists?

The winner of last week's giveaway is...
... Camilla!
(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

So if you didn't win there is one more chance. (once you have won you are no longer eligible to enter again but feel free to spread the word. ;)
Or, if you don't want to wait check out my print shop or card shop to get your own Manelle art right away.

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 January 2, 2012 (p.s Happy New Year)

You can comment anything but if you need a jump start I'd love to hear about ways art inspires you in any way.

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.

Real life people get logged away & giveaway four

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:22:00 +0000

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.

Giveaway Three

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:29:00 +0000

The winner of this week's giveaway is...
... blue65829
(winner was chosen completely at random by drawing numbers from a bowl)
contact me at illustration(at)manelleoliphant(dot)com with your name and mailing address, and I will send you your prize

Thanks for all your comments about fairy tales I'm excited to read and maybe illustrate some of them.

Now if you didn't win, no worries.
There are three more giveaways to go or you can 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 19, 2011
You can comment anything but if you need a jump start I'd love to hear your best way of getting ideas, (here is my post with some thoughts about it) or if there is any art in my portfolio that you would like to see as a print,

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?

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:28:00 +0000

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.

My Sketchbook Idea Generator + Winners + Giveaway 2

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:58:00 +0000

Sometimes I feel like drawing but end up just staring at a blank page.

My solution?

THE SKETCHBOOK IDEA GENERATOR

This idea started at a workshop I attended about a year ago with Priscilla Burris. She had a everyone randomly write down an animal and an emotion which we then had to draw. I got an "ecstatic pig".

I enjoyed the exercise, and after some thought on it I came up with my Sketchbook Idea Generator.
I started out making some lists in a word program under the categories of: Person, Action/Emotion, Time, and Place.
This is what I came up with. (if you want to try it, feel free to print the jpg)

As you can see, some of the people aren't actually people, and things range from general to really specific. I did that on purpose

After that I printed the list, cut the words into little paper pieces and put them in envelopes in the back pocket of my sketchbook.

Now if I'm stumped on what to draw. I just pull out the envelopes, pick some papers randomly out of them, and sketch away.

I usually pick one from the person category, and anywhere from one to all of the other categories, but you can do any combo that you want.

With some of my 20 min sketches this week I've gotten: Edwardian + Cat + Car

Teenage girl + Dragon + a Snowy place

And
Clown + Sad +1700's

I'll be at it on my Sketch blog all month long so check back often to see what other ideas are generated.
You can also give it a whirl yourself. I'd love to hear about your experiences.

Now for the moment you might have been waiting for, last weeks Giveaway winner is:
# 3 Dashbo!
(winner was chosen completely at random by drawing numbers from a bowl)
contact me and I will get you your prize.

Now if you didn't win, no worries.
There are still four more giveaways to try your typing fingers at or you can 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)

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 12, 2011
Tell me one or all of these things: what your favorite fairy tale is,
or if there is any art in my portfolio that you would like to see as a print,
or if you try out the "generator" I'd love a link to see your sketches.

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

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

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

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:26:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:29:00 +0000

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.

Sketches

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 15:38:00 +0000

I just wanted to post a couple sketches from my book. I usually don't post things like this because I feel like no one will really want to see them. Then I saw this post on Andreas Deja's blog and felt inspired to share a couple of my "just sketches". The dumb thing is I love looking at sketches on other people's blogs. It's more favorite than the finished illustrations in most cases.

Ok It's an ebook!

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:11:00 +0000

Hello blog readers and all people of planet earth.

Some of you have been asking if I am going to publish Melwick.

The answer:
Yes, yes I am. as an ebook.

You can now get it from Barns and Noble and Amazon.

I updated some of the illustrations and text and made it more e reader friendly but it' still the same story you can read here. Buy and download your copy today!

Melwick The End

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:21:00 +0000

THE END
Previous Page -- Back to Beginning

Here it is. The last Melwick page. To say I learned a lot about this process is an understatement. Right now my plan is to do some more Blog A Stories sometime after my wedding. I think I'll be a lot better at it next go round.

In the mean time keep your eye out for this and some other stories I've illustrated to come out as an ebook. I'm planning on doing a little tweaking to Melwick before I release it, to help finish it off and make it better for you. I also have another ebook soon to hit the digital shelves.

Hope you liked the story.

Melwick Page 27

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 02:55:00 +0000

Here is the penultimate Melwick page.

Previous Page -- Next Page

Melwick Page 26

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:51:00 +0000

Previous Page -- Next Page

Melwick Page 25

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Tue, 31 May 2011 18:00:00 +0000

Previous Page -- Next Page

Melwick Page 24

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Wed, 25 May 2011 01:58:00 +0000

Previous Page -- Next Page

Bet some of you wondered if I was really going to get this done today. Well, yes, yes I am, and here you go. Thanks for indulging my break. There are a lot of things to get done. But I believe I can safely say that from now until the end of the story I will have a new page every Tuesday, no battle.

Melwick Page 23

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Tue, 03 May 2011 23:51:00 +0000

Previous Page -- Next Page

Here is the new Melwick page.
So I just realized online the resolution isn't good enough for you to read the papers flying out of Wizard Ren's pocket. So FYI they are all spells to mess up good ol' Melwick including "Spell 2, Castle Blockage" and "Spell 3 Melwick's Downfall"

Gerber is holding the castle blocking spell.

Hope you like it.

Manelle

Melwick Page 22

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 03:45:00 +0000

Here is the new Melwick page. Hope it was worth the wait. ;)

Previous Page -- Next Page

Melwick page 22 Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 22:18:00 +0000

This is a preview of the next page. It's coming along great, but taking it's time. I have to meet other deadlines this week so watch for the whole beautiful painted page next Tuesday.

Melwick page 21

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:29:00 +0000

Previous Page -- Next Page

If you are wondering where Gerber came from check the last page again. :) Although it might be too small to see on the computer at the low resolution. Sorry if that's the case.

P.S. I'm getting Married. Yea!

Wizard Melwick page 20

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:39:00 +0000

Previous Page -- Next Page

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.

Sketchbook Marathon (toy)

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:14:00 +0000

Last night I had a little time, and a sketchbook that's almost full. Here are two things you need to know at this point. 1. For some reason I feel the need to fill up a sketchbook all the way before I move onto the next one. 2. The sketchbook I'm using now I don't like very much.

So, I had time and about 12 pages left, and I decided to have a little sketchbook marathon to fill up the empty pages.

Well, I didn't get all the pages full. In fact I only did three sketches. I had way too much fun with the watercolors. Here they are, the first sketch (which I actually drew second) is for this weeks Illustration Friday theme "toy".

Melwick page 19

noreply@blogger.com (Manelle) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:05:00 +0000

Previous Page -- Next Page
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?