Monday, January 27, 2014

Latest Doings from Starry Road Studio

It's been a crazy two weeks of wacky weather and construction at the new studio. When not working on beads or supervising construction stuff, I've been playing around with my iPad, sketching and painting out ideas and just having fun. Some of these are obviously beads, others are textures, symbols or concepts that may be used in pottery or various mixed media projects. And some are well, just fantasy (creatures, critters and weird forms). I am having a blast drawing and painting on my iPad - it's quite a change from what I usually do, which is to sketch stuff out on paper. The iPad allows me a little more freedom to use painterly effects that would normally take time to set up with traditional media. I also like the ability to quickly export work to various apps, my computer, or to online destinations like Tumblr, Twitter, or Facebook. My next idea is to sketch out jewelry concepts using beads I have designed on the iPad, such as some of the ones below.

Well, enjoy some of my early sketch ramblings...

Concept for Beads

Ocean Flower - concept for a focal bead
Idea for a bead
Leaf Wheel and Journey Symbols
Strange Sea Creature

Space Worms that are kinda like beads

Ocean Form

This is the background I created to use behind other pictures, like the flower above,
and the picture below at the bottom
Pod Element and Leaf
Bird Houses - I have already made some of these in clay
Concept for "Bamboo Beads" (in clay or polymer)
Fire Leaf, Heart Bud Leaf, and Fire Pearl - Fantasy Concepts
Sketches for a Lotus Clasp (project in progress)

Mr. Fish


Mr. Porcupine

Whimsy Fish

Another Fish

A Little Fish

Owl

Mr. Bigfoot
Okay that's it.  

11 comments :

  1. How lovely of you to share these, they're all fantastic! I especially love your fishies and the bamboo and birdhouse beads will be awesome I'm sure!

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  2. Oh how marvelous! I wish I had any talent for sketching in any medium! I can't wait to see all of these inspirations spring to life! Enjoy the day! Erin

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  3. Lovel Karen! What app are you using for your sketches?

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    1. Hi Mellisa - I use a variety of apps: 53 Paper, Bamboo Paper, ArtRage, Procreate, and some others. Each has it's own strengths and weaknesses. I think it comes down to a matter of personal preference. I also use various styli: 53 Pencil, Pogo Connect, Intuos Creative Stylus (my fav) and Sensu Brush.

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  4. I love these! I wish I could draw even a little bit. It's on my list of things to learn how to do. Someday. When I'm more dedicated I suppose. In the meantime I will live vicariously through you. Are you able to print out your designs or bind them into a book or something?

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    1. Yes if you use a Retina display iPad, which is approx. 256 dpi (300 is ideal for print, so it's close enough). I plan to do some printing at some point. Also, 53 Paper let's you export directly to a printed book (you order it through the app) - it's pricey tho, at $0 per notebook: http://www.fiftythree.com/book. But generally, you can print from any of the apps via your own printer at the very least.

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  5. I love, love, love the little porcupine!

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  6. Your drawings are so neat and you will be making some awesome beads I'm sure.

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  7. I have enjoyed following your sketches on Facebook. I can tell you are having fun with them.

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  8. I am amazed what you can do with this gadget! It looks like real paint on paper! Your owl is just haunting--the eyes!!

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