drawing

Week of Lincoln: Day One

| Erika Schnatz

This week is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

He is my favorite president ever, and sometimes I get bored and draw pictures of him.

I will attempt to post something Lincoln-related every day this week, because he was the man.

Lincoln is a total BAMF. Absolute fact.
I will never draw Lincoln without his stovepipe hat. It is the best type of hat.

Friday Afternoon Comics: Your Brain on Jazz

| Erika Schnatz

So I’ve been a major slacker on the art front this week – my apologies, loyal followers.

The Year of Gnomes project is going on a bit of a hiatus, so I have more time to make comics. However, there will definitely be gnomes in some of my comics. So don’t despair, gnome fans.

Without further ado:

This is based on a silly idea I wrote down on a Post-it note months and months ago.
Enjoy.
More comics on the way next week!

Friday Afternoon Comics: AmeriComics

| Erika Schnatz

Welcome to the first installment of something that will hopefully become a permanent fixture of my sketch blog: Friday Afternoon Comics!

I created the comics below as a response to some personal reflection questions in my AmeriCorps mid-year report. For those of you unaware of AmeriCorps, it’s like the Peace Corps, but within the United States. There are AmeriCorps programs all over the place focusing on different themes and missions, this year I am working in a program called Oregon Campus Compact at Portland State University. Our focus is on student retention through mentoring programs. I’ve gained a lot of great knowledge and experience serving so far.

You don’t really need to know any of that to read these, but they probably make a bit more sense if you do.

AmeriComic 1:

 AmeriComic 2:

Materials: a pen!
I am pretty good at writing in ALL CAPS.

A Week of Gnomes: Day Eight

| Erika Schnatz
Day Eight: Turn an old book into something new
I am always on the lookout for old books that I can mess around with, so I had lots of choices for this one. I thought it would be fun to make the gnome visit a Mayan pyramid, so I got out my Exacto knife again and cut up an image to make it a pop up picture.
 
I believe this is a Reader’s Digest book about World Mysteries (or something of that nature). I bought it at Goodwill for a dollar.
 
I cut around different parts of the image and folded them up to make it pop up – there are four different levels to this picture.
 
You may also notice the tiny gnome I made on the right hand side of the picture, approaching the pyramid. Not correctly proportioned, but if I made it the “right” size he’d be practically invisible.
An additional view.
Materials: Book, Exacto knife, paper, pen, and markers (to make the tiny gnome), tape
This took very little time and turned out way better than I anticipated. Fun times!

A Week of Gnomes: Day Six

| Erika Schnatz
Day Six: Make something using a stencil.
My initial thought was to make something sort of like a chalk outline of a body, like what you might find at a crime scene, but I went with something a bit lighter. Gnome crossing sign!
 
First I had to use my Exacto knife skills on a piece of Bristol board.
 
Here’s the finished product! Stencil, cut out, and sign.
 
Another view.
Make way for gnomes!!
Materials used: Bristol board, acrylic paint, artists tape (to create lines around edge and underneath gnome), cardboard (for backing)
I kind of want to make a bunch of these and hang them up in parks at a kid’s eye level. Make a little mischief and spread some fun.
However, due to the Portland weather it’s going to be a few months before the sun comes back out. For now I’ll just hang it up in my room.
Tomorrow: gnome + food (again!)

A Week of Gnomes: Day Four

| Erika Schnatz
Day Four: Work with a collection (I skipped over the challenge for Day Four, but I will come back to it! This is technically the challenge from Day Five. Forgive me)
Since I am a gnome aficionado, I obviously have amassed a few:
 
The gnome in the Hawaiian shirt has come with me on a number of trips and vacations.
 
 
$3 gnome from Goodwill. I had to buy it. I keep meaning to give him a Portland makeover, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. Maybe I’ll be able to do that in a future challenge.
A page of gnome doodles. Some of these are super weird. 
Materials: Nikon SLR camera, pen
Tune in next week for some more gnome-y goodness.

A Week of Gnomes: Day Two

| Erika Schnatz
Day two of the 365 challenge: Use your favorite animal as inspiration for today.
My favorite animals are elephants, so somehow that inspired jousting gnomes on bitty baby elephants.
 
The linework!
 
All colored in!
A slightly nicer version of the final art.
Materials used: pen, Prismacolor markers, recycled paper, white acrylic ink & brush
More gnome action tomorrow!

A Week of Gnomes: Day One

| Erika Schnatz

I’ve decided to begin a year of creative challenges! The theme will be gnomes, because I love gnomes.

We’ll see how long I can keep this up – I’m going to do my best to stay on top of the challenges.

Day One: Make something that fits in the palm of your hand

 
 
Now I have another gnome to add to my collection! He looks pretty good on my shelf.
Materials: cardboard, Prismacolor markers, ink pen, white acrylic ink & brush
Come back tomorrow for more gnome-y goodness.