Beauty and the Beast

A custom illustration for the lovely Miss Madeline. For commission inquiries email me at thecheekywhale@gmail.com.

Featured Artist- David Bird

Just got back from a much needed trip to Disneyland and the beach! Speaking of Disneyland, here with me today is a good friend of mine, David Bird, who is a Disney Guest Artist as well as an artist for Sanders Art Studio.
David and I "met" when I was harassing.. er, emailing Disney Guest Artists to ask for advice a few years back. He was one of the few that emailed me back, and he has been a great friend and mentor ever since. He is always willing to answer my many questions and give me feedback on my work. What a gem! :)

Interview with the artist:

Have you always wanted to be an artist?
Always wanted to be an artist...since my dad was one. Just followed in his footsteps.

What is your artistic process? 
Sketch first...always. Figure out the look, the feel, and the layout for the piece then either the computer, pencil or canvas.

Inspiration?
Good design, art, other artists, people, and God has given this insane desire to create (or die, LOL)

Favorite artist?
Way too many to choose from...depends on the day. Roy Lichtenstein and other times a disney artist.

Favorite medium? 
Glass...go figure. Then oil painting, then acrylic.

How did you become a Disney Guest Artist and what has been your favorite part so far?
I got to meet a VP from Disney Marketing at a Disney Fan Convention and I got to show him some of my work...he was so excited and asked for my info. I thought he was just telling me "don't call us, we'll call you." Well, I got a call a couple of months later and they asked if I knew anything about Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton. LOL, OH YEAH!!! They invited me to be a part of the Haunted Mansion Halloween Celebration and I have been a part of it ever since! Dreams happen, just be ready.

Any advice to aspiring artists?
Please, aspiring artists- draw from real life, people, pets, landscapes, whatever! JUST DRAW! Everything else will follow.

• •  

Illustration Friday- "Book"

I worked so many hours on this illustration and I ended up starting over because it wasn't turning out how I would have liked. Then I worked like crazy on the second one, and then it was too late to submit to Illustration Friday.

The topic was "book" and I immediately thought about how a good book takes you to a completely different place, as if you're actually in the story. Then the image of my daughter reading "The Little Mermaid" popped into my head, and this is what I came up with:

Jafar

i wanna be....

I posted awhile back about how I came SOOO close to my dreams of being an artist for Disney. 

I was really discouraged and I had a good cry.

But after that, I had a great talk with my friend (can I call him my mentor?) David Bird, who is a very talented guest artist for Disney.

He has been nothing but encouraging and advised me to take this experience and use it to gain motivation and kick some arse. To get going! To better my skills! To work hard! And especially, not to give up on my dream.

I know that I have a lot to learn. I have a lot of practice, a lot of hard work ahead of me. I am totally up to it. The thought excites me. I am willing to work as hard as I need to to be able to create in any capacity for Disney. 

 Minnie Mouse and I have a heart to heart - Circa 1986

I'm over the moon to be at Disneyland!

Every dream begins with baby steps in the right direction:

I draw everyday

My goal is to draw for at least an hour, even if its just doodling. The point is to get any kind of practice in. Every little bit builds skills. Twice a week I take off to Barnes and Noble and sketch for two hours while Tom is at home with the kids. I drink some tea and just go at it. I love every second of it. 

I also take Mae to McDonalds to play on the playset while I get some drawing in. I try to fit it in however I can.

I'm learning the style of Disney.

I am going through my "Disney Villians" book and drawing every single thing on every single page to gain a better understanding of Disneys style and become better at it. 

Illustrating is what I do, and I can get away with anything I want because I'm creating it from my imagination. If I want to create for Disney, I need to be skilled in drawing their characters as they are, as well as have my own interpretations. It's very important to me to be able to hold on to my individual style as well.

my recent sketches

I'm networking

I am building a network of people that have been successful at Disney. Thanks to my friend David, he has put me in touch with some really great people who are willing to give me their opinion and advice.

I also email every artist I can find and ask for their advice. Some write back, some don't. But I'm asking, and that is what counts.

I'm going to school

I went to college for 3 years, dabbling in music, sign language, nutrition, zoology, photography, and of course, art. After a loooong time, I finally decided my passion was illustration. Going to school is a big deal, a lot of money, and a lot of time. I wanted to make absolutely SURE that what I majored in was my biggest passion. 

With my husband job I have an opportunity to get my associates for free from University of Phoenix. They don't have any art programs, but they do have Web Design, so that is what I'm going to do, then get my Bachelors in Fine Art after that. I think having a well rounded background in digital and traditional creativity will benefit me. 

I'm on my way. I'm not going to worry about "how"it's going to happen, but that it WILL happen if I do my part. Take steps everyday. Do it because I love it. 

And I plan on doing it without sacrificing time with my family. 

Ariel

#2 in the "Princess" series

next up? Belle

it is really hard to photograph artwork. anyone have any tips?

p.s. if you have any idea of how you would like to see disney princesses drawn, let me know!
 i.e.  situation, environment, clothing, etc.