The Art of Shawna Apps
New prints are coming on FRIDAY!!!!
And not just one new design. Or two.
BUT FIVE.
I had only planned on releasing one new design this week as color prints tend to give me more challenges than the gray scale ones, but I was in the groove and the technology cooperated, so I took advantage of it.
Stay tuned for the release announcement, and enjoy this teaser of what’s being released!
A few months ago I desperately wanted to get into my studio. I had been in my funk for awhile, but on this particular day I just HAD to create something. Anything. Just give me a brush or pencil and I’d be good.
But one of my kids woke up sick and just needed mom. Creating went to the back burner as I snuggled and watched movies with my boy while he still is young enough to want his mom.
After a couple movies, he asked me what I had planned on doing if he hadn’t been home. I mentioned painting or drawing, and he looked up at me with those big gray eyes of his and said:
“Mom, I’m okay. Go paint. You need a break.”
Happy 2nd to last day of the challenge!!!!
I decided to just finish out the Hogwarts House series; half of the series was already done, and I know I had some people very anxious to have the series in print, so it made sense to finish it now. Continue reading “Drawing a Day Challenge 2018: Day 24”
Happy Friday, everyone!
I am so glad this week is almost over. My boys have been wrapping up their Odyssey of the Mind presentations this week (the Regional competition is tomorrow!), my daughter is in her last week of the modified swim season, and we are all just plain tired. My day started off with sunshine, coffee with a dear friend who I haven’t seen in forever, and of course, drawing!
Guess what I started working on today!???!??
PRINTS!!!!
So far I have the Giraffe in 5×7 and 8×10, Starry Sky in 8×10, and I’m working on the Sloth right now. Every one of the drawings should be available soon in 5×7 AND 8×10, so if there are any you are interested, let me know and I’ll get those images done first. I’ll be listing what I have available on Etsy within the next couple of days!
I am having a serious issue with the challenge this year.
Okay, so maybe serious is a little too strong of a word to use, but I’m having a problem and I blame all of you: my list of things to draw keeps getting longer and longer as I keep adding amazing suggestions from you guys, but there is no way I can do them all in the time frame I have set aside for the challenge.
Now I could always add another week (or probably two or three if I were to do everything on my list) and get everything done, but I really can’t do that as I have a book that is just begging to be illustrated. Maybe I’ll do a challenge in the fall, but that’s my busy season with festivals so that doesn’t really work either. I might just have to save the rest of the list for next year or just randomly work on the drawings during the year here and there as my schedule allows. Whatever option I end up doing, you guys have really outdone yourselves with fantastic suggestions this year and it’s making it hard for me to choose what to do every day and wish that I could keep up this crazy challenge indefinitely! Kudos to you all!
But back to today’s drawing…
Hello, Monday!
I had a great weekend: on Saturday, we (aka my husband) were able to get my scanner up and running so I can turn these drawings into prints, and I started getting the original drawings up in my Etsy store. Yesterday my youngest and I went to my hometown to visit with my bestie from grade school and her son and surprised my parents with a quick visit as well.
I did miss drawing, though, and was very much looking forward to getting back to it today!
Title: Barred Owl
Size: 5×7
Medium: Graphite pencil and white ink gel pen on acid free paper
Inspired/nominated by: I originally put an owl on the list, but it was also nominated by my friend Marie B!
Today’s post is short and sweet….not because I’m crunched for time, but because this drawing was so quick and straightforward I don’t have much to write about!
Here’s today’s little guy…I’ve got an animal/bird theme going on this year!
Title: Nuthatch
Whew.
One of the main reasons why I do this challenge is to prove to myself that I can make my art a priority, even on the craziest days. And today…I would have not done my art if it hadn’t been for this challenge!
My day consisted of making sure the boys were on the bus either at 7:20 or 8:20, my daughter and I were out of here by 8:30 for her orthodontist appointment, then back to school for her at 10:30. I went home, made up grocery lists, went shopping and was back at 12. I put away most of the groceries, grabbed lunch, and then finally sat down to draw. A few minutes to 3 I went to school for Bible Club, got home at 5, drew until dinner at 5:30, then finished the drawing shortly after 6.
Again, whew.
But he is done!
Title: Chickadee
Day 2, and already things didn’t go as planned…but for once, it was for the drawing’s benefit!
Today’s plan was to get kids on the bus, eat, then go run errands and grocery shop, and then at some point help finish up the plan for Bible club tomorrow with another one of the leaders. As the hubby and kids weren’t going to be getting home until at least 5, it was the perfect day to get all those things done while still having uninterrupted drawing time.
But, it wasn’t meant to be…my littlest guy wasn’t feeling well this morning and stayed home from school. I cancelled all my plans, watched tons of movies, and got my drawing in between all the snuggles.
But onto the drawing from today! The preview I shared on Facebook and Instagram really threw everyone for a loop (sorry, guys!), but here’s the non-monkey-dog-cat-cat butt-ostrich in all his glory:
