●♪✧Jan. Secret Sketches--First of 2022!✧♪●

Happy new year, you. 🐯

Last year I set resolutions that I was not able to stick to, mostly the learning Japanese one...I will blame how busy I was with work for that one. Genuinely! I would have kept going with it if I had enough time in every day to set aside for that. Anyways. The point of this post isn't to make excuses for the past, it's to be excited for the future. 

This batch of secret sketches and sneak peeks is one that makes me smile like crazy, even if the contents themselves aren't anything too spectacular. The reason I'm so happy about all this is because it's all for pleasure. None of this is for "work". It's pages from my little pocket sketchbook (here's the one I have), it's sketches for fun, it's reminiscing and doodling, it's exploring with art again!!

‧̍̊˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧̍̊

No gallery descriptions today, because I have a lot to say and the character limit is awfully small up there^ Here's a breakdown guide to the images you're seeing:

Images 1-7: All scans from my pocket sketchbook. A couple of them have been enhanced in procreate with color overlays. Most pages were originally black--done with my trusty Pilot Precise V5 ink pen. This stuff was all from time in Florida while I was visiting for new year's, aside from the first page which was done back in September. (I don't think I have uploaded that page before? Maybe I have.) What is funny is that I only brought that one pen with me for my trip, and as I was sitting at the gate for my flight, it ran the fuck out :-)! But luckily, it had kind of a revival after sitting for a bit and I got a few more pages out of it once I was in Florida. My partner's mom also let me use one of her pens once mine really did run out of juice--that pen was used for pages 5,6 and 7. You can barely tell the difference, right?

Images 8 & 9: Designing costumes once again, which seriously lights up all the best parts of my brain. I'm so happy working on costumes. It is such an awesome area of creativity which combines illustration, design, textiles, sewing skills, makeup, hair, movement, performance, environment and photography. I've been inspired by a lot of music lately to design these, and made a playlist which encapsulates the vibe I am going for. 

The image with the mass of puffballs is actually an in-progress shot of the bunny-shaped ball-hood in image 8! I make the balls out of yarn when I'm talking with friends or watching something. So far I have made 89 balls but need to make 70 or so more...it's incredible how many balls it takes. It's also getting heavy with all that yarn on there!! I'll update you as I work on it.

Image 10: This is what I imagine Orsino and Vi from Twelfth Grade Night to look like in a couple years after the events of the story. I did this to all the main characters, but the other drawings have ~spoilers~ so I won't be able to show you until the book is out!

Image 11: I took some disposable photos from halloween, edited them using some colors/blend modes and halftone patterns and arranged them in a little collage--but honestly the original photos are so cool on their own that they did not need editing. It's inspired me to take more disposable photos...or maybe get a film camera. :-0

Image 12: A design I've made to tattoo on my own leg! Honestly it might be a little ambitious, so I'll probably start with just the mushroom and see how I feel. I'm thinking front-thigh placement, but I might play around on my calf/ankle area first. 

Images 13 & 14: I thought I'd include some screenshots of what my procreate looks like while I'm working on something. This is from my little end-of-year animation that I put up on instagram and twitter where I made my own undertale-style voice and played with animating a little. Procreate is alright for very simple and short animations but I'd like to try experimenting with a larger 2d animating program on the ipad. If you guys have any recommendations, let me know!

‧̍̊˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧̍̊

It's been a while since I did a blog/newsletter post but I've got a lot I want to talk about with you guys, so that's coming real soon! I'm excited to be feeling this burst of creativity and energy after a year of overworking myself. What would you like to see more of in 2022 here in the evergreen space? Is there anything you'd like to learn about? 

Much love,

-JG