A Happy Diversion

This post's title could not be more fitting!

Since this time last week, I have felt in a bit of an "artist's-block" (as you know how frustrating writer's block is....), which needed to be solved with a change of pace, and working through LOTS of unfruitful sketches.

So I allowed myself to doodle and sketch and do any random art-thing that could get me out of my rut. In doing so, I am glad to have made a couple cute sketches for Valentine's Day cards (pictured below), and I let myself have the time to explore a new resource for bringing my 3D art into games (will talk more about that later!).

Pictured below:  "Batty" About you! & Lovebirds

Thanks again for reading, and see you again next week! :)

Sea-Dragon Mermaid

:) Here's my last mermaid of "MerMay" 2019! I wanted to create a seahorse mermaid, so this lady is inspired by the leafy sea-dragon. Created in Photoshop with a Cintiq tablet.

Beauty & Beastly Mer-Mays

These #MerMay sketches were done in pen & marker in my tiny travel sketchbook. I created these ladies a day apart; I like how they contrast with each other. (...and they're such great fun to draw; look for more mermaid for MerMay soon!)

Along a Footpath in Falicon

While exploring Falicon, France, I found that this little entrance was one of my favorite scenes. The community behind this archway was equally as charming, with its winding paths, unique buildings jutting against their neighbors, and small squares filled with a multitude of potted plants :) I definitely want to go back for another visit & hike!

Below:  Small, ink & marker sketch on paper. Footpath & archway in Falicon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwCkOPmheXA/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

^Above:  Original ink thumbnail in sketchbook.

A Batty Idea: Oregon Wildlife Art

One reason I love Photoshop; it's easy to create a seamless pattern! So as Halloween was drawing near, a batty-bat pattern seemed like a must-have :) I have wanted to create more artwork featuring local wildlife, so why not start with Yuma myotis?



A cute little bat, Yuma myotis can be found near my home in Oregon. I have always enjoyed learning more about creatures and plants, especially those who share the same wilderness that I do. Energized by the thought that creating this art can bring me both joy, and the knowledge to identify this creature in real life, I decided to start a new art series!



I am excited to say that I will be focusing on Oregon wildlife artwork for the rest of this year! I endeavor to create art that inspires interest in learning about the natural world, especially for Oregonians young & old :) To do this, I will focus on local species, & include a bite-size bit of educational information with each art piece!

Currently I'm working on naturalistic wall-art, illustrated notebooks (with wildlife facts inside the cover), greeting cards, & even getting my pattern-designs on cloth (pictured left)!


New possibilities are open to my art-gifts now that I am printing my artwork on cotton cloth, and I am so excited!


I hope to bring a fair bit to my art-booths at events this holiday season as well, so keep an eye out! :D

2017 Year of Art!

Happy New Year!

How is 2017 over?! Looking back, I have had so many new and wonderful art experiences this past year! My artwork has traveled to bazaars in Oregon, out to sea on the Tara expedition, installed in Oregon State University, and has been published in a scientific journal! See all below!


*Pictured Left:  Instagram "Best Nine of 2017"









Scientific Illustration:  Marine Host Microbiome Alpha Diversity Measures
Scientific Illustration:  Marine Host Microbiome Alpha Diversity Measures

This illustration was published in Frontiers in Marine Science academic journal, as "Box Figure 1" in the article "Responses of Coral-Associated Bacterial Communities to Local and Global Stressors". You can click on the link above to read the full article! This article was written in part by the Vega Thurber Laboratory, with whom I collaborated on projects such as this as their Resident Artist.

"Marine Host Microbiome Alpha Diversity Measures" compares and contrasts the diversity of microbes found in different marine organism's microbiomes. The figure compares the richness of organisms to one another in a community, and calls the viewer to question their assumptions about coral microbiome richness.

"Coral County" Educational Comic Trio:

This interactive educational comic is part of a science outreach effort, in collaboration with the Vega Thurber Laboratory in microbiology at Oregon State University!

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Click here to read stories of the adventurous & troublesome parrotfish, coral crabs & more as they follow research currently being conducted at OSU! Roll-over the comic with your mouse to discover extra aid-bits, and click the CC Library where eager learners can delve deeper into the topics presented in each comic strip!

Art Aboard the Tara expedition.

The Tara now bears a sticker representing the Vega Thurber Laboratory, & my artwork! The Tara sails around the world collecting scientific data and promoting scientific education, outreach, and art concerning the ocean's health. Though I am not on the boat, I am so honored to have my artwork represent the Vega Thurber Lab on the boat (and among their other supporters)!

Members of the Vega Thurber Laboratory contribute their time, expertise and support on Tara's expeditions year round! Learn more about the Vega Thurber Laboratory, or the Tara.


Under Sea & Stars

 

This year was my very first selling my artwork and wares in person as a pop-up shop! My (online) artwork shop, 'Under Sea & Stars' was present at the Valentine's Day themed "A Bazaar to Love", "Spring 2017 Etsy Team Handmade & Vintage Market", "NACC's Holiday Bazaar", and the "Town & Country Christmas Bazaar". It was a lot of work, and I really enjoyed being able to design my booth space, and to explore what displays and decor enhanced my artwork!

I am also so thankful to have teamed up with two lovely craftswoman to complete our booth:  'Creations by Deborah', 'Roosevelt Kid' & 'Adornments by Meg'. I am glad to have had the opportunity to meet so many other great artists and craftspeople too!

I am also working to fill out a new website for Under Sea & Stars, along with the existing Etsy Store :)








365 Days of Art
 I am happy to announce that I will be participating in the 365 Days of art drawing challenge this year! To do this, I will be posting artwork & art inspiration daily on my instagram @BriannaLeahyArt !

This challenge will encourage me to do more personal art, to challenge myself to tackle new techniques and subject matter... I am excited to get back to it!

This means more art for you to see! So check out my Instagram & keep an eye on this blog; there will be much more to come very soon!

*Pictured left:  thumbnail sketch in pen & copic marker, January 2nd 2018


Take care everyone & see you next week!
-Brianna

Frog Sculpt & Post-it Holder: Art-Thursday

Hello again! I created this sculpt and post-it note holder as a birthday present for my boyfriend. The little tree frog sculpt is modeled after the sketch I posted last week here. She is made from Sculpey polymer clay, and painted in acrylics. The leaf holder was inspired by a banana leaf, made of felt & embellished with embroidery thread. He loves tropical tree frogs, so this went perfectly in his office! I hope you enjoy!

Raven Passport Cover DIY: Art-Wednesday

I am excited to have my first passport ever! In anticipation for my first big trip out of the country as an adult, I could not help myself from wanting a nice passport cover! After some price-checking and research, I decided that I would love to make a custom one with some leftover felt I had in the house. 

Keep reading to see my art & process!

My Completed Raven-Passport Cover!

Materials:

I personally really love using eco-fi brand felt, because it is made in the US out of 100% polyester from recoiled post-consumer plastic bottles! I used most of a "sheet" of brown felt for the base cover, and small scraps of black felt for the raven. I had some black elastic from my last project too, so I used that to create the closure for the flap. Other than that, it was just thread, ruler and a charcoal pencil to mark the measured felt!

I also had too much fun with raven studies and designing the pattern from my Cintiq in photoshop!

Initial Raven Studies, Cintiq & Photoshop

Raven Felt Pattern Design, Cintiq & Photoshop

Was so excited when it came time to add the raven! Printed the pattern and cut into a stencil for the felt. Dark green thread for his feathers to give him a bit of subtle color.

Making of the Base Passport Cover (And improvising design all the while!)

Thank you for reading!!! Hope to see you next week! And please, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them here, or on my Facebook page: Brianna Leahy Art!

You can be crafty and eco-friendly too! I was so excited to find the Eco-fi felt in my local craft store. If you would like to learn more about the recycled plastic felt, here is the link:  eco-fi website .

(P.S.- No, I am not being sponsored or anything by this company, I just get excited about eco-friendly things, and I love sharing my discoveries!). 

All content in this article is ©2016 Brianna Elizabeth Leahy

Mini Graduation Cards on Etsy! UnderSeaAndStars

Great News! My reimagined Etsy shop, UnderSeaAndStars, is now open! I have listed new pieces, including two mini artwork graduation card sets. Each card is 3"x 3", and comes with an illustrated envelope. You can grab one for a friend instantly! Just go to UnderSeaAndStars, download & print!

Keep reading for more details!

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My sheep graduation card reads "So Proud of Ewe!", and is great for this year's lady graduates! This sheep was inspired by my sister who graduates this Saturday! Congratulations Amanda!!!

 

(Click to enlarge)

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I live near Oregon State University, so my second card features a very happy beaver graduate!  

 

(Click to enlarge)

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Below are my initial beaver sketch studies, and my graduation cap & diploma pattern!

These cards are now available as digital downloads on at UnderSeaAndStars on Etsy! Please go check them out, and visit again soon! I will be working to post more! Don't forget to favorite my shop for updates when I add more! :) And please feel free to comment here for suggestions!

Thank you! -Brianna

Mother's Day Quail Gift: Art-Wednesday

This Mother's Day, I wanted to break from tradition and get my mom something different. She is a coffee addict like me, so naturally we went out for coffee on Mother's Day, and I surprised her with this!

A reusable coffee sleeve handmade from: felt from recycled plastic, thread, a button, and a bit of elastic. I am very happy with how it turned out, and so was my mom! She loves quails!

You can see my process and the final piece in the pictures below! I designed the quail in photoshop first, printed and cut the pieces to create a template, and then sewed them all together and used the thread to add detail!

Love you mom!

       

Miss Bear Portrait: Project Process Art-Wednesday

Meet the sweet Miss Bear! A digital illustration completely done in photoshop, I thought it would be interesting to some of you to see a more in-depth look at my digital process! So below her portrait, you will find my three main stages that I use in my drawings. Thank you for looking!

1) To start, I do a number of warm up sketches in the size of thumbnails until I find one that match my vision. They are usually very rough and messy. Eventually I work up to a drawing I am happy with:

 

2) I refine my design on a separate layer above my sketch, getting clear edges and planning colors:

3) On another layer, sandwiched between the existing two, I start painting! On the right, you can see my color palette for the bear. I continue with this process until the whole canvas is painted. I add another layer on top for subtle warm and cool tones. The very last step before I am done is an extra pass to clean up edges!

Thank you for reading!

Inspired by Africa: Art-Wednesday

This week I was just in an African animal drawing mood! So I had fun creating these ladies for my daily art challenge. I am especially happy with the lioness! Both drawings were created in Photoshop on my Cintiq.

(Top) Complete Lioness Illustration! (Bottom Left): Work in progress/initial sketch, (Bottom Right): Lady Giraffe Sketch

Copic Marker Experiments: An Art-Wednesday

I still consider myself to be new to Copic markers. I have been playing around with them and have been so pleasantly surprised at how easy they are to just pick up and fall in love with! These markers do a lovely job of building up color and give great edges with their flexible, brush-like tip.

I am still getting used to them for sure, but I wanted to share with you some of my sketches as I have been playing around with them.

For the rose study, I did do a preliminary sketch lightly in pencil. To create the other plant, tree and coral pieces, I let myself just start right off with the marker. These flora studies were all done in my small sketchbook. If you are dying to add a bit of color to your sketches, try these!

Rose Study:  Sketched from a live potted rose

   

Plant & Coral Studies:  Half sketched from live plants & photographs, half from scientific illustrations

Tree:  Just doodling & playing with shapes here

Sculpting Mini-Elephants: An Art-Thursday

Hello! Happy Art-Thursday :)

I was recently reminded how much I love and missed sculpting! An old friend of mine visited, and we reminisced about how we used to make sculpted-creations for each other as gifts! So I was inspired to make her this little guy for old time's sake:

 

Baby Grizzly Sculpt

(Click to enlarge)

I enjoyed the process so much, that I decided I would create more, even smaller sculptures! My first thought was of a tiny elephant, and how sweet he would be as an animal totem pendant! I thought it might be fun to see my process through the elephant's creation, so without further ado, here it is:

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1.  Concept 
First, I go on my trusty computer to look for reference, this time of asian elephants. I chose asian elephants specifically because I remembered loving their structure and colors. Based on my reference (pictured left), I came up with this quick pen and digital sketch (right) for my elephant pendant:

 

Reference & My Original Concept

(Click to enlarge)

2. Sculpt
This little guy (pictured left) was my first draft. I used a small bunch of floral wire to bulk his body and give me a good handle to hold him by as I sculpted. I used Super Sculpey polymer clay and a myriad of wood and metal sculpting tools, and my hands to sculpt his body.

Once his sculpt was finished, it was baking time! The middle image shows him at the baking process, and the start of my casting a mold of him. I used Sculpey mold maker.

In the photo on the right, I have some of his family! It was my very first time creating a mold, so the elephant brethren on the right were very roughed out by the mold, and then I took over the rest of the sculpting by hand.

 

Elephant Sculpt Process

(Click to enlarge)

3. Hook & Paint
For the necklaces, I add a hook to the raw clay elephants and bake them in the oven already intact. Then it is painting time! I use all acrylic paints, and the (almost) finished product can be seen below! The last finishing touch I'd like to experiment with is adding a varnish to protect the paint further and make him look A+

Elephant Pendant, First Draft

(Click to Enlarge)

4. Review
I am always looking for ways to improve my work, and these guys are no exception! I am pretty happy with how they are looking so far, but like I said, I'd like to give them finishing touches. I will definitely experiment with varnish, and I would like to make the next group a little more pudgy in the body, and work on an even smoother surface finish of the sculpt.

I will post an update later with my improvements! But for now, this will conclude our Art-Thursday!

Thank you for reading, and check back next week!