Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Groceries: An Illustrated List

As I listed in my Twelve by 2012 post, I'm attempting to sketch more often and (to keep myself accountable) share my illustrations here. Part of my problem with keeping a sketch journal is never knowing what exactly to sketch. To get back into the habit of drawing regularly, I've decided to illustrate my weekly grocery list. Here's last weeks:


I know it's important as an artist to keep a daily/weekly sketchbook, but it's something I have always struggled with. I had one particular professor in college who required a sketchbook journal. He would check our progress every week and a half or so, and I always ended up putting off the assignment until 2 am the night before it was due. Which kind of defeats the purpose of a daily sketchbook. Now that I'm a responsible grown-up, perhaps I'll be better at staying on task. Maybe. Hopefully.

By the way, does anyone have tips for scanning artwork? I feel like I've lost some detail with this piece. And what are your thoughts on digital coloring?

11 comments:

Kate said...

I. LOVE. IT.

I always lose quality when I scan something in, I usually have to fix it up in illustrator. This looks great though!

Abbyblujay said...

you did it! I LOVE IT. REALLY HARD.

illustrator. pen tool. BEST FRIENDS!

lizzie said...

CLEARLY. AWESOME.

Katherine Ross said...

Thanks for the feedback, ladies!

Kate/Abby... I did take the scan into Illustrator and attempted a quick live trace. The results were not great. Maybe if I tweaked the settings a little more? Or maybe photographing the actual drawing is better than scanning...

Emily said...

so cute!
now, if only i could draw. odds are, i wouldn't be able to comprehend my grocery list...

Sharon Telschow said...

Those paper towels! and the spinach and the acorn squarsh. YUM!

Tang said...

I love this idea! I'd love to see more of your illustrations. :) I'm not an expert on scanning, but I usually just scan in at 300dpi and then fix or change the contrast. But that probably doesn't help haha. :)

Lara said...

You are clearly a talented artist. I've had a horrible time keeping a sketchbook as well, it started getting easier as I gave myself less restrictions. I can write, glue, cut, even paint in my sketchbook, it doesn't just need to be drawing. This took some of the pressure off.

Jamie Bartlett said...

This is so cute! I want my grocery list to look like this. It would make the trip seem a lot more fun.

I usually bring scans into photoshop and make a curves adjustment layer and set the whites and blacks with the eyedropper. It works pretty good. The only thing is that it's not vector. I'd say you need to add the new Inkling to your christmas list: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXbBA1DRE84

Keki said...

Creative way to improve your drawing and get things done, hey?

a day with kate said...

LOVE this idea. so fun!! I usually scan and then live trace in illustrator. Unfortunately, fixing the live tracing can take forever... so sometimes it's not worth it. anyways, I think this looks fantastic, so I wouldn't worry!!