#brittnay ohop

“I Love You Just The Way You Are”

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Creatives talk about the “journey”, and “creative processes” and techniques. We also have the tendency to stress over details and, unless one is particulary well-conditioned to leave well enough alone, we can be prone to over-work our pieces. We freely express what we’re not particular well-practiced in (“Oh, I’m just HORRIBLE at drawing HANDS!”).

Despite the fact that we have it drilled into our heads, “Don’t compare your work to others’!”, we still do it despite ourselves. We get swept up in realistic approaches to art, just as quickly as we get swept up into graphic, bold “styles.”

We have occasional accidents where we may spill in onto a piece that we have come SO FAR to finishing, only to end up trashing it because it’s beyond salvaging.

Hours and hours of digital work can be lost in a sudden program freeze, computer crash, or power outage, unless we have conditioned ourselves to compulsively hit the keyboard shortcuts to “Save” our work every two minutes.
We lose sleep trying to better ourselves, to meet deadlines, and make everyone happy. We feel guilty when we take five minutes to NOT draw something. Sometimes we feel like we’ve reached a plateau of skill–a lack of improvement. Everything looks awful We come upon “art blocks”, and suffer from burnout.
Art Stops Being Fun.

But one day, a few months ago, my sister texted me while we both were at work with an image, and a simple caption, “I did the thing.” I flipped out. I showed it to everyone around me–whether they cared or not–this magnanimous highlighter doodle of a triceratops that she did. …And, knowing the way she is, she probably did it in less than two minutes.

My sister isn’t much of an illustrator, or visual artist, despite having a very strong interest in fashion design for many, many years when she was younger. So, when she decides to draw ANYTHING, the WHOLE WORLD comes to a halt. For me, at least.

I told her, “You better bring this home, cuz it’s GOING ON THE FRIDGE.” And it’s been displayed there ever since, and probably will be forever.

I’ve kept all the art she’s done over the years.

Earlier this week, I scanned this gem, and I gave it a once over:

Torn upper edges where she ripped it out of the notepad…of ruled paper, of course…which scanned crooked, despite my efforts… A few splattered coffee stains. Lots of wrinkles.

I just sat there and smiled. I told myself, “No. No, there’s nothing wrong with this. It’s perfect.”

And thus, the piece had a name: “I Love You Just The Way You Are.”

S6||RB

Orange Cat Wears Fluffy Tree Hat

…because you speak for the trees.

“UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It’s not.”  “The Lorax”, by Dr. Seuss

I’ve been going through some sort of weird internal transformation this year.  This hommage piece is definitely a hint as to what has been eating at me. 

Seriously, this cat is turning more and more alien the more I work with them as a “conceptual” messenger…

Anyway, prints and stuff are here:  Society6||Redbubble

Dear Musashi (Post Script)

A nice, therapeutic request from a friend.

Available on:  Society 6andRedbubble

Nazar Fungus, Nazar Star Anemone Has Anemonfish Friends, and Meditation
2.5 x 3.5 inches; ballpoint pen (except for Meditation, which was done in acrylic)

Some original off-the-cuff pieces I managed to get done this year.  Life is hard.

Of Wallflowers and Wallgazers
Lime green, red, and orange Bic Cristal ballpoint pens, 5x7

Without a doubt one of my favorite dreamcatcher/mandala infusions…made for one of my favorite people in the entire world.  She is, after all, the one who opened my eyes to art, and has encouraged me to pursue it for a fulfilling life.  She is one of my oldest friends (over 20 years, and counting!)… I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for her.

Circle of Bun Dreamcatcher:  Sunrise Aurora Rhapsody

Ballpoint pens, 5x7 smooth bristol

The one who’s receiving this used to be a coworker of mine; she’s a piano teacher, and studying to get her degree in physics (I believe??) and, well,…

….I still work at Starbucks.

I have a very soft spot in my heart for this person: she always, always extends an invitation to me to hang out–whether a small get together, or going to a movie….even though I always decline said invitations, for multiple personal reasons.

No matter how many times I say no, she always invites me.

My relationships weren’t always that way.  In high school, people stopped asking.  My reason for saying “no” is… the reason why you’re here looking at this.

I was always trying to improve.  I didn’t have time to socialize.  I put all of my time into art, writing–creating, in general–when homework was done.  

Not much has changed in the past ….what, 16 years?  I’m having doubts that anything ever will, despite my efforts.  I suppose I can dream about “earning my right” to go to that small get-together, or seeing that movie.  I can fool myself into thinking that, with enough of hard work, I can finally earn my keep with art alone, and earn my right to socialize.  Or even relax for a change.

I took that to a much more personal place than intended.  I’m sorry.

Thanks for looking.

GET OFF MY LAWN - Ice Ankylosaurus
Ink, 5x7

I’m presently lamenting the loss of my best crowquill pen nib.  It was consumed by the sink drain monster.  e_e  

I really hope my friend got this; he may be out of town for the holidays…

I had already done an Ankylosaurus in profile, so I made this one with his tail raised up.  It resulted in him looking a little combative as he emerges from his icey cave.  Thus the name, “Get Off My Lawn”.

Perseverance and Good Luck

Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bombay India ink, iridescent gold calligraphy ink, 5x7
Unedited scan

I made a New Year’s congratulations-and-good-luck illustration for a friend and supporter of my creative habit.  I wish him the best as he lives out his life’s purpose in Nicaragua.
I left the daruma eyes blank intentionally, and gave him the permission to color them in as a reminder to stay the course, be patient, and work to meet his goals.

Winter Wonderland
Ink, 5x7

This is the most difficult thing I’ve attempted to do with ink washes at this particular dimension.  

The Journey to Cloud Castle
Turquoise and Cherry Red ink washes, 5x7

I have a number of these larger-ish paintings to do…  They’re for patrons for the holidays.  It’s going to take me a while to get everything done, and plus, I really don’t want to show anything until my patrons, individually, see their gifts FIRST. However, the recipient of this one travels a lot; so, I have noooo idea when she is going to lay eyes on it by the time she comes back home.

The “thought process” below is what I posted up on Patreon.  Here goes.

I knew that I wanted to do something castle-oriented for Irene.  Back when Rosa weasled her way into my brain, I heard her talk about Cloud Castle.

I had my moment of “reminding” myself what castles look like…  And even so, I found myself trying to compare this elusive “castle in the sky” to genuine, real-life fortresses.  Something didn’t feel right.

It was too rigid, guarded.  Cold.

So I asked her to give me a nudge in the right direction.  Anything.

“It shifts, transforms, and is always on the move… always playing a game of hide-and-seek.  Some can see it clearly, and never in the same way as another; some cannot see it at all.  It does no good to look at these,” she gestured to the images on my phone, “because it is not made of stone, wood, or metal…  Nor is it made of cloud.  It is made of wishes, and intentions. It is refuge.  It is a place where nothing hurts, and everything makes sense.”

Realizing the truth, and already feeling defeated, I said, “It’s nearly unfathomable.  There’s no way I could capture something of that magnitude.”

She smiled and said, “No.  No one can.  …  But you can try.”

I sighed, almost about to object when she said, “I’ve ‘made’ this castle before in the company of a little girl.  Do you know how it was done? …  With tape, glue, cotton balls, and construction paper.

"It was everything we wanted it to be.”

And that’s when I saw it–despite her apparent age, there was something in her eyes.  A light; a certain fearlessness and curiousity; child-like enthusiasm.

And so I did as I was encouraged.  I tried.

Circle of Bun - Revisited
Magenta, Turquoise, Lime Green Bic Cristal ballpoint pens; some sakura white gelly roll pen on 5 x 7 smooth bristol
Production time: 28 hours

I have a number of dreamcatchers to do, soooo here is number two of the six, total!  The patron who requested it basically wanted the same general concept as the FIRST one I did.  I approached this one differently; and I’m happy with it.

patreon.com/bii

“Nes Gadol Hayah Sham” - A Great Miracle Happened There , 5x7
Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bombay india and iridescent inks–the latter of which doesn’t scan well.  (Sorry!)

Featuring:  Menorah-saurus, aaaaaaand Rosa’s Patchwork Unicorns!
Dreidel unicorns:  “Nun”, “Gimel”, “Hei”, and “Shin”
…And quite a few golden “gelt” unicorns, too.  <3

This is a one-of-a-kind “holiday bonus” art piece for one of my beloved patrons, who is also a very, very long-time friend.  I hope that she is having a Happy Chanukah (and I hope you are, too!  ;) )

patreon.com/bii

November marks my Patreon anniversary.  I did something fun last month to celebrate!  All of these Artist Trading Cards were available for my patrons to claim and keep forever and ever.  They’ve all been spoken for!  I’m so happy!

I really love creating art for others, and will basically draw anything WITHIN REASON MIND YOU.  One of my creator goals is “Up-For-Grabs” every other month–when I go on drawing sprees, and offer up all the original pieces for my patrons to claim and keep regardless of how much they can afford to pledge monthly.

Hope everyone likes these super colorful dinosaurs and their unicorn friends!

patreon.com/bii