Draw for Life volunteering side project

Next came a side project I've been trying to develop over the year. It has NO RUSH but it is something I would like to see happen some day. It's a volunteer group called Draw for Life. It's a group for illustrators, graphic designers, and animators to volunteer their time to design ads for good causes or organizations. Most of us don't have money to donate since we are just surviving ourselves; and while I was on the internet I stumbled across the website for a Haitian Charity and one that was a portfolio site for the country. Unfortunately it was REALLY understated and bland. I thought that perhaps if they had design help they would get more attention and financial aid; so I came up with this group. Artists can ask local organizations to world organizations if they need help with designing ads (from pet shelters to country wide poverty). This is the logo I designed for the group. I'm really satisfied with it and surprisingly it was on my first go.

First off for political view I'm a Progressive... so in the honor of the late Teddy Kennedy who represented the working class and the less fortunate... I figured we needed a brave look since we are trying to make brave and bold statements ourselves. Also I wanted to bring a touch of nature in because really it's meant to be a group that helps EVERYONE. So the tail of the lion and the mane is suppose to look like a palm leaf. Lastly I wanted it to look finished and polished but organic and less ridged so it has somewhat of a "heart" shape to it but an oblong heart.

Blizzard Fan Art Calendar Contest

Also around the same time was Blizzard's Holiday Fan Art Calendar Contest. So I made sketches for Winterveil but ended up doing Noblegarden. I figured it would be less competitive though probably if I had more time and could do it over it would look different or I might have just tested my luck with Winterveil. Either way I love my winterveil sketches so I may make one of them my Winder Holiday Card for this year (most likely the gnome making cookies... she's ADORABLE).

Montserrat Zombie Show Prepping

Next comes January and the zombie theme show for Montserrat Students and Alumni. I had a week off for Christmas from work so I worked on Zealots. Zombies in the natural world. It was going to be a series that would come together as a musical band... but I figured it was a little to far out of the box. So since I hate zombies ANYWAYS. I decided to take the least gross approach. The traditional legend of zombies is a Haitian and African witchcraft basically. Since I'm half haitian I thought it would be neat to look into half of my culture. I also wanted to test working in brighter colors with acrylics.

Christmas presents and commissions

December was gift making time... I painted this for a my friend who loves World of Warcraft. With the next expansion they are adding worgen to the mix of races. Unfortunately they aren't making worgen shaman which would be his ultimate worgen which we talked about on the ride up to his grandparents' house at thanksgiving; so I made him one. I also made the lioness to try and get some commissions on FA. Rosie the Riveter... lol

Pandora

Also in November sometime I found the site patchtogether.com... so I submitted this:

It's a portrait of my friends beloved babby (yes babby and not baby... I don't know why but that's her nickname). Her name is Pandora and she's a feisty little trickster. I was submitting it as a figurine with a banana chip base.

Oooo I've gotten behind

WHHHHHOOOOOAAAAA. So my lack of blogging has been brought to my attention. Hmmmmm I've been reading other blogs though *blushes*. I guess I've just been jumping from project to project and chores etc. So I shall fill you in.

Since last October, a friend of mine has moved in. He broke up with his girlfriend and I had a spare couch. Other than that... I've just been working, drawing, playing video games, and crafting.

In November I made this for a friend of mine at Emerson. They have a theater group directed towards kids called Gumbo Yaya and they needed a shirt design.

Custom Tabbit Hoodie (for build-a-bears)

So one of my best friends' birthday is this week. She's very much into anthros and is a furry herself. As of right now she's still on a tour called the Soldier Show. The Soldier Show is a traveling performance that the army puts on. Soldiers try out and sing their way around the country as well as a foreign location. It ends in November; but due to the lack of closer locations and clashes with normal life requirements I wasn't able to see her perform (though according to what people have posted on youtube it's really good). Anyways... I wanted to do something UTTERLY amazing for her birthday... and during her tour she has been taking a panda build-a-bear around and taking pictures of it in different locations and in different costumes. I thought it would be a nifty project to try and make a new costume for her panda. Being that she's a furry what could be better?

A while back she was thinking of commissioning me to make cell phone cases for her and her boyfriend (a furry also). She wanted a tabbit for her phone (his character) and a panda-cat (her character) for his phone. So I thought it would be cute, since the bear is already a panda, to make a tabbit hoodie (tiger rabbit). I haven't seen the panda in a hoodie yet plus it's fall so hoodies will be worn. I'd never made a hoodie before this... I've never made a build-a-bear costume either so I definitely was up for the challenge.

So rather that actually going out and looking to see if there was a pattern like the goober I am... I took the harder route and decided to make it from scratch. I modeled a pattern by using a hoodie I had and my own build-a-bear (so I hope it fits hers). The hoodie is made from orange and white fleece. It has two front pockets like a normal hoodie and has a faux zipper (it has snaps for its closure). The hoodie is fully lined and is even finished with its own tag with my signature. It was super fun to make and only took about a week. Since I've never made a hoodie or a build-a-bear suit I'm REALLY stoked that it came out SOOOO great (especially since I've only been sewing for a year). They'd probably make cute hoodies for babies as well (just would need the size). I sort of now want to make one for my build-a-bear (probably a dragon or something)... hahahaha.