Updates

April 2017: What To Draw Wednesday!

Thoughts and Opinions, Updates

I decided to opt for something that’s not daily for this month. Since I need more practice with drawing in general anyway, if I want to become a better artist/illustrator.

Although some of my friends told me that I already have a style of my own, I think I’m still in the process of really finding it.

Just last month, I think, I discovered this cool app called What To Draw. It’s basically an app that generates random phrases that can help you decide what to draw. It’s actually just what I need because it has always been my problem. It’s also cool ’cause it’s challenging!

a sample phrase. source: Google Play Store

 

So, what you do after installing the app is to pick a theme that you might wanna do. All in all, they have nine themes: Medieval Fantasy, Editorial and Cartoon, Cyberpunk and Space, Terror, Western, Noir, Greco-Roman Mythology, Super Heroes, and Fantasy (the last four are in-app purchases 😛 bought them, though 😀 ). If you’re open for anything and everything, you can choose “All Themes“. When you choose all themes, it generates phrases from all the themes (not sure if it will include the last four themes if you haven’t bought those, though).

source: Google Play Store

source: Google Play Store

For this month’s challenge, I decided to use the app every wednesday. . .

Because “What to Draw” starts with a “W” – it’s more catchy that way. “What to Draw Wednesday” Haha!

At first I called it “Wednesday:What to Draw” but that sounds too boring, so I called it “What To Draw Wednesday“, like “Throwback Thursday“. It’s so un-unique I’m definitely not the only one who uses the hashtag #WhatToDrawWednesday. Surely.

By the way, I do not know if “What To Draw Wednesday” is already a thing. I need to dig for that. I’m not claiming anything. I just want to do this for myself as a challenge.

The problem is, if I’m gonna do this weekly, I can only produce four artworks. . . And I can’t promise making masterpieces. I usually run out of time for myself when I’m doing a lot of chores and sometimes work. (I’m on break, by the way. But I’ll also search for other projects to earn extra, if they’ll have me. haha) I really need to manage my time better.

I’m expecting my entries to be experimental. . . as usual. In pursuit of finding the style that fits me perfectly. I’m not pushing it, though, I’m just going with what feels most right. . . if you get what I mean.

I’m using the “All Themes” phrase generator for my first and second entries, for more challenge. But I’ve been getting “Noir” two times in a row (first generated phrase on a Wednesday). I might just use a different theme if next week, I get “Noir” again.

Here are my first two entries:

#1:

“A bodyguard, wearing ragged clothes”

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I have another challenge for myself this month and I wanna call it "Wednesday: What to Draw" or "What To Draw Wednesdays" —sounds better. For sure I'm not the first one to do this. Haha! There's this app I discovered called What To Draw and it generates random phrases that gives you an idea of what to draw. I can't do this every single day because the app might conjure up complicated stuff. Plus I need to practice more before getting to much more difficult stuff. This one, for example sucks. Not because it's rough… but because it looks too stiff and unnatural. There might be something wrong with the anatomy as well. . . But I just gotta finish and post this because it's already 3:48am and not a Wednesday anymore here. Uggh.. what a bad start. Actually, it's not even done. It's far from finished. I forgot to say, I got "A bodyguard, wearing ragged clothes" from the Noir Theme (but I pulled it out from the "All Themes" generator.) #WednesdayWhatToDraw #WhatToDrawWednesday #WhatToDrawApp #WhatToDraw #drawing #roughdrawing #illustration #sketch #tabletdrawing #tabletsketch #MedibangPaint

A post shared by Elise Olarte 🐱 (@eliseolarte) on

I’m honestly, and obviously bad at the male anatomy. I wish I drew a FEMALE bodyguard instead. But it would have been less of a challenge. I drew that at the end of the day and it was supposed to be bedtime and I was really sleepy so that’s that. What a bad start. 😦

#2:

“An assassin, in a jazz club”

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What To Draw Wednesday! #2 "An assassin, in a jazz club", from the theme Noir (didn't know I'd get something from Noir again, I used the "All Themes" phrase generator. Haha) Honestly, I didn't like that I got something complicated this time. I didn't like having to draw backgrounds and extra people with instruments. Who's diligent in this exhausting summer heat? (Well, it's summer here in the Philippines) 😬 didn't look for much reference too. 😂😛 Using #SamsungGalaxyNote8tablet #MedibangPaint #WhatToDraw #WhatToDrawWednesday #WhatToDrawApp #noir #assassin #sketch #art #roughsketch #roughdrawing #drawing #tabletart #tabletdrawing #tabletsketch #jazzmusicians #musicians #jazzclub

A post shared by Elise Olarte 🐱 (@eliseolarte) on

I hated the “in a jazz club” part. . .  just the fact that I had to draw a lot of other people and instruments. I felt so unready. I had to check some quick references.

-but I do love jazz music, and wish I can go to a real jazz club/bar 

I enjoyed doing the second one. I felt a spark in me when I was making the drawing loose and rough. It just felt so natural to me, instead of super clean lines. It felt so me.

I just hope the next two won’t turn out to be total crap. I can’t promise anything. 😀

I might continue this activity even after this month ends. . . Let’s see.

Stay tuned. 😀 ❤

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March 2017: Doodling Females (recap)

Doodles, Drawings, Instagram Updates, Uncategorized, Updates

I was supposed to talk about this in the first and last day of March, but I didn’t get to do that because I was too busy with Saturday AM  (Saturday AM issue 65 is out NOW, by the way! Click here to buy individual issues including the latest one! Better yet, click here to SUBSCRIBE. Click here for more information about Saturday AM —because I intended this blog post for a different subject, and it’ll be less organized if I deviate from what I’ve been planning to say. 😛 ) and a personal project that I needed to finish at a certain date. . . Which I shall mention later this month.

I was thinking of another doodle/drawing challenge after I finished my January Cat doodles. Then I remember how often I draw female subjects. . . So, after taking a break (from drawing challenges I set for myself) the whole February, I decided to draw female subjects the whole month of March. . . and it turns out that March is also National Women’s Month.

–I found that out after some googling then. But it’s funny, I never mentioned it whenever I post the daily drawings/doodles* on Instagram.

And so, these are the drawings I made.

Day 1

 

Day 2

 

Day 3

 

Day 4

 

Day 5

Work-in-progress

 

Day 6

 

Day 7

Work-in-progress

 

 

Day 8

 

Day 9

 

Day 10

 

Day 11

 

Day 12

 

Day 13

 

Day 14

 

Day 15

 

Day 16

 

Day 17

 

Day 18

 

Day 19

 

Day 20

 

Day 21

 

Day 22

 

Day 23

 

Day 24

 

Day 25

 

Day 26

 

Day 27

 

Day 28

 

Day 29

 

Day 30

 

Day 31

 

 

*I like the sound of the word “doodle” as opposed to “drawing”, so I used “doodle” more often. But really some of these are given some thought before creation so sometimes, “drawing” is a much better word to use.

 

January 2017 Cat Doodles

Doodles, Drawings, Instagram Updates, Updates

I have challenged myself to draw/doodle just cats on this month.

Why cats?

Because I love cats. And I really want to see how much people like cats as well. . . since my best-selling design has a catty theme.

I usually can’t finish anything I do for myself, that’s why I tried challenging myself.

Today is my last day and I’m happy to say that I did not skip a day!

Here’s my daily cat doodles from Day 1 to Day 31!

 

Day 1

 

Day 2

 

Day 3

 

Day 4

 

Day 5

 

Day 6

 

Day 7

 

Day 8

 

Day 9

 

Day 10

 

Day 11

 

Day 12

 

Day 13

 

Day 14

 

Day 15

 

Day 16

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#doodle #cat #drawing #linework #process #wip

A post shared by Elise Olarte 🐱 (@eliseolarte) on

 

Day 17

 

Day 18

 

Day 19

 

Day 20

 

Day 21

 

Day 22

 

Day 23

 

Day 24

 

Day 25

 

Day 26

 

Day 27

 

Day 28

 

Day 29

 

Day 30

 

Day 31

 

Can’t believe I finished a personal challenge! This is a progress for me. haha.

I also found that the best time for doodling is during the day. The doodles I did during the day that I included here looked a bit better than the others.

I don’t have any doodle challenge planned for February, I’m taking a break from that.

I have a lot of personal tasks I plan to do next month. So far, my Hobonichi Planner is working perfectly in making me more productive! Next month, I might use some of these cats and incorporate them to designs that I’ll make available on my print on demand shops. I think I have a drawing challenge for March. 🙂

TeePublic

Shop Updates

I finally found the time to add designs to my TeePublic store!

Last night, I uploaded four designs that I originally made for my Shirt.ly shop.

This is the design that someone from TeePublic saw and so he invited me to join their site. Except from Shirt.ly, I also uploaded this one to Society6, where I made a few sales.

“Crikey!” isn’t that the expression Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter always said?

https://www.teepublic.com/mug/1029411-hot-dawg

When you have a weenie dog, this is for you. 😀

One of my elementary teachers said, jokingly, that this is how cats court each other (sort of) during mating season. haha!

These designs are also available as T-Shirts, Tank Tops, Sweaters, Hoodies (in men’s, women’s , and kids’ sizes), iPhone and Samsung Galaxy cases, Notebooks (spiral and hardbound), laptop case, and mugs (both regular and travel mugs)!

TeePublic puts your designs on sale for 72 hours after you upload them so a $20 shirt becomes $14!

TeePublic says they have a designer to check each design file to make sure it works with their printers and they have someone in their warehouse that makes sure each shirt (and all other products) they ship are in the best quality!

So, while my stuff are on sale, whoever wants to order gotta order now! 😀

(I’d be very grateful and you’re helping an artist do better at her work. . .  and, well, when I earn money, it helps me buy more art materials that I’m gonna use to produce more art, of course. So please, buy. :))

 

 

New Year Post!!!

Doodles, Instagram Updates, Thoughts and Opinions, Updates

(New Year Post that’s late for a couple of days!!!!)

Goodbye, 2016! Hello, 2017!!!

Goodbye, Moleskine.. I’m gonna try Hobonichi this year!! XD

So I thought I would make challenges every month.

Days before Christmas, I started planning my 2017, although I can’t plan until December because I really don’t know what this future will bring.

There’s this thing I want to join and I really really hope I’ll get in!

And of course, I am hoping for nothing but the best for Saturday-AM. Not just because I’m in it but because they’re very hard-working and passionate people who deserve to be successful.

(by the way, Issue 60 is out now! Please check it out and subscribe! 😀 quality diverse shonen manga!)

Back to what I was saying. . .

I plan to challenge myself every month!

Hmm… well every other month, because some months, I will be busy with some important stuff.

This month of January, I shall be doodling CATS!!!!

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

 

So far, Day 3 seems the nicest. Haha. I was busy cleaning my room when I did the first 2. Almost forgot to do it, too.

Stay tuned?

Hehe, I’d do my best not to miss a date! 😀

I mean, my “Artwork-A-Day” died. . . there’s just some things that would come up that makes it really hard to follow up. Let’s hope that this time, nothing gets in my way.

 

Cat Slug W.I.P. and New Photoshop Trick I Learned!

MaxLeaf Sketchbook 260mm x 188mm, Shop Updates, Uncategorized, Updates, Work in Progress/Processes

Well it isn’t really new — just new for me.

I really wanted to sell a Die-Cut wall hanging on Curioos, but it’s a submission type thing, they have to approve the artwork before it gets posted. Technical stuff.

I tried to submit once, it didn’t make it. 😛

So I am going to try again.

I’ve been trying to clean this piece every free time I get:

(The screenshots that I’m including here were taken after the whole editing process is done)

and so I would do the things I know to do it:

  • adjust colors
  • adjust exposure, gamma, etc
  • adjust curves
  • erase/patch up the mess that’s not supposed to be there
  • erase the background and make a separate layer underneath for a cleaner background

But then I had to “create a precise path”* in my artwork and cut it out.

So I did what I normally do. I use the pen tool to make a path that traces my artwork.

Because it is really painstaking to do precisely, I decided to search for other ways. . .

It turns out you can actually convert your current selection into a work path.

So I just go to the Select menu, choose Load Selection, click OK, and then, while the selection is active and using any of the selection tools (marquee tools, lasso tool, magic wand tool), right-click on the selection and choose Make Work Path and then choose Tolerance value. See details of the process here.

Voila! My very bumpy-edged selection became a very complicated work path!

see how complicated this is: too many anchor points. definitely need to adjust still.

You can see the work path in the Paths window. You can also rename the path for organizational purposes.

Then I just delete some paths or extra shapes that got made through the process that I don’t need to include. I need to adjust some too, but I’d do that next time. It will still be a bit painstaking but this is a lot better than tracing your image manually. When I was tracing the image, I think it took me a lot of hours and I’m still not done yet.

 

One day I looked for ways to make “whites”** transparent because I’ve made an account for TeePublic and the art that they require were transparent pngs.

I also wondered how Society6 can make jpgs transparent in their shirt mockups.

After searching the net, I found that you have to use adjustment layers and make a selection before the artwork becomes transparent.

I have not used or encountered adjustment layers before. We were only taught very very basic Photoshop back in college and that was a very long time ago. Most of the things I’ve learned I got from the internet and friends.

This one is new to me although I have seen the term under the layer menu more than once.

So I tried it with this artwork.

 

Step One,

Add a Saturation/Hue adjustment layer.

Hue/Saturation adjustment layer

 

 

Step Two, 

Add Invert adjustment layer and then a Curves adjustment layer.

Invert adjustment layer

Curves adjustment layer

 

Step Three,

CTRL + A to select everything and CTRL + SHIFT + C to  copy. Add a layer mask to your original image, ALT + Click the layer mask and then paste what you copied in there.

The final product will look like this:

2016-12-03-6

More details here. . . because this really not a tutorial, I am just sharing what I have learned. . .  plus I am really sleepy. haha. The actual tutorial is in the link.

 

I hope that, after I finish cleaning up my work, this piece will finally get accepted for Die Cut prints. *crossing my fingers*

 

*says the CURIOOS Die-Cut Prints Submission Program guide.

**I mean the background. Only applicable when the background is white or otherwise extremely light compared to the artwork.

References:

Invites

Thoughts and Opinions, Updates

I just noticed, I’ve been getting a lot of invites this year. . . from different sites who want me to join their site.

Recently (well, last November 10),

I was messaged through my Behance account by someone who works at a Japanese startup company who launched a new project which is an “online platform for artists and designers to discover and interact with creative individuals and companies”. . .

She was inviting me to join in as well.

But isn’t that like Behance too?

I already have that. Besides Behance, I also tried:

  • Cargo Collective – I’ve made an account when it was still free for everyone
  • Coroflot -heard about the unlimited storage space thing… back then Behance had a storage limit. Oh my gosh. I just checked their site just now. New members have to apply to join because their content is now curated. Thank God I got in before they changed the rules.
  • TouchTalent – I forgot how I ended up creating an account here. But wow, I actually have 124 followers there, that’s significantly more than my Behance followers or even my Deviantart followers, I think. hahaha
  • Dropr – I got invited once. Beautiful interface. Storage limitations is a bummer.
  • Nabaroo – the time I got invited it was only invite-only. I don’t know now. What I can remember is that the upload speed is a bit slow.
  • Nace – looks very high class. . . but it won’t remove the “not available for hire” label unless I upgrade. . . and upgrading will make me pay a fee every month, so I quit.
  • Table – this is from the same makers of Dropr as I can remember. . . and it is supposed to be like Slack + Behance + LinkedIn? Promising, but I have no idea how I can make time for that as well.

of course, I also have a Deviantart and it is the very first online portfolio/art community that I’ve ever tried in my life. –and I was in college then (first year in college).

From all of those services I tried, I might as well make reviews about my experience with all of them. HAHA- THAT’S AN IDEA!

I just joined all of them thinking it might boost my chances of getting discovered by people who would gladly spend money on my art or getting job opportunities that will further boost me.

It made me wonder whether what they say is true that my art really is that good or they’re just looking for some so-so artists who would help them grow their companies. And that it might benefit them than it does me.

Just earlier today, I just received another invite for another (I think) print-on-demand site.

The good thing is, it has some items that aren’t available in Society6 or Redbubble.

Hmmm… Should I?

I haven’t even created an account at TeePublic.

*facepalm*

If I really take this seriously, I’ll never leave this chair.

I’d be making art, scanning, editing, uploading, promoting painting, scanning, editing uploading, promoting, painting, scanning, editing, uploading, promoting. . ..

Things I’d gladly do. . . If I’m really making sales.

It’s just that it’s so hard to promote sometimes. Sometimes I feel like no matter what I do, I can’t reach people who’d want to buy stuff I do.

I hope those best-selling artists really mean what they say when they advised to not give up and that their sales will “snowball” after a while and they start to earn big bucks.

My Christmas wish this year.

Seriously.

Need to make SALES.

4 Years

Doodles, Instagram Updates, Monologue Soft Sketchbook A6, Shop Updates, Updates

Today this blog turns 4 years old.

Luckily I have some free time on my hands.

I have failed to post about the stuff I said I would post about. . .

Okay, I’ll just put it in here:

  • Update #1:

One day (September 9), I received an invite from TeePublic inviting me to join their site. They’ve come across my “Cat Person” design and went on to explain how I could earn with them than on Society6.

 “Society6 pays designers $2.20 royalties and we pay $4.00  What’s more, shirts on Society6 are priced at $22 while they are  $20 onTeePublic. That means you make more money selling your shirt for less, which increases volume. We also will mark down new designs to $14 for the first 72 hours to give you a boost and feature your entire store for $14 once you build out your collection.

Higher quality: Bottom line is that TeePublic preps every art file by hand before it goes to print, we color match each art file and then check each print when it comes off the line. We guarantee we have the highest quality art prints and fabrics of any platform because we take the time to make sure we get it right.”

Hmmm. Very interesting. I decided I wanna try it — since it’s better to have a lot of shops – more chances of selling — but I just did not have the time back then….

  • Update #2:

I have been interested in this site: Curioos.com. It’s a print-on-demand site that focuses on selling quality wall art pieces. They were invite-only or you’ll have to apply and get your artworks chosen by the curators before you can sell your art there.

I planned on applying. . . since I thought I’d never get an invite cause I see a lot of really great art pieces there.

One day (September 17), I received an invite from one of the independent curators who work with them. She said she saw my portfolio on this blog and she thinks my work will be a great fit in their gallery! I can’t believe it. I was so excited I made an account right away and uploaded some of my abstract paintings. I didn’t want to sell any of my portrait work because they belong to the owners of the faces I drew.

2016-11-16-7

Visit my Curioos shop here!

. . .

September 17. . . That day I never expected that after just ten days me and my brother’s cat would pass away. I miss him every single day. The sadness never really goes away. I just get distracted by life. 😥

  • Update #3:

But I am very thankful I get distracted by work that I enjoy.

I’m currently a designer for Saturday AM and I love every minute of it. 😀

Saturday AM is filled with very talented and passionate young comic creators.

If you love shonen manga with a lot of diversity, please check them out and subscribe! ❤

  • Update #4:

Just before writing this blog post, I have just finished designing something for my mom.

That something I shall reveal in the right time. 😉

. . . But it is something I am very excited about.

. . .

It’s funny cause back in the day I always say or tell people who ask that I am not a graphic artist/designer. I forgot how fun it is to do these things. But I guess it’s only ever fun when you’re working on fun stuff or fun products.

(In the same way, I never tell people that I am a blogger. . . because that might cause people to think that I earn money blogging — I don’t. Although of course, I wish I do. Because who wouldn’t want to get paid to blab about things you’re passionate about? Technically, I am only a “blogger” simply because I blog: I post in a blog

I just remembered going to a party where most of the guests were makeup/beauty bloggers. One of them asked if I blog too and I said no.)

Overall, I am happy where I am right now, although I still haven’t reached my goals in life, this is okay.

This blog helped me get through life. . . in a way. It helped me express myself. I didn’t even expect any followers and likes but I did get them and I’m thankful for all of it. I’m happy to know that there are people who appreciate my art and the things that I do and this blog helped me realize that.

. . . although I wish my art could reach those people who likes my art enough to actually buy them. —-That will be my Christmas wish this year.

Yes. I wish. Cause I need more money.

I said it.

Hahahaha.

And this concludes my blog post for the Fourth Anniversary of my definitely not famous blog. 

4 Years =  4 Updates! OH MY GOSH, WHY DIDN’T I NOTICE THAT?

Instagram Update #344

Instagram Updates, Shop Updates

Since Instagram is having a weird bug of not letting me add any captions. . . .

Been busy.
Just added this to my Curioos wall art shop.
“Primary”, Numbered Edition Canvas Print by Elise Olarte via @Curioos

(It’s cropped at the sides, though. Ratio limitations. It looks less good with white parts on the sides if I didn’t crop it. 😐😑)

#curioos#inspiration #artist #illustrator #photoshop #art #artwork #photooftheday #homedecor #home # deco #interior #interiordesign #illustration #decor #instahome #digitalart #creativity #creative #digital #visualart #photo #artprint #graphic #design #graphicdesign #abstract #abstractpainting #watercolor #watercolorpainting #watercolorabstract #primarycolors #redyellowblue