Is anyone doing folktale week?

[Rachel Horne]

@ArtistErin your illustrations are lovely, they have a real nostalgic feel to them!

[kirsten-mcg]

@ArtistErin This is so beautiful! It looks like it belongs in a classic fairy tale book.

[ArtistErin]

@Rachel-Horne Thank you! I love that is reading clearly! It's very intentional... I appreciate your insight

[ArtistErin]

@kirsten-mcg Thank you Kirsten! I love that Spent so much of my childhood poring over books, Childcraft, my Dad's art books from school, and now Insta and Pinterest... I'm always inspired by your stuff, thinking about writing, after seeing your folktale SOOO fun!!!

[kirsten-mcg]

@ArtistErin thank you! I’m finally getting around to posting the end of it on here lol!

[kirsten-mcg]

Finally getting around to posting my last Folktale Week image. This one is better than the version I posted on Instagram since after posting I noticed all the flaws lol!

[mzameckaart]

@ArtistErin @kirsten-mcg Your Folktale Week entires are beautiful! They have this old fairytale feel to them, I love it!
I actually forgot about Folktale Week this year and saw it on Instagram way too late I wanted to participate, but there wasn't enough time (I was also already working on another project). But I made some plans and sketches, perhaps I'll still get to finish them one day. Or I will come back to the characters I came up with next year

[ArtistErin]

@mzameckaart Thank you soo much!!! I saw @kirsten-mcg talking about it and figured out I do best if I have deadlines, and knew I needed something to keep driving me. I drew each prompt ahead of time only because I didn't have anything pressing...

I heard Will, Jake and Lee say to be project oriented instead of individual image oriented, when it comes to developing portfolio. I dunno, what are your thoughts?

[ArtistErin]

@kirsten-mcg NICE!!!

[ArtistErin]

@kirsten-mcg Love it Kirsten... I love your palette!! And your movement... Phenomenal.

[kirsten-mcg]

@mzameckaart I feel like unfinished sketches and ideas like you’re talking about are like project seeds. They are the perfect remedy to have on hand when you experience art block!

[kirsten-mcg]

@ArtistErin thank you! I honestly really struggled with the colors on this one, so I’m happy to hear I found a palette that works well!

[Asyas_illos]

Been meaning to chime in here, very lovely work @ArtistErin and
@kirsten-mcg

[mzameckaart]

@ArtistErin I heard that too, and in general I keep hearing it's good to have sequences in portfolio (eg from the same story, or with the same characters), and that's how I sometimes approach art challenges like Folktale Week - as an opportunity for a project. But obviously, completing a project is so much harder than a singular illustration

[mzameckaart]

@kirsten-mcg That's true, I can always work on them in those moments when I don't know what to draw next

[ArtistErin]

@mzameckaart The sequential aspect is why I feel I need to redraw an already established book, because I need the practice in showing I can keep consistency in characters, linework, color palette, flow and so on. I saw in many Folktales people did, there was a consistent theme, and mine, while unique and everything individually, there was a lack of consistency again.

I have never done a challenge like that before so I saw the "holes" so to speak in the final effort and realized also I found my love for the vintage ink linework with a limited color palette, so I feel excited about this discovery. Part of my reluctance to submit my Kamari piece right now is it doesn't have that vibe and honestly I don't want the smackdown feeling of not getting picked to be in the ring which sucks. I'm feeling guarded and in the wrong place maybe, at the moment with Critique Arena.

It's amazing how long and arduous the process is, to find that happy place as an artist, in this sea of inspiration of all the incredible art out there, trying to find my niche and focus. Right? I mean I'm rambling here but it helps to speak this out loud.

[ArtistErin]

@Asyas_illos Thank you Asya!!!!

[ArtistErin]

@kirsten-mcg You're welcome! And kudos for sticking with it, finishing, despite your doubts and coming out with a beautiful work.

[kirsten-mcg]

@ArtistErin if you found a technique/medium you really like to work in then I would say your efforts for Folktale Week were well worth the time and effort! Stylistic discoveries are, in my opinion at least, one of the best things about doing art challenges!

Do you have time to re-do your Kamari piece?

[mzameckaart]

@ArtistErin Oh that's really great that you discovered a technique you like! I have yet to decide on a technique or style, I feel like I kinda have a style to my drawing, which is something I 'can't help', it just comes out that way, but it's not a conscious decision of mine and usually doesn't leave me entirely content with the outcome.. (But that's how art is, isn't it?) I tell myself that those things come in time, the more pieces you create.

About Critique Arena - I think you shouldn't stress yourself with it. The way I approach it is, if it inspires me to make a new piece - that's great on it's own. Even though, of course, it would be nice to be picked one day. But I believe if you're not picked it's not a reason to feel like it's a 'smackdown' Even if it's hard, because we are all artists and art is very personal, so we feel aaany kind of rejection personally.

For Kamari prompt I'm making a piece that just came to me after doing a little research on the origins and meaning of that name. I'm not sure if it fits the contest and I don't know if I'll even send it, but I just had to draw it and I think it will be a portfolio-worthy piece.