ArtWanted.com - Kirsten Talmage

Jessica's Shearwater by Kirsten Talmage

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:12:27 MST

One of the things that impresses me about Jessica Douglas's work is her use of references in wings, and her ability to work large and fine enough to get just about every darn feather. Not to mention what David Sibley can do (have you seen his bird guides? ?!!)

I was noodling about on a 4"x6" piece of paper meant actually for printing cards on inkjet printers. As such, it moderately sucks for watercolors, but once I laid in a background (while vaguely thinking I might work at some of Linda Kemp's techniques), I switched to mixing colored pencils and gouache and thicker watercolors, and kept thinking of Ursula Vernon's advice that people will "believe" any lighting and skin tones if you get the shadows right.

Well, I'm not in their class, on any of those counts. I'm not even sure there are enough shadows (there often aren't, in my stuff). And I know I'm working too small and too impatiently to even get halfway to some of their techniques, let alone toward their deeply practiced skills and cool creativity.

On the other hand, they're all teaching me stuff, I keep going when I can find some damn time, and I'm grateful, and pleased with this as a step towards their levels (say, as of a couple years ago; I may never catch up and that's OK too).

It was a sooty shearwater, by the way.

On gear: Shirts and gifts through cafepress; different mugs and totes and doodads at zazzle; and various print sizes at deviantArt.

Gnome's Clover by Kirsten Talmage

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:17:15 MST

So I had this gnome I painted the other day (he's a bit less than 3" x 4" -- just a bit too large to crop into an ACEO/ATC). But ... he was just this guy. On a plain background. I'm trying to have backgrounds, really I am.

And I had this digital photo of a four-leaf clover, the only one I ever found (I ran home for the camera that day).

And I've not tried digital collage.

So I did. But oh! I really wish my scanner actually could SEE blues. I can't photoshop them to make the digital file look right enough (it's way closer than the scan, mind you). Does anyone know of a scanner than sees blues, for the someday-upgrade-daydream?

As always, suggestions welcome.

Let me know if you want prints (I find myself too impatient, and I want to show the art before implementing prints) -- the original painting is available too, but remember, there's no background, just the gnome.

Bellflowers by Kirsten Talmage

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:14:11 MST

Fiddling again with that cool technique of Linda Kemp's -- the negative space, front- to-back stuff. Plus colored pencil. Working on this while waiting for other stuff to dry. Didn't turn out as I'd thought I was planning, but that's OK.

Original is 3"x7" on cold press paper of some kind, watercolors and colored pencil.

Prints can be available if you like, of course. Original is also for sale (very occasionally something sells and I don't get the image page updated soon enough); email me with an offer.

Hayfever Imp by Kirsten Talmage

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:22:26 MST

Soft pencil and watercolors on the backside of some cold press watercolor paper.

Original is about 3" x 5" (I have a sleepy feverish child on me, so I can't actually measure it right now).

Available for prints, magnets, and much more at deviantPrints, my Zazzle shop, and Whimsical Dreams. If you don't find what you're looking for, please let me know!

As usual, original is also for sale (very occasionally something sells and I don't get the image page updated soon enough); email me with an offer.

Troll in Profile by Kirsten Talmage

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:13:25 MST

It's sort of interesting to me to compare this guy with my 1930s cap profile sketch http://metasilk.deviantart.com/art/1930s-cap-39176104 and to the Troll Jazz sketch http://metasilk.deviantart.com/art/Troll-Jazz-25082543. Hm.

Approximately 4" x 4" (guessing from memory), mostly 2B pencil on probably 60lb sketch paper. Let me know if you want a print or a postcard and I'll set it up. As usual, original is almost certainly for sale (very occasionally I don't get the image page updated soon enough); email me. (This original has other sketchy bits in the upper corner, though, cleaned up in the scan).

Strange Pillows / Mermaid Dreaming by Kirsten Talmage

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:25:43 MST

I have no idea what to call this, really! Watercolor on 4" x 6" 140 lb Strathmore coldpress.

I do feel like I've made a Step Forward with this one. I feel like I'm finally starting to be able to halfway actually do the kind of painting I see and can image doing. I know I still need to work larger to make it really come together.

I want some PITT pens.

Prints Available

Griffin Chick by Kirsten Talmage

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:11:22 MST

Where do griffins nest, anyway? Well, the robin-sized species, Griffus microavia, despite its apparent connection to the bald eagle, prefers nesting in ivy or shrubbery. While usually they have one successful fledgling (any other hatchlings are usually eaten by the first-hatched), on a rare occasion there may be two (especially if a cuckoo foolishly selects this nest to lay its egg; cuckoos apparently are tastier and fight back less than sibling griffins).

Original for sale on eBay (at least as of this writing)

Snow Fleas by Kirsten Talmage

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:01:27 MST

UPDATE! You can find this guy on stickers and magnets and cool stuff at Ellen Million Graphics [link] Yay!

There's this small beastie called a snow flea ...

Ink and watercolor on 60lb. paper. Approximately 4"x6". This will likely be our holiday card this year, and I'll put prints up for sale next year. (Or then again, maybe sooner.)

p.s. Snow Fleas are actually a type of Springtail, and do not make you itch.

LadyBug's Witchy Hat by Kirsten Talmage

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:16:46 MST

LadyBug's Witchy Hat: I did this for Children's Illustrator's October theme over at deviantArt. Fun to sketch, easy to paint. Yeah, yeah, I was lazy, I was coloring (this is what I call it if I have outlines to fill in, unlike what I was after with "Stone Window", say). Watercolors on some rather cheap watercolor paper. Letting the paint do the work, more though -- I can see it in the intensity of the colors.

Stone Window by Kirsten Talmage

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:19:04 MST

Too many layers. Insufficiently original. Good practice.