New tutorial soon!

Monday is the beginning of my week off - and since I'm working on a new art piece, I hope to make a tutorial on that! It's all about properly using digital color, especially when you have parts of your picture that are all black. Stay tuned!

How to Illustrate Eyes with Graphite

Finally bought my new laptop - and this time, it's one that's specifically built for editing videos and giving it all sorts of abuse. lol!! Instead of recording, I post captions as a narration. I find doing it that way makes creating the tutorial easier. (Who wants to listen to droning?) Enjoy!

New laptop!!

Finally bought a new laptop to do video editing with! I can start making tutorials again!

Computer Troubles (cont.)

It's as I suspected: laptop is on the fritz! So that means, no upload tomorrow.  I'd rather not risk a blue screen of death while trying to finish the video.  Unfortunately, I have to wait until Black Friday to get a decent new computer, because my poor bank account will scream if any more money goes out of it.  This laptop is probably a good 5-6 years old, so doing any more video editing will kill it.

As I type now, the thing is very hot, and the fan won't stop making this high-pitched whining noise.  Time to give it a brief rest and shop around for laptops on the family computer.

Until next time!
~Gigi  

Tutorials and Computer Troubles

So I was all excited over my tutorial being mostly completed in a few hours.  Then, the blue screen of death happened! Fortunately, none of my files were lost; but I need to take my laptop to Staples tomorrow because the system restores failed.  Hopefully it's nothing major, and money won't be leaving my pockets in large amounts.  It's like, you make money; something dire happens; need to spend the money you worked so hard to earn; and you're back in the poor house again.  It's frustrating, really.  Everything costs so much, yet the paychecks aren't enough to compensate for the high price of things.  Where's the balance? No wonder people struggle!

In case I do need a new laptop, I'm backing up every file on this thing.  Can't afford to lose all my photos, music, and art.  It's my life; it's everything that's inside of me.  To lose it all would be depressing! Backup is taking a while, but it's halfway there.  As long as it doesn't take until midnight or after, I'm happy.

 Now, to watch more Super Carlin Brothers!

Speed Paint: Eye

Sketched a glittery eye....probably took about ten minutes.  I still got it!!

Understanding Light Source

In this tutorial, I briefly cover understanding light source.  It was discussed quickly in my previous video on drawing shapes, but this is a little more in-depth.  I will address light source in future videos, so for now, enjoy!

Have to postpone!

I have to postpone my current tutorial! Activities for this past week have been very demanding and distracting, and getting anything done on the video just didn't happen.  We'll see what tomorrow brings!

Next week's tutorial!

Next week I will be focusing on understanding light source in drawing.  Keep an eye on this blog and my Youtube channel for updates every other Tuesday!

Graphite Sketching - Basic Shapes

New tutorial on my Youtube channel! This time, I cover sketching basic shapes and simple 3D techniques to give dimension to flat surfaces.  Enjoy!

New tutorial!

Working on a new tutorial this week! The topic will be more in-depth graphite sketching.  I feel there's so much one can do with graphite, that covering it in one video just isn't enough.  See you on Tuesday!

Graphite Drawing: Introduction

My first tutorial is finally completed! Enjoy!

So much to do, so little time!

It's exactly as the title says.  I'm in the process of recording my first tutorial, and it takes time - a little more time than I thought.  All it comes down to is prioritizing all of my projects.  But tutorials are coming! Keep an eye on my Youtube channel - which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbjqqAV0CHFa3g-2J31x3hg.

Stay tuned for coolness!

Being an Artist

For my first post of the month, I'm going to talk a little bit about what being an artist is.  Blog posts about artistry and art-related topics will appear regularly.  

I hope this first article helps you to get to know me better.  So enjoy reading some stuff while I work on tutorials.

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What does it mean to be an artist?

Does it mean self-expression?

Does it mean bringing happiness to others?

Does it mean making an impact?

Does it mean bringing life to something dull and drab?

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to those four questions, then you possess the qualities of an artist. 

Artistry starts at a young age.  As far back as I can remember, using vivid colors for school coloring pages was the norm.  Whereas other kids used “normal” colors when given illustrated Bible scenes, my pages were lit up with purple, orange, blue, silver, and whatever color was within my grasp at the time.  My teachers said I showed signs of being an artist. 

Throughout the years, my tastes grew and changed as I touched my pencil to blank pages and brought them to life.  From Finding Nemo to raccoons to horses and nature, you name it, I drew it.  I once painted an entire pod of orcas on my bedroom walls, complete with glow-in-the-dark paint (and interspersed a glow-in-the-dark solar system through the pod).  Of course, the art has been painted over because, as mom predicted, my tastes changed.  Now if I want to see something interesting on my wall, I just pick a different calendar theme every year – this year, it’s kittens!

Being an artist really is great – especially if you don’t like what you see on TV, you can just make it yourself.  But there’s more to being an artist than simply drawing.  If you’re like me, you probably play a musical instrument or two; maybe you also knit and crochet; write stories; the list goes on.  Yes, I do all those things.  I’m not only a wiz with a pencil; I create soulful music on both the piano and violin; I make baby blankets, shawls, dishcloths, wraps, etc; and I enjoy writing stories. I could make more jewelry too, but time, circumstances, and money don’t permit.

But out of all those things I listed, my true strengths lie in music and drawing.  When I was in the homeschool co-op, I was heavy into the orchestra, band, and vocal ensemble.  I sang in Handel’s Messiah as a pre-teen and teenager with my mom.  I played organ in my former church and now play piano for my current church.  Recently, I had the privilege of joining a local bluegrass band as a fiddler.  So far, the band leader and other musicians really enjoy the fresh style I bring into the music.  (Seriously, I love bluegrass!)  And being classically trained helps a ton; because if you can play classical, you can play anything – and that’s a fact! 

Drawing (for me, at least) has its ups and downs.  There are people who appreciate it, and those who do not; those who think it’s just okay, and they move on with life.  Former friends weren’t really into my preferences; but I didn’t really care.  I like what I like, and telling me to ditch it is like telling me to forget my entire artistic life, and that’s a no-can-do.  Finding people with similar interests is not easy by any means.  But I just keep plugging away.  The only place I’ve found artists with similar tastes is on Deviant Art – if you’re not on this site, stop what you’re doing and sign up for a free account (you can upgrade at any time).  It’s honestly one of the best places to share art.  Not only can you build a gallery, you can post status updates, sell art by means of commissions and prints, and join groups with like-minded people.  I will warn you about the down side: there is the potential for art thieves, but it doesn’t happen a lot.  If users suspect an art thief, they’ll let everyone else know.

Enough of the sales pitch.

If you’re an artist, you are not alone.  Many times, I have felt alone simply because of people who thought that drawing was dumb.  What some don’t realize is that drawing is one of the many outlets of creative people.  It’s not immature.  And who are people to decide how you should express yourself? If you have a good thing going, hone that skill! I can tell you that’s what I’ve done, and I regret nothing.  The only time I object to art is when it’s gory.  For example, a classmate from college had created an undead Easter rabbit for her presentation in the final semester.  The final product was ugly and cringe-worthy.  Now that kind of thing is not art.  Creating something that stirs emotions within people is art.  Do you honestly want someone cringing over something you’ve created? ……Didn’t think so.

Art is beautiful, and if you treat is as such, you will make things that will evoke a positive response from people.  On the flip side, I can be a bit dark with my stories and comics – but I take it deeper.  My sister once explained it like this: “You reach into the deepest, darkest, blackest parts of people’s hearts.” And she is right.  And part of it is being influenced by what I watch – namely, anime.  (No, I’m not talking Attack on Titan.  That should never have been made!) The anime genre goes way deeper than most American cartoons.  My particular favorite animes are the Gundam series, and most recently Black Jack.  The stories are intense, the characters are amazing, and the execution of the plots is golden.

Now I’d say about 50% of my art is “dark.”  The other 50% is fairly light-hearted and comical.  This is also the essence of being an artist – being able to understand the vast range of emotions hidden within people, and how to bring those emotions out.  It’s not an easy way of life, but it’s not mundane like studying to be a nurse or mathematician.

Are you an artist? If so, what kind of art do you like to create?  

          

New posts coming in July!

So I'm finally able to focus on what I need to! It's been a busy few months with settling in a new job and playing in a band; after July 4th, I'll have time to post some content.  Stay tuned!

Self Introduction!

Enjoy my self intro!

Introduction

Hi all! My name is Gigi! I'm totally remaking this blog into one that endorses art and cartooning.  The blog may have better success that way, as I really don't have time to write short editorials anymore.  And with the likelihood of my getting a full-time job in the near future, focusing on writing may not be the best option right now.  I may pursue it again sometime....maybe.  The Thinker's Pen is going bye-bye, and say hello toGigi's Sketches! 

Now what I meant by "endorsing art," is that this blog will feature illustration tutorials - some may be written, others in video form.  Not sure which I'm going to do yet.  Everything I want to do is still in the works.  It's possible that I will make an introductory video to this page so you all know a little bit about my crazy artistic self! Honestly, reading someone's bio is a little boring; it's more exciting to see a face - and not only that, but the virtual encounter feels more personal.  And being able to connect through videos is great for building relationships, professional or otherwise.

So I will leave it at that.  Stay tuned for the video introduction!