New Blog/Website

Hi Everyone! I have a brand spank'n new website I can call my own. After years of using other sites online portfolios, and free blogs, I felt I needed to have my own space, and I did it! I went through Utopian.net to set up everything, and they are the nicest, and the most incredibly helpful people I've worked with. The site is based off of wordpress, and am finding it so easy to use as a beginner. It's a work in progress, and am working on creating my own wp theme for the site. So as of today, there will no longer be new posts on this blog, and on my sketch blog.
Please visit; www.michelle-jackson.com :D


(read what this sketch is all about on my new site!)

HandBook Sketchbook: Spead 03

Part of this spread was done when J.D. and I went to Charlotte's NoDa's art district for a gallery crawl. It was really interesting, and fun to see all the different venues, activities, music, people, etc.. all in one small part of town.
J.D. blurted out 'Gothic Beats', and I drew a pair of Gothic Beets. They look a little more on the punk side, but a little refinement will take care of that.

I want to write more.. but I'm soooo tired from getting over a really bad sunburn, and fighting off a virus.. bleh..

Totoro Forest Project

Save Sayama Forest, also known as Totoro's Forest. The endangered Totoro's forest lies just on the outskirts of Tokyo, and is what inspired Hayao Miyazaki to create the loving character 'Totoro.'
In an effort to help save this forest, one of Japan's greatest animation directors, Hayao Miyazaki, established the national trust called "Totoro's Forest Foundation." To support the cause a group of Pixar artists organized the Totoro's Forest Project, which is an exhibition/auction event featuring 200 internationally acclaimed artist's in the field of animation, comic books, and illustration. Each artists work is up for auction where all proceeds go toward the fund. The fun part is seeing how they were inspired by the movie 'My Neighbor Totoro.' And let me tell you, the gallery of artwork really grasps the spirit that Hayao Miyazaki works so passionately to expose in all of his great work.

I urge you to take a peek, learn more about the cause these lucky and super talented artists worked so hard to contribute too and maybe participate in the auction.

Enjoy!!

HandBook Sketchbook: Spead 02

Not too much going on here... but a little princess doodle, and some faces. lerve tiki stuff, and that lamp is awesome. And who doesn't need a $10 pewter cracker to grace their plate.

HandBook Sketchbook: Very First Spread!!!

I'm doing it.. I'm starting to scan in the pages of my third sketchbook, and have a question for the few that visit my blog. I am on the fence about this, and can't make up my mind. I've been thinking about transferring over all of the sketch spreads from my sketch dump blog over to this one, but am afraid if I do that, they'll get lost amongst the other postings. Should I leave it as it is, or start posting them here? hhmm... While we figure this one out.. Here's spread 01 from the Hand•book sketchbook.

I'm not terribly fond of this spread, since it brings back terrible memories of our short stay in NC. It was a good logo redesign brain-sketching session though!

Art Monday ACEO Swap: What About Cats?

This is somewhat belated, due to moving and settling in, but here are the ACEO's I recieved from the Swap!!! This was a lot of fun, not only to do for, but to wait for too! Here are the one's I recieved.
Thank you so much to Esmeralda for hosting the swap and for a lovely "Singing by the Moonlight aceo, and thank you to Robin, Katz, and to the artist who created the 'Collage Cat Print!'

Monday Art Day ACEO: Kitty Trade

My three submissions for the ACEO trio cat trade. They're Kokeshi Kitties!

Monday Art Day ACEO: Green Eyed Girl

New ACEO up on Monday Art Day! Check the site out, and start creating your own ACEO's to trade with other artists! doooo eeet..

Art Monday

Here's my very first aceo done for Monday Art Day, where artists can trade aceo's with other artists, among other things. The drawing was done with Prismacolor Premier 005 point fine line marker on bristol. The Prismacolor marker is awesome! I've worked with other brands of fine line pens and markers, and am really pleased with how this handles. There seems to be a little more tip, so you're positioning is not limited, and the ink flow is constant.. even after leaving the cap off for a few hours. I'd recommend trying them out.
Rounded Square Clouds & Flowers