Seasonal Birds... Winter

 

I have begun a series of illustrations depicting various birds perched in incomplete "wreaths" that compliment the season that they are celebrating.  Above is my first to reveal: a winter / Christmas style bird.  I considered adding snow but I'm still a little cautious to use "s" word at the moment.  Maybe another rendition in the future?  Maybe.

 

Below are some of the sketches that I revealed to my faithful instagram followers yesterday.

 

My "Halloween" design was not thought of until last night (since I officially began to work on this little series only yesterday), and thus remains unfinished until tomorrow at least.  Which, of course, is a day late—rats! (or should I say... "bats"?)  Oh well... commissioned work comes before pleasure!

      All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Sketchbook: Peonies

Peonies are my very favorite flower.

I just love the romantic design that they have—voluminous petals that are so dainty and soft.  Even though it's fall (and peonies bloom in the SPRING), peonies are what I gravitate towards when I itch to draw a flower.

Thank goodness for photography!

      All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Sketchbook: Growing Up

My students were working on self portraits that depicted themselves dressed and ready to work in the occupation that they wanted to pursue.  Wow, that was a mouth full—in short, it was a "When I Grow Up..." style of portrait, and I couldn't help but join in on the side of my paper with this fire-fighter-wanna-be (never one of my own goals, I confess)

My favorite comment from these adventures was from one student who said: "If you looked anything like me, you'd probably want to be a male model when you grew up".

Hah!

      All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Holidays-a-comin'

The problem with illustrating is that the holidays come early and FAST!  Christmas requests begin before Thanksgiving and looking around I can already see wreaths and large red Christmas ornaments hanging in all the store windows (though, they are still behind the smiling pumpkins at the moment)

But my mind moves slowly through holidays—I want to savor each one, to delight in the crisp air and bright colors of autumn before the trees are bare for the long winter.  That being said, I finished painting one of my Christmas cards today and after a moment away from it, I noticed that it was decidedly LESS Christmas-y than I had intended!  Ah well, here it is anyhow!

 

  Keep posted—available for sale soon in both postcard and print style       All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Sketchbook: Fall Feelings

Just a peek into what I've been dreaming of lately from the other side of my pencil (or pen)...
I love watching the animals around our little home scurrying to get ready for winter—and even pausing to enjoy the crisp air and the beautiful fall leaves...

  "Stolen" from my instagram

 

Yes, they would be more fun with color, but time is expensive lately...

 

    All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Thankful Thursday

I've really been challenged to remember all of the people that I am thankful for.  There are so many people in my life that I can depend upon for the little things—a smile in the hall as we pass, a little joke shared or a hug after a long day.  But I don't want to just *think* about how thankful I am for these people, but I also want to tell them!

So I've made a few "Thank You" postcard designs to accompany some of these little memos of gratitude, and it has been a lot of fun to pass out already!

Of course, I couldn't stop with ONE color scheme!

Feel free to jump in on my fun and make your own "thank you"s (or you can purchase some with my design on them HERE)

And a special thank you to you, for actually reading my little post :)

  All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Oh Deer

Fall is deer hunting season in Michigan—though sometimes it seems like it is always hunting season the first few years after you marry into a hunting family.
My own doodles have turned towards the soft, 4-legged creatures, but more because there is a little family—a doe with twin button bucks—that like to flirt around our abode from times to time.  They are so very sweet.

 

Unfortunately, they never stay around long enough for me to draw them directly from life, but I enjoy my sketching time after our visit is over.  One of my sketches is displayed above, while the only one to make it to paint is below.

Available in my Etsy shop

      All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Finding "My Style" & A Portrait

Sometimes, as an illustrator, I really struggle with my "style".

Before, I was the realist—everything looking as close to real life as I could possibly make it.  And since my undergrad, I almost seem to be attempting to get away from such perfection.

However, I couldn't help but wonder if I could even draw from life like I did before.  Sometimes I felt as though my fingers were broken!  Ridiculous, I know... but it's true.

So this was my little exercise the other day:

About an hour including warm-ups (er... failed attempts, cast away in anger) and some work on this piece to see if I could come up with something that was even remotely life-like again.  To be sure, it needs some work—the left eye especially needs to adjust itself a bit, but it was comforting to see that my hand could still turn out something like this after some grueling "warm-ups".

From my toned sketchbook (thus the brown color of the paper and the busy texture).

    All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Guess the Princess... (1)

Can you guess which fairytale princess this is?

Frustrated and bored is not usually listed among a princess' character traits, but I suppose when the occasion arises we are all bound to feel a little less royal.  (especially when we can't sleep!)

Hoping to convert this piece from "sketchbook" stage to "finished" this weekend if I can catch up on "real" projects ;)

  All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Sketchbook: A Day In The Life

I am a part time elementary art teacher.  I really love it—the perfect balance between my freelance business and some consistent work with the students. 

 

However... there is something I am not extremely fond of: painting with the students!

There is so much prep before and clean up after—not to mention dodging paint as it flys around the room and the special excitement of the students that seems to cause their brains to switch off of "school mode" and into "crazy playtime mode".

 

By the end, this is how I look and feel:

 

I exaggerate, but I am usually extra tired on "painting days".  Today wasn't all that bad, but I couldn't help drawing up a little sketch during my lunch break.

        All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Happy October & A Fall Painting (remake)

Here is my second take on "fall", just in time for October!  Same idea and general composition as before—it has been a lot of fun to get into the composition now that I am more comfortable with the medium.  I can feel the graphic artist side of my brain turning back on!

This time the technique is closer to what I originally intended, though I was adjusting to the new paper that I purchased.  I wanted something that was a little less rough, but the result was paper that is too absorbent?  If that makes sense?  It seemed to take the colors more quickly than I am used to, though I am adjusting to a quicker pace until I can get a chance to run back out to the store.

 

    All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission