Illustration Friday - Launch

Frog Illustration by Maja Wolnik

I've been hiding under a rock. For a long time. Kind of like a frog, waiting for something to happen. I'm not sure why, maybe it was the empty well in my brain after my very successful solo exhibition, maybe its been a bunch of life things I've had going on or maybe I've just been too lazy or scared to create... but I've definitely been very blocked! I'm not sure if I'm out of the woods yet, but new illustrations that I've been doing for a new client have gotten me VERY inspired... all things kiddy and cute. So, very fittingly for this week's Illustration Friday theme, I'm LAUNCHING myself into creativity once again, with a giant leap of faith! So watch out world:)

Illustration Friday - Reverse

This week's IF topic is Reverse... so I had to take this opportunity to showcase a piece of mine that is currently on show at Off the Kerb Gallery.  Titled Mysterious, it is an ink illustration that has been inverted by using a photocopier. This way, the colours and the image have come out in reverse. It is one of the main techniques that I have used in this body of work.

Mysterious by Maja Wolnik, mixed media print, 2010

Please see my blog posts below for further information about this work and show. 

Enjoy!

Maja

Illustration Friday - Slither

This week, I started my illustration classes at Emily Carr University - how exciting! I thought I would combine my homework for the class with this week's IF challenge - slither.

I once had a dream that I had a pet snake, which would wrap itself around my arm. It was during a time in my life when I was going through a lot of personal change and realizations... The black silvery snake represents that very dark side of me, that even I hate. I guess I was subconsciously coming to terms with it, letting the snake become my friend and stayed wrapped around my wrist, to remind me that I can be poisonous, but I can tame that. I later learned through a dream dictionary that snakes represent transformation - funny that!

This image was created using pencil, and I used ovals instead of normal shading to give my composition form. I think it adds something unique to this image, very fitting for snake like textures.

Enjoy!

Ilustration Friday - Early

This week's creative challenge for Illustration Friday is "early". I went blank for a minute with this one until my boyfriend suggested I draw a clock. Then my imagination went wild as it brought back memories of a funny old alarm clock I used to own as a child. It looked almost identical to the one that I have drawn, but I think it was pink. It used to have a life of its own... It would start ringing at the early hours of the morning, even though I set it for a more decent time!

I created this drawing by hand in my sketch book, scanned it and converted to vector, and then coloured it in Illustrator. I am really enjoying this process of drawing-scanning-colouring. Makes the work look hand drawn but professionally finished at the same time. I love Illustration Friday!

Illustration Friday - Equipment

This week's topic for illustration Friday is " Equipment".

In my case, I am surrounded by my boyfriends music equipment. I'm fascinated by all the buttons, turn dials, knobs, figures and cables.

He is recording his new album and I can't wait to hear it.

This sketch is of ...well, I'm not sure, but I think one of them is a pre-amp. I did this on the fly and then coloured it in illustrator.

Here's to pre-amplifiers and other high tech music equipment...

Illustration Friday - Dip

"Wiggly worm saw a dip in the road..."
I did a quick sketch in my notebook for this week's Illustration Friday topic - dip.

Illustration Friday - Wilderness

It's been a while since I drew something for Illustration Friday, but this week's topic of wilderness coincides with some illustrations I'm working on for an article about wild Australian bush food.

For now I am just experimenting with the style and materials - I have chosen pencil, water-soluble pencils and ink to create this drawing of a wild lime, also known as desert lime.

Mmmmm.

Printing at Malaspina Printmakers' Studio

Last week (or was it two weeks ago already?!) I booked some time in at Malaspina Printmakers to print the series of lino squares I created whilst at the artists colony in Costa Rica.

I was extremely excited to get in there and get going - after all I have had these prints lying about since May!

Here are some step by step pics of the process...


Firstly I mixed some black ink (I've used water-soluble block printing ink) with a little bit of retarder to slow the ink drying time. I have used a heavy duty roller (brayer) to spread the ink out onto a glass surface. When it has a distinct peeling sound it means the ink is ready. I then began rolling the ink onto the linoleum square.
Once the ink was evenly applied onto the lino sqaure, I carefully placed it facing up onto a backing sheet on the press bed. The backing sheet is measured out exactly to indicate placement of the lino - it is the same size as the printmaking paper.

After placing down a sheet of printmaking paper, I gently lowered the felt blankets on the paper and lino square. This keep the plate and paper in place, and stops the printing press from ripping the paper. I tested the height of the press prior, by rolling an uninked lino through the press and adjusted the height accrodingly - checking the pressure each time.


Rolling, rolling, rolling - once the blankets are down and the pressure is set, its time to grab a hold of the wheel and turn it clockwise until the press bed rolls underneath the press all the way through to the end. It should feel quite tight, and is great for building up those upper arm muscles!


Once the press bed was on the other side, I lifted the blankets and gently peeled the paper off the lino square - a perfect image was imprinted. Ahhh, my gorgeous yukka print is drying patiently on the rack!

I'll be back in the studio again this Friday, finishing off the prints and some colour variations I'm working on(fun!). I can't wait to have these ready for the Drift coming up extremely soon!

Illustration Friday - Legendary

So this week's topic for Illustration Friday is 'Legendary' and I must admit I'm cheating a little with this post - it's not a new creation, but an illustration I did about two weeks ago as part of my new portfolio. I love this little frog and am happy to announce I've finally found my Prince!

Illustration Friday - Intricate

Here's my entry for this weeks illustration challenge at Illustration Friday. This weeks topic is "Intricate". I went crazy with the scissors to create a paper stencil for my elaborate design. The background image is all swirls and curls created using watercolour pencils. The intricate details of the stencil were filled with black drawing ink and a small sable brush. What do you see?

Illustration Friday - Breezy

I found this great website called Illustration Friday - its a weekly illustration challenge. A topic is posted every Friday and then artists and illustrators from anywhere have all week to come up with their own interpretation.

This week's topic was Breezy so here's my little drawing of a dandelion blowing in the breeze... I think its a great way to build up a body of work on the side.