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Post by Helen on Aug 23, 2011 2:51:12 GMT
Here's a link that I put up on DA: helenlight.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d47iksoLike it says in the blurb at the bottom of the picture, it's a pop-up that moves when the page opens and closes. The parrot actually "hides" behind the leaves. You know what's really weird or funny is that I've been doing paper crafting for schools since I was 12 and now 26, so I have 14 years experience of doing all this. I tell this to people and they give me a very strange look. I had no "proper" training, but the things I've done with paper makes me think how I even did all that just by reading and studying pop-up books, etc.
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Post by barbieq25 on Aug 23, 2011 11:19:31 GMT
I always loved those & so did my kids. This one is so pretty!
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Post by blackpenny on Aug 23, 2011 15:52:32 GMT
That's really cool!
Who are these people giving you strange looks? It takes time and talent to make those things. I've taken classes in different kinds of cards, some of them pretty intricate, and I'm impressed you learned that from books. I stick to simple paper crafts, and I'm amazed at what other people can do.
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Post by Helen on Aug 23, 2011 16:02:42 GMT
Thanks, barbie. I LOVE pop-up books.
@bp: Well, people who interview me, my so-called "friends," and people who know me or sometimes outside people give me those looks. They don't take me seriously and they think I'm a big joke. You know when they make a face they squint their eyes and say, "Whaat..." Yeah, that look.
I've done more detailed designs, like buildings. I only have one craft knife and that's it, an old pen with no ink for scoring, and a metal ruler. I mean, if I were given "professional" tools, I think I would've done a better job. I was never given a chance to show my true talents...
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Post by Leif on Aug 23, 2011 16:27:30 GMT
He, he. Always thought those pop-up books was so exiting. The pictures literally comes to life. ;D The parrot is nicely drawn, and the whole book looks great.
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Post by blackpenny on Aug 23, 2011 17:44:56 GMT
Check out these links. They do pretty cool stuff with paper. Both have taught classes here, I haven't taken any with the first one, but I have with the second. As for needing "professional" tools, there's a lot of stuff available to buy, but I don't think you need much more than what you have. Maybe a bone folder. www.mootepoints.com/Galleries.htmlwww.quietfiredesign.ca/
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Post by barbieq25 on Aug 23, 2011 21:21:54 GMT
BP, thanks for those links - I think this is going to send me off on a tangent but I like it. Typing would be so much faster if Jaz the rat would stay off the keyboard. He's stolen my choccie bar a couple of times now despite me giving some to him before.
Anyway Helen, I like to make cards & most people (except for my father) were impressed. If you gave me or showed me one of your pop-out works - I'd be impressed. I remember how my kids (now in their late 20's) scoured the library & book stores for those books.
Those people that give you those looks - I have one back for them. It says "Showing you my works is like feeding strawberries to pigs." An old farmer taught me that one.
Helen, if it pleases you, keep doing it. I am sure there are some young ones who'd love something like that. I cannot believe that some people are so odd as not to like or even love your work.
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Post by Leif on Aug 24, 2011 16:13:08 GMT
Like Barbieq i must point out that this is supposed to be FUN. Nobody will ever make good art unless it is something they like to do. So you may make someting to make some money. But never stop making what you yourself like to do.
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Post by Helen on Nov 25, 2011 2:17:42 GMT
Here's a link with some of the pages from the books: helensportfolio.carbonmade.com/projects/4031494#1I will be adding more images there. This is my online portfolio that I show my clients. The last one with the fish will be an app for the iPad and iPhone.
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Post by PeterPawn on Nov 25, 2011 2:24:29 GMT
I'm REALLY IMPRESSED with your portfolio. The art work is superb and captures a child's imagination. Bravo....
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Post by Helen on Nov 25, 2011 16:55:43 GMT
You really think so? Well, that's good to hear that! Thank you. I try to draw in such a way where kids will look at the illustrations and want to read and reread the book.
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Post by TheBad1 on Nov 25, 2011 21:18:37 GMT
What a great portfolio ... very, very impressive. And such diverse subjects all very professionally done.
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Post by barbieq25 on Nov 26, 2011 10:43:59 GMT
Helen, it is always a treat to go back & look back through your portfolio. I adore the strength of colours & the roundness of the lines (hard to explain this but the lines are bold & deliberate, substantial). It makes the characters seem more real. I sure would like some of those heart cookies!
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Post by Goonfella on Nov 27, 2011 7:49:02 GMT
Very impressive Helen and very professional. Great use of light and textures. You have such a talent. Really well done. Your portfolio is superb.
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Post by Helen on Nov 27, 2011 20:07:11 GMT
@welsh: Each client has an idea and prefers a certain style and I try to follow what they want. Thank you!
@barbie: I use three to four different art programs (PDN included) to create the illustrations. Right now I use PS for the fish story since the animator will need the layers. The hardest book for me was "Katrina's Christmas" since it was in the style of American Girl books and it couldn't be cartoony. Plus, I actually researched extensively on the time period of 1910. And I know that jam/jelly was very popular during that time period, so that's where my idea of heart-shaped cookies came to be.
@goon: I make textures using TwistedBrush Pro since it has amazing brushes that I don't even have to download. It's all there. PS doesn't have such a great variety. I'm so glad you like my work! Since Thomas Kinkade is one of the artists I admire as well as Disney, I incorporate both light and the Disney-style to my work.
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Post by venicet on Nov 28, 2011 3:50:33 GMT
Beautiful work Helen. I really love the Christmas cookies too! Makes me want to bake some cookies now LOL The one with the birds is adorable. You are so talented.
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Post by Pixey on Nov 30, 2011 14:38:02 GMT
OMGoodness - I have just viewed your Portfolio and I had to go and call hubby to have a look ............ I told him that when I grow up I want to be able to do work like that ! It is simply breath-taking and I'm blown away
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Post by blackpenny on Nov 30, 2011 16:37:03 GMT
Wonderful! If I were a kid I'd want to read every one of those books! ;D
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Post by Helen on Dec 1, 2011 15:45:09 GMT
@venice: Thank you so much! The book with the cookies was illustrated in June, so it felt weird drawing something wintry in hot weather. Pixey: Thank you for saying so. I think you already have that artist inside you. I don't doubt you will be able to do something similar. blackpenny: That's great to hear. At least I know someone would enjoy them. lol By the way, thank you.
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Post by Sargon III on Dec 8, 2011 8:14:04 GMT
Fantastic work Helen on your portfolio, you know very well what kids like to see and read, every drawing has its own complete story and subject, what caught my eye is the shirt of the girl and the man in "Katrina's Christmas", the folds texture is amazing, great great job Helen, thanks for sharing.
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Post by delpart on Dec 8, 2011 19:00:31 GMT
I'm glad Sargon posted on this since I was able to get that portfolio link to work today. I kept meaning to get back to it ... temperamental Internet service with some strange DNS issues can lead me to being forgetful.
I have a fondness for basic animation. Capturing it is a lot harder than most people know. The range is nice and the color balance is great throughout. I took a long first look at that other tool. If I had a hand I can see where the brush set would be perfect out of the box for most real-world to digital conversion crossing over. Having lived with a real-world oil on canvas and mixed media type I can appreciate how frustrating it can/must be to work with digital. And the more I look around, the more impressed I've become with not only these tools, but how small they've managed to make them.
PS may be the king in some ways, but I see a lot of people nibbling away at its pedestal.
... One thing that is hard to translate is getting the amount of details from a child's perspective. What we come to ignore in our world that sticks out in theirs as it were. I like the make-up on the forest scenes as it doesn't hit photo-realism in this regard. I have an impression from Montana many decades ago that is almost cartoon like. When I compare the photo's of that house and surrounding area its rather bleak and nothing like my memory. I often wonder how we lose that ability. Though it would seem some of us dont with what you have here. ;D
Anyways sorry for the late reply.
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Post by Helen on Dec 19, 2011 3:44:05 GMT
Whew...finally had a chance to really sit down and comment back to the last two commenters. (Is that even a word? ) @sargon: The book that you mentioned about the shirt was murderous. Oh man, I thought I'd go crazy. I felt so overwhelmed by it since it was during summer and everyone was swimming and having fun. Then there was me--at my computer, feverishly drawing. Well, I didn't really have a fever, but you know what I mean. The author was really nice and she said she was "blown away" by each of the illustrations, so it was nice to hear that feedback. Again, I understand what kids like--bright colors, cheerful drawings, nature, and magical things. I try to incorporate those things in there. Thanks, Sargon for your kind words. delpart: You paint pictures? I'd LOVE and appreciate if you could post them here in your gallery. By the way, I paint digitally the same way as I do on paper/canvas. It's all basically the same steps for the most part, but easier NOT to do it digitally. This is a little off-topic. We come from Siberia and my parents and older siblings always mention how beautiful the taigas and forests were there. There were flowers and berries blooming everywhere. The forests had an ambrosial smell from the gorgeous flowering plants and trees. When we came to the U.S., we were a little surprised. The weather was gray and it was rainy and humid, unlike Siberia. It was very cold in the winter but dry, and very hot and not humid (around (90 degrees F) in the summer. So, what I'm trying to get at is that such places do exist that I depicted in the illustrations.
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