CD cover

CD Cover

Promotional Illustration

Created in Photoshop

This was the cd cover for my digital portfolio... It features my face... looking like I'm about to mug you in a dark alley.... oh my.

The beard

Luke 

Promotional Illustration

Created in Photoshop

This is my fiance, Luke. He likes guitar... I like drawing his beard... hair is so therapeutic to draw. He let me stare at him while he played until it just gave him a complex. 

This was done entirely in photoshop and I got to experiment with brushes I had never used before. Despite my experimenting I don't think it came out too bad.

Pugs again...

Thank You Card
Direct Mail
Created in Photoshop

And here he is again.... this time silently judging you whilst he swirls that brandy.

This piece was again, originally drawn in pencil and digitally colored. This was the illustration for a direct mail thank you card, but I'll just show you the illustration.

Pugs in Bowlers

Pug Esquire

Personal Logo

Created in pencil, digitally altered in Photoshop

And so I've come to the pug post.... and believe me, this wont be the last one. For right now, this little guy, who is admittedly less offensive than my own muse, is serving as my personal identity... for now. He sits comfortably on letterheads, business cards and resumes. 

SUVA Tiger

Tiger Woman

SUVA Promotional Illustration

Created in Photoshop

My university has a tradition. Every year (for the past several years), every senior illustration major must do a tiger themed piece which will later be put into a gallery show. They have been collecting these illustrations for years and sadly, this year will be the last, so here is my own contribution. 

There is ultimately two versions of this illustration, this one, which I felt was more appropriate to represent my college and my own version which is a little more gritty... that one will be posted later. This was created from scratch in photoshop.

Dance of the Dead

Dance of the Dead

Licensing Illustration

Created with Pencil, Digitally colored in Photoshop

The Dio de los Meurtos if pretty big down here, and since I was feeling festive I decided to do a poster mock up for the processional/dance of the dead. This piece originally started off entirely in graphite (which, ironically is what I am the most specialized in, not that you could tell.) and was later scanned and cleaned up in photoshop. Color and texture was also added digitally. I'll post the sketches and original line work later.

Apple Going Green

Apple Magazine Page

Publishing Illustration

Created in Adobe Illustrator

A Personal Favorite

Baby and a Hatchet

Advertising Illustration

Created in Photoshop

This... is... my favorite senior studio piece. Ironically, the whole thing started as a joke between one of my professors and I and eventually took on a hideous and horrible life of its own and somehow managed to seat itself right in the middle of my portfolio. 

Well, would you argue with that kid if he wanted a spot somewhere?

Sad thing is, now I want to start my own brewing... guess I already have the label!

Growing a Good Life

Healthy Basket

Publishing Illustration

Created in Adobe Illustrator

That basket nearly killed me... 

Here is another mocked up book cover vector illustration.

Stock Illustration!

Onions and Garlic

Licensing Illustration

Created in Photoshop

Avocado and Guacamole 

Licensing Illustration

Created in Photoshop

There's not a whole lot to say about these, they're nice colorful little stock illustrations that hopefully make you hungry... who wants salsa?

Tattooed Ladies

The Tattooed Woman

Publishing Illustration

Created in Photoshop

I had a lot of fun with this piece; tattoos have always had a special place in my heart as well as the iconic pin up girl so I at least wanted to do a nod to both for this senior studio book mock up... you'll be seeing a lot more pretty ladies down the road.

Zombies and Open Air Music Festivals

Bloodstock Teaser Poster

Advertising Illustration

Created in Adobe Illustrator

*sigh* I confess it... I am an unrepentant metal head, always have been, always will be, but, as much as I enjoy the dark imagery surrounding the metal genre, I just couldn't stop myself from making this piece a little more light hearted. I've never really understood why Bloodstock Open Air never appropriated more imagery from the festival it's name is punning. I mean, zombies and hippies... what could go wrong? 

Lovecraft!

Lovecraft

Publishing Illustration

Created in photoshop and Adobe Illustrator

I LOVE Howard Phillip, he has always been one of my favorite go-to horror authors and when I was given the opportunity to do a famous figure portrait, I just couldn't resist. 

An introduction of sorts...

Hello, my name is Vanessa and I'll be honest with you, this thing is going to be under construction for awhile. I swear, I'm not nearly as boring as this blog is right now. I'm a senior illustration major at the Southwest University of Visual Arts and as a senior portfolio requirement we are encouraged to start a blog... unfortunately I am a cave dwelling hermit so, frankly, I just kind of stare off into space and flail at a keyboard and hope something intelligible comes out of it.  For a few weeks at least, it will mostly serve as an online gallery for my senior portfolio/studio pieces as I frantically run around like a chicken with my head cut off so I can finally be done with school. :]

I guess I should tell you a little about myself, huh?

Well... I am an illustrator living in the desert of Southwest Arizona, I focus primarily on horror based art (don't let my senior illustration fool you, I'm really not that obsessed with fruit). Ever since I was a kid I've always been a horror junkie (understatement) and it seems to always want to creep into my art. I like to sneak a bit of irreverent humor in my pieces and love to work with bright wonky colors. When not drawing obsessively I can be found outside communing with nature I guess. I do a bit of bone articulation and am recently venturing into actual taxidermy and will be posting some of that work later on.

I share my house with a fuzzy beard who puts up with my shenanigans and also an ugly pug who snorts and smells bad. She is a constant source of inspiration.... I mean, who wouldn't be inspired by this face?

Any way, later on, you can expect to see sketches, WIP, and any other sundry ramblings I see fit. I better end this post before it goes on any longer as I think its already ventured into rambling territory... and I ramble faaaaaar too much as it is.