Ashley Dessi: Illustration

Dinosaur Advertising Project

2010-10-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

The subject matter of this project was a little out of my comfort zone, but I actually enjoyed it for the most part. The trick was finding a way to inject my artistic voice. In order to do this I decided to concentrate on the first part of the slogan for the ad and focus on the concept of time, rather than doing a piece pertaining to celebration and parties. I figured I could be a bit more metaphorical and still have a tinge of my whimsy-ness, through that approach.

Black Velvet Ribbon

2010-10-14T17:00:00.001-07:00

Urban myths and legends have some very strange stories. I decided to create a piece for a juried show and the theme was urban myths and legends. I ended up picking one about a woman that always wore a black velvet ribbon around her neck, so her head wouldn't fall off!

Artwork for Tissue Box

2010-10-11T14:50:00.001-07:00

Here is the the artwork for the tissue box that I created for my advertising class. I'm pretty proud of how this project turned out. Four paintings for one little box! A lot of work, but it was totally worth it. I'm hoping to get the actual box shot by a photographer, so I can have a decent image of the physical product to add to my portfolio.

Images (c) Ashley Dessi

Tissue Box Preview

2010-10-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

So I'm sure everyone has been wondering what exactly is this tissue box project I had to do. This quarter I'm taking a class on illustration in advertising. This project was geared towards us creating a tissue box cover and adapting our artwork to it. It gave us a chance to see how illustration isn't just restricted to flat print and can be made into an actual functioning product. I took some pictures last night of how mine turned out, before submitting it this morning. I apologize for the poor quality. I will have some better images, eventually. Also, thank you Monica Wexler for helping me with my printing fiasco!

Tissue Box Project Sketches

2010-09-21T15:22:00.001-07:00

For my final quarter, I'm in an advertising illustration class. Our first assignment is to create a tissue box cover, so we can explore the concept of having our work applied to a functional product. The theme was "Tissues for Issues," but because of the nature of my work, I took a lot of liberties with coming up with something that could fit in my portfolio. Instead of being literal and drawing images of runny noses and people crying in hysterics, I decided to take a more decorative approach.

Experimenting With My Line

2010-06-26T21:49:00.001-07:00

So I really enjoy working on my linework in my sketches, but my line doesn't retain the same qualities in my paintings because then it just competes and doesn't look nice. I love color and painting, but I also love varying line. I want to experiment with doing work with my line drawings, so I have another way of working to pull from. I love painting, but it can be very time consuming and I think it will hurt me in the future. I need to find a faster way to work... Thinking about getting illustrator, as much as I hate that program, so I can livetrace some ink drawings.

Experimental Acrylic Painting

2010-06-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

This is one of the leftovers from an acrylic class that I took in the spring. This was rushed, so the proportions are not something I'm proud of, but I really am quite fond of the look I got with this technique. This was such a strange and haphazard painting process, which involved making "complicated paper," making stamps, and collage. Yeah... pretty crazy technique. This was also done on 300 pound Arches watercolor paper. I liked how the paint reacted to the paper because it seemed more open to blending and has a matte finish. Maybe I just like the watercolor paper because it's something I'm familiar with.

On a side note, I feel so lazy not having anything new to show. I really need to motivate myself to work on my portfolio over the summer.

Portfolio: Closing Page

2010-05-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

I want a hat like that! Anyways, here's my closing page for my portfolio. I meant to take progress shots, while I worked, but I ended up getting into my painting and it slipped my mind. I decided to scan in a lace paper texture and incorporate it with my watercolor. -Gasp- Ashley used the computer in part of her work! I actually like incorporating texture onto things like textiles, and I'm glad I learned that in my electronic illustration class. I wasn't really sure if anything in that class would be applicable to my work. I'm really happy with how this illustration turned out. I think it sums me up in a nutshell as an illustrator, which I think is a good closing to my portfolio.

Work in progress

2010-05-22T22:35:00.000-07:00

I have never done work in progress shots of how I work in watercolors, so I decided to take some, while working on my current piece : D I transferred my drawing using transfer paper. Honestly, I don't really like using transfer paper for watercolors because it makes my paper dirty and can even leave marks. Normally, I would tape my drawing and watercolor paper to a window or use a light table, if I have access to one. I then ink my drawing with colored inks. I'm not a big fan of black ink. It's too harsh against watercolors, in my opinion. I try to have some sort of idea of what sort of color scheme I want, so I can consider that while inking objects. For example, in this piece I know I want the ribbon to be blue, so I inked it using a blue ink, instead of something stark. I also try to keep my line as minimal as possible, while inking. I think watercolor is a matter of either or. You can either have highly rendered color with minimal line or simple use of color and a lot of line work, if crosshatching and such is your thing. Otherwise, I think the piece looks haphazard.

Portfolio: Closing page sketch

2010-05-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

I decided I wanted to continue with drawing more contemporary subjects, so I decided on doing a bridal sort of theme for my contact page in my portfolio. I have been dying to draw a pillbox hat and I'll have plenty of white space to work with for my type placement. I also love creating movement in my pieces, even if the subject matter is very simple. Simple was probably better in this case because I am putting my contact information with this image. Guess who needs to start keeping a sketchbook of hands? I do! I'm aware there are anatomical issues in this drawing because I'm afraid I have developed a bad case of senioritis and now procrastinate like nobody's business. However, my teacher has brought up a valid point, concerning my handling of hands. I can draw a whimsical semi realistic, yet stylized face, with ease, but that doesn't reflect in how I draw hands. My hands end up looking clunky because I get too caught up in the details and are either A. too stiff in comparison to everything else or B. I draw them too big and have to try to readjust the size in photoshop. Both things happened in this sketch, so I need to do some tweaking. Maybe I'll look at some Mucha hands and Marguerite Sauvage hands for inspiration on what makes a graceful hand.

Houndstooth and Polka Dots Finish : D

2010-05-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

Finally, finished painting these. I'm more happy with how the shoes came out, but they still seem to work together nicely because of the primary color palette I used in both. I think I want to start doing more pieces on patterning in clothing. Maybe I will do some pieces with animal prints over the summer! I have discovered I really enjoy drawing contemporary fashion, as well as costuming :3

More sketching

2010-05-05T12:32:00.000-07:00

Haha, I'm not quite sure what direction this piece will be going in now. At first it started as an idea from my teacher that I modernize Ophelia. I think now it's a mash up of modern meets classic, with a modern Ophelia and classic Ophelia. Oh well, I guess everyone will have a different interpretation. I'm happy as long as it will become a successful image. I think I'm going to rework some stuff still with the hair, so that it continues all the way around as a frame. I ran out of room, while working on this sketch >:[

Houndstooth and Polka Dots

2010-04-28T12:58:00.000-07:00

So my teacher has encouraged me to keep going with my feminine style, but she said she would like to see me do some more contemporary things. Well, I love clothes and all things girly, so I actually think I might enjoy doing things like that too :3 I decided for my first attempt at going in this direction to do patterns in clothing that are reflective of breeds of dogs. I got the idea, when I was in bed one night, and saw my black and white polka dot shoes, which reminded me of a dalmatian. I then decided to do this as a theme for the facing pages in my portfolio.

I'm proud of myself this quarter. I'm starting to learn that not all criticism is valid and I should discard what isn't applicable to me. I think for a while I was trying to force myself to be something I am not, due to statements and opinions of others...

You wants to pet me, yes?

2010-04-20T16:03:00.001-07:00

Haha, my previous posts have all been pink pieces, so here's some blue (my favorite color, despite contrary belief :3). I've never posted progress pictures of paintings, so I decided to post some progress pics of how I approached an acrylic technique in class. I overworked more than my teacher would have preferred for this assignment, but regardless of whether I left the earlier stages visible or not, I still worked faster because of the value drawing and the established warms and cools. Also, lessening my chances of cancer by using buff titanium as a fixative for my drawing was nice too : D

Painting "Outdoors"

2010-04-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

Not the most thrilling assignment in the world for me, but I guess it helps me learn things. One thing I miss about watercolors, while doing acrylics, is being able to blend. I'm trying to get used to this concept of being suggestive with painting @_@;

Spring, you are such a tease...

2010-04-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

I don't think the sinuous art nouveau-esque line will ever get weeded out of me XD This is my double page spread for my portfolio. I've been in a very pink mood lately O_o I've been trying to experiment more with my color palette and number of figures. I tend to favor cool colors or violet and yellow. I intended for this to just be complementary, but that didn't quite happen...

Acrylic Practice Sample

2010-04-12T19:58:00.000-07:00

So, I'm in an acrylic techniques class. As much as I love watercolors, sometimes it's a love hate relationship and I need a trial separation from them. This technique is a quick and interesting one. It sort of marries acrylic and watercolor/gouache. This piece is just a practice sample and I still have another one to do, so I would like to take some progress pics :3 I like to just have themes for my practice samples, so I don't sit and waste time, figuring out what I should paint. I have wanted to paint Alice characters for a looooong time. Haha, I sort of relate to the white rabbit's neurotic nature XD

Book Cover

2010-04-12T19:55:00.000-07:00

Whew, this is a leftover from last quarter. It's the cover for my book : D Done at 12''x24'' with bleed, so it's rather large for a watercolor. I should have done these smaller and just blown them up, but I think I have a masochistic streak I need to work out e.e;

Peter Pan Character Sheets

2010-03-06T14:43:00.000-08:00

Here are my character sheets for Peter Pan. I wanted to do Hook to get out of my comfort zone, but it was recommended to me for the sake of my production painting that I do Wendy. I still tried to make her somewhat interesting and layered her costuming and wanted to maintain the integrity of the time period by incorporating ruffles and lace and such on her clothing. I did the required amount of sketches for Wendy, but I feel like I should do some more, when I get the chance. I'm happy with how she turned out, but neutral, when compared to Peter. Maybe it's because I was never very fond of Wendy and prefer a fiery and sassy character like Tinkerbell XD

Spreads for Book

2010-03-06T14:28:00.001-08:00

I have to keep this post short because it's finals and I'm behind. Here are my spreads for book... my very large book. Why I decided to pile so much work on myself is beyond me. I redid the artwork for my book from last quarter because I wasn't very fond of it. It wasn't ornate and lush enough for my tastes. My book is going to be a 12''x12'' book, so my spreads had to be done at 12''x24'' with bleed. That is A LOT of painting in watercolor.

Drawing away...

2010-01-26T19:48:00.001-08:00

Sooo unfortunately, I don't have any exciting colorful pieces of work to show, but I do have some drawings of characters I have been working on in my character design class and book illustration class. These were just drawn on tracing paper and aren't meant to be finished works of art, so excuse my laziness, and not cleaning up my scans. I'm redoing my children's book from last quarter because the one from last quarter was rushed and I didn't get to work with costuming like I wanted to D: I went ahead and scanned the bunny and the crane. For character design, my independent project is Peter Pan. I didn't want to overcomplicate my life, so I just went ahead and picked a pre-existing story with characters that were within my comfort zone and characters that are outside of it. I really want to draw three characters, but my teacher said that we'll be doing one more. I really wanted to draw Tinkerbell because she's so fun and dramatic, and costuming for female characters is more fun ;_; The next character in line will be Hook, who is completely out of my comfort zone. Oh well, drawing a debonair pirate smoking away on a cigar should be pretty amusing at least. Costuming <3

2009-11-27T20:47:00.000-08:00

Also, if anyone would like to see a preview of my dummy book or even buy it, you can view it here:

http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/953637

I only did the bare minimum of my assignment, so there is only the cover, end pages, title page, and three double page spreads in color because of my heavy workload and me being a perfectionist @_@; I am contemplating redoing all of the artwork and finishing the book over winter break because it is not what I envisioned. I originally wanted a desaturated color palette with gold accents and more detail.

A bit late, but whatever ;p

2009-11-27T20:13:00.000-08:00

Sooo I'm on break from school until after New Years *(^_^)* My finals were so crazy, that I didn't have time to update my blog with new things. Anyways, last week, I received my children's book in the mail and took some pictures : D I used blurb because I got so frustrated with Lulu and all this stuff about PDF's and using In Design. Why do adults make things so complicated. Haha, maybe that's why I want to do children's books. From what I remember about myself as a kid, I didn't make things so difficult @_@;
I would like to finish my book, over break if I'm feeling motivated enough to break out the watercolors. It would be awesome to have a badass hardcover version with a dustjacket. My professor even advised me to work bigger with my books, so I guess that's a compliment : D
I did this for my Survey of Illustration class. Our class had to do a fantasy piece in a circular composition, so you could say this assignment was pretty much made for me. Circular and S-curve compositions <3

Lots of watercoloring x_x

2009-11-05T15:52:00.000-08:00

Here's my alter ego self portrait for my watercolor class. I decided to depict myself as some sort of whimsical bird person, simply because I've been told I have bird-like features. There isn't any sort of deep meaningful concept XD I did this in one night (I'm so sick of all-nighters), so there are some parts that I would like to fix still, such as the birds and the part in the hair. My decision making skills aren't the best at 4 o'clock in the morning x_x

These are double page spreads from my children's book class. I think I'm more of a vignette person, rather than large full page images.

Seven Deadly Sins

2009-10-21T14:09:00.001-07:00

Sooo I intended for this assignment to be a watercolor painting, but my midterms were crazy, so it ended up being demoted to a pencil rendering. I would like to eventually make a painting for this piece because this is one of my favorite compositions of mine and it has more than one figure : D I would sit and explain all the symbolism and thought I put into this, but I have a poster due tomorrow in my watercolor class... Maybe I'll explain later.

Finally, some color!

2009-10-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

I finally have a finished piece to put up. Seriously, my blog has been looking so depressing with nothing but black and white preliminary work and nothing finished. Here is my food illustration assignment for my watercolor course : D

My teacher showed me the wonders of doing a quick wash of color before painting, and because I prefer using a glazing technique it really helped \(^o^)/ Next is a theater poster assignment...

Seven Deadly Sins Sketch and Finalized Monster Sketch

2009-10-05T18:27:00.000-07:00

For my survey of illustration class, I have to do a piece about one of the seven deadly sins. I picked envy because that is one of the sins I relate to the most. It was a tough choice between that one and pride, but I got the idea for envy first. Envy is defined as not just a desire for others traits, but it is also described as the delight one may feel, seeing the person deprived of the trait they desire. I honestly think this sin probably leads to the most sadistic behavior of all the seven deadly sins.
My teacher wants me to draw a third figure in order to reinforce the concept more, so it's not quite done. The hands were quite evil to draw, and I still don't know if I'm satisfied with them -_- Also, drew a "man" for the sake of not getting chewed out, when my overall portfolio is critiqued. I still say men in art pieces is like posing static matter. It's so hard to make them look interesting without looking stupid >_<

Now I just have to paint it x_x

Sooo I've been doing a lot of sketching and painting a bunch of...forks O_o

2009-09-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

My teacher wanted me to start my children's book assignment by doing TONS of sketches that describe movement. I scanned in my process of developing the bunny because that character is still the most finalized. I included some of my gestures, to show how I got to the character that I have now.

Same concept as the first bunny, just more dynamic and interesting now.

I decided it would also be good for me to get involved more in the illustration department, and they're having an exhibition in October with the theme revolving around monster masquerade. The theme doesn't have to be taken literally, and we can pretty much just run with it. I decided to try to do something that will still fit with my portfolio and came up with the idea of having a monster tea party. Yay! for froo-froo hats.
As for forks, I've been taking a watercolor course. Seriously, I've painted so many forks this week. If I do get awesome at painting something this school year, there's a strong possibility it could be forks x_x

Done in about 20 minutes.

Sketching for children's book

2009-09-16T19:17:00.001-07:00

Just a character I drew up for a story I made up for my children's book class. I have to be up at 6:30, so I don't really have any time to explain it, just wanted to post something new. Hopefully, he approves my first choice story, so I don't have to do a stupid story about a girl traveling around and drinking tea with different people around the world or The Nutcracker D:

Preliminary Sketches: Painted Face and Nest Fit For a Queen

2009-08-27T18:38:00.000-07:00

Drawing can be remarkably therapeutic, when something is bothering you. Anyways, I got the idea to maybe start doing a series about some odd/extreme things women in history have done for the sake of beauty. The sketch in my post is for the piece about geisha/maiko make-up. At one point geisha and makio used a type of white clay for their white faces, but later they found out, as they got older, the clay was actually a toxin and created yellow growths on skin. It's actually strange I have yet to ever really do a geisha/maiko piece because I do find geisha culture to be interesting. I drew a maiko, instead of a geisha though, because I love all the little kanzashi/hair ornaments they wear. I'm thinking my next piece might be about a queen that I heard about at one point that would bathe in the blood of young women in hopes of not losing her beauty. That should be interesting, but I really need to get some drawings of men in my portfolio, so I'm a bit more well rounded. Maybe I can give the queen some raunchy man servants XD

Oh yeah, I decided that it would be interesting to show how I work, and start uploading my sketches on here as I work. Here is my preliminary sketch for my Nest Fit For A Queen piece.

Favorite Pieces From This Year

2009-06-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

Lotus, watercolor

Mr. and Mrs. Crane, acrylic

Esmaralda, watercolor

My one piece looks so lonely. I decided to post more pieces, so it would have some company ^_^; I guess these are my pieces I sort of had "artistic epiphanies" with. I think my watercolor technique is improving a lot, but I probably overwork my paintings at times. Perhaps, I should try my hand at oil painting because I love working in thin glazes so much XD

Nest Fit For a Queen

2009-06-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

Alright because I cannot get my website to work properly and deviantart has been reduced to a dumping ground for myspace pictures and bad fanart, I have decided to make a blog, and start posting my work here \(^o^)/ Here is my most recent watercolor piece. I wish I could run around in 18th century styles, but I must make do by drawing them.