Art

In Which Art Mediums Abound and Dreams Turn Into Paintings

by Sarah Baran

Over the last two months, I’ve sworn up and down that there would be an overabundance of moving posts cluttering up this web space and annoying the snot out of you guys. Now the Grand Question is, where in the blue blazes are they?

Languishing in misery with the rest of my family as we still battle the wretched cough that has plagued our lives for more than a month now.

That’s where.

So in the absence of moving posts, I must resort to other ways in which I can clutter your Thursdays with pointless sarcasm — namely, art. Do you realize that the last art dump I did was back in May? That’s… *counts on fingers*

Only three months ago. Okay. I thought it was longer. THE POINT IS, arting has been a thing of late. It’s like the all mind-blocks were wiped away. Paint is fairly gushing from my brain.

As gruesome and disturbing a metaphor as that is.

Anyway, behold Art Dump B, installment 7. I have no idea what that means, but it sounds official. Let’s go.

 

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THIS lovely creature was one of the last specimens of that little art class I attended for three years, and I must say, I had a boatload of fun painting this.

There is beauty in irregularity.

There’s your pithy inspirational quote for the day.

 

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Playing around with ink pens and a somewhat-realistic manga-influenced style, which I’ve never tried before. Believe it or not, I drew this in twenty minutes at 1:30 in the morning.

I don’t know why my best art comes when I’m insanely tired. It’s kind of pathetic.

 

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Tiny Adorable Eskimo children I found in a calendar. Little do they know that somewhere in America, they just got posted on a random slob’s blog and subsequently became famous.

 

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Come ye hence, Stormlight crazies. Behold the one and only Seth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar — otherwise known as the (somewhat insane) Tragic Bald Boy.

 

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Once again, I was practicing a different style here. With watercolor pencils, if that has any meaning to you.

(I recognize that it probably doesn’t, but bear with me. The point is, I’m happy. And that’s such an exceptionally rare thing. *sarcastic choking*)

 

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My first attempt at art markers. What do you know, it actually didn’t turn out that bad. No, they’re not the real brand of copic markers, because yes, I’m waaaay too poor for that (a pack of six markers cost $30…), but surprisingly, the cheap off-brand actually worked pretty well. They’re not… great great, but they suit my needs. I don’t intend or desire to become a master at copic marker art anytime soon.

You know, I’m starting to realize that this entire post is me blathering about different art mediums that have no real bearing upon the situation.

I’m sorry.

 

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More marker art, because hey, why wouldn’t I want to draw a random window suspended over a swath of indefinite white blankness?

 

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Trying out different people-groups, poses that go beyond the shoulders, features that are somewhat irregular, and wild hair styles.

This drawing was a massive practice in many things for me.

Also, you win my respect if you can spot the ghostly outline of the half-finished guy on the other side of the paper. Once you see him, you can never un-see him. This is why nobody should use the sketchpads with 50 lbs. paper.

 

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THERE IS BEAUTY IN IRREGULARITY.

I said that, remember? (Because I clearly missed my life’s calling as an inspirational speaker.) Well, EXHIBIT A, PEOPLE.

Words cannot describe how much I love this person. I don’t even know who she is. I randomly drew her one day and subsequently became a raving fangirl of her face. She’s so… windswept.

She needs a book all her own.

 

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And last but not least… this.

This is many things. This is the first piece I’ve ever drawn from my head without a human as the subject. (Even though a person is still in it, because I’m totally nailin’ variety here. *cough* NOT.) This is the first time a watercolor wash ever worked for me. (Because yes, I made a precedent today of jabbering about art mediums, and I ain’t about to let that drop.) This is the first time I’ve ever painted a weird technological sci-fi… thing.

And the hilarious part is, the inspiration for this was an incredibly bizarre dream I had.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, I can’t shut up about it, I painted something cool because of it, and satellites are going to take over the world.

That’s all.

Have a good day.

*cough*

Yeah… anyway. I still have plenty more drawings and paintings and random sketches wasting space on my computer, but I’m not in the mood to break WordPress by stuffing too many images into one post. What’s left is mainly a bunch of concept sketches for my book, SO… Whaddya say, guys? Should I do a big masterpost solely dedicated to the art of Aeterna?

*she asks, even though that’s what she’s going to do, whether you want it or not*

*cough*

This is why I’m a horrible blogger.

~Sarah

 

53 thoughts on “In Which Art Mediums Abound and Dreams Turn Into Paintings”

  1. I love your posts with art in them!! You’re such an amazing artist. I liked the one of the girl from the sketchpad with the ghost guy on the page. (You were right; as soon as I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it 😂) I think my favorite was that last painting with the satellite. SO AMAZING! 😍

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  2. Hi Sarah!

    These are fantastic, just like all your other ones! (Now don’t go getting a big head.)

    After you mentioned the ghost head, which I did see, I noticed ANOTHER ghost head in the wind-swept girl’s picture in the top left hand corner. And yes, she needs a book all her own. I really like her too.

    Though I have to admit, the satellite one may be my favorite. Not because of the content, but simply because of the medium. I love watercolor washes. I have never been successful with them, because hey, I can barely do a half-decent sketch with a pencil, let alone watercolor paints, but I still love them.

    I’ll be praying that your family (and you) recover from this invasive cough. And that you move back down South. 😉 (Just kidding…sort of.)

    ~Akir

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    1. *delicately pricks head with a pin* There. The big head is ensured against.

      Watercolor washes are the WORST. They look so easy… but they’re so *not*.
      Perhaps the reason you have trouble with them is because you use your FINGER as a brush. 😉 (Or used to, at least.)

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  4. I will give you both my legs for that space one. What do I love about it so much? Not the gorgeous watercolor washes, though they’re… well… gorgeous. Not the lovely mauve-ish overtones. Not the beautiful textured details of the sky and the satellite and everything.
    It’s the emotion.
    ART IS ALL ABOUT EMOTIONS, OKAY PEOPLE. Okay. Good. Glad we’re clear.
    *high fives* This is all gorgeous, Sarah.
    And yes. I want the Aeterna art. Now.

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    1. *slowly edges away from you* I… have no use for two extra appendages, so…

      BUT YES. THANK YOU. ART IS ABOUT THE EMOTION. Now excuse me while I go skip into the sunset, beaming like a loon and cackling gleefully because someone actually picked that out about something I painted.

      M’dear, that was a most encouraging compliment.

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  5. These are all wonderful, Sarah. The drawing of Szeth is really good, and I could tell it was him before I even read the description under it.

    Yes, watercolor pencils mean something to me. You’re welcome.

    The drawing that was somewhat manga inspired… I love it so much, it’s really well done. I wish I could draw like that. And the last piece just amazes me. I can’t believe you actually drew them.

    (Yes, I, am INTJ, am stating that someone else is better than me at something. It helps that you’re also an INTJ.)

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    2. HA, I figured you would, you little Stormlight loony. I can always count on you.

      But… but… *shocked gasping**struggles for breath**clutches hand at heart* My dear little friend, you need not sacrifice your INTJ dignity for me. Leave it at, “They’re okay, I suppose” and I will take it as the highest compliment. One INTJ to another. 😉

      Thank you for understanding watercolor pencils. Such a phenomenon is rare.

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      1. Of course! And please, Sarah, just shush and accept the compliment. Trust me, it is EXTREMELY rare for me to say someone’s better than me at something (unless I really, REALLY know this) so stop worrying about INTJ dignity for a minute. I’ll deny ever having written/said this anyway. XD

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  7. OF COURSE YOU SHOULD.

    Man, that windswept lady is beautiful. O.o So…windswept. And the Asian lady looks INCREDIBLY real. And that expression in Szeth’s eyes… *collapses brokenly* So perfect.
    And the last one. *gapes*

    It never ceases to amaze me how people can draw good draws with PENS and MARKERS.

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    1. *glues the pieces of your broken soul back together* I think the Asian girl might be the best person sketch I’ve ever done. I’m rather proud of her.

      The secret to drawing with markers and pens? A WHOLE LOT OF PENCIL UNDERNEATH, AND A BOATLOAD OF ANXIETY. That’s how.

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  10. So this was an interesting post.

    First, I discovered that winning your respect is not as hard as I would have thought. If I were even the sort of person to think about stuff like that. Which, now that I think further, is exactly the sort of thing I’d expect me to think about, but for some reason I don’t…

    Yeah.

    Second. (Eschewing commas bravely.) I really liked the Asian girl picture (is there a way of delineating it that sounds less racist? I actually am a big fan of Asians in general, but it sounds weird), ghostly heads not excepted; Miss Windswept (or is she married?) is quite an interesting study for her sheer expression among other things, but what about her is irregular exactly? or am I missing the obvious?; (punctuation lovers, cover your eyes for this entire comment…) I really liked the right-side picture done with watercolor pencils; and your last picture deserved a story in its own right. Or maybe it IS its own story…that’s the virtue of art, I suppose.

    Three; magic goes in threes, and this is no exception; let me quote this question so people don’t disbelieve me. In your own words:

    “SO… Whaddya say, guys? Should I do a big masterpost solely dedicated to the art of Aeterna?”

    *blank stare*

    Tell me that was rhetorical.

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    1. Your EYESIGHT won my respect.

      Or something like that. 😂

      The windswept girl isn’t really *irregular*, so to speak, but she’s not quite what society would call a “beauty”. The irregularity is that she’s lovely without having to be glamorous — though really, it shouldn’t be irregular since that’s how we all are, or ought to be. I suppose, then, that the irregularity is with the people who’ve seen her so far — they don’t consider her “unbeautiful” just because she doesn’t fit into a certain stereotype.
      I think I’d better cut myself short here before I ramble off into a long philosophical spiel about this…

      And yes, that was rhetorical. You people are getting Aeterna art whether you want it or not. 😉

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  11. Amazing art, Sarah! You need to open a museum someday. Soon. O.O I will definitely visit if you do. My favorite was the last one because I have suddenly, unexplainably become fond of sci-fi technology. Don’t ask me why. *hides Star Wars*

    Tell me, what happens to the girl in that last picture?! Does she investigate that strange piece of space craft?! Are there any living creatures on board?! Honestly, if you think that the wind-swept girl deserves a story, the one of the girl-and-the-space-craft deserves a story of its own also!! 😀

    There is a ghost face not only in the Asian girl’s picture but also in the wind-swept-girl’s. I’ll never be able to look at those pictures the without seeing a ghostly wraith lurking on the paper… XD

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    1. “Sarah’s Museum of Whacky Wonders (And Art!)” I like the sound of that. 😂

      Never fear: I fully intend to write a story for that last picture. It was an insanely cool dream, though a little tragic; I never DID find out what was on the satellites. (Yes, plural, because there was more than one…*suspense suspense*) Apparently, my subconscious mind likes cliff-hangers. It did introduce me to two wonderful characters though (complete with MBTI types and backstories), and I have… *villainous chortling* plans for them…

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      1. That’s a great name for it!

        Somehow I didn’t realize it was a dream you had. Wow. That is so cool. XD I CAN’T WAIT TO READ IT! *hint*hint*

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  13. Oh. my. word. Illustrate for me, Sarah???!!! Please??!! ❤❤❤ I’m dead serious and am totally saving this post so I can contact you to talk about it once my novel is that close to publishing. I absolutely ADORE the styles of the ink drawing (pic 2) and both the pencil drawings for the type of pictures I want!! Also, I really love how good the art you did with “trying” watercolor pencils is… Those look pretty hard to get used to on the first try!! ~Anna

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    1. *cries happy tears* You are the first person who has ever said something to me of this ilk, and I’m genuinely ecstatic. I illustrate all my own stories, but I’ve always loved the thought of one day illustrating others as well. So YES, if or when you need such a thing done, do contact me and we can discuss it.

      Also, you’re a new face around here so WELCOME TO MY BLOG! *confetti*

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      1. *cries happy tears too* Your pictures in this post totally JUMPED out at me and made the whole rest of that day so so happy as I floated around imagining what illustrations I will want!! ❤ Completely excited you are interested!! 😀 My WIP is speculative historical fiction, so your love for unusual fantasy-type looking people is wonderfully perfect.

        Aw! Thank you! I think I've actually been following for a little while now, but this is my first comment on your lovely blog so *CONFETTI*!!

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        1. Ooohhooo, speculative historical fiction? That sounds fun *and* challenging. I’ll be doing a post of my own book’s illustrations/concept sketches soon, so that ought to give you a good idea of my work in a more story-based context.

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          1. YES!!! It’s mostly WWII England, but with a little speculative history because of a whole kind of people and culture so top secret it’s not in the history books… 😉 I think you’d do amazing at it!!!
            Aw yay!! Can’t wait to see the post!! Not that I’ll be stalking you until then or anything… 😛😂

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  16. That watercolor wash is BEAUTY. (The person and the satellite thing are cool too.) But the SKY. Watercolor washes are the most deceiving things in art. They look so easy but they can become a muddy puddle so quickly. *sigh*
    Also your watercolor pencil paintings turned out so smooth. Real skills there.

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    1. Ugh, yes. A muddy puddle. I don’t know why they’re so hard; you start out with the attitude of “HAHA, WATCH MY BRUSH GLIDE ACROSS THE PAPER. I AM INVINCIBLE.” And end with a puddle of ugly colors and tears shed. It’s sad.

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  20. Ahhhhh. Your art is beautifulllllll!!! :O I just scrolled up to try (key word: TRY) to pick a favorite and immediately decided it’s impossible because they’re all fantastic and gorgeous in their own way. *hearteyes*
    I echo hansvos914’s “*blank stare* Tell me that was rhetorical.” response to Aeterna art. I would looooooooovvvvvvve to see Aeterna art. ^-^

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  21. Love it! Your drawings just keep getting better and better! My favorites would have to be the one with the ghost image and the last one- how did you draw that galaxy background? *flails* IT’S AMAZING.
    I love your art dumps- they make my fingers itch to draw but at the same time make me a teeny bit jealous of your skills. Although I did actually get a sort- of commission last week- it was from a family member so I don’t know if that counts- but anyway.

    Wow, that was longer than I expected. :O

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  23. WOW. That Eskimo picture is T. Rexific! 😃👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 You should write a story about them. Well, really, you should write a story about everything because all your art is cool (in your typical elfish kind of way). 😉

    Mariposa says you should submit your work to SE.

    Okay, I’m done telling you what you should do (sorry, I’m so used to bossing you humans around). 😜🦖

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