New Illustration Academy Website!

Hey Everyone!! Guess what....the new Illustration Academy website is up and running!

CHECK IT OUT!!!!!

Ill and Drawing!

Hey everyone, just wanted to give a quick drop in to the ol' blog to upload my latest creation for a mock-up editorial article. This was for Esquire, and man, it sure was a challenge! The next post I'll be showing some pages from the comic I just finished touching up a while ago. So sit tight for some civil war action!!

Also, I was just notified today that the full Illustration Academy scholarship has been awarded to yours truly. So a big shout out the big guys at the Academy and a huge thank-you to my inspirations and viewers like you! I wouldn't be where I am with out cha!

Take care, and be on the lookout for another post real soon!

It's Christmas in July!

Hey everyone, thought I'd quick post up this portrait that I did for the Rolling Stones cover assignment. The incredible Irving Berlin in all his glory. It was one crazy week getting two pieces finished, although I'm planning on doing the finish for the second one this week along with a Gulf Coast 500 cover. They're making the cover assignment sort of a competition since there's cash involved, but I'm shooting for receiving exposure. Not to mention just having fun with the cover, so good luck to everyone on the cover!

Cheers,

-HH

Academy Update

Hey just wanted to give a quick update of some work done here at the Academy. Been really lovin' figure drawing as of late, it's a great technique that I need to explore a little more. Also, I've got a tight sketch from the second assignment that I'm currently messing around with in PS and Corel. So sit tight, I promise to show the final. I've also some studies done for a current assignment, along with a sketch. There's two assignments this week to do a Rolling Stones cover, along with a narrative scene for a children's book. Irving Berlin, a famous broadway composer known for a "White Christmas" is my Rolling Stones musician, and The Gift of the Magi is the story I chose of three. Still have to get moving on the tight sketch for that one--it's a bugger!

I have plans of renovating my portfolio on a very serious level after the Academy, it's about time I get myself out there. So I plan on entering as many competitions as I can, and politely pester all the major places that I'd like to see my work put up on its pages. Although, Pixar and Blue Sky are major goals of mine.

Let me know what you guys think of the work!

Peace,

HH

Rockin Out at the Academy

I sincerely apologize for disappearing like that, the Academy has definitely been taking up most of my attention and leaving me little space to scan in all the work I'm producing. What I have to show is (yet again) a molskine page of character studies for a current assignment based around the topic of conversation. C.F. Payne was the visiting artist for this week, and wow, what a guy! So far I feel amazingly blessed to be here making all sorts of new friends, getting a professional network going, and going through the thick and thin of all that the Academy has thrown at me. My mind is certainly going to be thinking in a different fashion from now on when I approach a piece, I think it's been that way for everyone here.

For all those going to the San Diego con, tell me all about it when you get back! I really wish I could go, but funds are a bit short for me right now. Although, I do plan on attending the next CA workshop in January. Let me know how all of you are doing, I'd love to hear how everything has been going!

Also, one last thing I'd like to share, and it's this quote said by the father of illustration himself: " Periods of hard struggle are big stepping stones to success." So for all you artists out there having a hard time, remember it's all for the better.

Peace out,

-HH

Illustration Academy: WEEK UNO

It's been quite the week dudes, very intense but very fun! Thought I'd upload a little somethin' to show that I'm still around. I apologize for not being consistent the past couple of weeks with updates, it's just been quite the ride for me lately with projects and the Academy. I finally broke in a new moleskine and did up some sketches of students here, along with one of our awesome instructors: Sterling Hundley. Sterling is not only wicked with his work, but he also has the gentle prowess of a humble instructor. He's just simply amazing. I've also been able to befriend many invaluable people while here at the Academy that I would not be able to do most of my work without. They've been such a huge help along with the instructors' careful guidance.

To touch on the first assignment that I'm about to finish, it was given by Mark English to do a square format image on the theme of "A Slice of Life" from Sarasota. I've realized how important the very basic and raw components of a picture are, and that you must completely submerge your brain completely in that one image. The color, value, diagonals, symbolism, placement and overlapping, they all are key to the success of an image. I realize now how closed my eyes are to the illustration realm, thinking I was beginning to see that light of knowledge. I've also realized how really working the process out completely to the very tee and getting all errors out of the way makes doing the final piece a breeze. Although, I realize I have trouble with my focus points, and making them intentional. There's so much I'm learning at one time, it's almost impossible to remember the simple things that make a picture work.

Well, better get busy--there's work to be done!!

Take Care,

-HHerrick

WORKWORK springbreak WORKWORK

Thought I'd post a little of what has been going on as of late with some work for all of you. This is a sketch for Concept class of characters that we were able to create. Naturally they are Lily and Andy, my thesis characters. I didn't move around much from the scene I did back during the storyboard project in Illustration, but I really do like this scene. Also, I have a studio shot of the portrait assignment that I've been working away at. Although, there has been much more done to it than what you see in this pic right now. I'll have the final up on the next post for sure!

I also have a pic given to me by George Pratt that was taken last April when the famous Jon Foster graced us with his wisdom, experiences and two painting demos to boot! I just really liked this one because of the angle and how we all basically "cornered" Jon with our questions. It really was a great experience, almost magical for me. Because I went to the demo not knowing who Jon Foster even was, and then I was shoved by Pratt right over Jon's shoulder taking pictures. I guess I'm posting this due to the excitement of the Illustration Academy this summer, it's going to be great!

**I added in a poster that I did for a graphic design class. It was supposed to be a Russian constructivist poster; instead I turned it into a possible movie poster starring my two main characters. I left out all the mumbo-jumbo of the text. Enjoy!

Cheers!

~Haylee