Kate Ristau's Blog, page 38
February 27, 2018
Tearable Pages: Drawing Dragons Day 58
Today, I discovered that the end of my notebook has tearable pages. So, I can easily rip out the terrible dragons. I wish I would have realized this at the beginning. I would have put all the terrors back there.
Instead, I drew this quick sketch:
I’m trying to figure out a cool dragon outline. I have figured out that I always want to draw the dragon’s head profile on the left. When I draw it on the right, like this one, it’s hard to get the curves right when the dragon is headed into the east.
Dragon, do not diminish into the east. Go west, young one. Find your skies. Fly.
Keep creating,
Kate
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February 26, 2018
Making meaning: Drawing Dragons Day 57
I spend a lot of my time making meaning — trying to put my words around the world and settling symbols and themes into the everyday.
But sometimes, a dragon is just a dragon.
And this is one REALLY COOL DRAGON.
Reference — Terrizae over at Deviant Art:https://terrizae.deviantart.com/art/D...
Keep creating. It may take a while, but it will be worth it in the end.
Love,
Kate
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February 25, 2018
The game is afoot: Drawing Dragons Day 56
The game is afoot!
That is, if the game is to eat pizza and draw dragon claws. Because if it is, I am totally winning right now. Level-up! POW!
Sketch from this reference by panzi at Deviant Art. It’s amazing how much more forgiving a pencil sketch is than an ink drawing. Plus, I got to practice shading.
Speaking of shading, but not at all, pizza is great. Six-year old Wonder made the pizza today — with cheese and onions and peppers. I’d share a picture, but I eated it.
Om nom.
Happy creating,
Kate
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February 24, 2018
Dinos into Dragons: Drawing Dragons Day 55
No, you’re not seeing double. I wanted to show you the sketch lines for the dragon I was working on today. You see, I was trying to take this Dino-Dragon:
and turn him into a Dragon-Dragon. I knew he needed wings. A different snout. Horns. Dragony dragon stuff.
In the inking, I made some mistakes. He lost his softness. He’s sharper edges now. And his snout is a bit…snouty. He’s a study in imperfections — some soft, some hard…just like me.
We launched Shadow Girl with my new press, Not a Pipe Publishing today. We kicked off the book with a celebration of women and writing and all the words. And chocolate.
I fumbled over my words a bit, and didn’t say all the things I wanted, but how could I? There was so much life and love and talent in that room.
It was a pleasure and a joy to read with some of my favorite writers and friends: Susan Hill Long (so kind), Emily Suvada (so smart), Maren Anderson (so awesome), Mikko Azul (so poised), Dede Montgomery (so inspiring), Jessica Mehta (so truthful), and LeeAnn McLennan (so fabulous).
So many wonderful women writers came out to celebrate, and I cannot imagine a better day. Here’s to good women with all their words and wonder.
Tiny dragon watching wonder woman, Dede MontgomeryThe post Dinos into Dragons: Drawing Dragons Day 55 appeared first on Kate Ristau.
February 23, 2018
Hearts or tails? Drawing Dragons Day 54
I can’t make hearts or tails of this dragon.
The head and wings are elegant; the arms and tail are flompy and strange.
You never know what you are going to get.
Flip a coin.
On a Friday, you either get artistic brilliance, or a mom who wants to eat popcorn and watch a movie.
Today, you get weird tails, weak arms, and popcorn kernels in your teeth.
Keep creating,
Kate
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February 22, 2018
Wishes: Drawing Dragons Day 53
Blowing out candles
The ping of your inbox
The flash of a notification
Your mind stretches outward
For just a moment
Imagines something better
Something bigger
With the flick of a finger
Or the push of a breath
Hope alights
There could be more
Than this
Your mind opens up
The smoke clears
And you see
The other side of the fire
From this reference:http://bit.ly/2opfHTA
Sending you big wishes.
Keep creating,
Kate
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February 21, 2018
When Pigs Fly: Drawing Dragons Day 52
“I don’t want to be here,” Wilbur said to Charlotte, stamping his foot in the mud. “I don’t want to live in a world where you aren’t.”
“It will be okay,” Charlotte said, weaving the last of her threads. “You’ll have the farm. You’ll have each other. You’ll find new friends.”
“I want to go with you,” Wilbur sniffled. “When you go.” The sun caught the edge of the web, and Wilbur smiled. “Give me wings. I’ll follow you anywhere.”
“It doesn’t work like that. I can’t give you wings. I’m not a magician. And I’m not flying away. I’ll be gone.”
“And I will be too. I’ll chase the sun. I’ll fly over the treetops. I’ll find you. You ARE a magician.”
Charlotte sighed. “No, Wilbur, you are. You make your own special magic.”
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February 20, 2018
Bookstore dragon: Drawing Dragons Day 51
Bookstore Dragon went to the bookstore.
Bookstore Dragon bought a book.
Bookstore Dragon is happy.
And so am I! My novel Shadow Girl released from Not a Pipe Publishing as a hardcover and paperback. It’s a beautiful new book with a revamped cover from Lee Moyer.
The reason I am so excited is I am working with a publisher who supports and is excited about my work. I am now part of The Year of Publishing Women. It is a joy and an honor to be published alongside such amazing authors.
As you know, I am hard at work revising Shadow Girl Two. And…want to know something? It already has a title. And a cover. And this book is everything I hoped it would be. Now, it just needs me to sit down and finish it up.
Which I’m doing. Slowly, and methodically. Because apparently readers like description? What?
That takes me time. I hope you’ll think it’s worth the wait.
But, until then, if you haven’t read Shadow Girl, dig in. And if you want to get your copy signed, I’ll be at the Love for Women Writers Celebration at Tabor Space in Portland on Saturday at 2. Care to join me for truffles?
Keep creating,
Kate
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February 19, 2018
Dino-mite! Drawing Dragons Day 50
This is totally the cutest dragon!
I love his little tail. I know! I’ll add a red heart on the end. Oh that is the best. And I’ll make his smile smirkier. And I’ll give him red spine bumps and a cute little belly.
Ahh! He is the best! He is totally the best — dinosaur?
Have a dino-mite day tomorrow!
Keep creating,
Kate
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February 18, 2018
Taking flight: Drawing Dragons Day 49
The snow fell down in big fat flakes, peppering the pavement. We watched it from the kitchen window.
“We should go outside,” I said, hurrying him along. “It’s probably not going to stick.”
He rushed for the shoe bin, pulled out his shoes. “Why won’t it stick?”
I pulled on my coat. “It’s really wet out there. And it’s not very cold. It will melt when it hits the ground.”
He ran to the door. “I hope it sticks,” he said.
“Coat?” I asked. “Gloves?”
“Yeah.” He pulled them on faster than I’d ever seen. Usually the ritual at the door takes long enough for me to drink my whole cup of coffee. I set it down on the counter.
We pulled the door open and went outside into the falling sky. He pulled melted snow cones off the car and threw them at me. I laughed and didn’t flinch. They were small.
Soon, the snow stopped. We went back inside; put our gloves on the heater.
We read books and drew dragons. We drank chocolate milk.
The day slowed down.
I worked on these wings:
Reference coming tomorrow. Cuddled up in blankets tonight.
Keep creating,
Kate
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