sad bird

I've been in an art funk lately. This is a doodle I took a picture of and edited real quick. I hope you all are doing well! (I did get around to revamping my author website, so if you're curious about my projects, click here.)

atavists

I decided to revive a tattoo design I doodled a year or so ago. (Yes, I'm a big of a dork enough to consider getting my characters tattooed on my body!) I'm shying away from the idea currently, but you never know. I might get drunk in a few years and have a big tat of Zanni, Garr, and DeathX on my arm or butt or whatever. (Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world!)

Zanni was in this sketch originally, but she looked crappy. I erased her out. If you're simply DYING to see the version with her in it, look below the break.

And if you have no idea who Zanni, Garr, and DeathX are, you haven't read the first installment of my YA trilogy, The Atavists! I would normally point you to my Amazon page, but I'm actually re-writing the book because I'M GOING TRADITIONAL, baby! (Traditional as in Traditional Publishing. I'm currently Self-Published.)

lovey, dovey, and zoo

I gave a live webcast yesterday in celebration of my acting website's third birthday. (No, I'm not an actress. Go figure). I was super-de-duperty nervous, but I think I did OK. A whole twelve people were watching, so even if I did bomb, well, whatever.

Here's a picture of me before the webcast and some pictures of the foxes (Lovey, Dovey, and Zoo) I made for my boyfriend's apartment (sewn during Harvey Birdman, John Carter, and Harvey Birdman respectively).

Me before the webcast: I have a dragon ducky and I'm totally not nervous for the webcast. 
For some reason, I feel like I'm channeling Danielle of Sometimes Sweet in this picture!

Dovey

Zoo

I've been in a slight drawing funk, hence the lack of artwork. I'll get back into it soon.

boots

Around the same time I photographed my grandmother's animals, I also photographed several Southwestern boots from her expansive collection. Do you know how freaking hard it is to photograph boots in a compelling and interesting way?!

can haz your vote?

If any of you have a few seconds, please vote for me in Frock Stock's "Smoke and Mirrors" contest! I'm #3. You can vote for up to three people (therefore, you should totally just vote for me and no one else. Kidding. But seriously). All you have to do is leave a comment on their blog. Super simple!

Here are a few weird pictures I took the other day. (I'll get back to art again, I promise!)

animal portraits

A few years ago, I took portraits of all of my grandmother's animals for a calendar. It's high time for me to share a few of them with you guys! I'll post my glass beading project tomorrow.

Pictured (in order): Baby (deceased), Bingo, Frieda, Buddy, Kiki, Minnie, Tip & Sally, and Jack & Big Boy.

My personal favorite is the last one!

aliens

Art runs in my family. My grandmother paints masterpieces, my mother painted landscapes, and my dad draws stick figures. This video popped up on YouTube of some of my grandmother's paintings, which are displayed loud and proud in my insurance agent uncle's office. I wish I had her talent.

angel

let the angels rise

blow the leaves up high

travel through the storm

make spirits come alive

Created from a doodle I did while watching either Harvey Birdman or South Park. Speaking of which, I can't get enough of this episode. BWAHAHAHAHA!

hipster

Guys, I'm so fashion-blogger-esque with my Missoni for Target top and my hipster handmade fox! Oh, how I miss it...

I went pretty crazy over this Missoni for Target top after seeing it on ebay. (I missed the initial madness when the collection first launched.) I spent a crazy total of $21 to get it in my grubby little hands, but it was worth it. My insane OMGMUSTHAVE feelings have been satiated for now.

In other news, I finally made another fox/corgi. Bonus points for throwing on the 3D glasses I didn't recycle after watching The Avengers for the second time.

In OTHER news, I still don't totally understand what a hipster is, hence why I'm using the word over and over again in the hopes that I'll use it right at least once. I'm in a weird mood today.

watercolors

I've been hankering to try out watercolors for my fashion illustrations. My ruggedly handsome (description per his request, although I agree ;]) boyfriend picked up a cheap Roseart set of watercolors, and I totally feel like a little kid again. I haven't messed with watercolors for at least a decade! The overall piece looks like shiiiiiiz, but this particular section looks agreeable. Hoorah.

What are some things you haven't done in a decade that you kind of want to do again?

Frock Stock Polyvore Challenge

Frock Stock Polyvore Challenge by zanniplainjanefashion

My entry for www.frock-stock.com's challenge! (http://frockstock.blogspot.com/2012/05/frock-stock-polyvore-challenge.html). New art piece coming soon!

heart

I wanted to practice my shading, so the main focus of this sketch was showing some kind of depth/color variations in the shirt. I'm not really digging it otherwise! (WHY OH WHY must my drawings look cartoonish?!)


SALE TIME! Take 30% off your order + a free 4x6 of your choice until Sunday with coupon code "JUNE30"! (Please leave the name/link to the 4x6 you'd like in the "notes to seller" form. It can be from my blog, not just from my Etsy shop!) http://t.co/SwenQf5k

vintage red-head

I tried out a new style of eyes, but I'm not sure about it. My drawings still look painfully cartoonish. (If I hear one more person say I've got a "bratz-doll" style, I'm gonna FLIP MY SHIZ.)

the dreary days

Saying I love this print would be an understatement! (I dig newspaper-print mixed media stuff, so it's only natural I gave it a try. And, um, loved it.)

I purchased a book about drawing figures and fashion. It's in manga-style, so not all of it is applicable to how I like to do things. However, it's proving to be super helpful in teaching me how to draw side profiles, limbs, and proportions in general. Let me know if you see an improvement in the weeks to come! (One of these days, I'll become enlightened about shading...)

IFB Fashion Blogger Feature (V.1)

This is the first post of my IFB Fashion Bloggers Series. Each week, I will illustrate 3-4 fashion bloggers with the hopes of being included in IFB's Links A La Mode. If you're not a member of Independent Fashion Bloggers, check it out!

From left to right: Ka of Fashion Stylist_Ka (Ireland), April of Delicately Fierce (California, USA), and Sara of Style Party (Iceland). Original posts here, here, and here.

black cat

How would you like to wake up with this hovering over your bed at 1:13 AM? You're welcome.

The black cat is not a cat at all; rather, it is a spited sloth who morphs into a fearsome cat-blob and roams the countryside from 1:11 to 3:33 AM to exact revenge on those who doubted its athleticism and intellect.

I'm currently catching up on sketches to submit to IFB's Links A La Mode tomorrow while watching Harvey Birdman and eating mac & cheese. Toodles!

(Don't forget to enter my latest giveaway: two 5x7 prints of your choice! See the sidebar for deets.)

P.S. For some reason, the face on this thing reminds me of Stan's sister Shelly from South Park!

parrot // giveaway winner!

I can't decide whether to sign my name as Kat Mellon or Kat Mauvais (which is my, ehem, "artist/musician" name). Any thoughts? 

I think this gal is the Cruella D'Ville of parrots. (Is that right? I haven't watched 101 Dalmations in a long, long time. Shame on me.) 

THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY IS...JEANNE BATES TENNANT! Please email me within 48 hours to claim your prize at shopzanni [at] gmail [dot] com!