BLOBS #80 RESULTS

Happy RESULTS Day! If you are just checking in, we have returned from a week long camping trip. I taught a Postcard Art class and decided to use the serene surroundings as inspiration for this week's round of Blobs! Check out where shapes began...

Itty bitty dark cloud spotted in the distance during our Bog drawing.

Looking back at pictures I noticed this camo shirt was in front of me during a talent show. I picked one particular shape and edited!

Part of a tree we saw every night at our campfire.

Another unusual cloud spotted at the bottom of a huge water slide.

ANNA'S LEFT (CLOUD), AMY'S RIGHT (SANTA WITH SURF BOARD ON SUMMER BREAK)

ANNA'S LEFT (DINOSAUR), AMY'S RIGHT (GIRL AND HER ELEPHANT BIRD)

ANNA'S LEFT (TREE), AMY'S RIGHT (APE MAKING A TREE HARP)

ANNA'S LEFT (ELEPHANT MERMAID), AMY'S RIGHT (ELDERLY TEACHER)

I had two favorites I was eager to color up but wanted to pick only one. It was between ELDERLY TEACHER and GIRL AND HER ELEPHANT BIRD. I liked the way ELEPHANT BIRD had evolved from a camouflage shirt, so I decided to go with that design.

But I ran into problems. My snaffu became the perfect example of how blobs are meant to inspire - not always remain the same shape as when you started.

Here's a replay.

My GIRL AND HER ELEPHANT BIRD were coming along until I placed both characters en route somewhere. I pictured my ELEPHANT BIRD swooping down to get the GIRL to go on some kind of adventure together (her voluntarily going with the BIRD of course), but its trunk was becoming more of a problem than a solution. The whole physical possibility of ELEPHANT BIRD's proportions were hanging me up and I was getting to the point where my idea was feeling forced.

Where things were going...

Not working, right?

So, I abandoned my shape all together but continued with the idea it sparked in the beginning. A giant bird of some sort whisking a girl away.

My ELEPHANT BIRD turned into an oversized egret. Its neck kind of became the exaggerated feature ELEPHANT BIRD'S trunk had in the beginning. And I was happier. The end.

Thanks for stopping by! Oh - and if you're wondering about the ELEPHANT BIRD and it actually existing in this world (like I did)...there WAS such a creature! Read more about this flightless short beaked bird here.

BLOBS #80

Happy Monday! We are back from camp with a higher tolerance to heat! There were many firsts last week. Drawing with colored pencils while swatting at mosquitoes in 90+ degree weather was one, while leading a Postcard Art class was another. We had such a blast creating mini mail art that I wanted to make the same activity available for you!

If summer getaways are still ahead be sure to download some pre-made postcards here (they can also be found in the Activities page). Print the two 5"x7" cards on heavy cardstock and pack up some colored pencils or crayons! Instead of taking a picture of what you see - draw it! Then send to family or friends using a letter stamp. It will make your memories a little more colorful.

Since we were away, Blobs were inspired by things around me. Can you guess what they were? Try turning these shapes into characters first than check back on Friday to find out where they came from. Download Batch #80 here. Happy Creating!

BLOBS #79 RESULTS

Welcome to RESULTS DAY!  Below you will find CAT, BAT a LOUNGING ARMADILLO and more.  Enjoy!

ANNA'S LEFT (MOUSE), AMY'S RIGHT (BAT)

ANNA'S LEFT (FISH), AMY'S RIGHT (HIPPO EATING POPSICLE)

ANNA'S LEFT (CAT), AMY'S RIGHT (ACTUAL BOOK WORM WEARING BOW TIE)

ANNA'S LEFT (MOLE), AMY'S RIGHT (ARMADILLO LOUNGING)

Summer high temps are keeping us inside but not so with a couple of these characters! As I was drawing HIPPO EATING A POPSICLE (before he was eating a Popsicle), I sketched in a glass of ice water on his tummy.  That quickly changed when my daughter came around to check on progress while snacking on...a Popsicle.  Her treat looked far more refreshing, so HIPPO's...changed.  Character creating is a great way to personalize designs with favorite things, interests or treats being snacked on around you!

I stuck to pencil sketches this week since a picture book dummy revision is keeping me busy from a recent Highlights Foundation workshop.  We also will be away at camp next week with lots of mosquito repellent in tow! Look out for pics on Twitter/FB while we're away. Blobs will be taking a break until Monday, August 1. Thanks for stopping by!

BLOBS #78 RESULTS

We are back with results! Today is an extra special post because we have guest Kid Character Creators designing with Anna and I:

Kid Character Creators: Madeleine and Connor

They are also great friends of ours! We loved the spin they put on Blobs this week and the characters they created. Thank you for sharing! We hope you had a fun time experimenting. Please keep scrolling to see ELEPHANT FISH (he's excellent too), THE TWO HEADED ONE FOOT GUY (love), THE LIVING FRENCH HORN and more.

MADELEINE'S LEFT (THE LONG NOSED SHARK), CONNOR's CENTER (THE ELEPHANT FISH), AMY'S RIGHT (BABY FERRET BLOWING BUBBLES)

MADELEINE's LEFT (HUNGRY ALLIGATOR), ANNA's CENTER (C.A.T. ROCKET), AMY's RIGHT (ANGRY SQUIRREL WANTS NUT BACK)

MADELEINE's LEFT (THE TWO HEADED ONE FOOT GUY), ANNA's CENTER (KITTY ASTRONAUT), AMY's RIGHT (ELEPHANT ALARM)

MADELEINE's LEFT (THE LIVING FRENCH HORN), ANNA's CENTER (CAT HEAD), AMY's RIGHT (GRACEFUL ROOSTER FINDS NUT)

I love how one shape can spark so many ideas. Thanks again to Madeleine and Connor for sharing! 

BLOBS #78

New characters are ready to be designed here!  With Parade prep in high gear and a Highlights Workshop to get ready for, I'm postponing results until July 15th.  That's enough time to give your character a...story!  Happy Creating.

BLOBS #77 RESULTS

Welcome back to RESULTS DAY! Today we have RHINO WHALE, ROBOT, DINOSAUR ASTRONAUT and many more.  Enjoy.

LEFT (TORTOISE), AMY's ON RIGHT (BIRD)

LEFT (DINOSAUR ASTRONAUT), AMY's ON RIGHT (RHINO WHALE)

LEFT (MERMAID), AMY's ON RIGHT (KIDS PLECO THEMED VACUUM)

LEFT (ROBOT), AMY's ON RIGHT (PELICAN TAKES A BREAK ON BUOY)

When it came time to do a color sketch, I wanted to bring to life a fish-and-ocean-loving boy to operate my Pleco kid vacuum.  I pictured him as a song filled boy who loved to sing as he cleaned. Here is my first sketch...

Since I liked RHINO WHALE too, I decided to put him on the UV shirt (which would probably be worn everyday).  I dropped a clean simple room in the background thinking with an outdoorsy spirit - this boy is never indoors, right?!  Clean still doesn't look quite right for a kid though. So, the next round of development might be looking at things he would hang on his walls...shark pictures, fish drawings, etc.  But, for now - this works. WHA-la!

Thanks for stopping by!  Now - go play outside!

BLOBS #77

Happy Summer Solstice! Maybe these Blobs will inspire some campfire stories?  Try them out here!

BLOBS #76 RESULTS

It is Results Day!  What characters did you create?  Below find DINOSAUR MERMAID, PELICAN, CEILING SUCKER and more. Enjoy.

LEFT (ADVERTISING A NEW SOCK), CENTER (PELICAN), AMY's ON RIGHT (SHARK LOVES TO SING)

LEFT (BIG ANT), CENTER (STEGOSAURUS), AMY's ON RIGHT (CEILING SUCKER BUG)

LEFT (DINOSAUR MERMAID), CENTER (LOCHNESS MONSTER), AMY's ON RIGHT (SUPER BLOB)

LEFT (DUCK HEAD), CENTER (MAN), AMY's ON RIGHT (THE DAY FLY MET ROLY)

I decided to color up my SHARK LOVES TO SING.  It reminded me a little of a previous singer who made an appearance on the Blob Blog. 

When doing some color research, I found a nice website for any shark lovers out there.  And since I wanted my singing shark to have an audience, I tried to find a fish that would normally be sharing the same waters as a shark.  Which led me to the pilot fish (and for anyone still searching for a Father's Day present, maybe this could work for the fisherman in your life).

On to the color study.  This shark's pointy snout was inspired by the tope shark...

Thanks for checking in!  And if you haven't seen my Parade updates via Twitter/FB, this week I designed a fun little flyer to pass around. If you're local - come by on the 4th!

BLOBS #76

It has been a busy day!  A new batch of Blobs are ready for you to download here.  What do you see?  Check back in Friday for our results!  Happy Creating.