Princess Mononoke

I've been meaning to share some of my illustrations on here, and I could really use a break from making dolls. This is one of my favorite illustrations to date and you can buy a copy in my shop. 

This sketch is based on the 1997 Japanese historical fantasy animated film by Hayao Miyazaki. Princess Mononoke is one of my husband's favorite Miyazaki films, but to be honest it took me several attempts to finish it. I am more into cutesy and happy films, and this one was too violent for my tastes. 

Eventually, I finished the movie and grew to enjoy the edgy story and visually intoxicating artwork. Miyazaki's devotion to detail is part of what makes his films magical to me. I found it interesting that he and his art crew spent 3 days soaking in the landscapes of the ancient forests and mountains in Japan for this movie. His style is unwavering, and you know right away that you are watching a Studio Ghibli film. 

 Although my sketch doesn't portray any edginess, I feel it captures a whimsy of how a Miyazaki film makes me feel. I plan to sketch more characters from his films in the future. 

If you've never seen Princess Mononoke I recommend watching it. Here is the trailer if you are interested:

Do you have a favorite Miyazaki film?

Mine is Howl's Moving Castle.

Somewhere Down The Barrel

The other day I had the itch to sketch it out, here was the result:

This was a totally different outcome than my normal sketches of cute things puked into my sketchbook.

When I was in college I had an unhealthy obsession with Daniel Johns from Silverchair. He had a side project called The Dissociatives, which was completely insane to my alternative loving self at the time, but the lyrics really spoke to me.

Here is the video to give you a visual:

Maybe my morning pages have been giving me deep thoughts, but here are a selection of lyrics that were swimming in my head while drawing:

"when everyone's a stranger
they call for you by your first name
and laugh at jokes you once made
when you were a kid"

"i'm plagued by small town fascists
like a rash on my skin"

"when paintings seem like bargains
but they're nothing but wallpaper"

The illustration reminds me of myself a long time ago. Kinda quirky, ready for crazy, and usually smiling on the outside. I've been thinking a lot about being "grown up" these days, which had me reflecting on the days where people ask you, "Where do you think you'll be in 10 years?"

Are you where you thought you'd be? Where do you think you'll be? Something to think about for sure.

Princess Mononoke

I've been meaning to share some of my illustrations on here, and I could really use a break from making dolls. This is one of my favorite illustrations to date:

This sketch is based on the 1997 Japanese historical fantasy animated film by Hayao Miyazaki. Princess Mononoke is one of my husband's favorite Miyazaki films, but to be honest it took me several attempts to finish it. I am more into cutesy and happy films, and this one was too violent for my tastes.

Eventually, I finished the movie and grew to enjoy the edgy story and visually intoxicating artwork. Miyazaki's devotion to detail is part of what makes his films magical to me. I found it interesting that he and his art crew spent 3 days soaking in the landscapes of the ancient forests and mountains in Japan for this movie. His style is unwavering, and you know right away that you are watching a Studio Ghibli film.

Although my sketch doesn't portray any edginess, I feel it captures a whimsy of how a Miyazaki film makes me feel. I plan to sketch more characters from his films in the future.

If you've never seen Princess Mononoke I recommend watching it. Here is the trailer if you are interested:



Do you have a favorite Miyazaki film? Mine is Howl's Moving Castle.