INCURSION into Another World: Gallery Show Poster

Preliminary thumbnail sketches (left) and revised thumbnail sketches (right).

2nd round of thumbnail sketches for the decided pandora's box concept.

Panned out view (left), worm's eye view (center), bird's eye view (right) and labels for bird's eye view (below). You can tell the last view was fail since I had to tell not show the viewer what was going on. Haha. But I wanted to see if I could try to capture that view anyways. It was hard to convey, needless to say.

Visual development sketches of objects/symbolism I wanted to specify in the drawing. Dragons to capture the yang (darkness) of a new world; lanterns to be the yin (light) of the world quite literally; the cherry blossom tree to ground the piece back to earth but is a symbol of duality of it's also likeness to clouds (the sky) along with its association with the tree of life and death itself; the kites to symbolize flight and exploration of a new world; the butterflies again bringing death but also encouraging symbols of accepting change gracefully; floating lanterns symbolizing celebration of life; and the tree banners symbolizing celebration as well. 

All these symbolic icons were chosen to illustrate a balance of good/bad, light/dark that comes in every world. I wanted to illustrate the essence of Incursion and encourage viewers to explore the new world gracefully and with courage. 

The word INCURSION itself meaning a sudden, brief and aggressive entering into a new territory or world. 

In progress (left) and final color studies (right).

Work-In-Progress of the tree.

WIP of the dragon and plane and inverting some values to explore the possibilities of lighting in the piece.

WIP adding in the boxes, lanterns, kites and butterflies.

Detail shots of the Dragon tail (top left), Dragon head (top right) and a fan service panty shot (bottom center).

Greeting Night/Early Morning Pandas,

So this is the process work for the poster design of INCURSION a gallery show that will be showing at City Arts Factory. I'm going to have a few series pieces in the show myself and will have a few friends from the area of Orlando showcasing as well. Please come out to see the show as it will be open for a whole month from Jan 17-Feb 15 and it is totally FREE. Opening night will be amazing, all the featured artists will be there, food, and fun! Also we will be selling extra prints of the poster opening night as well, so come get an autographed copy of it while supplies last! 

Spread the word fellow Floridian Pandas and I'll see you there come January 17. I'm so excited! :D 

Come back soon to my blog for some preview WIP of my pieces that will be in the show this whole next month leading up to the opening of the show. 

Love, Erica

P.S. Visit and "Like" INCURSION's Facebook page here: http://www.pandaerica.com/2012/12/incursion-into-another-world-gallery.html

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SENIOR THESIS PROJECT!

Hi everybody! I know it's been TOO long since my last post, but what with graduating, moving back home with my parents and crazy, frantic job searching and applying and cover letter writing and resume editing, all of that combined with hanging out with the family back here in Kissimmee and catching up with some old, old friends I've been stretching myself pretty thin trying to get everything done and posted up here on my blog. But lo and behold, the fruits of my labor my last semester at Ringling College of Art + Design. TADA!

I cannot reveal to you, my loyal fans, the original manuscript for that is to be witheld from public eyes for the exception of potential interested publishing houses, but I can give you all a short synapsis of the story. :] I originally came up with the idea for this children's book at the end of last summer when I was having a bout of cat-calling across the office of Express' Men's Design department with my fellow co-worker, Mark. We were calling back and forth to one another calling out "Lost?" "Found?" "Loooost!" "Found!" And at the time it was just really funny and cute, but that short dialogue stuck with me and I was able to turn it into a very cute story about friendship. "Lost and Found: A Story of Two Friends" is well just that. It is a story that is directed towards young children around the ages of 6-7, who are just experiencing their first days of schooling, and still trying to make their own friends for the very first time. Lost and Found are two very adorable dogs who, like their owners, are best friends. Lost is a clever Jack Russell Terrier that loves everyone and loves to make friends with other woodland creatures. Found is a very charming Yorkshire Terrier who can sometimes be a bit pushy and a little bossy. But what does a dog do when he loves his friend, but that friend is a total brat who seems to always get his way? "Lost and Found" is a commentary on the dynamics of friendship and how it is a push and a pull, a yin and a yang. It shows children that there has to be a balance of power in a relationship and that you can't always be the "hero".

I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of the children's book process. I actually really love to tell stories, short and cute with simple messages. I am not done illustrating all of the pages within my book, but I hope to finish the book by the end of the year at the latest and if by that time it has not been picked up by any of the traditional publishing houses, then I plan on self-publishing on my own. And when that time comes I will surely let you know how and where it will be available for purchase. Along the way though, I shall keep everyone posted on the process of the art and might release some of the final page spread as a bit of a teaser. ;]

Thank you to my family and friends for all of your support these past 4 years spent in art school. I have struggled to find out who I am as an artist and I still don't think I fully know what direction I want to take my art in, but I do know one thing: that is that my passion for children's books has grown from a passing hobby/interest to a full blown love of it all. I love the writing, I love the art, I love the messages it brings to the younger generation. And I love doing it all. I hope that you will continue to follow me on my path to wherever life takes me and that you will come to see the day that I publish my first book. I hope to make you all proud. :D

My corner display area for my thesis project in the Bayou Painting studio 4. I made it a point to include my dog, Maxwell's house, who was the inspiration for the character Lost. He was very sad that he didnt' have a house to sleep in for a week, but I think he got over it. It was for the greater good. ;]

 Half-title and copyrights 2 page spread.

"This is a story of two friends..."

"Lost and Found."

"Fetch!"

A small portrait of Lost (aka my dog, Maxwell Parrish).

"Lost? Found?"

"A Most Peculiar Creature"

"Mr. Sleepy Head"

A small portrait of Found, inspired by my brother's dog Sawyer in real life.  

"Stray From the Usual Routine"

"The Hero"

"Hide-n-Seek"

More art from "Lost and Found" will be coming soon! Stay tuned! And happy summer everyone! :3

Love, Erica

p.s. All of the art was done in watercolor with a little bit of gouache to touch up a few areas.

This is a story of two friends...

Hey guys,

I'll be releasing a page or a 2-page spread every two days or so from my senior thesis project, my original story "Lost & Found". So be on the look out for them. :3

It's so much fun seeing what started as a very small idea for a story blossoming into a full-fledged picture book before my very eyes. Now if I could only get it published by a real publishing company. I'm working on it that though. 

Well, 'til next time. 

Love, Erica

Above Water

Dear readers,

This semester is going to be BUUUSSYYY. Just got through submitting for my first 2 rounds of recruiters. A very busy semester indeed. I hope I'm prepared enough to stay ahead of the pack and charge straight ahead to whatever comes my way this year. 

First, here are some character studies. There are more to come of the dogs and more expressions. But here are some of the little boy and little girl who care for the main characters of my thesis story. :3 

I tried to portray a slightly more androgenous boy that's more effeminate, stylish, spoiled. I'm contemplating adding a cardboard crown on him. ^^;; Would that be a bit much?

 And here are some for the little girl who is more outgoing, adventurous and slightly more shabby than the boy. I want to suggest a slightly more tomboyish personality in the girl who side kicks Lost.

And here are some final interior drawings. Some still need more tweaking. But I hope you guys enjoy. :]

More to come for sure. Stay tuned. :]

Love, Erica.