Beans' Beach Cottage

My piece for the upcoming "Paper Trail" show is all done and extra fancy!

I'm turning it in to Monkeyhouse Toys today. If you'd like to go to the show or reception in LA, here's the details:

There's tons of other artists participating, and the store store sells really awesome, avaunt-garde toys, suitable for kids or adults! Go check it out if you're in the area!

xoxo, Natasha

In Progress

I haven't been updating lately because I've been working to finish my cut-paper piece for the upcoming Monkeyhouse Toys show!

Here's a sneak peak of my work in progress:

Almost done!

A couple shots of "Before..."

Thanks for reading! xoxo, Natasha

Beans the Boston Terrier

Hi Blogger!

For the past couple weeks, I've been working on a new cut-out/gouache piece (in addition to working a couple freelance gigs, raising a new Boston Terrier puppy, and taking figure drawing classes!) I've been suuuuper busy!

Here are a few concept sketches of the piece I'm working on... It's going to be in the same vein as the other fancy doghouses, but instead of just gouache, it's going to have cut-out elements as well.

Sketchbook Color Comps

Final Composition

Beans Rough Designs

Real Rough First Concept Passes

 

 The whole thing has been inspired by my new puppy, Beans the Boston Terrier! Here's a photo of her by my friend Tony Postma:

The final image is the flyer for the show that this piece is going to be in... If you happen to be in LA, come on by! There's going to be work from over a hundred artists! I'm super excited to see what everyone's going to do! I'll be plugging this show for the next couple weeks, so more updates and info to come!

Thanks for reading! xoxo

Sherbet Dogs

Just trying out some new Photoshop brushes and color palettes :)

Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall is one of my inspirations :)

A Comic About Reading

One day, you'll read a book, and you won't put it down even after you finish it.

Go see the big version and find out what I was reading at my Tumblr.

xoxo, NK

Doghouse Paintings

Creamy dreams the day away. 

Mr. Winston is staying home today.

I think all dogs should have fancy, gaudy doghouses. 

Two little paintings in gouache :)

Thanks for reading! xoxo

End of the Sketchbook Doodles

Ahhh... another sketchbook, come and go. Here's some excerpts:

Thanks for checking out my work! Don't forget to join me on Tumblr if you want more frequent updates of comics, illustration and more! natashakline.tumblr.com

 xoxo

Just a Cat Poem

A tiny sad poem for today. I promise I’ll be back to making motivational comics again next week.

I use the phrase "hard to believe you were just a cat," and hopefully it doesn't come off in a callous way. What I really mean is that she filled so much space in my heart and mind that it's hard to believe she wasn't a person: an aunt, a friend, a sister. It's also used somewhat  symbolically because it's what I imagine people think when they hear my cat died: "Well... it's just a cat, right?" 

It's been super hard having known her for so long, and having the memories of her since I was a kid. It's hard to remember her going limp in my arms, and the feeling of torture afterwards, wondering if there was anything I could have done to prevent this happening. Now that she's gone I drift around the house and wonder what to do with myself. It was always a comfort having  her around, a reason to get out of bed in the morning. She warmed my heart with her little purring footsteps. Now that she's gone, there's a huge hole in my life.

 I've been leaning on making art pretty heavily so that I'll still have a reason to get up, get out. I'm actually really glad that I started "making something everyday," because it gives me a goal when I'm sitting there, wondering what to do with myself, thinking about her and missing her. 

Be happy today and always! I'm going to try to and be back and happy next week. xoxo

For Those Who Grieve

For those who grieve.

It's been a hard week. Making this and seeing the response to it has been a little bit of happiness to me. The hardest part about saying goodbye is the fact that you're reminded of all the goodbyes you've said through the years. 

Goodbye Maggie

This past weekend, one of my oldest friends passed away. My cat Maggie was a source of great inspiration to me over the 18 years that I knew her… This collage is just a slice of the many drawings I’ve made of her over the years. The poem, by Christina Rossetti, is a comfort for me now, as I come to grips with the fact that Mags isn’t here anymore. I keep seeing her ghost out of the corner of my eye, thinking I need to feed her or put some water in her bowl, wanting to pat her head as she follows me around the house.

Some may think it’s silly to grieve over a pet, so I guess I’m the silliest of them all. I loved her so much.

Thanks for reading and following… Today, a small bit of happiness comes from knowing people are responding to the work I do, and I really appreciate you guys now more than ever.

Thank you! xoxo

Here's a transcript of the poem:

When I am dead, my dearest,
Sing no sad songs for me;
Plant thou no roses at my head,
Nor shady cypress tree:
Be the green grass above me
With showers and dewdrops wet;
And if thou wilt, remember,
And if thou wilt, forget.

I shall not see the shadows,
I shall not feel the rain;
I shall not hear the nightingale
Sing on, as if in pain:
And dreaming through the twilight
That doth not rise nor set,
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.

Make Something Every Day Part Two

Make Something Every Day Part Two, because after I posted the first part, there were a lot of people who seemed worried/confused about how to start. The point is to start and just keep making stuff, keep going, to keep your momentum up! Momentum and motivation are incredibly important  if you're creative. Making something everyday, even if it's just a tiny thing, helps with that, in my opinion :)

Make Something Everyday

I made this comic based on tons of conversations I've had with Mike... we talk about this all the time- how IMPORTANT it is to keep going and keep making things if you want to be an artist. Recently, getting on Tumblr has really cemented this for me... Seeing and being inspired by all the other artists out there has been an amazing experience. The internet can be a cold, dark place, but so far, Tumblr has provided a really supportive, wonderful community of artists that I'm so glad to now be a part of! I really want to thank anyone who's taken time to look at my work, send me a message, or even hire me to do a doodle for them. Mostly I want to thank everyone out there who keeps making stuff and sharing it and being a part of the art community. I made this as a "thank you" to all the artists out there.

Keep making stuff! xoxo

Dirty Doggy

Another GabCollab! Just a dirty old dog, feeling a bit neglected...

For sale in my Society6 shop!

Bike ride on the Beach

Hi!

So I drew my friend, Heather, of 29 Skirts, after she posted this adorable outfit. She's so durn cute! Really makes me want to get some floral pants of my own!

This is a fictional image... Heather doesn't ride a bike. But I thought her outfit would be perfect for a bike ride by the beach! Whenever I ride around my neighborhood, I always wear a sweater and slim pants. The cozy sweater and close-fitting pants make for an easy ride, especially since where I live usually is kind of overcast and chilly. Plus, wearing something that doesn't flap around and get caught in my bicycle gears is a must.

Yay, bikes! Yay, beach! Yay heather!
xoxo

EDIT:
I just made this image for sale in my Society6 shop! Go have a look :D

Once Upon A Dream

Another illustration for GabCollab :D
One of my favorite Tumblr pastimes is contributing to this blog!

Here's a few detail shots of it, because I realized that I stupidly made a tiny jpeg after I posted it toTumblr :P

Awww, couple of cuties! 

Thanks for looking! xoxo

SKETCHBOOK DUMP

New selected sketches from my three sketchbooks. 2013 IS THE YEAR OF DRAWING, PEOPLE. YEAHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I'm stoked! Thanks for reading!

xoxo