SIRI WEBER FEENEY
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"Illusplaining" a New Style

11/26/2018

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New Style
Sometimes I wish I studied cartooning along with illustration and graphic design. I would already be used to something like this new style I’m attempting. Maybe then I wouldn’t have such pesky difficulties to struggle over.
 
But for my early reader, I’m aspiring to a new graphic-novel-y, cartoony style for younger children—different from the odd not-quite-cartoony style used long ago for Boston Magazine and my regular not-quite-realistic children’s illustration styles.
 
Going for a specific level of grunge and bad drawing with over-enthusiastic claws and tiny fangs is chancey stuff. It tends to be a difficult leap from 23 years of educational, trade nonfiction, and magazine illustration work . . . most of which were done on tight schedules . . .. Actually, practically everything . . . except my own illustrations and writing . . . was done on tight schedules . . ..
 
Yep, there it is. I’m illusplaining. Making excuses. In case this doesn’t pan out.
 
But a looser look fits the project. For now, I’m going with a claim of “outsider’s style.” Perhaps it will be new and interesting to those jaded by looking at good cartooning.
 
Got to try, anyway.

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Getting My "Hand" Back

9/2/2018

1 Comment

 
The Little Artist, by Siri Weber Feeney
Last year, five minutes of painting/drawing, using the computer, or writing made my hand go completely numb.

I had to have carpal tunnel surgery.

It was simple surgery with a painful recovery—in two ways:
1) Pain-pain. Lots of nerves in a hand.
2) Lots of angst.

The whole year before, I’d gradually had to reduce work, until I was only doing small projects with roomy deadlines for existing clients. So by the end of that year, I’d pretty much lost my “hand” (hand-eye coordination) and finally gave in to the idea of surgery.

After surgery . . ..
Good: Absolutely no numbness.
Bad: Absolutely no numbness.

Good: Eventually, I could draw and paint again.
Bad: Needed lots of practice to get back to my skill level.

My mom and I had been going to weekly life drawing sessions. Before the surgery, I would draw five minutes, shake my hand, rest it five minutes, then draw again. After surgery, driving the 16.2 miles each way was the accomplishment. But after a month of physical therapy, I was drawing and painting again, getting used to my “new” weak, shaky and uncoordinated-but-numb-free hand.

I’m still going to life drawing. Working in my studio now, too. Getting my “hand” back—both the use of it and hand-eye coordination.

I’m working on character designs for a silly new story and just finished a week of writing, rewriting, re-rewriting query letters and a synopsis for a #PitchWars entry.

There are countless much worse situations others are dealing with daily, I know. This is just a little plug for the good kind of stubbornness that helps a little with all sorts of trouble.

Wishing you plenty of stubbornness, as needed, too,
~Siri


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    Siri Weber Feeney

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  • HOME
  • ILLUSTRATION
    • ARCHIVES
  • WIP
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