Thursday, January 10, 2013

Mixin' It Up Even More...

 
 
Update: The second portrait shown here was featured on The Outlawz challenge site this week! I'm so proud!

Hello, lovely people! It has been raining here for a solid week now and I'm getting a bit tired of it. I usually welcome the rain as it allows me to stay in and do creative things or just to lounge around and watch movies or play on the web. It's getting to the point of being ridiculous now though and I'm more than ready for a little sunshine.

I thought I would venture off on another path and show you some things I have done with my Copic markers that are not the typical kind of projects you'll see on my blog. I am so in love with these little markers, I can't adequately explain it. They have opened up so many new creative avenues for me and I literally could spend all day, every day, coloring and creating projects with my art. I thoroughly enjoy making greeting cards and other paper crafting projects using digital stamps designed by other people. That's something I want to try my hand at, too, as soon as I muster up the courage. I haven't done any serious drawing or painting since I discovered Copics until very recently, when I decided to try combining the two things.

First, let me give you a little background on these projects. I have always been a huge music fan, as I guess most people are to some degree. I'm also a fan of television shows like American Idol and The Voice, where unknown singers compete for a shot at a recording contract and possible stardom. In 2009, during season 8 of American Idol, I was mesmerized by the singing talent of one Adam Lambert. The man had a vocal range and stage presence like no previous competitor on the program and he kept me watching, week after week. I voted for him every week too, which was something I had never done before, even when Kelly Clarkson (a home town girl) competed and won the very first season. Needless to say, Adam didn't win. I still think he should have and his career thus far has substantiated my opinion. I have seen him perform live 4 times so far and my infatuation continues to this day. Okay, I won't bore all you "non-Glamberts" with any more about Adam's incredible vocal ability but might I say that he is also quite striking visually. Take away the guyliner, glitter and sometimes dramatic costuming (aspects of his personna aside from his voice that orignally attracted me to him) and the man is really very handsome. Anyway, I decided to try my hand at doing his portrait.... in Copics!

It took a bit of practice to get the technique down, as it's a little different from coloring digi stamps but I think the results are quite acceptable, even if they aren't perfect. I have completed a total of 3 head shots and 1 full body portrait, all taken from photos I found on the Internet. There are lots of pictures here so I hope you have a cup of coffee or tea to sip as you read on!



I only have one photo of this first portrait because I created a shadowbox with it for a dear friend of mine who surprised me last year with a ticket to Adam's Trespassing concert at Winstar Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. He is wearing a stage costume from his first tour, aptly called GlamNation.


This is the second one I did and is also my favorite of them all. It captures the intensity of his gaze and those beautiful blue eyes. The colors are deeper and more vibrant in person.


It's difficult to tell in these photos but I applied the alcohol inks in several layers until the paper was almost completely saturated with ink in some places. 



A closeup, showing the texture of his hair and the purple hues I used in some of the shadowing.


Here is the third one. The original photo this was taken from was actually a full head shot. I decided I liked this side better than the other so I just cut the other half off! LOL I just couldn't seem to get the right side of his face right but I thought the left was too good to trash.





Just some additional views of the same portrait. If you click on the individual pictures, you may be able to see the "brush" strokes of the markers in some spots. 


And last, the full body version. I cut this one out to use in the aforementioned shadowbox I made for my friend, Leslie. I'm hoping to get her to take some pics of the finished project but I'm not sure she'll allow me to post them here as it has a photo taken of her and Adam together backstage during his first tour and she's a little bit camera shy. I wasn't fortunate enough to get to meet him but I was ecstatic for Leslie!

Okay, so there they are. Whether or not you care for Adam or appreciate his music, I hope you have enjoyed seeing my portraiture of him. Eventually, I'd like to do a larger one that I can frame and send to him, if it turns out well enough. I know, I know! I feel a little silly sometimes behaving like such a fangirl at my age! I just appreciate extraordinary talent (and a pretty face) and this young man has both! Believe me when I say that I get teased incessantly by my son about it! Thankfully for me (and for Adam!), there are millions of others all around the world just like me so I think I'm in pretty good company. 

I am entering at least one of these portraits in the following challenges/linky parites:

Simply Create - #17 (Linky party)
Created With Love Challenge - #23 Anything But A Card
The Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes, with a twist (Favorite Thing)
Make It Monday (Linky Party) - #123 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by my blog today and for humoring me if you have made it all the way through this post. It will probably be back to cards and layouts after this so I hope you haven't minded my departure from the usual crafty things I normally write about here. Have a wonderful weekend and until next time...

Happy crafting!
Anniebee




18 comments:

  1. You are so talented. Love all the versions of Adam. We have followed him closely on Idols here South Africa. He is a true superstar and very creative with his outfits as well as his music. Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs Desíre {Doing Life}

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  2. You ROCK Annie!!! Your portraits are AMAZING! You should be soooo proud and definitely send one to Adam! I am sure he will treasure such talent from one of his biggest fans. Thanks too for putting my badge in your sidebar. That made my day and gave me a thrill! Miss chatting with you but so it was glad to hear from you!
    Big hugs and bunch of kisses!!
    Dana

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  3. GREAT work. Thanks for taking part in our Anything But a Card challenge at Created With Love Challenges

    Chris

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  4. I'M DROOLING!!! WOW Anne your coloring is spectacular! Each one is just amazing. How inspiring you are to everyone. You did such a fantastic job, I'm so glad you shared them with us I just can't say enough. Thanks so much for joining us that TT and I love seeing your creations.
    Hugs, Patricia

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  5. Ok, I'm a fan now :)
    I was already from you're coloring but now also from Adam!
    Outstanding coloring and drawing Anne!
    Hugs,sandra

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  6. Wow these are just wonderful and your coloring is out of this world. Your so talented. I am at a lose for words that would mean anything. These just blow my mind.
    Thanks so much for playing along with us at Created with Love challenges.
    Linda K.

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  7. Fantastic artistic creations! I agree with everyone, your colouring is spectacular. Glad you joined us at Created With Love Challenges.

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  8. Wow Anne, these are really quite amazing!! The coloring looks absolutely stunning!! I thought he was such a great singer on American Idol! Thanks for sharing and wowing us with your stunning designs!! HUGS :)

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  9. Hey Annie these are great! Good job on all.....love the full body shot!!!!

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  10. Wow! Your art is absolutely amazing! I can't take my eyes off it. Thank you for joining us at The Outlawz: Twisted Thursday. I commented there but I needed to come for a closer look. I am your latest follower!
    Hugs,
    Marie XX

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  11. I've been to the WinStar in Thackerville, I saw Train there! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your Glambert ART! Beautiful.
    I was lucky to see Adam when he came to Tulsa with American Idol!
    Hugs,
    Allie

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  12. Annie I love teh third one but they are all awesome. You are one very talented woman and I am glad I stopped by from MIM to check out your glamourous renditions of Adam.
    Stamping Shanni

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  13. Fantastic projects Annie. I saw this on MIM..Loz

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  14. Fabulous cards and colors. I spotted this on MIM. Faye

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    1. Thank you, Faye! They aren't cards but I appreciate your sweet compliment.

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  15. Wow! I like the full body version best! Saw it on MIM.

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  16. Absolutely stunning Anniebee..perfection..

    Thanks for sharing with us at Make it Monday..

    Luv CHRISSYxx

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  17. All I can say is: SPECTACULAR! :^)
    Hugs, Penny

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I love hearing what you have to say so feel free to leave a comment.