Family Life Illustration Series

Posted on September 1, 2017 by lksukany

I completed the “Family Life Illustration” series using Inktense pencils, Micron ink pens, and Canson Illustration 11×14″ 150lb art pad. There are 15 illustrations in the series (that is how many pieces of paper were in the art pad) of my current family life and inspirations for 2016-2017.

This work is narrative in content and uses color in a monochromatic way accentuating one part of each drawing. These fun and quirky illustrations are a reflection of the current joy and activities I was able to experience through starting a family with a newborn through toddler. Each piece has its own story, blog post, and details.

“Getting Ready”

“Family Time in Bed”

“Walking at Two Rivers”

“Sunday Morning at St. Andrews”

“Book Babies at Terry Library”

“Easter Picnic at St. Andrews”

“Playroom: Key of G”

“The Damsels in Distress Cakewalk”

“Finding Nemo with Friends”

“First Birthday Buzz”

“Costume Parade at the Library Center”

“Watching the Larpers at Phelps Grove Park”

“Bonfire at Sequiota Bike Shop”

“Christmas at Bass Pro”

“Exploring the Japanese Stroll Garden”

15 Illustrations: Getting Ready

Posted on May 10, 2017 by lksukany

I am working with Inktense pencils, Micron ink pens, and Canson Illustration 11×14″ 150lb art pad to create 15 illustrations (that is how many pieces of paper are in the art pad) of my current family life and inspirations.

“Getting Ready” is the first and last drawing in the series. I drew it at the beginning of the series and it’s a bit of a “nesting” time before E was born. I wanted to discover during this series how our lives would change socially and in our community once we had a baby. After finishing the drawing, I decided to color each pendant from each of the drawings in the series (which made this drawing technically the last one completed). The colors would eventually represent all of our adventures together, but in the drawing it would just be my daydream.

Before, with no color

The colors used are Inktense pencils: Sun Yellow, Leaf Green and Teal Green blended, Carmine Pink and Tangerine blended, Carmine Pink, Spring Green, Fuchsia, Iris Blue and Mauve blended, Mustard, Saddle Brown, Poppy Red, Cadmium Orange and Tangerine blended, Leaf Green, and Mauve and Violet blended.

My favorite things about this drawing are the crayon books and snail bookends,

the new mom, dad, and dog sister waiting for baby,

the embroidery and flowers.

and the completed embroidery.

15 Illustrations: Exploring the Japanese Stroll Garden

Posted on May 3, 2017 by lksukany

“Exploring the Japanese Stroll Garden” is just one of many times we have been to the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden in Springfield, MO. We all love to walk around and explore what the different seasons have to offer in the garden. It is such a relaxing and calm place to be. I used Inktense pencils Mauve and Violet blended for the purple blooming trees.

My favorite things about this drawing are the bridge and Micah and E looking off of the bridge,

all of the nature textures – the pebbled ground, trees, and bushes,

the rock pathway and log edging along the water,

and Ein and I watching the ducks.

Inspiration for this drawing

15 Illustrations: Finding Nemo with Friends

Posted on December 10, 2016 by lksukany

“Finding Nemo with Friends” features some of our friends from Arkansas (and Romania). Our friend Nana and her three kids were so amazing to help me navigate the land of having a kid. We were invited over – an open invitation – for whenever we wanted. Nana’s husband put together a “Finding Nemo” fishtank and E loved watching the fish. I used Inktense pencil Iris Blue for the color and used it on the water in the fish tank, the sky in the Romania painting, and placed a wave pattern on the rug.

Some of my favorite things about this drawing are Nana’s daughter reading to E,

Nana’s son playing cars,

Nana’s dog (and Ein’s friend Jack) watching W play with his cars,

Nana’s oldest daughter reading a good book,

the fireplace,

the painting of Romania that Nana commissioned for Livada orphan sponsorship,

the awesome “Finding Nemo” fish tank,

the fun wallpaper pattern,

and the waves in the carpet, which I put to not only use the color in an interesting way, but to show that our short time together (before we moved to Springfield) was in some ways metaphorically like the “Finding Nemo” dentist fish tank scene.

Inspirations for this drawing:

15 Illustrations: Key of G

Posted on October 27, 2016 by lksukany

“Key of G” is a musical family portrait in the playroom. G was the first note our baby played on her Casio keyboard. I liked this drawing so much that I made it into E’s first birthday party invitations and thank you notes. It’s super fun with all of the patterns, shapes, and there is that party pink color again. I used Inktense Carmine Pink and Fuchsia blended. I never thought I would be a little girl pink promoter, but goodness there are so many cool things in pink!

Some of my favorite details of this drawing are the thread in a jar, the piano, the piano bench cushion pattern, M’s fun socks (completely made up), the rug pattern inspired by The Land of Nod,

the play kitchen with the triangles on the wall (which the pink triangle decals are from the Land of Nod and placed by Gallery Gal), our fun family musical portrait,

me playing accordion, E playing the maracas, Ein playing the jingle bells,

the fun pendant (that I designed and embroidered), table cloth triangle pattern, and flowers in the kitchen, M playing the concertina (Grandpa and Grandma Sugar gave us the concertina – thanks!),