I had forgotten my "pillow in the freezer" technique to keep cool on hot and humid summer nights. And yes, I did have Pac Man sheets.I just celebrated a milestone birthday and that has me feeling nostalgic. Another year older plus the first heatwave of the year brought this memory to mind.
Speaking of minds and forgetting - while working on this illustration I jumped up from my desk and ran to the kitchen. Once there, I had NO IDEA what had compelled me to go in there. I stood stupefied for a moment and returned to my desk. I then remembered I had intended to study the fridge for this illustration.
Illustration Friday is a great excuse to try a new technique. For this illustration I scanned the pencil drawing and printed it on heavy matte paper. I then applied acrylic washes to to the print. I also worked fast and loose (for me). I spent just under three hours on this illustration.
18 comments:
That's AWESOME. I love the condensation wafting and falling from the freezer. I've never tried this with my pillow, but there is actually a product now called Chillow....a pillow you put in the freezer or fridge and it stays cool for hours. Anyway, you brought back memories from my childhood of hot and sleepless nights. Happy birthday.
HUH! We've never done the sheets (or pillow) in the freezer trick, but we DO do the jammies from the drier in the winter time...
Happy birthday! Are you older than I, or do you count milestones a little differently than I?
Don't fret the forgetful stuff - it happens to EVERYONE (and anyone who says it doesn't it lying to you...)
Happy Birthday?! Why did I think your birthday was on the 14th? It was on the 6th wasn't it? Oops... You'd think after all this time I'd remember. Don't feel bad, I still confuse my mother's birthday with my aunt's. Guess you can add me to the forgetful club.
Anyway, terrific illustration! If this is the quality level you produce when you crank things out in 3 hours, you should do all of your work this way! It has tons of life and appeal (and a different style to boot.) Those are mighty tiny tighty-whiteys. Are you sure he doesn't need a warm blanket instead of a cold pillow?
Terrific illustration!
i love it :) Happy Birthday!
nice job! I've been meaning to try that technique myself. I tend to be a tight worker too. I read that's how Alexis Deacon keeps his work so fresh-by scanning sketches and painting with gouache.
Happy Birthday! I'm hitting that milestone in January and it already has me thinking.
I feel like I remember the boy from this illustration from all those years ago.
Happy birthday! I enjoyed visiting your web site. Your art is great. Which milestone? I'm visiting my little artist friend who will be 101 in July! That's a milestone! And today we will paint together...enjoy life.
Great response to "forgotten."
At least your fridge is still working then...
I love it! Cant really say anything else... Its so cute!
It's fantastic!
I'll have to try the pillow thing!
this is great....and you sound like me...going somewhere and then not knowing why....
neat trick about the pillow, too.
great illustration
This is great! Never thought of that idea! And pac-man sheets are very cool....
Beautiful illustration and nice technique.
We have only one season here - summer, I should consider to put my pillow in the fridge, but I think my fridge is too small for it, :(
Great idea with the pillow and wonderful illustration.
I'm curious what kind of printer you have - to paint over a printout without it bleeding or changing color on you? Inkjet or laser?
i have to find a way to do the illustration fridays... even if i set aside a time limit to do so. maybe that's the way i have to tackle them.
yours rocks and definitely has a nostalgic feel! like you said, good way to experiment. no boundaries. even if the illustration doesn't turn out well (not the case here with yours!) you almost always learn something.
happy bday
Thanks to everyone that left a comment! I appreciate the feedback and birthday wishes.
Kate, thanks for the heads-up on the Chillow! Maybe I'll get one for my next birthday!
Mrs Chili, you might be a couple years behind me - try not to have a melt-down (like me) when it comes.
Linda, I can't bring myself to admit my advanced age - but I'm nowhere near 101!
Debra, I use an Epson 2200 inkjet. I printed on heavy matte paper (65 lb) and kept the acrylic on the dry side.
Bobo's Owner, thanks for visiting from Malaysia! Stay cool!
My daughter's stepmother taught her to put her pillow by the fireplace in winter... but it never occured to any of us to try the freezer in summer. Nifty illustration. I could see a book of "ancient wisdom" like this for kids.
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