Happy Holidays!

Here's to wishing all of you a more than Merry Christmas!!

La Llorona - BD

It's BD* time!

*BD= Bande Dessinée. I like to make the distinction in my head between BD and comic as in the American sense, since I find the BD waay more interesting and wide in terms of art styles, themes and narratives.

Let us proceed.

This is the project I prepared for a bit of a contest in Angouleme, based on the mexican legend of La Llorona. It was made in ink with the tiniest itty bitsy brush that I could find, and a normal (but apparently for people still pretty small!) one. And plastic. I worked on a plastic, transparent film that allowed me to make the tiniest, teensiest strokes. I'm just obsessive like that. C:

ANYWAY. As you can clearly see, the story revolves around a woman who had an affair with a gentleman who then wouldn't marry her, and got dumped with two children - which for society in that era was completely sinful. Hence the red, representing temptation and sin. In order to get rid of said sin, she allegedly drowned her twins in the river - but regretted it instantly, condemning her soul to just mourn for eternity crying for her children. Happy ending, huh? Mexican bedtime stories for you.

La Llorona is pretty a well known character - but she's even taken this evil personality in games and stuff, which is why I found it rather interesting to tell her story. Sort of the "Origins" side to her. And according to my mom, she won't steal your children - she'll just cry and wail and scare the crap out of you.

Sweet dreams :)

Edit: And happy 150th post :D

Transistor Radio - Cloud Cult

...."I heard Grandpa on my Transistor Radio..."

As per usual, I took my inspiration out of a song for this piece. This time it was one of my absolute favorite bands in the entire Universe (not joking here), Cloud Cult - with their ever-smiley Transistor Radio. What better visual way to tell a story than via a medium that's not visual at all?

The song (that you can listen to right here, although there's also a pretty beautiful live version on KEXP radio over here if you wanna keep going) talks about a boy that hears his dead grandad on his transistor radio - you know, those really cool and portable radios from the 50's and the 60's. Which obviously meant I'd have to set this tale in a 50's ambiance... can you hear the excitement resignation in my voice as I type this? :D

So! Radios telling a visual story. 50's ambiance. Brightly colored radios. To add coherence to the scenario, I decided to treat it in black and white as if it were some sort of 50's animation. And there you go :)

And well, in the end, the boy finally finds what his granddad wanted to show him (if you haven't heard the song and the lyrics yet FINE, I'll tell you what it ends at, but SHAME ON YOU for it's gorgeous :3): "Where I am, Where I've been, It's the Show". It doesn't get deeper than that :)

I particularly love his grand dad - a smiley skeleton is one of my favorite cultural elements that I just don't get tired of. And of course, the clouds are a nod to the band's name - do listen to them, their music and their lyrics are guaranteed to lift you up, I swear!

Moon Labyrinth

Sooooo... this is the reason why I had been away from the computer lately. Or at least, one of the reasons. Still got more stuff coming up...

Anyway. All of this was inked in a beautiful 60x60 cm format (the labyrinth at least: the other figures were each at different sizes, although the nymphs and deers were rather small. Super, über small... because I'm crazy like that :D) The idea was to create a labyrinth for Artemis, Moon Goddess, as a representation of the passage between two worlds and the quest for oneself: you're trying to find yourself and you get lost in the process, but getting lost can be a delight in itself! Also, I got way into the different connotation across the times given to the labyrinth: at the beginning it was thought to be a representation of the most intimate nature of spirituality, and after the Renaissance ended it acquired a profane signification - which is when I decided to add the forest as a symbol for the frontier between civilization and wilderness. And of course, nymphs and deers are happily joining in, along with the 4 seasons united with the 4 elements :D

I could go on and on about it - however, I'm super super happy with how this turned out to be, even if it was rejected. I discovered a few superpowers in here, so expect some other super massive update - I also finished my sketchbook, so it's time to scan it while I begin the new one... :D

Mako

It's been a while, hasn't it??

I'm back in France, full speed mode on since I've got a TON of work. Now and then I get to indulge in a tiny tad of personal art - but this one had to make the trip with me since I painted it on summer... And finally here it is :D

I just had to go on and celebrate Mako's fairy tale in Pacific Rim. The music, the colors, the story, the shots, the lightning... pure poetry :)

Semanario 7

And we're done. With this one, I've officially finished my guest intervention of daily headers for a week for the Designers United fb group.

This is Fun Sunday, so I was supposed to have total freedom and fun with this one. Since I had already had total freedom and fun with the others, I just crammed a whole bunch of things I love in here. We've got a blanket, a dalmatian, a locket, loads of hidden easter eggs for a BD project I've got on the works, Catbug, a purple tree, a yellow umbrella, maccaroons, a new watercolor piece of paper with brushes and white ink, photos of friends, a music box, and of course my beloved and adored Pan's Labyrinth.

To anyone familiar with my blog/work/tweets/general blabbery, you aren't surprised about that last one, aren't you?

And well, the remains of the party from the day before. But they can clean that up later: right now it's dawn: that fleeting moment where all light is soft and gentle and pink for a few instants. And everyone knows I'm a sucker for lightning :)

Semanario 6

It's the weekend!!! And I think it's quite clear which one it is for Saturday... This one was loads, loads of fun - not only do I want that Jurassic Park poster, but I had never done so many characters so quickly - and that's just my dream lightning!! :D

Couldn't hide much stuff in here, for obvious reasons. But tomorrow will be the last one... can't believe it! D: This week went by so so quickly! n.n

Semanario 5

It's friday!!

And to tell the truth, I rather loved the way this one came out in terms of lightning... :D
Here we've got not only a rather watery fountain (did you guys notice yesterday the guy trying to fix it yesterday?) and kids enjoying the heck out of it, but for Free Font Friday (ahahaha - lame pun) we've got letters everywhere, an Avatar Aang poster, Perry the Platypus, Rise of the Guardians, How to Train Your Dragon, Pushing Daisies and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. And the duck with the Beatles wig from the Minnesota Project.

See you guys tomorrow - we're almost through!

Semanario 4

And we carry on! Here's the late afternoon, Vector and Branding Thursday header for this week. Because of the theme I carried on and used the page's logo as a logo for EVERYTHING - at least, anything where I could put the logo at. Dalí and Tarantino are present (I effing love Inglorious Basterds!), along with the house of Up, a light-saber (Obi-Wan's, with whom I have a certain weakness n.n), a turntable - gosh, I wish I had one of those- and my piano favorites: Dario Marianelli, Fabrizio Paterlini and my adored Chopin :D

On their part, the characters are almost done with their project - bet they're as exhausted as I am, but I reckon they look way better than I do right now... for Pete's sake, she's got a mint dress. *WANTS*

Semanario 3

It's already Wednesday!!!
Well, not here. PST says it's 19 hours (I'm still working/writing at home). But still - we'll see Django today, so gotta post it now.

It's noon in our apartment! This time it's Web Wednesday - a bit hard, since I didn't want to add all of the repetitive poses of characters checking their laptops. So I added tablets and smart phones - while at Paris I've grown 'fond' of people touristing and taking pictures with tablets... There's sarcasm in that sentence.

Anyway - I really loved this poster :D And my twitter fandom shows, doesn't it? Also pictured my fondness for old phones, my adoration for Google Doodles, Muse's 2nd Law, a Spiderman Comic; Dario Marianelli's "Love Letters" (that's gotta be one of my favorite soundtracks ever!) and a small Hedwig, since today's Harry Potter's birthday too...

Well, at the UK it is!

Semanario 2

We carry on! Here's Tuesday: Portfolio & Tutorial. It's easy to see where the Tutorials get into play in this image: only here is where I started thinking about a more concrete, clear sequential story to tell between headers. Also, I tried to make this lightning more morning like - kind of like 9:00 am sort of thing, where the other one is 6:00 am-ish. Had loads of fun learning how to draw paper cranes and how to draw paper cranes tutorials.

To note here: Jane Austen, Pacific Rim (HECK YEAH! - more on that later), coffee, Un Monstre à Paris and Paris Je t'aime.

I'm having a blast with these.

Semanario 1

A friend of mine from school proposed to me a rather interesting experiment. He asked me to do a series of headers for a local facebook group he administers: there's a different header every day, and they have different themes arranged for each of the days.

Since each artist invited to do the headers can do whatever on earth he wants with this, I've decided to do a series of illustrations with the same main characters, the same environment, and a different feeling each day. I'll get into details as I post them, but for today, we've got "Hate Mondays".

To note on this image: the tiny homage to Michel Gondry's "The Science of Sleep", the How I Met Your Mother english phone booth, and an even tinier Erasure's "Love to Hate You". And a clear allusion to my inability to cook.

Well, to be fair, I can cook. I just don't enjoy it. CEREAL FTW!

Summer movies

I had forgotten! I've been in the move and in the CRAZY WORKLOAD - so I had forgotten to share not only this piece, but several things I've been working on for these days. Expect some sketchbook scans, including a 'kitten' themed live drawing session, a couple of concerts and SEVERAL airport drawings. 16 hours between a flight and another, with jet-lag, is just not human.

For now, my Monster's University piece created for the Pixar Times Monster Mash-Up: had an AWFUL fun with this one. Clearly.

And I can't say enough how much I loved Pacific Rim. TO PIECES. Gosh, señor Del Toro, es usted un auténtico maestro. Señor Navarro: su iluminación me hace feliz.

Cuentos del Árbol - Giveaway Time! :D

Well well well, the french bureaucracy strikes again. I've just spent over seven hours in the office to finally get my carte de séjour (meaning that I'm able to stay in the country without worrying for a while); instead, I was sent back home to further worry about changing plane tickets, going to the embassy again, getting a different visa, probably changing status AND having a new appointment in OCTOBER. This whole thing will be over a year old by then.

Still. While I was sitting there, to be productive, I started storyboarding a project and I painted this. And I love it. And I want to share it to make someone else's life happier as it did for me and my day. SO.

During the next days, I shall tweet this constantly (if you don't follow me on twitter yet, come right this way). To those who Follow and ReTweet (RT in Twitter slang) those tweets, will earn a chance to win a print of this piece, in beautiful 5.5x8.5'' and maybe (maybe!, if I find the proper frame) framed, and have it delivered on their doorstep with pretty french postage before I go home for Comic-Con and stuff. We'll keep going tweeting and adding names to the list until June 12, when I shall post the video of a tiny kid getting the name randomly picked - probably in exchange of a lollipop. That kid does nothing for free, you know... :)

So! Are we game? You know how to play! Who wants this Tales by Tree Print?

Los zorrillos bebés son lindos

Light is a beautiful thing. I'm a sucker for lightning, I just love it! I think this is my favorite part of being able to illustrate stuff: being able to play with lightning and color in different images... and the worst is that right now, I'm working (on top of two commissioned projects from which I hope to report soon) on three personal ideas that have all to do with lightning. But particularly the newest. Which is my favorite. Obviously.

This one has got a much softer, dawnish feel to it in real life. I should scan it when I have the chance.

Now I'll get back to work on the second personal piece of the day. I've got a special surprise for you guys on that one... so I'd better finish it soon!

Morrison for Manzarek

This happens to me a lot. I create something with an objective in mind, and I work hard at it and I sketch A LOT and then life happens. And I move to the next project and I forget about the last. Just now, I realized that I'm working on two projects (officially) and got an unfinished children's horror story, two ideas for two BD's that I'm developing at the same time, a street art secret project and several pieces for my portfolio.

This one shouldn't stay forever in my hard drive. It was created last year, in hopes of creating a set of pieces for De Films en Aiguille, who in co-production with Chez Eddy are preparing my dream project of Les Fantomes de Pere Lachaise. And I wanted to show them that if anyone loves to draw in cemeteries - particularly THAT ONE (as you probably know if you follow my blog) - is me.

Since then, I started doing everything I described just now. I painted this, created a whole bunch of character designs for Edith Piaf, Georges Melies and Colette - and I didn't finish it. If they called me now and said "Hey Erika, we'd love it for you to get paid to paint in one of your favorite places on earth", I totally would.

However, with Ray Manzarek's death today, I got reminded (AGAIN) that we don't have time. We're moving. My dad is a huge The Doors fan, and this is why (again, as you know) I've been a flower child since birth. I've known this organ solo by heart since I was a baby. So it's time to share and let it out of the hard drive.

Maybe one day I can do a BD on Pere Lachaise.

Maíz Transgénico en México

It's time to let out the roots.

México is going through quite a lot right now. However, among the many problems, one of the harshest right now is the threat of the introduction of transgenic corn to the country. Greenpeace can explain better than I can everything this would mean; however, I'm taking advantage of being able to do what I can do to create my grain of sand in the protest. Many artists, activists and people in general are trying to defend this vital part of our economy, our alimentation and our cultural heritage (in many ways!!). I'm joining in.

So here's the goddess Chicomecóatl, one of the many incarnations of the corn in azthec mythology. It's THAT important.

Ok, para los hispanoparlantes, creo que es obvio de qué se trata esto - pero por si acaso, explico brevemente. México enfrenta en estos momentos la amenaza del maíz transgénico, y mucha, mucha gente - incluyendo activistas, artistas, Greenpeace mismo - están intentando llamar la atención a este problema para poder detenerlo. Por tanto, creo que me toca también alzar la voz a mi manera para ayudar, por más pequeña que sea.

Hela aquí: la diosa Chicomecátl, una de las muchas encarnaciones del maíz en la mitología azteca. Se trata de defender nuestro país, nuestra alimentación y nuestra cultura misma.

¿Cómo le va?

Boy, I've neglected the blog! That's good news for me because it means that I'm busy painting, but I missed you guys...

Do you remember last year when I was doing a series of tributes for Francisco Gabilondo Soler, "Cri-Crí"'s music? Well, I thought it was about bloody time to pick it up again. So today I sat down and procrastinated my work doing this piece, for "¿Cómo le va?" or "How do you do?"

It's basically about this really well mannered, coquettish squirrel that greets everybody in the forest as she walks around in the forest. However, since watching this video when little, for me she doesn't jump around - she DANCES in the forest. And hence, this image.

See you around n.n

La Pequeña Cerillera

I've always loved this story. It's so sad, so real, and so powerful. The Little Matchmaker has been since I read it for the first time one of the strongest memories of my childhood: I found sad that this little girl had been left to die in the street, and at the same time I was happy to know she was ok now.

So this feels like the right thing to start with for experimenting a bit with colors, textures and work methods...

Héroe Mujeriego

So - this is one of the joys of taking care of children. You come across this kind of moments now and then. This is totally true - I may have exaggerated or stylized a few bits, but the story is that yesterday at the park I took out my umbrella because it started raining, and the 4 year old I'm looking after decided HE was the one to hold it. Which of course meant that after two steps, I was drenched and he was walking in his water-proof coat, giving refuge to the little girls in the playground, all older than him.

He also decided to photobomb people taking pictures. His serious face while he does it is what makes it even better.

And, after almost six months of feeling a bit unwelcome in this city, while I was doing this watercolor at my usual cafe not only did I get a complimentary coffee by the patron - I also got this piece sold: barely had time to take a picture of it! So... a wonderful day, all in all n.n

Spring is flowering :)

Té Macabro

I'm hard, hard at work in a couple of projects completely different from each other but at the same time rather exciting. One personal, one in a collaboration. And another one that I hope that will come through too. Multitasking, at it's best!! But because I don't want to leave the blog neglected, here's a little something... just for you :)

Dr. Sketchy - L'artiste Voyageur

Got the chance to be a part of the Dr. Sketchy session at the Musée du Quai Branly last friday. It was a lot of fun - the costumes were simply amazing to work with, the models were wonderful, and even though - CLEARLY - I forgot a decent sketchbook I'm quite happy that I was still able to do some really, REALLY rough watercolor experiments... next time I'll double check before leaving home.

I must confess I suffered from scenic fear now and then: there were loads of people staring behind us...

Long pose allows me to experiment. And push the pose. 

 Ahahaha - the logo. This drawing was sponsored XD

Bike Love

A little bit of experimentation :D Had a lovely walk in a lovely wood, and I was going berzerk with textures and colors - taking pictures everywhere. I now have my very own snail shell for watering my pencils. In a few months, it'll be full of color, I'm sure :D

Perséfone

It's spring, you guys!!!
Well... or at least... it kinda wants to be. I mean, birds are singing and all, and yes, I'm starting to see some flowers outside, and last night I was able to walk by the Canal at 2:00 am and not really be cold - quite a relief after last's week's same walk in the snow. But come on! I cannot even take a decent picture of this work because there's no sun!! (Which is why I'm posting this today rather than yesterday :( Can we pretend I did it on time??)

Bref. (BWAHAHA French permeates my everyday language). *ahem* ANYWAY. I just went girly crazy on this piece and allowed my deepest inner influences to come out. GUESS WHO. C:

*Edit: The sun heard (read?) my rant and allowed me to take a slightly better pic of this. Still need to scan, though...

Note: If you couldn't guess, it's clearly this guy.

Bonnes Nouvelles

Well well well. Last week was rough. I got bitten, got my head open (a tiny bit, but there was blood involved) by a falling robot, got lost at 2:00 am and slipped on the ice in the pavement in the middle of the street. Try and guess which one's the fake one (yes, just one is fake!).

However, there's also plenty of good news - beyond my vanity that urges me to mention I bought shoes and a skirt that goes whoosh when I twirl. I got included in the Ólafur Arnalds For Now I Am Winter artbook with this piece - you get the artbook when you order the album in the US Official Store.

And also, I received notification that this other piece will be exhibited at Bogotá, Colombia, in the Salón de Ilustración Imagen Palabra, from April 8th to 13th. Still don't know the other exhibitors, but I'm excited as heck :D The piece itself is digital, so obviously the exhibited one will be a print - but boy, it's exciting! :D

Did I say how happy I am?

And well, got loads and loads of things to paint. I mean, LOADS. But in the meantime, I've been sketching loads of people on the metro... I'll be posting them now and then in twitter to make up for the lack of posts here - feel free to stalk! :D

Vuelo + VDM

I didn't want to post this yesterday. I draw girls ALL THE TIME, so I guess there's no need for me to be repetitive and post also on Women's Day...
So yep. Butterflies and girls, any day, all day long.

I also did a marathonic, 24 hours but super super super fun 'Bande Dessinée' for viedemerde.fr, and it got published also in fmlife.com. If you wanna take a look, feel free to pop in - if you came here because of it, HOLA!!! :D Nice to see you around!

Edit: For the people who have asked: unfortunately, no, I do not have a cat nor have ever had one. I would love one, seriously - but I've always owned dogs and right now, my flatmate's alergic - SOO...

Now, it's a sunny beautiful day outside. I'm sleepy as hell, but it's time to paint watercolors outside before it's cold again next week.