Tempestuousness and Whimsy

Our eleventy-first Sketch Fest has come to an end! But that doesn’t mean the gallery’s locked – some additional illustrations may be added as our artists finish uploading the creations inspired by their claimed prompts.

You should definitely swing by the full gallery – in a bit. Let us whet your appetite with some featured illustrations first.

“Lily” by Maigan Lynn

Inspired by Julie Rabischung’s prompt of “lotus flower mermaid,” Maigan Lynn drew this pale and long-lashed fish-tailed beauty. “Lily” is drawn with colored pencils on 5.5″ x 8.5″ on toned paper. Pick up the original for $35.

“The Blue Fox Carried by a Balloon” by Erich Heidewald

Erich Heidewald drew this delightful blue fox who’s “[f]loating, floating away!” with a whimsical grin on their muzzle. This illustration is colored pencils on 3.5″ x 5.25″ on 60 lb sketch paper.

“Little Red Hen” by Kathy Nutt

There’s a sublime watchfulness in Kathy Nutt’s line drawing of a “Little Red Hen.” We can just see this chicken giving a mischievously loud bacaw before shimmying her feathers and looking for feed.

“Queen of Shadows” by Mayumi Ogihara

Mayumi Ogihara sketched this “Queen of Shadows” with her vulnerable yet piercing gaze and perhaps a hint of a raven-feather collar and a truly impressive crown. This is an unfinished digital sketch inspired by Maigan Lynn’s “the darkest dark” prompt, and Mayumi may finish it after some more brainstorming time.

“Storm Fairy” by Katherine Rose Barber

Storm Fairy” by Katherine Rose Barber is a breathtaking sketch of tempestuous beauty. She also did a speed-sketch of this, which will be up on her YouTube later – be sure to check it out.

“Just Wondering” by Peter C.M. van Herpt

This majestic gorilla by Peter C. M. van Herpt was created in pencil and pastel pencil and inspired by Nathalie Edelhirsch’s prompt of “just wondering.”

That’s it for tonight – click over to the full gallery for more, and join us here tomorrow when we announce the dates of the next Sketch Fest!

Holiday Sketch Festin’

Our December Sketch Fest is nearly over, and it’s been seasonally appropriate and inspirational! Jump over there to check it out, and maybe even pick up a gift or two – prints and original sketches are for sale.

Let’s have some featured illustrations:

“Warm and Fuzzy” by Amy Sue Stirland

Amy Sue Stirland sketched this adorable “Warm and Fuzzy” pig, and she says: “This cutest fluffy piggy is enjoying his first snow in a warm winter cap.” She plans on finishing the 8.5″ x 5.5″ illustration with watercolor/gouache.

“Polar Bear and Her Cubs” by Peter C.M. van Herpt

Peter van Herpt’s animal illustrations never disappoint, and this protective polar bear with her two cubs is no different! This sketch was done with pencil, pen, and ink.

“Christmas Cardinal” by Sally Gilroy

This sketch of a “Christmas Cardinal” from Sally Gilroy easily conjures the feel of a bright, crisp day and the birdsong all about. We can even see the colors!

“The Sweetest Mouse” by Katerina Koukiotis

Evelyn Henderson left the prompt of of “sweetest mouse” and Katerina Koukiotis delivered with this sweet creature! “The Sweetest Mouse” is a 5″ x 7″ sketch in colored pencils – and an ACEO LE print is available for only $6!

Unimpressed and Ornamented” by Tallulah Cunningham is another illustration that made us laugh out loud – the expression on this giraffe’s face is priceless! Tallulah created this illustration with color pencils and pen on a paint swatch card.

We hope you enjoyed these illustrations – why don’t you head over to the full gallery and leave comments for our artists? And don’t forget to shop!

Sketch Fest 102: After Action Report

For our 102nd Sketch Fest, we had two dozen participating artists contribute more than 100 creations to our gallery! We were feeling the onset of fall with a bevy of autumnal faeries, fall-colored owls, candy corn-colored bats, and more. There are over 2 dozen illustrations you can buy – whether original or print – as well!

Check out these final featured illustrations, then wander through the full gallery and leave comments for our artists.

“Flutter Kitty” by Linda Sayegh

This was artist Linda Sayegh’s first Sketch Fest, and she drew several great sketches, including this “Flutter Kitty.” Here’s what Linda has to say: “Adorable little Fairy cat waiting for some snuggles and a new forever home. Thank you to Paola Zunico for the prompt.” This piece was done in colored pencils, Sharpie paint pen, and Signo gel pens on light grey Mi-Tientes acid-free paper. You can purchase the original 6″ x 8″ sketch for $45!

“Sanguine” by Maria J. William

Sanguine” by Maria J. William depicts the most curious and bright-eyed, shell-bedecked mermaid! Drawn in colored pencils, pastels, white charcoal, and white acrylic on toned paper, you can snag the original 6″ x 8″ portrait for $40 or two different sizes of open edition print for $7-$10!

“Going Somewhere” by Majen Jewel

Welcome back to Sketch Fest, Majen Jewel! “Going Somewhere” is one of her first illustrations for Sketch Fest in over two years and we’re loving it. As Majen said, “It is fun to both follow and lead.” This illustration is drawn in colored pencils and markers on 11″ x 4″ Bristol.

“Monarchs in Autumn” by Paola Zunico

Paola Zunico drew gorgeous, luminous butterflies in “Monarchs in Autumn.” Her 5.5″ x 8.5″ illustration is on Canson paper and can go home with you for only $45!

“Fae Cat” by Erika Harm

Erika Harm drew this “Fae Cat” in all their implicit arrested mischief – invite this feline fairy into your home by picking up the original watercolor painting – 4.5″ x .25″ on watercolor paper, only $15!

“Midnight Riders” by Peter C.M. van Herpt

Feel wild and free when you gaze at “Midnight Riders” by Peter C.M. van Herpt. These moonlit riders gallop across the page in pen and ink from Conté à Paris.

“Rain Song” by Eimiel

Perhaps we can feel the summer fading in Eimiel’s “Rain Song” – a gentle downpour of warm rain with the barest chill. This illustration is graphite and Polychromos colored pencils.

We hope you enjoyed these sneak peek’s at #EMGSketchFest 102’s gallery – click through now to enjoy the rest.

Go ahead and make plans to attend our next online Sketch Fest – #EMGSketchFest #103 will take place October 5-7, 2018 while we’re celebrating 25 years in business! Mark your calendars.

Late night expressiveness with EMGSketchFest 98!

We’ve come to end of this Sketch Fest Saturday! We’ve had more felines show up as the day wore on, along with a vampire doll and an amazingly disturbing angler fish mermaid.

Let’s jump in to tonight’s featured illustrations:

My Fractured Heart by Katerina Koukiotis

Katerina Koukiotis drew “My Fractured Heart” in color pencil, pastel, and lots of sparkles. Her “little mermaid with her bubbly fragile heart” was inspired by a prompt from Camille Chandler. You can pick up a limited edition ACEO print for only $6! You can also purchase the original 5″ x 7″ sketch for $25.

Bewitching Smile by Tricia Danby

Bewitching Smile” by Tricia Danby features, well, a truly bewitching smile. We can’t wait to see this sketch continued!

I Wish by Monika Holloway

Monika Holloway’s enthralling sketch “I Wish” was inspired by Edward Cammarota’s prompt “I wish someone would look at me like that.” This sketch measures 6″ x 9″ on 300gsm ivory paper.

Royal Lad by Finley Mac

Who can forget the Toad Prince? Finley Mac didn’t, and drew this spectacular “handsome and perfect little boy, smeared ink and all.” 9″ x 12″, ink on mixed media paper. This is Finley’s first Sketch Fest, and we couldn’t be more tickled!

Shadows in the Dark by Peter C.M. van Herpt

Peter C.M. van Herpt turned a piercing eye to the night and drew “Shadows in the Dark” in pencil and charcoal.

Those are all our featured illustrations for tonight, but be sure to give the gallery a wander before bed. Then come on over and create with us tomorrow!

Welcome to EMGSketchFest 94 Sunday!

Have you been following Sketch Fest 94? There’s been some gorgeous work added to the gallery, spanning topics as diverse as fluffy dragons, ice princesses, and abstract concepts. There’s even a dragon made of pipe cleaners!

Let’s jump into some featured illustrations:

“Golden Light and Trees” by Ellen Million

Ellen Million’s first addition to this Sketch Fest is this ACEO art card, colored pencil on tinted paper, capturing that gorgeous feeling of golden light filtering through tree branches. $15 for the original!

 

“Fluffy” by Unky Lastrange

Unky Lastrange took Erich Heidewald’s prompt of “fluff dragon” and turned it into this floating bit of adorability: “Fluffy,” a graphite sketch.

“Lonely Egret” by Renee Erickson

Renee Erickson painted this beautiful and lonesome egret, prompted by our resident bird-guy Peter C.M. van Herpt. She’s offering the original 11″ x 14″ oil on canvas painting for $150!

“Arctic Flames” by Peter C.M. van Herpt

Peter himself has run hot and cold in his illustrations for Sketch Fest 94 – with perhaps both qualities being reflected here in “Arctic Flames“! Carré pastel on Mi-Teintes.

“Ice Unicorn” by Kathy Nutt

Our last featured illustration for now is “Ice Unicorn” by Kathy Nutt! Inspired by Mayumi Ogihara’s prompt, Kathy spent less than an hour sketching this beauty in faint pencil. She darkened it a bit in GIMP so she wouldn’t end up with a partial inked sketch when the first hour’s time was up.

There’s still an hour left in #EMGSketchFest 94! Hop on over to the gallery to marvel and shop!

Sketch Festing the Night Away

Are you a fan of spooky fun? You have got to check out #EMGSketchFest 92! I’m serious – since it’s October, we have a ton of fun and spooky creations in the gallery. You can even pick up prints or original art of fantastic witches, ethereal owls, or even a gothic mermaid!

Okay, enough chatter. Let’s skip to the featured illustrations for the evening!

“Cute Ghost” by Nicole Madden

Nicole Madden brings us this ghostly cutie based on Sarah Alden’s “cute ghost” prompt. The bow-wearing ghosties are adorable, and we love the stripes and stitched-mouth look on her main figure!

“Colourful Leaves” by Peter C.M. Van Herpt

Peter captured the taste of autumn with this gorgeous pile of autumn leaves – look at the depth, and the richness of the colors! Derwent Colour Soft on Mi-Teintes.

“New Moon Unicorn” by Kathy Nutt

Kathy Nutt’s “New Moon Unicorn” is a celebration of stylized lines and wild beauty. All captured by Micron pen! An inspired interpretation of Beth “Boo” Moore’s “Dark Unicorn” prompt.

“Bewitching” by Maria J. William

We opened with a ghost; how can we not close with a witch? Maria J. William drew this bewitching beauty with colored pencils and white charcoal on toned paper. The original and prints are available!

We’re signing off for the night, but feel free to keep rocking #EMGSketchFest by visiting the gallery and even creating! (Don’t forget to use our official hashtag, #EMGSketchFest when posting to social media.)