Bunny-Whooo?!

Hello Illustration Lovers,

Happy April Fools! Well, I don't have any pranks to share with you all, but I did enjoy Google's "Gmail Motion" spoof! As I was watching the video for it last night (it was still March 31st here in CA), I said to myself "I know this is a joke", as soon as the 2nd man in the video (not the Google Employee/Announcer as is a main-stay of the Google videos, but the man doing the moves to "interact" with Gmail), and then I clicked on the install button and saw the "April Fools" declaration! Good one Google, I enjoyed it! ^_^

Here's the video, for future reference: "Gmail Motion" April Fools

Anywho, on to my latest illustrations, these are all self-initiated, as I am still finishing up my last semester at the Academy of Art University...YAY! I will have my BA in Illustration by this Summer! I can't wait to start my career!

On to the illustrations:

I titled the 1st piece in my (New!) 'Adorable A1' Cards "Imogen's Tea-Time Correspondence" and this card was inspired by my life-long adoration of Beatrix Potter mixed with some cartoon/animated film-feel and styling.

Here's Imogen Hare:

"Imogen's Tea-time Correspondence" by Jesse Young. hare. rabbit. bunny spring-time Easter adorable cute animal art.

I drew Imogen and her house in "tight-pencil" on recycled cardstock, and then I re-outlined the piece on vellum using a calligraphy nib and walnut ink, which really "loosened" up the piece for a more "fun and whimsical" feel.

 This was my first time using walnut ink and I enjoyed it!

From there I scanned the linework and brought it into Corel Painter.

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After experimenting and coming up with "Imogen's Tea-Time Correspondence" (I started off with a vague idea and didn't know what I would end up with, but I am so pleased with what resulted)...I knew I needed to make more animal friends to accompany her, so I  thought up some animals, and stewed over it for a while, but I kept going back to owls. I love owls because they remind me of my mother, we used to stay up late together, so she would call me her "night owl". I also remember that we had a fiber-optic owl light thing-a-ma-jig, and the colors that made up the owl's body in a "pixel-like" way would change, in complete darkness, it was MESMERIZING!

So, I began to gather reference and came up with an owl character that I am proud to say is truly my own. I know there are owls that may look similar to him, but I didn't base him on any one cartoon owl, but rather a mix of imagery that I am familiar and inspired by.

Meet Owlsley:

"Owlsley" (the owl) by Jesse Young. www.JesseYoungILLO.com

“Owlsley” (the owl)

He's a most-educated owl, and shares his love of learning with everyone he knows!

[Digitally-Colored in Corel Photo-Paint... that's right, no crayons or colored pencils were used to achieve the textured and child-like coloring]

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To be honest, I was a bit apprehensive of posting these, because they are so darn cute, but I grew up with Sanrio and Disney, so it's hard for me not to take little forays into the world of simple and colorfully-bright illustrations. I don't know how long this tendency will "stay" with me, maybe forever, but I'm having fun regardless! That and Spring-time always draws me to animal imagery. Easter is my favorite holiday...what can I say, I like pastel-colors and bright sunshine!

If you enjoy Imogen and Owlsley, please consider purchasing some of my Handmade A1 Cards, you will be supporting this blog and more ILLUSTRATIONS! ^_^

Available in my Etsy Shoppe:

"Imogen's Tea-Time Correspondence" A1 Cards: Set of 4

&

"Owlsley" A1 Card: Single

"Owlsley" A1 Cards: Set of 4

Thanks for reading and looking!

- Jesse

{ Please Visit Me At: www.JesseYoungILLO.com }