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| "Aunt Sam 2018" graphite, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, and ink on watercolor paper, 5x7" Completed 4 July 2018 |
I wanted to genderbend our well-known fictional representative and make her a cheeky, fun-loving lady (as opposed to the grump on the Army recruitment poster, lol). I don't know where the idea came from, but once I thought of it, that's all I wanted to do for my 4th of July Twitch stream. I think more than anything, the fact that this would give me a break from my February Gryphon illustration, which I've been working on diligently every day for the past few weeks, was what motivated me.
I ended up using an even wider variety of media than I originally planned. My plan evolved as I worked and after finishing the graphite sketch and the watercolor, my use of the gouache with a stencil proved that I would need to use something else when adding more detail to the background. I had intended to use gouache there too, but it was too bold and would have taken away from the main focus of the piece (Aunt Sam, that is). So I switched to metallic silver acrylic! I love the effect! I definitely think it was the right move. Everything else went as planned and I finished off the details with ink and more gouache.
Real time creation video of Aunt Sam 2018.
I had so much fun creating this piece (and chatting with one of my Twitch friends) that I ended up streaming for a full hour longer than scheduled! And I didn't even notice my back hurting or my stomach complaining for food like I usually do. I definitely needed this break :3 What a great way to start my long holiday weekend! Happy Independence Day, everyone 🇺🇸
P.S. Consider supporting my art career by purchasing this artwork as a print! Available as art prints, mouse pads, mugs, and more! Click here to check it out :D
