I don't know how to start this post off, so I guess I'll start somewhere. It's been nearly a year since my last finished piece of art, and really, I can't remember the last time I sketched for myself. I mean, I did have good reason for not doing so this past year, trying to finish up my book. But, in all fairness, I have been taking mental notes on what has inspired me to draw and/or paint. And this is one of them! It's none other than 'Jem and the Holograms!'
Okay, so why is Jem a mermaid might you ask? Well, if any of you have watched Jem, you would be familiar with her very 80s fantasy music videos. Some of them she is singing in space, dancing on rainbows, and OF COURSE kissing Rio every second she can. My fan art was inspired by one of her music videos from the first season where she has different scenes in the ocean - and being a mermaid is one of them.
I wanted to capture that 'super cartoony' look with this piece. Honestly, I draw very cartoony anyways, so it worked out. I didn't make any progress videos, but I have two other takes from my work in progress.
If you notice the first frame, it is my progress for my line art. I solely used Illustrator for the lines, then colored it in Photoshop (see second frame.) I used this method at an old illustration job I had in the early/mid 2000s, and it kind of just stuck with me.
Other then my Jem fan art, I hope to do a He-Man fan art one of these days...but the time...haha! Really though, while I am going back and forth with my line/copy editor these next couple of months, I hope to maybe shoot a costume, finish my King's Quest fanfiction, write a Spectrum of Magic short story, and/or get my cyborg poetry book together. Cyborg poetry? What is that? It's a personal pet project of mine that's been slowly in the works. We'll see what these next few months hold for me. Until next time! -Beth #jem #jemandtheholograms #80s #cartoon