Ria Art: 2019

I've always been a bit resistant to change, so when I settled on what I wanted my illustration technique to be many moons ago now, I have stuck with it no matter what.

Settling on my technique of doing a drawing on gessoed illustration board and coloring digitally allowed me to be comfortable in exploring how I like to stylize my characters and their worlds.

Taking the thinking process (or in my case, the over-thinking process) of what materials I want to use when I draw made it so I could really focus on what my style is.

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This soft controlled technique has served me well and truly does speak to my aesthetic; a sweet tenderness that warms the heart.

This style is what captured my agent's eye and I have illustrated several picture books this way too.

So you may be wondering: 'Well what's the problem?' Well, no problem really, just that it is quite a time consuming technique to undergo. There really is not much in between either. I go from the messiest, loosest sketch to this tightly rendered illustration.

This was great for progress shots, but when it came to sharing cute little sketches on social media, I wanted something faster. Something that still fit in with my aesthetic but shared my expressive sketches in a colorful, more 'finished' way.

As many of us have observed, it is important to look at your overall gallery on social media platforms like instagram. And as an artist, aesthetics are important to me! I wanted to remain true to the aesthetic identity of my brand while being able to express myself through my drawings more quickly.

Working digitally is one of the more faster methods, at least for me, so I took to my ipad and started experimenting.

I started out simply enough, mostly with some patterns.

I used the regular graphite pencil brush to sketch as I normally would when I'm in the brainstorming/thumbnail stage of creating an illustration.

Then I created another layer on multiply and started experimenting with the brushes in the 'artistic' category. I find that I like how the painterly brushes look in addition to my sketchy lines. It reminds me of when I pull out my watercolors to just experiment and clear creative blocks.

So I kept going, how would this style look with a character? How about within a narrative?

I decided that I liked the style more on white backgrounds, or hinting at a background with the paint in much lighter tones.

After many exercises, I was starting feel comfortable with this way of working and made these guys, which are among my favorites.

The technique was starting to take shape the more confident I became. It was fast too! Soon, I was thinking about the possible routes this technique could take and it lead me to experimenting with more of a comic style.

It has been fun using this style to share some of the funny thoughts I have in my mind throughout the day when I'm putzing around in my studio.

I'm thinking of revisiting some older illustrations and re-creating them in this style and possibly introducing this way of working to my current portfolio.

If anything, I have learned throughout this process that it is ok to continue growing and experimenting. I do not have to necessarily be married to any one technique, but with that being said, it is important to have some consistency.

After all, having two clear artistic identities is better than having one confused one.

It has been a while since I have shared a crochet pattern, which is a shame because I really like creating tutorials for these-especially the fan art.

A pokeball is certainly no exception either, so many of us out there love pokemon, so what better way to show our love than to make a tiny pokeball?

I'll even show you how to attach the pokeball to a keychain to make it portable so you can catch 'em all on the go!

Not a miniature enthusiast? That's ok! You can follow this pattern with regular yarn and any size hook-a win for all!

If you like, you can also take a peek at the video tutorial I made for this pattern on my YouTube channel. Click the link to the left →

Or click this link ↓

https://youtu.be/DBGfP0mrT20

Materials:

-1.50 mm crochet hook

-red embroidery thread (DMC 817)

-black embroidery thread ( I used DMC 310)
-white embroidery thread (DMC blanc)
-scissors
-fiber fill
-tapestry needle

Optional:

-stitch marker (I use a little gold safety pin)
-a stick for stuffing (I use a chopstick)
-keychain (you can usually find these at a craft store)

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Abbreviations:

RND round
sc single crochet
ch chain
inc increase
st stitch
dec decrease (sc dec single crochet decrease)

BLO back loops only
** repeat around

Pattern:

Pokeball Body

Starting at the top of the pokeball with your red color.

(RND 1) 6 sc in magic ring (6)

(RND 2) *2 sc inc, sc in next st* (9)
(RND 3) *2 sc inc, sc in next 2 st* (12)
(RND 4) *2 sc inc, sc in next 3 st* (15)

(RND 5) sc in each st around (15)

Switch to your black color, you don't have to worry about making a seamless color change either. We will be covering up the mismatched stitch rounds with the release latch of the pokeball, so just continue crocheting around with your new color. 😃

(RND 6) sc in each st around (15)

Switch to your white color.

(RND 7) sc in each st around (15)
(RND 8) *dec, sc in next 2 st* (12)

Stuff all thread ends inside and proceed to begin stuffing the pokeball with small amounts of polyester fiber fill.

(RND 9) *dec, sc in next st* (9)

Stuff more if needed.

(RND 10) Work in BLO and dec around until the pokeball is closed

With your tapestry needle, fasten off the white thread end. Be careful to only work in and out of the holes in between the stitches of the shape.

Release Latch

With your white color,

sc 3 in magic ring, close the ring and sl in the next stitch (completing a circular shape). You can push the middle through the stiches in order to flatten the shape more.

Switch to your black color,

2 sc inc around for a total of 6 black stitches. sl to close the circle.

Be sure to cut a rather long tail of the black thread so you can sew the latch to the body of the pokeball.

Find the spot on the ball that looks a little uneven from where you joined the colors and sew the non-working thread ends (there should be 2 white and 1 black) start in that spot through to the back of the ball, being careful to again, sew in and out of the holes in between the stitches of the shape.

I like to put all 3 of my non-working thread ends through the eye of my tapestry needle and sew them all through together. There is also no need to tie them in a know on the other side, there are just a loose anchor for now.

Next, thread your long black thread end and begin sewing the latch to the pokeball. Weave in and out of the 6 stitches of the latch and sew through the pokeball. It is not critical to sew in and out of the holes here, just through the top surface anywhere near the latch will do.

Fasten off, being careful to sew in and out of the holes in between the stitches.

If you want to attach a keychain then you can just attach it to the pokeball with some pliers that you might use to make jewelry, or you can try my way:

With your red color 6 sc in a magic ring in RND 1 and before you go to close the magic ring, insert one of the metal loops of the keychain and close the magic ring around the metal loop.

Proceed to crochet around the keychain link and the pokeball will take shape around the keychain. You can even use the non-working red thread end that is hidden inside to tie a knot around the metal loop of the keychain to secure it even more.

See pictures below for more clear instruction: 👍

Starting at the top of the pokeball with your red color.

(RND 1) 6 sc in magic ring (6)

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(RND 2) *2 sc inc, sc in next st* (9)

Keep going until you have 9 stitches.

(RND 3) *2 sc inc, sc in next 2 st* (12)
(RND 4) *2 sc inc, sc in next 3 st* (15)

Keep going until you have 15 stitches. You can decide if you would like a stitch marker for the next round.

(RND 5) sc in each st around (15)

Cut the working thread end.

Tighten the thread you just cut by giving it a little tug.

Insert your hook into the next stitch and attach your black color.

(RND 6) sc in each st around (15)

Continue all the way around. You can tug on the red thread end to tighten the stitch if it came a little loose before you complete your last stitch with the black thread.

Cut your black working thread end.

Give all your thread ends little tugs to tighten the stitches in this area.

Continue around by attaching your white color into the next stitch.

(RND 7) sc in each st around (15)

Continue crocheting around.

Give the black non-working thread end a tug if it needs it so you can complete the round.

(RND 8) *dec, sc in next 2 st* (12)

I like to take a moment here to tuck all my non-working thread ends inside. You could also add some stuffing too if you like.

(RND 9) *dec, sc in next st* (9)

Add more stuffing until the shape is pretty firm.

(RND 10) Work in BLO and dec around until the pokeball is closed

Once closed, cut the working thread end.

With your tapestry needle, fasten off the white thread end. Be careful to only work in and out of the holes in between the stitches of the shape.

Tie a knot on the other side. Re-insert needle into same hole and pull through another hole on the other side of the pokeball. Tug just enough to pull the know into the pokeball, securing the thread and hiding the knot.

Cut the thread end.

Squish the ball here and there to give it a more round shape.

Release Latch

With your white color,

sc 3 in magic ring

Close the ring and sl in the next stitch (completing a circular shape)

You can push the middle through the stiches in order to flatten the shape more.

Cut working thread end.

Switch to your black color,

2 sc inc around for a total of 6 black stitches.

Keep going all the way around and it should start to look something like this:

sl to close the circle

Be sure to cut a rather long tail of the black thread so you can sew the latch to the body of the pokeball.

Find your non-working thread ends (there should be 2 white and 1 black) and you can cut them all to make their ends even so it is easear to thread them all together through your tapestry needle.

Find the spot on the ball that looks a little uneven from where you joined the colors and start in that spot through to the back of the ball, being careful to again, sew in and out of the holes in between the stitches of the shape.

Next, thread your long black thread end and begin sewing the latch to the pokeball.

Weave in and out of the 6 stitches of the latch and sew through the pokeball.

It is not critical to sew in and out of the holes here, just through the top surface anywhere near the latch will do.

Fasten off, being careful to sew in and out of the holes in between the stitches.

Tie a knot, re-insert needle into same hole and pull through another hole on the other side of the pokeball. Tug just enough to pull the know into the pokeball, securing the thread and hiding the knot.

Cut off all the thread ends and you should be ready to catch some Pokemon!

Give little squishes here and there to perfect the round shape of the pokeball.

If you want to attach a keychain then you can just attach it to the pokeball with some pliers that you might use to make jewelry, or you can try my way:

With your red color 6 sc in a magic ring in RND 1 and before you go to close the magic ring, insert one of the metal loops of the keychain and close the magic ring around the metal loop.