mentorship!!!

Another requirement for graduation at my school is that seniors (I'm not sure if it's all departments or just illustration students) have to complete a student/artist mentorship project. I really dragged my feet getting this together since I had a few complications involving my portfolio review last semester. I wasn't sure who I was going to get in contact with and I had been searching high and low for an artist who grabbed my interest the most. I have NO clue how I stumbled upon John Schwegel but I LOVE his work! Here are some of the images from his portfolio that swayed my decision to get in touch with him...

"Maggie"

"Sea Turtle"

"Swamp Snack"


"Brainfreeze"

I love everything about this guy's art - subject matter, the way he draws eyes, his line work, the way he handles color (his light, "sherberty" color palettes really caught my eye). Luckily, John answered my request for the project right away and I am SO excited that he agreed to let me work with him. Since I love drawing myself so much I thought it would be cool to mimic his style and do a self portrait for the main gallery piece I have to submit for the senior show. I definitely want to sample some of the colors he uses in corel and incorporate some other elements that he uses. With my work, it's really simplistic and graphic but I don't think it gets my point across (yet). I like how he can work in a cartoony style but still incorporate little details to give the pieces character (like the little spots he did on the Sea Turtle's head). I've worked out a rough sketch so far and I'm getting mixed feelings about it from some people...


Personally, I like it and I'm excited to hear some of the ideas/input John has for this piece. Hopefully I'll have an update on my progress sometime next week. At least I have one overdue project started and out of the way. What to start next...