Drawing with Kate Laird

Sketch Theater Book Release Party!!

2011-06-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

I'm positively honored that ST decided to use MY SKETCH for every promo for the book release party! It's kind of ridiculous. Thanks Lili!
YOU MUST COME TO THIS!!
There will be drinks, life drawing, a silent auction, and an overall kickass time!!

full event details here!

Speaking of Sketch Theater, I'm going to be doing a LIVE DRAWING SESSION at COMIC CON this year (saturday, 2:00, come find me!). Pretty friggen exciting.... and nerve wracking. Wish me lucks!

Dragon Magazine Issue #399

2011-06-28T09:54:00.001-07:00

Recent Dragon magazine publications with BONUS process sketches!

You can see them on the site here:
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4art/20110531

African Warrior something or other

2011-04-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

Well this is new. Enjoy. The ref was a bunch of African tribes. I may post a reference page later if people are interested.

I see you

2011-04-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

Oh hello. Fancy meeting you here.

Well, I'm not gonna lie. 2011 has been a pretty shitty year so far. What you see below is an important piece for me. It's the first scrap of finished work (outside of my day job) that I've done since my dad passed away in January. I just... haven't wanted to do anything for the past couple months. Even though I felt completely lazy and unproductive I just didn't have any inspiration at all and thus couldn't bring myself to touch pen to tablet. Downer, I know. BUT THEN THIS ART ORDER CHALLENGE CAME ALONG! And it was right up my alley (and nothing gets me moving like a competition).
So here's the results of the contest.
3/4 judges put me as their first choice which was awesome. It was still deemed a tie which kinda sucks (I'll never win one of these!), but what matters is that I got a pretty nice portfolio piece.

So most of you have seen the piece already so I thought I'd make my blog post extra special by posting my process sketches. What fun.

Shout outs to all those who gave me encouragement and constructive feedback especially: Josh Engle, Izzy Medrano, Nick Escasany, Martin Lutz and Max Song.

Girlies

2011-03-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

NEW SKETCH THEATER:

Sketch Theatre » Blog Archive » Kate Laird 02

And....

A recently released painting for Dungeon Magazine:

Lovecraft Book

2011-02-16T10:09:00.000-08:00

Hey ya'll. Got another publication. Remember my Lovecraft creature? The little creepy rat man I did around halloween? Yeah well he's in a book now. On the back cover no less! And apparently in the top 5! So yay. Buy it now! Only for a limited time!

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1938730

Still waiting on my next sketch theater. Will post when it's up.

Gettin Faymiss

2010-11-30T10:16:00.001-08:00

Oh hey. It's been a while. Take comfort in the fact that I've been busy. This will be a post full of links! First off, I did a Sketch Theater! So cool. Look:

watch:
http://www.sketchtheatre.com/?p=5843

Next, I've been published! They made a book out of the Discover a Muse Artorder challenge top entries. Buy it!
Czech it out:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1780018

They're going to make one out of the Lovecraft challenge too so keep and eye out.

Finally, a press release! This is a link to an article about the game I'm currently working on (doing characters and such). There's a picture with a line up of some of my early concepts for the game. Cool!

article:
http://www.musicrow.com/2010/11/music-mastermind-intros-unique-online-recording-tool/

I recently got hired by Wizards of the Coast for freelance stuff. Looks like that Dungeons and Dragons pin up really payed off. I'll be having work in an upcoming Dungeon Magazine so I'll be posting work as soon as I have work to show.

Tis the season

2010-10-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

Well I've done another Art Order challenge. It seems only competition gets me up and working outside of my day job these days. Speaking of my day job. I don't think I've mentioned it up in here. I'm working at a company called Music Mastermind doing character design. We're creating a multi-platform music making game (think garage band meets guitar hero). It should be pretty sweet.

So here's the challenge. We had to visually interpret a creature from a H.P Lovecraft story. I chose Brown Jenkin.

Brown Jenkin, Mason's familiar, is "a small white-fanged furry thing", "no larger than a good-sized rat", which for years haunts the witch house and Arkham in general, "nuzzl[ing] people curiously in the black hours before dawn". The creature is described:

Witnesses said it had long hair and the shape of a rat, but that its sharp-toothed, bearded face was evilly human while its paws were like tiny human hands. It took messages betwixt old Keziah and the devil, and was nursed on the witch's blood, which it sucked like a vampire. Its voice was a kind of loathsome titter, and it could speak all languages.

He's a bit rough because I didn't have a whole lot of time for him. I might get back to him before the month is out.

Happy Halloween!!

Odin's Daughter

2010-06-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

So, my last ArtOrder challenge (the gnome) got me 2nd place! Check it out:

ArtOrder: Fantasy Vixens, or the Pin-up Line-up

Here's another challenge for ArtOrder. This one is called "Discover a Muse". The task was to create an image based on the model, Veronika Kotlajic. My piece is called "Odin's Daughter". Wish me luck!

I had an immense amount of trouble getting the colors in the jpeg right. This was the closest I could get to the quality of the photoshop file.

Material Girl

2010-05-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

Hello again.

This is another ArtOrder challenge. The task was to make a vintage pin up of one of the races from Dungeons and Dragons. I chose the gnome. I think most people would overlook them... especially in terms of sexiness.

I actually did some research on the race before I started. I never knew how complicated the backgrounds could be. I discovered that they planned out every aspect of their culture from birth, to courting, to religion... even to their pets (familiars). I found that gnomes are expert craftsmen with a keen interest in gemstones. Hence, my gnome is surrounded by raw rubies and a hefty pile of gold.

I kind of want to play D&D now. This will be my character.

Gnome FAQ:

Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hilarious Gnome video (by the same guy who did Bitey of Brakenwood!)

YouTube - D&D 4th Edition: Tiefling & the Gnome

More Malifaux

2010-04-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

Ohai! I have another update for you! What a treat!

Here is some recent releases for Malifaux. I did 2/3 of the Ronin series.

Pirates

2010-04-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

You like pirates, yes? Yes.

Random pirate sketches and an Anne Bonny character:

Art Order - Mutation Nation

2010-04-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

Oh hello. Welcome back to my blog. It has been a while, hasn't it? Sit down, have some tea, and enjoy some fine Arts of mine.

This fine creature is for a contest type thing held by Art Order. This particular contest was called Mutation Nation. The task was to create a new creature by combining two existing creatures. I chose to throw together a Horned Lizard and a Pallid bat in a sick and unholy union. The creature that emerged was the Horned Bazard. He just wants love. He also is slightly retarded and prone to drooling.

Here is his final painting and preliminary sketches.

Look! I did stuff!

2010-01-14T17:38:00.000-08:00

Some work I did for Wyrd Miniatures. I'm excited to see them coming to life.

Silly cyborg man called "Steamborg". I painted his arts from the model.

HA! She's a hillbilly gremlin girl. Another one I painted from the model.

You may remember these two. Look! They're on a box now!

I designed this character from scratch and was excited to see they got around to sculpting her!

Sketchbook

2009-10-23T01:32:00.000-07:00

Haven't updated in a while....

Here. Entertain yourself with some sketches.

The Twins

2009-09-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

Some more freelance got released. These chicas are twins for Wyrd Miniatures, Malifaux series.

They kinda look like an 80's hair band, no?

Thailand Convention fun

2009-09-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

As some of you might know I just recently returned from a trip to Thailand. The main reason for the trip was accompanying my boyfriend to a convention where he signed some illustrations of his. I decided to attempt to sell some of my work as well. So I did a bunch of my classic lady drawings on the spot, landed some quick commissions, and ended up funding half my trip in two days. haha

These are some of the drawings:

BoooOOoooY

2009-09-07T03:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a new lil character for ya'll. This is another guy for Craig. Helpin him with the ole senior project. It's my secret excuse to be in the Otis senior show two years in a row. Heh.

In my laziness I haven't made a color version of him yet. I apologize.

Ugh. So much work to do this week.

Love him.

Gods of Rock

2009-09-04T00:39:00.001-07:00

Some of my freelance work just got released. This is for an upcoming online game much like Mafia Wars called Gods of Rock. There are some initial sketches, my two favorite paintings and some face details. Check it outz.

The site is up with a placeholder I designed as well: www.godsofrock.com

Cake?

2009-07-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

HI!

So... I haven't posted in a while. This is because I've been filling up all my free time with freelance jobs that, alas, I am not allowed to show you. As a result my internet presence has been waning. UNTIL NOW! Just for visiting this here blog you get A FREE DESKTOP!!

It's based on Stephanie from Lazy Town. I made this for a friend who has an unhealthy obsession with this video.

Things!

2009-06-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

The frog/pipe challenge I had with Julianne. Procrastinating when we should have been working.

More procrastination. Dis me 9th grade. Ask anyone from highschool.

In other news, check out the puppy that Craig Christian modeled! You remember the Smudge the Puppeh? Well... he's down this page somewhere. He's finally being made into a real boy!

I just realized I never posted his turnaround. Here you go:

Testing?

2009-06-02T01:34:00.001-07:00

Freelance test project for Wyrd Miniatures. We'll see if they like it.

Senior show

2009-05-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

My wall! Well part of it... Me and my buddy Nick Escasany.
Queen Monica Magtoto with her paintings.
One of my Favorite pictures of Marin Lutz.
Max Song posing for Vogue.

And now for the work! These are not all the pieces that were at show but I'm pretty sure I posted those earlier. Scroll down.

Ska Love

2009-02-10T09:36:00.000-08:00

First project for Izzy's class and the preliminary drawings. These are some silly ska-punk folk. It's based off a picture that I took while visiting NY last time. My friend Thom, and I like to go to ska shows and people watch. It gets pretty funny.

PS: Thom is in the lower left hand corner of the preliminary drawings.

Progress.

2009-02-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

This has been done for a while. Thought I would post it for y'all.... give you something new to look at. It's a Chick character sheet. If you're new here you can see the colored character pose around here somewhere. Hooray for thesis progression.

Ps: I got an internship at Dreamworks. Yay.

Alex and Sasha.

2009-01-04T18:06:00.000-08:00

Excuse the overtly whimsical subject matter. It's freelance.

Holiday Squid

2008-12-27T11:02:00.000-08:00

Figure Drawlings

2008-12-18T22:57:00.000-08:00

For more go here: Digication :: Laird Art :: Figure Drawing

Look Ma, No hands.

2008-11-04T02:15:00.000-08:00

You may remember Crystal Lil from a previous post. Well like I said she and Al Binewski marry and run the circus together. When the circus begins to fail, the couple devise a plan to breed their own freak show, using various drugs and radioactive material to alter the genes of their children. Who emerges are Arturo ("Arty"), a boy with flippers for hands and feet; Electra ("Elly") and Iphigenia ("Iphy") the Siamese Twins; Olympia ("Oly") the hunchback albino dwarf; and Fortunato ("Chick"), the normal looking telekinetic baby of the family.

Here is the character sheet for Chick:

2008-11-02T20:11:00.001-08:00

I did a character design for a friend (Craig Christian)'s animation. He didn't give me a name for him so I named him Smudge.

"The idea is that he's a small male dog that barks incessantly and is adorable and annoying at the same time. He's going to be running around barking happily then run off screen. He'll be followed off screen by a haggard looking guy with a pair of hedge clippers and it fades to black, with the message: 'Neuter your cats and dogs before its too late.'"

I had fun with em.

Get Thee to a Nunnery

2008-10-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

GEEK

Pronunciation:
\ˈgēk\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
probably from English dialect geek, geck fool, from Low German geck, from Middle Low German
Date:
1914

1 : a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake

This is Crystal Lil from the novel Geek Love (my senior thesis) in the process of her Geek act.

In the early days of Al's circus, when Al Binewski was still a young lad and Crystal Lil was a mere slip of a lass, a series of events led to their love and future marriage.
The normal circus geek, a young Yale-boy, decides to go back to school and get his education. Alas, Al is now one geek short of a show. Lil, a girl born into nobility who ran away to the circus, sees Al's plight. In her love and adoration, she offers to be the new geek. Al is concerned. No one had ever heard of a female geek before and he was afraid she may get hurt. However, in his desperation he reluctantly agrees.
Lil became a hit. People came from far and wide to see the geek femme fatal. She danced and sang German folk songs as the blood from the decapitated chickens splattered on her white rags.
Al became enamored with the enigmatic woman and they later married. Eventually Lil became Crystal Lil in her short stint as a trapeze artist. Her career was ended when she took a crippling fall. Despite Lil's ended career Al and Lil's love would sustain and be essential to when the circus starts to fail.

Though that's a story for another day.

it FIGURES

2008-10-14T23:38:00.000-07:00

(get it? ahahahahaa....ah)

Woah, a new post. I've been slacking on the blog. School is kicking my ass as expected. I guess this would mark the first update of the 1st semester of senior year. Weee! I'll be posting some thesis works after I finish just one more thing.

The figure drawings are from last thursday when I chose to use pen and marker for the first time. I usually use graphite so it was a bit different. I think they turned out pretty ok. I have a ton more figure drawing... except they are on huge newsprint. It's going to be a chore to scan them so I simply haven't yet. Someday, faithful followers, someday.

I'm also posting some storyboards. I have to make a short film this year so this is the first scene. I'm excited about it.

2008-08-31T16:37:00.001-07:00

"The neighbors are a showy lot, what with their burning house and their hoarse screams for help. Show some decorum, people."(JV)

This is for a contest held by the infamous Jhonen Vasquez. The task was to take a line from his twitter account and illustrate it. This particular quote made me giggle and has been festering in my mind from even before the contest.
For more info: [link]

I expect to do to the competition what Belinda here has done to her neighbors.

Oh yeah, Goodbye Blue Monday is a reference to Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions. In the book it's a sales slogan that was at one time painted on a WW2 missile. How delightfully satirical and appropriate.

WIPS!

2008-08-29T01:34:00.001-07:00

A couple works in progress. They are absolutely not related to my thesis in any way. The first is just to get my rocks off and the second is for a contest that I intend to win/ rape the competition (see if I don't).

Okie Dokie

2008-08-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

So I've gone ahead and created a Blog. I had a Livejournal but it turned out to be pointless as fuck. We had creative differences so I gave it the pink slip and we went our separate ways.

First post comes with one of my fancy digital paintings! Enjoy!