Sarah Ihrke

Oh! Cobwebs!

2012-01-22T18:32:00.000-08:00

Cleaning off some cobwebs on here I guess! My goodness it's been a long time since I've updated with ANYTHING! Here's a tiny peek of some of the stuff I've been working on since my last post oh-so long ago. More to come soon, hopefully!!

holy smokes!

2010-12-13T18:29:00.000-08:00

It's been quite a while since I've updated! I finished this painting a long time ago and didn't ever post it. So here it is! Been keeping busy lately designing CD covers, logos and anything else I come across. I'll post more about all that later.

exercising my art brain

2010-08-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

Chad's parents just moved into a new house, and they've asked me to make a painting for their kitchen! So they sent me a picture of a painting that they wanted me to use as reference. I figured this was a good opportunity to exercise my reference copying skills and get a little bit more comfortable using oils. This is only my second time. Here's what I've got so far

First time for everything

2010-06-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to do a painting of lips for a vacant wall in my apartment. I finally got around to doing it and decided it would be a good time to try oils. So here is my VERY first ever attempt at oil painting. I'm happy about it :)

Craftastic!

2010-06-07T17:19:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of my craft pieces from my last semester at CCS.

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

I had to make 3 mother's day cards this year. My mom loved hers and Chad's mom loved hers!!

It's all downhill after this

2010-04-18T19:27:00.000-07:00

Finals are coming up. Only 8 more official days of class for me. I'm so happy and scared and excited and nervous...but I'm sure after finals are over I'll actually be able to enjoy the ending of my journey at CCS. Here's the latest of my senior studio projects. Jack and Jill

Time to let your hair down...

2010-04-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

This week, I stuffed 25 envelopes with samples of my work and such. It took me forever to put them together, so I'm happy to say that they are in the mail and on their way! The end of the semester and graduation are getting closer and closer! It's starting to get down to crunch time. Here's my latest project for Senior Studio. This is my version of Rapunzel...

Picking Up Pace!!

2010-03-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

After our critique on this project we only technically have two projects left before the end of the semester! Yikes! I have business cards and image sample booklets on their way so I can start sending them out to potential clients. The end of my last semester here at CCS is quickly approaching...only two more months and I'll be a graduated, professional artist!! wow.

Anyhoo, here's what I just finished for Senior Studio. Slow Joe is tired of being slow, so he gets roller blades :)

okay, I did it!

2010-02-27T10:33:00.000-08:00

Well, I said I was going to do it, so here it is, finally!! These are my paper dolls all put together. See my previous posts for the pattern and illustration that go along with each!

just a game of cat and mouse

2010-02-23T11:08:00.000-08:00

Here is my next project for senior studio. I've moved up from traditional paper dolls to 3-D paper toys [the new generation of the paper doll].

some assembly required

2010-02-09T11:30:00.000-08:00

so here are the paper dolls I've been working on in senior studio. I think they're pretty self explanatory...

the beginning of the end

2010-01-23T16:54:00.000-08:00

My very last semester at CCS is in full swing. It's kind of intimidating to think that in another 4 months I will be graduated, and officially a professional illustrator! YIKES! Well, for now, here is the beginning of my first assignment for senior studio. I still have to scan it in to photoshop and finish it up, but here it is for now! I'll update with more pics when it's finished!

under construction

2010-01-15T18:10:00.000-08:00

I got a new domain name to start making my website for my web class. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten it working yet to even put up the under construction page...but anyhoo! I did this for my welcome page :)

substitues for the El Sleezo Cuties

2009-12-16T09:48:00.000-08:00

I finished my final for Chuck's class! I really like it! I also finished my final for Senior Studio. I like it too.

Cast Glass final

2009-12-16T09:39:00.001-08:00

Here is my final for my cast glass class. Eventually, these pieces will be mounted so they look like they're coming out of the wall when they're hung. The concept behind this was "temptation".

what was in my glass cubbie?

2009-12-16T09:33:00.000-08:00

Since it's the last week of school, I had to clean out my cubbie in glass class. Here are the pieces that were inside!

A test apple I did before starting my final.

A little pixy thing I made up.

and a Kermit bust!!

BFF

2009-12-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

Here is what I've been working on lately. My second to last piece for senior studio. I illustrated one of my favorite poems from my childhood :) there are still some minor details in my construction that I'll have to tweak on the next piece I do like this...And of course, my last piece for Chuck's class!! it's how Kermit and Fozzie first met. at the El Sleezo Cafe. Fozzie tried to entertain the audience with his comedic performance, only to be booed at. The crowd started getting rowdy, and Kermit jumped in to save the day[and Fozzie]! who knew a frog and a bear could be BFF's and such great dancers?!

pin up process

2009-12-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some process pictures from my pin.up book cover project. The drawing mounted onto the illustration board. The finished painting. and from there I put it into photoshop where I edited it. Chuck likes the painting better than my edited version...

book cover pin.up

2009-11-25T12:05:00.000-08:00

Here's my book cover! I did it in gouache and then scanned it into photoshop :)

personalized sigg bottle!

2009-11-21T10:23:00.001-08:00

For Dave's class we're ordering a sample sigg bottle with our art on it as a potential promotional item. This is great because I really need one anyway, and this is an awesome excuse to get one and display my art at the same time!! So what better to have on a sigg bottle for myself than...A FROG!!! here's what I came up with.

four down, two to go...

2009-11-09T15:15:00.000-08:00

So my fourth piece for senior studio is done for now. We have crit tomorrow so I'm sure there will be some changes. Here's what I got! My inspiration was the song "Stray Cat Strut". More specifically, the lyrics "Get a shoe thrown at me by a mean old man, I get my dinner from a garbage can...I don't bother chasing mice around. I slink down an alley looking for a fight, I howl to the moonlight on a hot summer's night! Singing the blues while the lady cats cry, wow stray cat you're a real tough guy. I wish I could be as carefree and wild, but I got cat class and I got cat style..." Here's my stray cat, loosely based off my own cats JR and Munster :)

it's my party and...

2009-11-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

My third piece for senior studio is done. It's this little girl's birthday and she's dreaming of being a princess. Now, every princess needs a pony/stallion/unicorn! too bad this girl's parents got her a fat, sloppy, smelly used horse...anyhoo, in critique, Gil told me to de.saturate it. Here are both versions!

Pin.Up take II

2009-11-01T19:04:00.000-08:00

Our next project in Chuck's class is a fake book cover for The Meaning of Dreams. I decided that I want to do a pin.up while I still have the chance! So, Chad took some reference pictures for me :) they were just as much as fun as the first one's Matt took. Also, I finished my Lion's Christmas card for this year...

dreams do come true

2009-10-11T09:00:00.001-07:00

I've always wanted to be a pin.up girl, so when my friend Matt Bisset needed some pin.up reference I volunteered to model for him for a couple shots. It was fun! the pictures turned out pretty nice too! Here's a couple of the images Matt took of me :)

keep on keepin' on!

2009-10-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

I changed some things on my first piece for senior studio after our critique. I also finished my second piece for that class. We haven't critiqued yet, so I'm sure there will be some changes made at some point...

slow and steady...

2009-10-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my piece for Chuck's class. Also, I got my first piece of the semester out of the kiln in my advanced cast glass class! I'm not done cold working it yet, so consider it another work in progress. The bottom reminds me of a head of lettuce or something.

first deadlines for this year!

2009-09-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

My first piece of this school year is due on tuesday in Senior Studio. Wednesday my second piece is due in Book Cover. I still have to go into it with colored pencil to make it 'pop'. I still have monday in class to work on it though :) I'll post the finished one when it's done.

the first week

2009-09-11T15:38:00.001-07:00

The first week of school has to come to an end. I still can't believe I'm a senior this year! I've gotten 2 projects already and here are my sketches.

Doodlin'

2009-09-07T14:17:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to make myself draw everyday. These are just some quick little drawings I did for fun! Rupert the Hippo, Munster Cheese Head (based off my kitty cat) and Lucas.

rediscovering momentum

2009-07-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've been motivated to get back into the swing of things. I've been thinking up an idea for a book and here's the first drawing I did for it...

Great Grandma Approved!

2009-06-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

My dad and I went and visited Great Grandma Ihrke today. She's looking as good as ever :) She LOVED the pic. I think it made her day...and she made mine :)

it's been a while.

2009-06-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

Summer is in full effect and I'm really enjoying it. I haven't been doing as much artwork as I should, so here's something to get me back into the swing of things. I think it'll be great once I'm finished. It's my great grandma and grandpa Ihrke. Grandma turned 98 this May and she's still got it! My dad and I are going to visit her tomorrow actually :D She's one of my most favorite people in the world.

making it through the summer :(

2009-05-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

I'm still on the look out for a summer job. I had an interview at colorbok last monday, but I'm assuming I didn't get the job since I haven't heard back from them. That's ok because I don't think they were planning on paying anyway...I'm still trying to get a hold of the people at Dave and Buster's for a job but they haven't called me back either. Things aren't looking too hot for the summer. I would love an internship/job right now, but no one is hiring, and if they are, they're trying to get away with not paying people...So to help with my current situation I've set up an Etsy account!! Woo hoo! I'm hoping it'll help me to make a little money to do simple daily things [like get a Rock n' Rye from the gas station] while I'm trying desperately to find a job. So for now, I'm making things to sell. I just hope for my sake that they do :/

photo shoots with fake turtles...

2009-05-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

I painted that turtle I made and took some pictures :) his name is Harold

summer time!!

2009-05-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

This school year is finally over! I'm all finished and ready for a nice summer :). Reviews went pretty well. I got mostly 3's and a couple 4's. Everything they told me to do was pretty much already on my to do list anyway, so there weren't really any surprises. Grades don't go in until wednesday so I'll have to wait to see how I officially did. Technically I guess I'm a senior now?! scary...

I have a bunch of things I want to accomplish this summer but we'll see how many I actually get done! As of lately I've just been messing around with some Super Sculpy. I've been really inspired by Liz Lomax and was feeling a little crafty. I still have to paint him...

another one bites the dust!

2009-04-23T09:55:00.001-07:00

just finished my Lions Christmas card for Chuck's class. On to the next assignment!

Presenting...Sushi Cat!!

2009-04-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

My final for Keith's class. My direction was to do "anything I want". So I give you, Sushi Cat!

fungi

2009-04-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick spot illustration I did for E.Olson's class. The assignment was "relationship between the living and the dead". My list of things to do is getting shorter and shorter!! I can't wait until I'm all finished!!!

crankin the crank!

2009-04-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

I've been crazy busy lately trying to get things done. It's almost the last week of school, so everything needs to be done, like, NOW haha. I finished the Faerie Tales cat poster and sent it off to be printed. I also finished the panel of my tryptic for E.Olson...I'm just trying to get everything done ASAP so I can relax and watch everyone else run around like chickens with their heads cut off. I love the end of the year :)

faerie tales..or TAILS I should say!

2009-04-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

Faerie Tales Cat Rescue commissioned me to make them a poster for adoption day at the Detroit Zoo. I haven't heard back from them about the changes yet, so here's what I sent them...

first panel es finito!

2009-04-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

I finished the first panel of my tryptic for Erik's class. Still two more to do...

Peep out homies!

2009-04-06T17:37:00.000-07:00

Finished the last part of the Peeps thing. I'm getting pretty worn out. Good thing school is almost done for the year!

almost peeped out!

2009-03-31T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'm ALMOST done with the peeps things. Good thing too...they're due in like a week :/ I'm still crankin on them though! I have one more full print to do and some little present box thing for a website. whew! So for now...how about a peep for EVERY occasion?!! haha!

one down...

2009-03-30T16:31:00.000-07:00

finished digitally painting the first Peeps poster. As for the weather lately...I hate it. I always get sick this time of year, you know, when it gets kinda warm, then cold, then warm, then cold. It never fails! I'm ill. not well. i hate it.

PEEPle

2009-03-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

Here's the first ink drawing for the peeps campaign I'm working on with Cindy [from the ad dept.]. She hasn't sent me back word on if I have the "go ahead" on it or not. Keeping my fingers crossed that there isn't anything I need to change :/

cutest peep show ever!

2009-03-24T13:39:00.001-07:00

did a quick peep's test for my project with the ad kids.

assignment number two...finito!

2009-03-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

Finished my second piece for Erik's class. We still have to critique them, so I know I'll have to make some little adjustments after friday. But for now, here it is!

finito

2009-03-19T19:20:00.000-07:00

finally finished my montage!

more? more? more?

2009-03-18T16:36:00.001-07:00

still "noodling" away on this thing...

deejetall

2009-03-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

did the flamingos in photoshop today. not sure which version i want to turn in yet. hmm

work it baby work it!

2009-03-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

been workin my tush off!

almost like real life!

2009-03-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

Just got back from spring break in Vegas!! I had a ton of fun, but I'm def. ready to get back down to business. I have lots of work to do this week! I have to start and finish 2 pieces by this friday. I'm sure I'll be fine, but this is the worst time crunch I've had so far in my entire CCS career. I started working on my piece for the Detroit Zoo. The first place winner gets $3,000 and their piece published into the new Detroit Zoo poster! That's really exciting! Also, the Children's Book Society show is up and running at the Children's Hospital of Michigan [3901 Beaubien , Detroit, MI 48201] it'll be going on until April 2nd. mon-sat, 9am-5pm on the third floor of the Carls Building. April 3rd through the 24th the show will be at the Detroit Public Library [5201 Woodward Ave. Detroit, MI 48202] tues&wed 12-8pm and thrus, fri and sat 10-6pm. I have pieces for sale so hopefully I'll make some money soon :)

Vegas, here I come!

2009-03-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

Today is my last day before I'm officially off for spring break. Las Vegas is going to be a blast!! I did some froggy ink drawings for my montage and put em in there! Have a great break everyone! don't work too hard, it is supposed to be vacation after all :/

half way done...

2009-03-03T19:21:00.000-08:00

Progress on my Save The Frogs montage for my illustration and design class. I still have to put in some more things.

Midterm grades went into the computer on monday. I'm doing very well in all my classes with the exception of Keith's class, which I won't get in to........

3 legged hamsters!??

2009-02-28T08:30:00.001-08:00

In Erik's class we have to do a portrait of someone we love but don't trust...I love many unreliable people, and decided I was going to do my piece about them. I imagine everyone as having hamsters running in wheels inside their heads, and I imagine unreliable people as having hamsters with only 3 legs trying to run in their wheels...Don't as me how I come up with these things haha! here's my rough sketch for my painting :)

recent upload

2009-02-26T09:34:00.000-08:00

I just loaded some more pics onto my computer :) This is my circus piece for Chuck's class. I still have some things to do to it. I'll post the finished version later...

here's a better version pic of the "pet frog" piece I did. The other pic was too yellow...

Here's my re-touched piece for Erik's class. I'm pretty happy with it over all.

jerk ruined my day.

2009-02-25T17:24:00.000-08:00

This week has been the strangest week I've had in a while. Lots of UP'S and lot of DOWN'S. Pretty crazy...anyhoo! Been trying to draw from life more. I should probably go to one of those modeling sessions, but for now I'm too lazy [actually I just really cherish what little time off I have]. These were done in classes while people were sitting still long enough for me to actually scribble something down. So if you catch me staring, I apologize...I'm just trying to practice![which Keith obviously strongly believes I need to do. whatever]

yuck!

2009-02-23T16:39:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling pretty crappy right now. I hope I'm not coming down with something! I have lots of work to do! Spring break is almost here and I am counting down the days... For Keith's class, we had to pick a classic movie from between 1940 to 1974 to illustrate scenes from. We'll have 8 color keys due, and one final big piece. I picked Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory [the Gene Wilder version from 1971]. I've got some pretty cool sketches down, but I've only finished one color key so far [due on wednesday]. Note that these are supposed to be rough, not really finished images...

a little sumthin sumthin

2009-02-16T19:39:00.000-08:00

I started working on a piece today cuz I feel like I don't make enough pieces for myself for just because...I ended up finishing it tonight. It's not really anything special, just a little fun to try and help me relax between school work.

this piece was inspired by my most favorite animal :D it saddens me to think that my kids may never know what frogs are because of their recent extinction scare. Personally, I hope we can save them and keep them from dying out. Here's a pic of my wonderful Juliette [I took this when I was cleaning out her tank over Christmas break] she's pure bullfrog!! and I love her :)

fo chun kooky

2009-02-16T10:35:00.000-08:00

mated my piece for Erik's class. I'm sure I'll have to do more to it after the critique on friday. For now though, I'm done. I need a vacation...haha

doodling!!

2009-02-12T18:17:00.001-08:00

I've decided I need to work on my line work so I've been doodling a lot lately. I love doodling. It's so theraputic!!decided to use this piece for Chuck's class. Circus theme!!!! WOOO!!! Will def. post when I'm done painting it! it looks uber awesome so far...Alice in Wonderland! I was bored :DMy little CWAK guy I draw all the time. I'm not sure why I made him sad that day...

space and cosmic knowledge!

2009-02-11T06:43:00.000-08:00

Just finished my space piece for Keith's class. Did it all in photoshop. It was inspired by Muppets in Space. Gonzo gets struck by lightening and takes a trip through space where he meets the cosmic knowledge fish.

color roughs

2009-02-05T12:22:00.000-08:00

I started doing the color roughs for that piece I was having trouble with...I've only done two, but I'm working on two more. Here's the progress!

moving forward!

2009-02-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

So I finally came up with an image that my teacher likes and he has given me the go ahead to start working on some color roughs. Seeing as this passed saturday was my 21st birthday :D I didn't really get much done this weekend...

I also finished my first piece for my Children's Book Illustration class. I picked the story the Lion and the Mouse, but I picked the version where the lion steps on

the thorn and the mouse has to take it out for him. The other version, the lion gets stuck in a net and the mouse has to chew him out. This piece is going to be featured in a show at the Children's Hospital here in Detroit!

troubling assignment...

2009-01-29T08:01:00.000-08:00

I've been having trouble lately with an assignment for my Advanced Illustration Techniques class. I did some thumbnails and came up with a nice one I thought, but my teacher didn't like it. I was going for a pin up style kind of thing, but I guess that was the wrong direction [according to my teacher]. So now I have a new sketch that hopefully he'll like!well, he didn't like it :( I may just have to go ahead and do it anyway hahaha