Ah yes, it didn’t take another year for me to come up with another Illustration Friday (IF) entry. Phew.
Latest theme: Juggle.
I just started this sketch without a plan. I just faced a blank page that was pre-inked with Gocco printing (orange). Then, I started sketching with a pen. It ended up as a ‘one page tale’ of a character called Issa.
The story (written on the sketch):
“Everyone told Issa to make sure that she keeps up the right balance in life. So, she began to feel the pressure of juggling everything. She wanted to know if it was really possible to keep up with everything - without cracking. Then, one day, someone told her: ‘You’ll be just fine. Women are born to be fabulous jugglers.’ She believed.”
I don’t really know how it all came about. One minute, I was just thinking of illustrating an idea, a word… Half an hour or so later, I had a sketch, a character, a story…
I thought of re-writing the story and re-drawing the sketch. I’m always editing and trying to make things better. But, something stopped me. (No, it wasn’t a crying baby! ;-))
There was just something about the piece that caught me. Something about capturing a moment, a raw idea. So, I decided to stick with it and make it my official IF entry.
And, if I were to give an advice to Issa the Juggler, it’ll be: “Relax. Balance is over-rated anyway.” 
Technorati Tags: ideas, illustration friday, juggle, one page tale, balance, sketch
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Kari 09.25.07 at 11:07 pm
I like it! It sort of reminds me of one of my favorite artists, Brian Andreas. You know him? He does a little doodle (in a more childlike way), and has a little story with each. He’s over at storypeople.com if you aren’t familiar with his stuff. Good stuff!
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Heather 09.26.07 at 2:15 am
Hi Shai,
I like the idea you caught so well with your doodle style picture. So true, about women, though.
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Toni 09.26.07 at 5:11 am
The illsutration is great, and the concept behind it is fantastic. Smart artist!
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Shai Coggins 09.26.07 at 6:17 am
Oh, Kari. Thanks so much for sharing that link. It’s so lovely to see Brian’s work. No, I’ve never encountered his stuff before. I am loving the idea of putting both story and art together. Somehow, I’ve always wanted to do it but don’t know why I never bothered before. I kept trying to make ‘traditional art’ when I know that’s not what I wanted to do. Lately, I’m learning to mesh all my interests together - and seeing how they come up. It’s like a “why didn’t I think of that before?” kinda thing right now. I mean, I’ve always loved stories and artmaking - why not put them together? And, I thought I just had to do comics and funny things to do that. Now I know different.
And yes, Brian’s work is inspiring. Love it. Thanks!
Heather: Thanks. It is a gift (or a curse? ;)) - this ability to multi-task and juggle.
And glad you like the piece.
Toni: Thank you. Now, to explore the idea and see if I can make more of it…
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ellen 09.26.07 at 5:28 pm
Fantastic job!
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flora 09.26.07 at 5:43 pm
I love all the layers and texture.. and the doodle is great!
Sometimes the best work comes out unplanned, isn’t it?
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Beth Adelman 09.30.07 at 10:01 pm
Nice advice “Relax.Balance is over-rated anyway” The life is going on - I like it
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Shai Coggins 10.04.07 at 7:38 am
Ellen, Flora and Beth: Thank you so much. Glad you like it!
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