HeyJoie's Blog

Enjoy my work and want to support me? Buy me a piece of cake? I scribble cuteness, sketch quirks, paint attitude, and herd cats. Okay. Technically I don’t herd cats, but keeping-up with Photoshop layers is pretty much the exact same thing, right? I graduated with an MFA in Illustration from the Academy of Art University, and I currently do illustration full time. I live in Los Angeles with my pretends-to-be-a-dinosaur husband Joel and my jolly, stump-legged corgi Rylee. Write to me at: [email protected] www.joiefoster.com -Illustrating Your Kid's Book! -Review of the Companion 2! Subscribe!

[joieart]

Draw This: Celebrate

This month I participated in the monthly SCBWI challenge for artists called “Draw This.” The prompt word was “celebrate” and since the 4th of July (and annoying illegal fireworks going off until 2 AM in my neighborhood) just happened, I thought I’d do my piece of kid with a sparkler, enjoying the 4th with his dad.

[joieart]

New Illustration & Website!

Today is a day of new things: new illustration, new website, and fun new career goals! Wait, what?! I’m getting ahead of myself, let me explain!

First-- my new illustration, Spotted! A girl who rescues an injured pegasus must keep it hidden from the world that won’t understand its existence? This is totally one of my 12 year old self’s fantasies. Straight from the heart, for sure! This piece is meant to be a cover for a mock middle grade novel of my own invention showing us a tense moment when the girl’s pegasus is spotted!

Second-- new website? Why yes, check it out, it’s www.joiefoster.com! Awhile back, I had some technical issues with my old illustration website (you remember JoieArt.net, right?) and I had to take it down, redirecting the URL to my comics website. Now that that site’s hosting plan is up for renewal, I decided to move hosts, relaunch my illustration website and (eventually) consolidate everything on that one page. Make sure to change your bookmarks!

Third-- over my career thus far I’ve worked in a lot of industries simultaneously including table top games, theme park design, animation, and primarily comics. Diversification is the name of the game when you’re a freelancer!

I’ve been wanting to reinvigorate the illustration side of my business for awhile now, and children’s literature has always appealed to me. When I found out about Middle Grade* publishing, I got extremely excited and wondered if it was something I could do, too. In my research so far, I’ve found quite a few all ages comics artists that I admire cross over into the line of Middle Grade illustration, and I think that’s got a lot to do with both industries having similar topics and art styles. Plus, I’ve had no less than three art friends/colleagues practically hit me over the head telling me to try it-- so now it’s a new goal of mine to work toward!

Since this goal takes me into uncharted waters (for me), I have a ton of research to do! I’m excited though, because doing illustrations like this hits a nostalgic nerve that is hard to describe. My time between the ages of 9 and 13 is precious to me, as it was when my imagination was free to roam and my creativity was at an all time high. I’d love to recapture some of those moments in illustrations, and perhaps inspire a “Me too!” moment in my audience as well.

So that said, there’ll be more illustrations like this popping up soon! I’ve got another one that’s almost finished, and quite a few more in the planning stages. Additionally, I’m going to the SCBWI conference this weekend here in Los Angeles and it promises to be an amazing time. I’ll be sure to blog about my experience there later!

*Middle grade is a term for books that typically are targeted at kids ages 9-12, give or take

[joieart]

Oliver Oil

Back in January, I began a private commission for painting an olive oil label featuring an owner's cat... aptly named Oliver. Cats? Puns? Food? I'm so on board.

When working with a client of any kind, I have a consultation with them first to discuss subject matter, timeline, and budget. I try to absorb as much info as I can about what they're envisioning, and then I get to sketchin'. I had received quite a few reference pictures of Oliver, who is one of those floofy cats that sometimes gets a hilarious lion cut. His face also conveys a lot of what I like to call "judgemental attitude." It's like he's peering directly into your soul and judging what he finds.

My client enjoyed all three sketches, but we both felt like it needed more oomph. For round two of the sketches, I suggested we pull in super tight around the cat's face so we could really convey that facial expression.

We both really liked the one with the olive branch in his mouth, so it really helped sell the "Oliver Oil" concept. After all, this bottle is meant to sit next to a stove and be used, we'd better be sure what's inside! Once the sketch was approved, it was time to move to color comps. We chose option #2, and I began to paint!

I've painted a lot of fuzzy characters in my time, but I've never really, y'know, painted fur. Like in detail. It was actually quite fun to do, once I'd figured out a technique that worked for me. Once the painting and hand-painted text was buttoned up, my client had the challenge of "how to put it on a bottle." The issue with a label like this is that you need for it to be waterproof so the oil doesn't ruin the design. It takes a special sort of paper, and most "custom" olive oil label printing services require you get at least 10.

And so this is the solution my client came up with! The bottle ended up being a different shape than the one we'd planned for, but I still think it turned out quite cute. I'd like to come up with my own solution to printing olive oil (and wine!) labels, because I want to design more!

Interested in me painting your pet (or something else) for a custom wine or olive oil label? Feel free to email me at joie (at) heyjoiecomics (dot) com. If you like, you can check out my other illustration work, too!

[joieart]

HeyJoie News Email Forms

Hey guys, are you signed up for my newsletter mailing list? I’ve recently changed formats so I’ll be sending out weekly bite-sized art news! Today’s letter goes out later today, and subscribes get a super sneak peek at my SEVEN new button designs for WonderCon this weekend! :0 <3

[joieart]

Ahhh it’s the new Adventure Time graphic novel I colored. “Brain Robbers” is hitting store shelves soon! :D

[joieart]

Super stoked about what’s arrived in the mail today-- Heavenly Kibble Guardian Corgi 3! I am over the moon to share the newest installment of my comic with y’all! 

Guardian Corgi has got some real trouble on her paws– she’s in over her head with a feathery fiend! With her normal companion out of action and a mysterious feline hampering her progress, it looks like she’s gonna need to recruit some help to save the world this time!

These vibrant beauties will debut at WonderCon 2017 in Anaheim, CA March 31-April 2 at table B-35! Following previous tradition, the first 50 copies will be signed and numbered! For those of you who can’t make it to Anaheim, the HeyJoie store will be relaunching following the convention so online orders can be fulfilled!

[joieart]

Hamachi!

I’ve got more delicious food illustration up on my other blog, and you should check it out! Maybe even consider subscribing-- this Chef Tasting series is going to have 6 parts, and I already have other illustrations ready to share very soon!

This dish is hamachi with cucumber and charred scallion sauce from Kato Restaurant in Santa Monica!

My foodie-in-training/food illustration blog: http://bit.ly/2lBEN1s

[joieart]

Heavenly Kibble Guardian Corgi 3!

You guys I am so excited because this installation of Guardian Corgi has been SO long in coming! It’s been worth the wait though, as behind the scenes I’ve leveled up in my storytelling, art, and coloring skills. *tiny yay* Guardian Corgi 3 is going to release March 31st at Wondercon 2017 in Anaheim, California... I’ve always had a tradition of releasing new issues of the series at WonderCon, and this time is no different. I’ll also be doing the same “first 50 issues are individually numbered and signed” like I have in years past as well. I can’t wait to share the next Corgi story with you, and I hope to see you at WonderCon! ... and don’t worry, if you can’t make it to WonderCon, I’m planning on reopening my web store so you can purchase copies online. :)

[joieart]

Preview: The Mare the Merrier

http://bit.ly/2kpRdH5

And then outta left field-- a preview of my new comic set to release in March!

"In a world of pastel ponies, only the girls are ever allowed to get their hooves dirty. When the boys decide to canter right into the face of danger, they find themselves in a pretty pickle. Can Twinklebit and his herd save *themselves*?"

Check out the rest of the preview here! http://bit.ly/2kpRdH5

[joieart]

Corgi 3 Coming Soon!

Is it true?! Is Corgi 3 in full on production mode? And am I try to have it done and ready to debut at WonderCon 2017? Couldn’t be, but why else would all these doggos be lined up? Prepare yourselves-- Guardian Corgi is ready to get back into the saddle-- or collar, I suppose. Coming Soon (hopefully for WC 2017!)

[joieart]

Petit Fours

We went to Grand Central Market this past weekend and were able to sample some of Valerie Confections's petit fours in two flavors: Earl Grey and Champagne. My favorite dessert? Cake. And cake dipped in chocolate is an upgrade to an already perfect dessert, especially when said chocolate is named "the best chocolate in LA" by Los Angeles Magazine. So. Read the rest of this review on my new blog: Refining My Palette!

http://bit.ly/2iKYLoR

[joieart]

Cantarito

Last week we went to a restaurant down the street from us called Fiesta Martin, and I tried out a Cantarito. It’s a traditional drink from Jalisco, Mexico and it was DELICIOUS. It uses tequila, grapefruit and other fruit juices, and had various fruit bits floating at the top. It’s also terrifically pretty to look at, so I couldn’t help but illustrate it.

This is done with Prismacolor and Copic markers, ink pens, and a bit of gouache.

[joieart]

Breakfast!

This was a breakfast I had a few days ago, and I went full color with it as well. These food illustrations are incredibly lovely and fun to create, especially because I love food so much. Why Instagram when you can Prisma-gram? Illo-gram? Marker-gram? I’ll coin a phrase eventually.

Done with Prismacolor markers, inks, and a touch of gouache

[joieart]

Sous Vide Pork

I went full color for this next food illustration. Joel and I got a sous vide for Christmas and it seriously cooks meat to perfection. Om nom nom...

My hand lettering got a bit messy because my copic ink markers are old and crap and I reaaaallly need to buy some new ones!

Done with Prismacolor markers, Copic ink pens, and some white gouache.

[joieart]

Margarita

Is 2:12 PM too early for a margarita? I’ll have mine on the rocks with salt please!

[joieart]

This is another practice venture into the world of video content, and what better way to kick it off than with a dog? Everyone wants to know what the world looks like from a corgi's POV, so I made it happen. :3

[joieart]

Wine O’Clock

When you want to drink wine, but all you have is $2. Another food illustration & hand lettering by yours truly! This time I broke out some new marker colors just for the occasion!