One stigma of the artist is of a dreamer lounging around waiting for the moon and planets to align, and the mood to strike. Those of us who struggle with our art on a daily basis know otherwise. We often have to fight for the time to create.
Some days I may only have 30 minutes to lay down a sketch and perhaps an initial color block in. I may even have to discover that time on the train—granted I can find a seat. And yet that is where I am so thankful for the iPad and Autodesk Sketchbook Pro. These technologies make it possible to go beyond the days of pen and paper. They were your best friends, but you could only take your art so far. Now the possibilities are vastly increased.
I primarily draw from the imagination and use reference when I get stuck, but there are times when the muse happens to sit across from you. In the case of the image above a student with red tinted hair, a pink cardigan and lips smothered in lip gloss did just that. It wasn't that she was that attractive, but rather the combination of accessories that established a mood. And it was a mood strong enough to strike.