Roger J Lemelin Jr/ Illustration

Little Monster Comic Strip

2010-04-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a writing and drawing for comics class and this is the strip that I'm working on.
I'll be posting more in the near future. You'll be some of the only people to see them...for now.

Sunfish Mask

2010-02-13T12:14:00.000-08:00

Here is my latest mask creation. This is a new technique of creating the basic mask form with cardboard and covering that with paper mache. As I was researching Oxacan woodcarving I discovered Edward Linares, the originator of the magical Oxacan sculptures. who made his animals with paper mache. My mask was made to enter in a juried show with the theme "paper". I'm very happy with the results and wonder why I didn't think of this technique earlier.

Greenman for 12x12 show in P-Town

2009-07-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

Just finished this 12x12 inch painting for the annual 12x12 show at
the Provincetown Art Museum. Should be fun!

New "Mildred" cover

2009-07-10T07:55:00.001-07:00

I'm working on a new "Mildred" book dummy to send out to publishers this
Fall. Upon finishing my collage class this summer, I've decided to work with
cut paper, something I've always wanted to do but feared all the comparisons
to Eric Carle,Leo Lionni etc. But, I've decided to forge ahead and am happy I did.
I feel I get the spontaneity of paint and precision and boldness from collage,
something I feel is necessary for me to make successful illustrations.
I guess we'll find out when I send them out in September.

"Power & Glory" collage series

2009-07-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

This a series of collages I just completed during a workshop at the Provincetown Art Museum.
It was taught by a very lovely collage artist named Mary Walker. We worked from poetry and, in my case, lyrics from a Lou Reed song. These four pieces are based on a song titled "Power & the Glory". As I have been very inspired by my recent experiences, I am planning on spending the bulk of the weekend cleaning out th garage and moving my studio in there for the summer. My goal is to work 10-2 every day that I'm home this summer and add to this series. Let's see how it goes...

Juan #5

2009-06-08T19:41:00.000-07:00

Another painting from the series I'm doing for the Providence Art Window.

New Paintings

2009-04-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

Here are four of the paintings for my Providence Art Window,
which will be on display in June. They are quite a departure
from my original idea, if you've been following my blog. What
I had planned to do changed upon visiting my window site.
All for the best! I haven't been this excited about making art
in years. There are plans for more paintings in the near future.
I'll keep you all posted for the opening in June.

PAW in progress

2009-02-28T12:40:00.001-08:00

These are pieces for my Providence Art Window that will be on display in June.
So far, everything is going pretty well. I wish I had time to develop more interesting
techniques in 3-D, but I'm going with what I'm comfortable with for now. There is
one more piece to work on, so I feel as though I'm in good shape.
Today, I started painting. I painted the backs, which made the pieces curl a bit,
which I expected. So, I began to immediately start painting the fronts as well
and that seems to have solved that problem. each piece will have some kind of
other materials; the blue dog will have fuzzy material for spots, the ram will
have felt for hair and beard, etc.
I'll post some new shots after I make more progress.

Providence Art Window Sketches

2009-02-18T15:30:00.000-08:00

These are sketches for pieces I'm in the process of making for an
upcoming Providence Art Window. They will be free-standing and
constructed from foamcore and other materials like felt and fabric.
They represent characters that I'm developing but haven't really
put into any context such as a children's picture book. The
window will be revealed some time in June. I'll keep you posted.

8X8 Paintings

2009-02-15T17:13:00.000-08:00

New little paintings. A few fun characters and
trying new things. I'm going to attempt to sell
them in a kid's clothing store.

"Just Us" a new comic

2009-02-07T09:25:00.000-08:00

I've wanted to create my own comic for a long time, but I
just haven't been able to get it started. Inspiration struck this
week and I decided to create a comic about my own life.
Wow! How original! Well,...many artists use their own life for
inspiration, so why not me ?
I'm fairly happy with the result and have a half dozen other
ideas for strips, so there will be more to come. Let me know
what you think, I need feedback.

Xmas Card

2008-12-21T08:34:00.000-08:00

Here is the 2008 Christmas Card. I used the Mildred character and her brother and sister,(Floyd and Gladys) to trim a tree. It printed on the cards a little darker than I'd have liked, but all in all it was successful.

Pumpkin Girl

2008-12-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

This is an illustration I completed recently
for a poem I wrote about a pumpkin that is much smaller
than the rest in the patch and therefore, not scary
enough for Halloween. I'm going to send this
out to a few magazines and try for publication.
I'll let you all know what happens.

sculpy pins

2008-12-06T11:41:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to create some small pins using
Sculpy for a long time. Somehow I got around to it this

week. These are my first attempts, but I'm fairly

happy with them. I am constantly amazed that there is
always something new to find out when making things.

Even though these seem simple, there are a lot of

considerations to make them work. Is the clay too
thin or too thick, what color combinations work, what
tools do you use to make the effects you want to achieve.
Well, I had fun making them anyway.

The Spiral Notebook

2008-11-24T19:20:00.000-08:00

These are sketches from my "Spiralscapes & Mindforms" notebook.
Although the title is a bit pretentious, I think it fits.These sketches are
inspired by a friend who makes fiber art paintings
in the style of the Huichol Indians. I asked her if she would make a painting
for me in the shape of a spiral and she suggested that I make some sketches.
Well, here they are.
I don't know where they may lead, but I'm enjoying the act of
creating them. These sketches are not really part of my illustration
work, but I feel they are important nonetheless.

The Making of "Mildred"

2008-11-16T08:47:00.001-08:00

For those of you that don't know, I've been working on a children's
book called "Mildred's Mistake". These are the finishes for that
book. This is my first experience writing a children's book and it's
taken quite a while to get to this point.
The first finished panels for "Mildred" were done in watercolor and
pen and ink, but they were a bit too pastel in feel. I've darkened them
up to give more of a feel of mystery that I think fits the story better.
I also changed the medium to acrylic and used a larger canvas
which really freed up my brushstokes.
"Mildred" is now out in the world and being sent to publisher's. I'll
keep you posted on what happens and new projects.