Erika Steiskal

Super excited to announce that Innocence has been selected to be included in Lurzer's Top 200 Illustrators 18/19! Thank you to the judges and congratulations to all the winners! . . . #illustration #lurzersarchive #lürzersarchive #illustratorsoninstagram #portrait #peony #hummingbird #innocence #digitalart #ipadpro #applepencil #photoshop #wacom #birchtrees #artcompetition #illustrationoftheday #seattleartist #fantasyart #edibleflowers @illustration_daily @illustrationage

One of my favorite spreads in my current sketchbook. I drew it in about 45 min while drinking tea @oddfellowscafe one afternoon. It's a mix of ballpoint pen, brush pen, and watercolor pencils. . . . #sketchbook #drawing #mixedmediaart #penandink #pentelbrushpen #derwentwatercolorpencils #watercolorpencils #hat #coffeeshop #moleskine #noeraser #illustration #illustratorsoninstagram #artistsoninstagram #seattleartist #elliottbaybookcompany #figuredrawing #keepdrawing

Just another day in the studio. Loving my new desk, he's so cuddly and warm. ;) . . . #illustrator #freelance #freelancelife #studiodog #doggydesk #hesnotamused #seattledog #seattleartist #ipadpro #windowseat #springerspaniel #springersofinstagram

More sketchbook fun! I completed this spread over a few hours while hanging out after #eccc2018. . . . #sketchbook #illustration #penandinkdrawing #penandink #noeraser #moleskinesketchbook #redshirt #hat #illustratorsoninstagram #artistsoninstagram #keepdrawing #sheratonseattle #eccc #drinkanddraw #seattle #seattleartist

A quick sketch completed @thirdplacebooks yesterday evening. The past month and a half has been crazy but new art and sketchbook pages will be coming soon. . . . #sketchbook #penandinkdrawing #skb1000pen #illustration #illustratorsoninstagram #womeninart #tea #teapot #art #artistsoninstagram #seattleartist #thirdplacecommons #drawing #noeraser #lineart #keepdrawing (at Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)

Some of the awesome art I picked up while scampering around #ECCC. Artists tagged.

Happy Monday everyone. Hope this silly guy makes you smile. In other news I'm still cranking on lots of projects but I should be able to post more regularly soon. . . . . #wip #illustration #childrensillustration #donkey #bottom #midsummernightsdream #shakespeare #drawing #illustratorsoninstagram #cute #prismacolorpencils #smile #artistsoninstagram

‪Garrison is horrified to learn that he has a case of cone-itus and asks that you send help! ‬ ‪In all seriousness, he's doing fine, just a minor infection which he's not allowed to lick. Of course he thinks it's the end of the world. . . . #coneofshame #dogsofinstagram #springerspaniel‬ #dogstagram #garrisondog #ecollar #studiodog #poorguy #hessounhappy

I got my pass, can't wait for the fun to begin!!!! #eccc #pro #seattleartist

Penny Dreadful continues; working on Ethan Chandler now. Thank you @benw.e30 for modeling! Lots of juggling at the moment, but I'm determined to make more time for personal and promotional pieces. . . . . #freelancelife #illustration #wip #drawing #graphitedrawing #ethanchandler #pennydreadful #joshhartnett #illustratorsoninstagram #portrait #sketch #pentelgraphgear1000 #artlife #seattleartist

It's feels so good to draw!! I've finished the initial portrait of Vanessa Ives, now it's time to work on Ethan Chandler. . . . . #illustration #portrait #wip #vanessaives #pennydreadful #evagreen #graphitedrawing #freelancelife #illustratorsoninstagram #gothic #victoriangothic #drawing

Quick coffee shop scribbles in the sketchbook today. Sorry for not posting for awhile. I've been cranking on lots of work for "back of the house" side of my business. Yes, my business has two sides, each for a pretty distinct market. The "front" is the work I share here and on my website which is the work I aspire to do--book illustrations, editorial portraits, fantasy art, sketchbook stuff, etc. The "back" is mostly visuals and graphic design for corporate training and e-learning. I get most of this work through word of mouth. I have great clients and gigs through both sides of my business, but the work I share here is a brand and style that resonates more with my personal and career goals. So, things may be a little quiet this month. Curation is important, and I don't want to show work that doesn't fit me. Do you balance the need to post often with maintaining a certain level of quality or style? . . . . #freelancelife #illustration #sketchbook #penandink #noeraser #coffeeshop #illustratorsoninstagram #moleskinesketchbook #moleskine #seattle #artlife

Trying to make personal work a priority, no matter how busy I am. Here are the scattered beginnings of something dark and intriguing. . . . #illustration #sketchbook #sketches #wip #graphite #personalart #illustratorsoninstagram #coffeeshopasoffice #keepdrawing #facecard #resolution2018 #freelancelife

In honor of #AppreciateADragonDay here's a regram of my piece Guardian created for the Carbon invitational show @sallycentigrade in Lakewood, CO. To show your dragon how much you love them I recommend giving them hugs, belly rubs, and any treasure hoards you may have lying around. . . . #fantasyart #illustration #dragon #illustratorsoninstagram #instaart #acrylicpainting #diamond

Quick warm up sketch of Vanessa Ives.

Hey everyone, if you're in Seattle for the extended weekend be sure to see the Wyeth retrospective @seattleartmuseum . This is the closing weekend and SAM has extended their hours AND will be open on MLK Day (yes, a Monday!) to allow as many people to see the exhibit as possible. This is an incredible show and one of the best exhibits I've seen at SAM. (at Seattle Art Museum)

My secret productivity weapon: lots of tea. No cream or sugar, just good tea. Well, there may also be a planner...and stickers (thank you @veschwab), but it's mostly tea. ;) What helps you be productive?