Ishaway Friestad - Illustrator, graphic designer
  • Illustration
    • 2016 Works
    • 2015 Works
    • Dreaming Series
  • Graphic Design
  • Contact
  • TOS
  • Storyboarding
Dreaming: Sea Otter

This piece was done on a skateboard picked up in Seward, Alaska as part of a skateboard art show. 
While in Alaska one of my siblings was hunting for otter merch. They are one of her favorite animals. We literally found 3 things. One was a NWP style item, the other two were  mugs. 
So I decided to paint an otter on this skateboard.
Picture
Picture
Dreaming: Humpack
​

Another skateboard to add to the ever growing number I have painted. This one is not a standard skatedeck, but a long board. 
The shape of longs boards is very visually lovely to me. They glide and allow riders to move swiftly.

Thus I painted a humpback whale, one of the most calming animals to watch swim.



Traveler
​

They come,
With strange tea and a penchant for stories.
Offering insight we can only hope to understand.
They are Travelers.




I feel I am finished with this fellow for now. These Travelers are figures I keep revisiting and hopefully understanding better. I am excited to share more of them with you all.

---

Patreons got WIPS, early access to this image, and more!
Picture
Picture
Enlightened Meditating Rabbit
​

Meditation leads to higher thought, expanding of the mind. Seated in a lilac colored lotus the white rabbit's aura shines with rainbow iridescence. 
The rainbow treated metal of the halo of this rabbit, paired with the purple lotus represent spiritual growth.

This soft enamel pin is:
-35 mm tall
-Features a single pin, with butterfly clasp

Pins can be purchased at my Etsy storefront!

Due to the nature of the metal treatment each pin is slightly unique, with some leaning toward turquoise shades and others featuring more purples. This makes each pin just a little different, and just a little magical. The enamel colors are the same on each pin.
Picture
Solar and Lunar Eclipse Kitsune
​

With all the Kickstarter rewards now sent out I have added the Lunar and Solar Eclipse Kitsune pins to my Etsy store!

I will be bringing these pins with me to my summer conventions too!
Picture
Dreaming: Sol
​
The sun rises, hot and powerful.

This piece has been at different phases of progress over 2017, leading to another image in the Dreaming Series. I have been wanting to do a detailed horse Dreaming piece.

This image was a lot of fun to work on. Salt on hot press paper is always a trip.

Patreons got access to this post 2 days earlier than the rest of the world.
https://www.patreon.com/Ishaway
Unicorn in UV
​
An image I know 10/12yo me would have been thrilled to render. (or find in a coloring book)
Excited to finally get a real scan of this; painted while my comp was down.

Acrylic, UV paint on canvas
Picture
Picture
Coyote Woman Listening
​
A small watercolor started in December 2017.

The imagery of the Coyote Woman has been a presence in my early life and has only continued. Some versions of the myth present a woman who agrees to marry Coyote if he can come back from death 3 times.
Some I was exposed to earlier have a woman who can skin change. 

Watercolor, colored pencil, interference paint on watercolor paper
Picture
Behind the Milky Way
​
Journey far, listen
Seeing beyond the Milky Way's shadow
To inhale vapors.
I am here to find;
Taste fennel, smell clover
Where visions are born


My last finished piece of 2017. Started after a strange dream and rumbling purrs of odd guides.

I am setting intentions for 2018. May yours be full of fire, tenacity, and deep seated strength.
Picture
Golden Shall
​
Wrapped in gold, lead
Feel the paradigm shift forward
The sun return grows all


This year I finished a winter holiday image.
I am not a practitioner of any of the monotheistic faiths; as a result the majority of holiday card motifs are ones I do not wish to propagate. 
So I rendered out my own. 

Solstice will be at 11:28 Am December 21st this year. Bring joy the light, and end the long nights.

I have ordered a small amount of cards with this image to bring with me to MFF, and send out to friends and family.
Hungry Gods...
​

These gods are hungry, rumble
Flesh and love starved they hunt
In dreams they come, hungry


This piece thundered out like a hurricane.

I am very glad the sketch book the rough lived in fell on my foot a couple of weeks ago so that I could render this piece out.

This is a Patreon supported piece. 
Want to help me make more like it? Check out the link!
Picture
Inktober 2017

Another year, another Inktober exercise. I focused on botanical illustrations for the first part of the month and branched out for a visual break near the end of the month.


I only scan and clean up a selection of my Inktobers for online galleries. For the rest, check out my Twitter or In
stragram.
Picture
Hungry Gods...

These gods are old and hungry... Working on a new Patreon piece tonight.

If you want to see the progress on this piece over the next weeks feel free to check out my Patreon
Forgotten Guardian

Deep in the dark places things sleep,
Waiting for the foolish to make offerings.


A Kickstarter backer commission from the Mythical Beast campaign.
Picture
Picture
The Spell Caster

A commission from the Mythical Beast Kickstarter for the ever patient Mulefoot. 
The character is Bumooryu, a Markhor sage type. 

I enjoyed playing with this character and pieces of the world.
Snow Griff

An unique griffon combination! Snow leopard and osprey. 
A commission from the Mythical Beast Kickstarter this spring; one of three in the works, first finished.

Who doesn't love unique griffons?
Picture
Picture
Savannah Beasts

Two points on the life spiral,
Twisting, snarling, bellowing.
Battle as breath,
Each unwilling to forfeit.

A large Dreaming Style piece featuring a wildebeest and a spotted hyena.
Ancient One I

Strangers bring odd gifts, asking questions in the echo.
Finished this big'n in time for BLFC.
Picture
Three Halos
​

Three of power,
Three for strength,
And wake the salamander.


A small acrylic of the beloved alchemist's friend, the Salamander.
Picture
Picture
Two Halos
Two orbs glow, 
Spinning, spinning, spinning.
Power growing, bouncing forces
And twin halos on my shoulders.

​Acrylic and imitation gold leaf


Picture
Dreaming: Orcas
Orcas and tribal tides, leaving spine tingling and ears ringing like a deep pressure dive.
This piece will be with me at Biggest Little Fur Con (early June) and Anthro Con (late June).
Picture
Death Promises
The Black Rabbit of Inel has become a source of inspiration for me... for over a year now. A figure of death and thus balance, the imagery surrounding him in popular culture is both touching and macabre. 

Featured here with stinging nettle and white clover flowers, the Black Rabbit of Inel promises death.

March and April have become less painful for me (connected to the sudden loss of two pets in 2015). Working through those feelings of mourning through creative works has been a healthy release.


This piece was Patreon supported

https://www.patreon.com/Ishaway

Out run the Dogs
The fruit of a collaborative project with a local art friend, turned collab auction.
He did the digital base, I transferred to paper to ink and paint it.
It has been a long while since I have done a project this large, and after a couple of less than glamorous starts the piece is finally complete.

A long over due commission for a very patient client, Cyrix.
Picture
Enamel Pins now Available!

Now that the Kickstarter rewards are all shipped I have added the remaining Meditating Rabbit pins my Etsy and Storenvy.

If you are interested in owning one or more of these limited run enamel pins hop on over to:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Ishaway
https://ishaway.storenvy.com/

I will have the remaining stock of pins at Furry Weekend Atlanta in April.
Picture
2017 has begun, meaning Further Confusion has passed, new art work is under way, and the Kickstarter Enamel Pins are in hand and currently being packaged up and processed for shipment.

With this new year a new art style has developed, involving more colors and animal imagery.

Projected conventions for 2017:
  • Furry Weekend Atlanta (April)
  • Biggest Little Fur Con (June)
  • Anthro Con (July)
    And tentatively Fursonacon in October. I am looking for more conventions or art shows to participate in, so if there are any you would like to see me at please drop a line!
Meditating Rabbit Enamel Pin Kickstarter - FUNDED

11/10/2016 Update:
You all are amazing! The Meditating Rabbit Kickstarter is fully funded and beyond!
The Moon Rabbit Stretch goal has been reached and surpassed! This means that two pins are being made.

If backing continues at this rate I may have to add another stretch goal!

​-----
I have launched a Kickstarter to begin adding enamel pins to the array of work and products I offer both online and at conventions. 

Follow the link to back this Kickstarter
Picture
Crafted Indie Arts and Crafts Market & Furpocalypse

I will be selling at Crafted again this year! Come out and see myself as well as over 60 vendors at O'Conner Brewing Co.


After Crafted I will attending Furpocalypse in Connecticut over Halloween weekend. I will have a seat in the Artist Alley all three days of the convention. If you are local to New England please come out and say hello! This is my last scheduled out of state convention until 2017!
Inktober 2016

Inktober 2016 is already underway! The daily uploads of completed paintings are live on Instagram and Tumblr. I am currently scanning and processing the images every week. 

​


All paintings are done in India ink, watercolor, and occasionally gold leaf.
Picture
Sun Blessing 
&
the deep


A couple of small pieces done in early September. Both were done as experiments in expression and color theory.

​


Colored pencil and mixed media
Picture
Picture
Dalibor

A commission for the ever wonderful Deo of her cicada Dalibor.


Scratchboard
Picture
Destroyer
The wild calls
Primal beat
The Destroyer watches ...


A smaller piece filled with late nights and half remembered dreams.

India ink, mixed media and 22k Gold Leaf
Picture
Divine Beast
The largest collaborative pieces I have done; done with the awesomely talented Skulldog

The Qilin (or kirin) is a beast which appears at the arrival or passing of kings, sages, and individuals meant for great things.
They are a perfectly balance being, as divine as terrestrial, and have long been a 'unicorn' variant which I love depicting.
​
This shimmering divine beast is huge! I will take pictures once I have it all matted up and ready for the Anthro Con art show.

​----


9"x18" approx, Mixed Media
The Prettiest Star

A collaboration done by Skulldog and myself.
Started back in January, shortly after David Bowie's passing.
His music shaped much of my teen years with Heathen being an album that now rests even closer to my heart.
This piece will be in the Anthro Con art show!

----

5"x7" Mixed Media
Picture
Picture
Dreaming: Wombat

Deep drum
Dig deep
Burrow forward and inhale

New Dreaming painting. First one of 2016.

----


4"x5" Watercolor and ink
Steed

Feral and noble.

Also gnarly unicorn with fang/tusks because who doesn't love big burly monster?

The original will be at Furry Weekend Atlanta the weekend of April 1st.​

4.5"x5" Scratch board


Picture
Picture
Meditation 

Mediate on what you desire
Manifest what you wish
Exhale what stresses you
Inhale what you love


Welcome 2016 ----
The final finished piece for 2015, a commission for the very kind and patient client.
----


9"x12" Graphite
Only the most recent images are displayed here, chronicling approximately 7-12 months of finished works at a time.
A fully back dated gallery can be found on Weasyl or Furaffinity | For more fluid updates please visit thedrawingunicorn, a sketch blog, or my Instagram
Picture