Kittys Drawings

Hi Everyone!
As promised, here is some ART – omg FINALLY. Hahah ;-P

This is a design I did for a company that my partner is involved with. They are having a risk management conference quite soon and needed an eye-popping handout that would go with the visitors welcome pack given to conference attendees. The theme of the conference was psychedelic 60′s! Crazy-cool! There I was thinking that risk management was kind of dry and would need sleek and minimal design. Not so!

Thankfully, their printer specialises in packaging and boxes etc so my idea for a fold up card was feasible. I thought something 3D would stand out amongst anything else in the welcome pack and my client gave me a lot of freedom to do what I wanted. Time being a major constraint of course. I did a small mock-up which got approved and then it was time to get cracking on the illustration.

In typical Esz fashion, I bit off more than I could chew, my plans being grander than the time would allow me to complete such ideas. But in the end I think I managed pretty good. The drawing took up the bulk of the time of course. I’m pretty sure my client is happy (I hope!!) and hope to see the finished result soon. I will post that if/when I get a copy so you can see how it’s supposed to stand up.

I used Corel Painter for the illustration (the mockups were done by hand!) and Adobe Illustrator for the layout.

Next up – More sewing. I’m fairly caught up now on blog-worthy sewing projects. I made a big leap yesterday actually spent some money on some NEW fabric. It is destined to become a dress to wear to a friends wedding. Which is only three weeks away. Cue major panic. BUT – it’s a fairly simple design so I hope I can knock it out quickly. I will start on the ‘wearable muslin’ today and have a go at the proper dress next week. The fear of cutting into something that I actually paid more than $4 a piece for is kinda daunting. FYI, I bought 3m dark green taffeta, 1.5m light green taffeta with black flocked polka dots for contrast bow, and 1.5m pale green silk for the lining….total, $43 which is still kinda cheap for a formal dress isn’t it? The design will be a knee length wiggle dress so I’m hoping I was generous enough with my fabric and have plenty to cover any mistakes. And maybe enough of that dark green taffeta for another project!

That’s about all for now. I better get back to sewing!

Bya!

Hi Everyone!
A new drawing post so soon after the other one. Wow!! Haha.

I wanted this one to be really quick and easy. Took me maybe 6-8 hours all up.

The ref is Solange by Daniel Gurton for Vs. Magazine July 2011 < – I didn’t read the mag but the pics are kicking round the interwebz….Can’t resist cool hair and flowers. Of course it looks nothing like her as usual but that’s never really my aim

(WIPs)

Now I’ve set myself a new project which is a biggie. Starting it tomorrow I hope.

I got an email from my webhost the other day that I’ve used 80% of my bandwidth – this is the first time I’ve got that notice so I guess it means my blog is growing! I don’t get tons of hits – a bit over 100 page views a day sometimes spiking higher and most of the time it’s lower than that. But there are much more frequent spikes than there used to be a year ago so averaged out over the last year, there’s definitely been an increase. SO – if you’ve had trouble viewing my blog it might mean I’ve killed my bandwidth. I’ll be buying more shortly but that’s going to increase the cost of the site quite a bit. Not that I’ll be taking it out on YOU guys hahaha! Ad free blog allll the way

That’s all for now!!

Hi All

Oh dear christ it’s FINISHED!!!
(yes I blaspheme far too much for an atheist )

*phew*

So this drawing took me around 2 whole months to finish. I started mid-June and now it’s August and I’m finally done. That’s why I’ve been holding out on you guys for so long. I don’t think I have the capacity to work on more than one drawing at once otherwise one or more will get neglected. It’s quite possible I am the most inefficient ‘artist’ out there.

The ref was a fashion editorial I found via a blog…..NEXT TIME….I think I might try something original for a change….I have an idea, just need to execute it somehow. Yes – I am already thinking of the next thing.

Sooo….This took at least 20 hours. I lost count though. It’s been stared at for so long that I can’t tell if you can tell how long I spent on this.

Anyways…piccies….

Detail:

WIPs

What do you think? Should I put this on Etsy?

Other news: Lots of sewing is complete that I need to show you as per usual…..ummmm……that’s all for now really…ha exciting! Oh! It’s been quiet around here cos I was feeling pretty sick this week. Stupid colds. I’m meant to be bulletproof!! Hah! (I don’t get sick very often)…Thankfully I was over it in 2 days but still…it knocks you for six.
The boyfriend also bought himself a motorbike. Cool huh! It arrives this week. But he can’t take me for a ride yet cos he’s still on his Learners. I’ve been convinced that I need to get my scooter license…So I guess that will happen soon.

That’s all I guess!
Better run!

EDIT: Oh my GOD you won’t believe how relieved I am this is done. Geeez!

Hey!

Guess what!

I have a new job!!!!

YAY!

I start at the beginning of September – similar kind of work – still in food packaging…..but now I’ll be out east instead of north….and lots more opportunities in the new place (I hope!). It’s going to be a super fast paced role, servicing a very high profile client in their head office.

So that is what was special about the grey sheath dress in my last post – it was what I wore to my first interview with my new employers.

That’s all I got for you today. I finished a dress – but I’m not taking photos cos today is a bludge day and I can’t be bothered getting dressed up and doing my hair etc when I don’t plan on going out. Heh. I’ve also been drawing…a few crappy sketches. I’m really out of practice with sketching.  Here is one just so I don’t have a words only post.

Till soon guys! I’m off to go figure out THIS pattern – make it smaller, and squish the skirt onto the small amount of fabric I have. I’m going to see if I can use parts of another pattern where its a gored skirt not a full circle. Should still have enough swish and hopefully be more economical on fabric.

Hiiii!

Soooo I have a drawing for you. A very old drawing. One I started at the end of January to be exact. It’s been hanging around that long and I’m finally sick of it enough to call it done. But – its DONE. It could be a lot better yes…I could have added a whole bunch more pixels in there and got fiddly with the details…..

I’m still kinda hung up on the piece I’m working on now though – and this being unfinished was bothering me. So here it is.

Inadvertently you ask? Well I’d found the reference on Tumblr somewhere which had no text to explain who it was. I thought “It kinda looks like Cate Blanchett”. I wouldn’t make a good paparazzo would I? Haha Derp!

I do like these colours though. And I don’t know how I have my colour settings set up – but when I work in Corel Painter, the image is a lot lighter, so when it gets to Photoshop for my final touches (signature, that’s about all really), the colours become super saturated. Painter, I think is the odd one out in this chain but I like it this way.

(detail)

I’m still stressing about my creative “skillz” – too scared to set my own projects where I can really explore different methods of drawing and I dunno – just letting go. Maybe I should jump back into the ConceptArt.org challenges. They’ve set up a new section called Illustration of the Week (IOW) which looks promising.

(WIPs)

Anyways…I best be off.

Ciao!

Hi All,

I asked permission from my client to post the portrait I did for her. The drawing is to become a gift for her and her partner for their anniversary – How sweet!! I had fun drawing this – slightly different method from my usual style as I it was essential that I do justice to my subjects! So I spent a lot more time on it and made all efforts not to hate my “skillz” in the process.

I’m actually rather pleased with it!

(detail)

WIPs

What do you think?

If anyone else would love a portrait drawn then feel free to email me (address is in the About section). My rates are very reasonable – just send me a line and we can chat!
I know I don’t advertise this as heavily as I should, but if I could make a living off drawing I would be one happy girl. Imagine that – spending all day drawing (and sewing) and not having to slave away those 8+ hours in the office. My job isn’t dreadful, but if I could choose drawing over it then I would. It’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately – Coming home, making dinner and then spending a few hours on my hobbies – those few hours aren’t enough. I have such a big list of the things I want to make and draw right now, there just aren’t enough hours in the day. And that doesn’t include my personal obligations like maintaining my relationship and friendships – neither of which can be neglected either.
This sorting of priorities is one of those “I’m an adult now” realisations….and yes, I still get those at 27…If only I didn’t have to rely on money so much! Ha – that goes for everyone doesn’t it!?

So – musings aside, I think that’s all I have for you today. There is currently a new drawing in the works (non-paid) and about 6 sewing projects I need to update you on! Sheesh! We’ve got the BF’s fancy camera back now so the quality of my photos should get a bit better – no more horrible graininess. Yay!

Seeyas!

Hi Everyone!
I’m a bit late on updating this little here blog. Not to say I’ve been procrastinating either – there’s always lots happening at Chez Kitty!

This is the first drawing I’ve finished in a while. I’d left it too long again and couldn’t be bothered tidying it up. When I opened it today to see what needed fixing, it didn’t look like there was that much to do. So it’s not so bad…I guess. I hope I’ve done the subject justice. Probably not. Errrm. Sorry! It’s kinda crap actually. Waaaa! *sob*
NEED TO DRAW MORE.

It’s this uber-cute lass here – Elinkan – I love her photos and her style – as well as how often she changes her hair colour! Way cool

(detail)

(WIPs)

Other news: We’re gearing up for Fiji. I’ve done all the sewing I need to do but if I’ve got some time next week I might be able to make a top or two to go with my Tara Starlet sailor shorts. Hopefully I’ll be able to get a sewing post up on the weekend. I’m really far behind and this lack of light is really frustrating! The only thing I don’t like about winter (Yes, I love the cold so shoot me). The emerald green wool crepe 40′s dress (phew!) is finished. It was very time consuming but I’ve very happy with the result. I’ll blabber more about that when I post about it.

There’s also a completed 70′s dress which came together surprisingly fast. And I have a whole jumble of things I want to make next – including, but not limited to, a slinky, draped 40′s dress, a ROBE (that word needs caps haha), an apron, and a sheath dress for work.

More stuff, I’ve been baking like a madwoman. Why? Cos I can. I love making cakes. They’re usually not very elaborate but sure taste good (if I do say so myself).

My Vivienne Westwood for Melissa mary-janes finally packed it in, so there was much hunting for a new pair of black shoes. Buying shoes here in Australia was not much of an option – I don’t seem to fit any of the ‘normal’ brands like Tony Bianco and Wittner very well, even though I have narrow feet. They’re so BORING as well. Hideously hideously boring. So online I went and have purchased my third pair of Irregular Choice shoes. I will show you the beauties when they arrive. Fingers are crossed they are as comfy as they look. They meet my stringent criteria: thick heel with slight taper (not too boxy or too narrow),  almond/round toes, between 4cm and 7cm high and most importantly -  quirky.
So I’m fussy about shoes…shuddup!

I should stop yabbering on…Time to get back to my commission. Making significant progress on that! If my client lets me I will post that next week too as it will be finished this weekend.

Till soon,