Kittys Drawings

Hi!

I’ve been busy again. Drawing. And sewing. And baking. Took just a few days off work for the Xmas to NYE break…and I’m determined to spend my time being productive. Last year I got myself into a bit of a funk with drawing over the holidays. Not this time! I’ve got a heap of school work to do too.

So here’s the first of my portrait studies. Aiming to get better at drawing faces. This took me about 8 hours in three sessions. Looking at some painting vids online, it looks like I need to streamline my process a bit. Find a more economical way of laying down colour instead of the “blob and blend” method I’m using now.
Then again, I’m pretty happy with the results.

What do you think?

And my two WIP pics – the first one is pretty out there – she looks all alien. I had to leave it for a day and when I came back I could see all that was wrong with it – then it was just a matter of tidying up all those wonky angles to get rid of that underbite! Ha.

Hair is still a tricky one. I should experiment with some different brushes or something. I’m currently using two variations of a pastel brush – one is tapered and the other round extra-soft, with the tapered one used for hair.

Anyways – I’m off to go eat some cheesecake (dark choc & morello cherry) – hope it’s set already. Mmm

Bye!
Oh and Happy Xmas for those that get into that sorta thing

Sup!

I finally have a drawing for you. Which could be more polished but once again I left it too long and by the time I got round to working more on it, I was thoroughly over it. So patchy finish up in the end. It’s not too bad though. I used a photo reference for this instead of a painting reference like the last couple, making all the exaggerations on the figure mine

The purpose of doing all these pinups was to establish a solid working process and build up my confidence with Painter. Which means I need to do them quickly! I want to be able to do something like this in a few hours and be pleased with the result. Then work up to more complex pieces. I’m not sure if my methods will work. I fear having more than one drawing project on the go because I know one, if not more, will be abandoned and then I will never finish anything.
Any artists reading my blog – what do you do? Are you able to work on more than one thing at once and eventually finish everything?
It’s so hard to get over the “I hate it” stage for me. I always make roadblocks for myself – things to stop me from creating something “better”. I wonder if I’ll ever stop feeling like a fraud when it comes to my art. Hmm…It’s like I’m constantly waging war with myself and playing tricks on my own brain via a complicated system of activities which are deemed ‘worthy’ of spending time on and those that are not. And whether I should have any leisure time at all when instead of reading blogs I could(should) be drawing – and then, if what I am drawing is moving along satisfactorily or should I be putting more effort in. Waaa! Can get tiring sometimes – and then what happens, I bludge to put off the inevitable decision ….vicious cycle I tell you.
And that probably made little sense.

Anyways…On to the drawings.

(click to make larger)

WIPS and details:

Next time…I’ll be working on faces. I realise that I’m just not that great at them yet. My refs have been too low-res to really zoom in on the features and make out the specific tones needed. I mean, look at noses – there’s not much to them ‘cept a couple of well placed highlights and shadows. Get them wrong and it’s all off. Plus these eyes are lackluster – and the eyes will make a painting. Eerrrrm so much to learn!
SO – I’ve got tons of portrait refs to choose from in my LittleSnapper. I’ll use one of those.

AND….I’ve finished my first sewing project. If I can con the bf into taking some nice photos, then I’ll do a post. It’s a mint green cotton wrap skirt with big, dark green buttons. I finished it in a weekend – maybe 6 hours total. Even managed to make some nice bound buttonholes – I tell you what they are easier to do than regular buttonholes (using a zigzag stitch). They look really nice too. Yay!
I’ve got some fantastic fabric, buttons and a wonderful pattern all coming in the mail soon – That will be my next project.

Til soon!

Silly season is upon us.

I’ve been going a bit crazy with the sewing….and work is mental….got back from QLD yesterday…Um….not much time for other things. Though I must finish that latest pinup.

So – to tide you all over, here is my annual Xmas card…I usually whip up one of these to use as tags for any gifts that I give.

Til soon, bya!

‘Sup!
Wow look I’m finished!

Once again I got a bit sick of it all towards the end. Really need to get better at drawing faces – however starting with the head is always hard. I find that proportions work easier if I draw the figure first and add the head later….but that means that I’ll leave the face til last and by then I’m usually well over the drawing.
Next time I’ll attempt to block in the majority of the figure first….do the face and THEN finish the rest of the drawing. Hope that works out better. Always something new learnt from doing one of these.

Some work in progress.

So yeh – not entirely happy with the face. Hmm. Thoughts?

Seeyas!

Hiii!

Since I’m stuffing around with a drawing at the moment – and it’s been about a week since I last posted….I thought I’d show you my most recent working space. Much better than my last one. I have my precious beastie Erebus – no more squinting at a laptop screen. I’ve also cleared the majority of crap away so it’s kind of calming to work here now.

This is the left hand side – Those brown boxes are where I hide all sorts of crap that I need on hand but its all so small that they should be hidden away. One day I will find a nice little set of drawers that can go on the floor under my desk and free up that space for other knick-knacks.
Also – an assortment of random books, sketchbooks and diaries. That rainbow Moleskine was/is my 2010 diary but ended up being pretty sucky cos I couldn’t be bothered changing it every month. I think I’ll just stick to my iPhone from now on even though I love paper.  The Syd Mead DVD is something I’ve been meaning to give back to Dwardo for ages now – I haven’t stolen it I promise!
The book titled Rage is written by Julie Mac – who works in the department next to mine – she wrote about her teen years as a Sharpie – a subculture I knew nothing about til she wrote the book. Very cool read
Perfume box is there cos it’s pretty. And the little mug is something my grandma gave to me when I was last in Europe – apparently that was mine as a baby. Only found it the other day so I thought I’d put it out.
Aaaand – that’s my Wacom pen (the big silver pen thingy in the stand) and a sketchbook buried under the boxes. Neglected these days since I’ve been working straight from the computer…it does get scrawled on occasionally but I usually have a bit of a hissy-fit about what I’ve drawn and it’s full of crud. Heh.

This is the right side (drawing preview in there).
Check it out! The drawing Audrey did for me on my napkin is framed – woo! A Thank You card from my friend Sal….the scanner – A cactus I bought for Jonny in the background.
I hate cables. This is as tidy as they get – I shoved the long Wacom cable down behind my desk for the photo but I can’t leave it there for long because Boofy (my enormous, fluffy cat) has a penchant for gnawing on them. He’s already taken  a few chomps at the Wacom cable. Also chewed right through the battery cord for Jonny’s laptop. Anyone would think he’s a rabbit! Naughty Boof!
I think, thankfully, my actual computer cables are too thick and not “tender” enough for good chomping material so he hasn’t had a go at those.
Does anyone else have pets with expensive habits??

And this is what I see sittin’ at my chair. Sneaky preview of what’s coming up If you haven’t already seen on Facebook. Sal’s painting is in the background. It’s not hung higher cos there’s an air conditioner up there hehe
Think I need more cute, quirky things. And more cacti. Or a bonsai. Want to get rid of those boxes cos they really don’t “fit”.
Otherwise, it’s a comfortable place to work. My chair is comfy and my shiny LED screen is shiny. Shiny shine shine!  And big.  Yay!
When I ordered my Mac, I specifically asked for a full sized keyboard. No number pad shits me.

And now I can attempt to finish that drawing on screen. Considering whether I can be bothered doing any today, or go read my book instead.
I always feel a bit “meh” about starting something…but once I pick up the pen and start it’s hard to stop. It’s just that starting thing that’s tough. Like exercise haha! Does anyone else get that?

Seeyas!

And it was awesome! YAY.

We went to +39 Pizzeria on Lt Bourke and nommed on pizzas (what else)….Audrey was really really lovely – even though I felt awkward as usual. She did a drawing for me on my napkin – which is now in a photoframe on my desk.

Sooo…..I drew something quick just before – inspired by the lady herself – but not as good of course. And looks crappier than the sketch I did. Oh well – I’m really not that good at linework on Painter….Bah!

Here are some terrible photos of the night. Jonny’s ones are better.

Yaaay!

and here’s my cruddy drawing

Better work next time I promise.

Hi!

Guess what? I totally WON the dinner with Audrey! Woooo!! It was a pretty splendid night and I did actually manage to hold some conversation. My photos suck – so I’ll be posting those as well as Jonny’s good ones later. But today I have some drawing completed. Another piece where I was all gung-ho at first…then I abandoned it…then I finished it just to be done with it.

Next time, I think I’ll be ready to attempt something original. And spend more hours on it. Definitely have got the hang of Corel Painter’s tools – now to get over my own self-sabotage.
Some work in progress and (shitty) detail shots….

Not a very high level of detail but whatevs…NEXT.

Seeya’s round (Audrey post up soon)