Kittys Drawings

Lightning fast posting today….

Look what I scored today – from the Salvos and Savers.

Okay so I buy something new almost every week. My stash is getting immense! I’m using it though! I just need storage. Shelves. Not the giant pile spilling out of shopping bags on the floor of my ‘sewing room’ :shifty:
But these were super pretty so I had to show you. I have PLANS for them. Mostly for my ‘resort wear’ collection mwahahahaa – ie. What I Will Wear on My Island Holiday. I have a pattern in mind already for the two on the right. Would you believe they are BED SHEETS? Yes. Yes they are. There’s so much crazy-awesome stuff at Savers and its mostly in the bedding section. I had to restrain myself!

The other two will be tops. I need more top patterns. I only have a simple round neck vintage one (which I am about to start tracing today). I’ve not been that enthused by any modern patterns. I think I need to look at some different eras – maybe the 70′s for the floaty blouses I tend to favour. Like the one in my last sewing post. Anyone that can point me towards something along those lines? The polka dot sheer fabric would be perfect for one of those.

Anyways I promised this would be quick. I’ve been very busy this week….not only is work completely and utterly MAD at the moment, I’ve been doing both drawing and sewing most afternoons. I have a drawing that is about 80% done right now which I am really very pleased with at the moment. The majority of the hard stuff I usually hate doing is complete and now I’m just tidying up details and doing the hair (yay!). Hopefully that should be ready by the weekend.
I also have two dresses that are finished and ready to show you. Wow!

Sooo – all that’s left for YOU to do today is enter my competition - Get a wriggle on peeps! Two more days to enter.

Scratcha later!

Hi!

Today I decided I wanted some fabric. I thought I would head out to Brunswick and hit up those fantastic little shops that sell great fabric for $3 a metre. I had plans to buy a couple of different sorts for some upcoming projects. Since Savers is on the way there it crossed my mind to pop in and check what they have first before I go elsewhere.

Well.
Let me tell you, it was a good think I went there first.

Look at ALL THIS! I scored at least 20m of fabric for the measly sum of $63.84!!! I bought 16 different kinds all ranging from $2 – $5. The only thing missing is some GREEN but that doesn’t matter – I’ve got plenty to keep me going for a while.

The light grey one is really nice and drapey and would make a fabulous dress or skirt. It’s a bit stretchy though so I might save it for when I have more experience.

I’m loving the white linen (furthest on the left)..it’s really heavy and very bright white. Could either dye it or leave as is. The other two light ones would make fantastic blouses. I have some itty bitty olive green glass buttons that would make great accents on a cream 40′s blouse.

That navy polka dot is mega cute. Would have to become a full skirt 50′s dress with a big petticoat underneath. Also that pink and blue stripe will get the same treatment.

Check out that printed cotton on the bottom of this pile! It’s rather stiff and there’s a lot of it. Would make a great Alfred Shaheen style halter wrap dress.

*squee*!!
Yes I’ve been posting heaps lately. I don’t know if this frequency will continue. I considered scheduling my posts to spread them out a bit but meh, I’ve got that much on the go at the mo, you can all just get it at is arrives

I started a new drawing last night too. Planning it to be slightly more detailed than my last few but we’ll see how that goes huh – Inevitably I will get sick of it and do a rush job at the end. Maybe….just maybe…I could try starting something new when I get sick of one. And then see if I feel like going back to the other one later. Here’s hoping that doesn’t leave me with two unfinished projects instead of one rushed, finished one. Which is worse??

Anywaysss…..

Seeyas!

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!

Hello!

Time for some art! I’ve finally finished the work for my other client – Renee at Beauty Fool asked me to draw her a new header for her site. She wanted a rough icon look in black and white, of a girl applying lipstick. She sent me some reference images as well as some of my own work that she liked. It didn’t take me long to whip up a sketch but and later the final art was done. Happily, we didn’t even need to do any revisions! Though I did make two versions, one with colour, only because I got a bit excited with the digital watercolour in Corel Painter. Up until I got my new computer, using the digi watercolours was just not an option as they are so realistic to use, my poor little laptop couldn’t cope with the heavy memory load. Painter mimics the wetness of the paint spreading across the paper in real time (if you choose it to) – you can adjust the drying time, spread of the paint, even the direction and strength of the wind pushing on the paint while it is drying.
My new Beast takes care of this with ease and I’m itching to play around with these tools along with the other ‘real’ paints like acrylic and oil. Yay!

SO….here’s the black and white followed by the colour version.

I wanted to go fairly simple and subtle with the colour – the digi watercolour I used on the hair using a big wet bristle brush. It produces the nicest soft wash, it’ll be fun to try out different paper effects and layering later.

Anyways, back to work!

Sorry for the lack of arty posting lately. Been feeling in a bit of a slump. Still sketching daily but kinda not feelin it. However, I’ve got two client projects on the go which aren’t problematic at all which is excellent.
I think I have worked myself into a “MUST BUY NEW COMPUTER” mode and so trying to do anything on my clunky old laptop is getting me frustrated. I am entirely sure it’s just an excuse as I am known to do that. What for I know, it’s not like it’s benefiting me in any way to be always making excuses! TERRIBLE. But identifying the problem is only halfway (only a quarter even) there.
Soooo, even just writing this out is motivating me to get off my butt and back into it. Browsing the talent on ConceptArt always helps too.

But since I have nothing worth scanning at the moment, I shall show you some purchases instead. It was payday not long ago and of course I have a massive list of favourites on Etsy which I’m always itching to lay my hands on.
These are the items winging their way over to me from the US.

A stunning 50′s/60′s wool suit. Cos I don’t have a suit yet and this is so pretty and looks like a fabulous cut.

A navy vintage hat. I don’t wear hats generally and this is a good price and versatile colour so that I don’t feel too bad if it doesn’t look good on me. There are SO many beautiful hats on Etsy!

And finally, another dress….cos a girl can never have enough dresses. The colours are cute and summery and looks flattering. Thankfully I’ve gotten quite good at being able to judge what will fit me well without needing to try something on. There hasn’t been one online purchase I’ve made that doesn’t fit me.

I can’t wait til they all arrive! Cue postie stalking….NOW!

Ciao!

A non-drawing related post.

Let’s talk about (and perve on) SHOES.

Check out these babies!!!!!!! I don’t usually spend my last cent on frivoulous purchases. Really.
But this time I just *had* to have them.
Just look at them. The brightest shade of electric blue. Pretty sequins. Flowers. The cutest rounded toe. The right height with a perfect, not-too-skinny heel. Soft suede. Plush pink velvet interior. *sigh*
And all for $100 including postage. Yay!
From Schuh in the UK. They arrived in less than a week too.

Excuse my fatty feet – the mercury reached 43C today (108F) hence the swollen feet. Blergh.

I think I am in love with Irregular Choice.

So I’m posting since its been a few days. Struggling. Really dont like this but had to finish it to be rid of it. Meh.

Struggling with my computer also. It’s really not coping and its pissing me off having to WAIT so goddamn LONG just to save a smallish drawing. I can’t go past 300PPI for anything and that doesn’t really allow for much detail in faces etc. Grrr.

/rant

It was just a sketch anyway. I left it too long and fiddled too much. Its a Dior outfit from a few seasons ago – sometime last year I think.

(have to sign my name with an ’10. Kinda weird!)
Seeyas!