The Sixty Second Doodle, and a Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas to all; from myself, Wuss and, of course, Boots. We hope you ate too much Christmas dinner and (gave as well as) got some lovely gifts.

 

I made mince pies. Nom nom nom.

I don't know about you, but my god, I have become a right little fatty. MIND YOU, I actually have got a very ligitimate excuse. After my operation at the end of September (on my back, give me sympathy yeah) I was limited to such activities as lying in bed and walking like a 90 year old biddy. As you can imagine, one puts weight on when one can barely move. Things are better now of course, but I still have to be careful. I think swimming will be the way forward in 2013.

So what's YOUR excuse ey?

Anyway, I digress. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas full of over indulgence and joy, and that you could be with the people who make you happy. One day we may not be able to do that, so we must treasure every moment. Merry Christmas, and I wish you all the best for 2013.

The Sixty First Doodle

I would LOVE to go to New York. If anyone feels like sending me some money so I can do this, please feel free to do so. To turn that down would be downright UNGRATEFUL. And my mama brought me up right.

I did an illustration this year on London, and had an urge to do another city. For New York, I wanted something a little more gritty, something messy but stylish. Basically, how I saw it as a place. 

It's a jumble of famous landmarks and urban, graffiti style mess. And I like that. I used a combination of materials, from coloured markers to pencils, watercolours to chalk. I like the contrast between all the various textures and shades, and I layered the subjects to interlink them as well as create a busy sense of confusion. Are you confused? You better be. But in a good way, I hope. 

I have a plan to travel in Eastern Europe next summer, and I am so jeffin' excited to go and bring my sketch pad with me. I will love to draw my way around the cities Europe!

The Sixtieth Doodle - A week to Christmas!

So Christmas is nearly upon us, hurrah! I confess, I bloody love Christmas. Fab food and drink, and lots of time with those who mean the most to you. Love it.

So the only downfall as an arty type person is there are certain expectations from people that you must make them things. Cards especially. Oh lord. So I have been beavering away on my hand made Wuss 'n Boots cards, drawing them all out, sticking them together and destroying my back in the process. Ohhh I am so dedicated!

Not being funny, but people who get one better be bloody grateful I tell thee, this has taken me a  long while.

So here's to this special time of year, when we over-indulge, get stuck in our own gift wrapping (oh Wuss) and make merry with loved ones. 

In the wake of recent tragedies, not just in Newtown in America but ones all across the world, I hope we all feel thankful for what we do have, and remember those who are in mourning right now. For myself, it makes me realise just how wonderful my family and friends are, and that I really should tell them. 

If you read this my peeps, I blimmin' love you, you are fantastic. Even if I don't know you, I bet your bloody marvellous too.

So go have a lovely Christmas, treasure your loved ones, and enjoy life, 'cause it is very short indeed.

The Fifty Ninth Doodle

So I recently went to a free life drawing class in Shoreditch at the Vintage Emporium and Coffee House, a really cosy and lovely place. And awesome coffee cake nom nom.

My friend took me as a sort of birthday prezzy, and it was so nice going along with someone else. I usually go alone as none of my friends are so keen on drawing, so this was a nice change!

We all sat on our mismatched, vintage chairs and doodled this one lady for various amounts of times in various positions. I just worked in pencil, and as always I really enjoyed it. It is excellent drawing practise and helps pull your eye back in. Also, you don't have to take it too seriously, especially as it's a free event!

Some sketches were literally done in 1 – 3 minutes, so they are obviously far looser, and focus mainly on shape and posture.

With others we had more time, and could focus on the girls features, the shading and details. I was actually really pleased with this last image as hands annoy me intensely (as they do all artists I'm sure) yet I felt I was able to capture not only her facial expression and pose, but her slim hands too. She was a very slender lady, with almost waspish features, so this made her very interesting to draw.

All in all, a great evening!

The Fifty Eighth Doodle

I don't really know why, but I love this picture. I drew it as a quick sketch in a cafe with a cup of tea. 

I do love Boots. He is the one who can often surprise you with his behaviour; he can go from very reserved and judgemental to ridiculous and playful. I think Wuss could be sneaky, but I actually think Boots could be sneakier....

What a crafty lad.

I love 'em.

The Fifty Seventh Doodle

Share the Mo...Love.

So during November I signed up to this fab website, Gallery Of Mo. The idea behind this site was to give creative people (such as moi) a chance to use our skills to help raise money to battle testicular and prostate cancer in association with Movember. What a great idea!

So I got a request for a Mo'trait (haaa) from a chap who donated to the charity, and I did it in this gritty sort of style, almost like an old cowboy Western wanted poster. It's amazing what happens when you slosh a bit of tea on something! The chap I did it for was super chuffed with it too, I believe his exact words were “I love it! Totally awesome :-D” - not bad that! It's always a bit scary doing a portrait for someone, as you can worry that as hard as you try and apply yourself, they may not like the result. Do you flatter them a bit, but risk the image not actually looking like them? Or do you go for as close to their features as you can, and risk them going 'oh, I don't look like that'. Yes mate, sorry, but you do.

Tricky.

Thankfully with this one I had no issues; I kept the line work simple and stuck to the main distinguishing features (the big, dark eyes, the mouth with tash and the hair) , and deliberately kept it dark and gritty. I must admit boys are easier than ladies, as in general they are not as bothered about being shown in their best light; they just want a cool image of themselves that actually looks like them. God bless 'em.

Once I had the line-work and the hair painted in, I went to town on the tea. I love tea, both to drink and to chuck on pictures. Love that shit. It adds this wonderful texture and those bronze or brown colours that adds the feeling of age and depth. If you haven't before, I highly recommend throwing tea on some paper and then drawing on it, or sloshing it all over something you've already done. You never know.

You can still request your own Mo'trait here, just donate to this great cause and get your own unique picture!