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 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 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 Fiftieth Doodle

I am going into hospital today to have an operation, that's a bit scary. Do please keep your fingers crossed for me, I'm sure all will go well and then hopefully I'll be back to my old self within a few weeks. 

Ruth X

The Forty-First Doodle (sort of...)

Oh Wuss 'n Boots, how I love you so. 

For those of you who don't know, I have been drawing Wuss 'n Boots since 1998. So, what, 14 years. Since I was 11. Mental.

I know some people know what it's like to be completely dedicated to one thing for so long from a young age; sports men and woman, musicians, other artists. But even I am baffled when I see it written down. I have been drawing these characters since I was 11. That's one hell of a long time.

Of course, they have developed and changed dramatically over the years. But what surprises me when I think about it is the fact that their personalities have rung true for so very long. Yes, there have been moments of shock in behaviour (oh my, I'm talking about them as if they're real) but in essence, they still behave the same as they did when I was 11, 16, 21. They have come and gone as I have grown up, but they are always there, sat in the back of my head. Funny stuff happens and I am instantly converting it into a cartoon in my head. How would the boys react to this? What would they say.

Mental right?

Perhaps I see little change because, when you get down to it, they are each one half of me. And noticing change in yourself is tricky. Boots is sarcastic, sometimes withdrawn, a little proud. Wuss is silly, imaginative, thoughtful. Sometimes I feel like every reaction I have is not mine, but theirs.

Mind you, neither of them can draw to save their lives.

So this here Wuss 'n Boots desk was made as a gift for my fab baby niece. If you are interested (even if you're not, I'm saying it anyway) it was done with acrylics on wood, and took 2 days all in all. See how clever I am, do I get a lolly?

I love that, while the boys can be very sarcastic or a little cruel in their humour and observations at times (yes, blame me for that too), they can also be all about joy. Just pure, unadulterated joy. 'Cause what's wrong with that ey?  

The Thirty Ninth Doodle

Oh Wuss 'n Boots. How I love you so.

It's been a while since I've done much with these marvellous boys, I'm sure every illustrator and artist gets the same. Things come in cycles sometimes, and something you don't do anything with for ages can suddenly explode out again from nowhere. 

This is a photo of a golf commission I took, and I really did have a lot of fun with it. I had to come up with 4 humourous golf themed drawings with captions which were then to be printed and used as gifts for each member of the golf club. And apparently they went down a storm!

Those golfers obviously had well good taste.

I'm now thinking of expanding them from 4 cartoons to 12, into a proper set of funny golf themed drawings. I think other people would really like them too!