no, not a euphemism.
so i think i mentioned before about the little sketchbook i keep next to my bed. this is because for some reason, midnight is when i’m feeling most creative. and 1am. and 2am.
i used to lie in bed trying to get to sleep, battling against my brain who always has other ideas - it always seems to be all perky and wide awake from about 11pm onwards: “no, no, don’t go to sleep – why don’t you think about THIS THIS AND THIS! and THIS!”
and i’m all like “no, shush brian! it’s time for sleep!” and my brain is all: “hey! no! what are you doing? you don’t want to sleep - why not think about THIS and THIS and THIS INSTEAD! also, pandas! panda hats! ooh, pandas in panda hats! also, here’s the same line of a song you hate, playing over and over and over again.”
my brain loves to torture me.
but, occasionally it conjures up an idea that i like – random ideas for illustrations just spring into my mind in the most random of ways at the most random of times.
i used to think i would remember these ideas come morning, but i had forgotten that my brain is also a sieve made of soft cheese, and retains nothing.
hence my bright idea to keep a sketchbook on my bedside table!
i started doodling the things floating around in my brain – no more waking up in the mornings struggling to remember rambling thoughts from the night before!
ingenious.
not all of my illustrations start out this way – i have a(nother) sketchbook which is technically my “for proper” one. it lives on my desk and i generally scribble ideas down into that, or use it to work out some rough ideas during the working day. this little sketchbook is just for those random middle-of-the-night type thoughts and ideas, and it has come in super handy.
i like flicking back through it to compare the originals to the finished pieces, and i hope you have enjoyed seeing them too!
traditionally, the weekend is when we catch up on all the things we haven’t had time to do during the week, ie, housework and DIY. (i know, we live such a rock n roll lifestyle, it’s ker-a-zee!)
however the mister is in the middle of a huge work-related computing thingummyjig, which meant he had to work all weekend. shame for him, but i kind of enjoy it when he is otherwise occupied, because it means i can totally please myself! i wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself, in fact. i could’ve taken a couple of days off to lie on the couch watching romcoms and chick flicks and eating my body-weight in easter eggs… however it turns out that when i do have some time off, all to myself, all i really want to do is…more drawing!
i decided to use the time to catch up on a couple of pieces i’ve been wanting to work on for ages.
i’ve had the rough outlines done for ages, but put aside as i just haven’t had the time to work them up until now.
and i’ve just been dying to get to work on my lovely tits :)
all fnar-fnar humour aside, this was a real first for me as they are sort-of realistic – well, the markings and colours, anyway – which is not something i usually do with my little birds.
i actually used a reference book. usually when i’m drawing stuff i just wing it (no pun intended) and hope for the best, but i really wanted to have a pair of perfect tits (mildly humourous double entendre absolutely intended.)
i’m really happy with how they turned out and will definitely be making a few more!
next up was my little skull sisters:
first the inking and linework…
then onto some careful painting…
(i seriously need a smaller brush, this klunky thing is so…klunky.)
…finished!
they take many hours to complete as they’re super fiddly and have so much tiny detail, but i love every second i spend working on them!
i’m happy to say both pieces sold within minutes – the birds have flown off to beautiful wales, and the skull sisters are off to sunny california. i hope their new owners enjoy looking at them as much as i enjoyed creating them.
definitely a weekend ‘off’ well spent!
whoo hoo! to celebrate reaching the little milestone of 4000 likererers on facebook, i am having a giveaway!
i have 4 “panda in a panda hat” original aceo’s to give away, to 4 lucky winners.
(that’s one panda per winner, just so we’re clear.)
see? 4 things.
as per always, each little illustration measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches; they are inked and then carefully painted with watercolours, using just the very tip of a teeny tiny paintbrush.
if you think you might like one, then all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post, answering the following question:
(because i like to make you work for your prizes and also because i am nosy and i like to ask things and read your replies and find things out about you)
QUESTION: what are 4 of your favourite things?
you have until this friday (12th april) mid day to enter.
winners will be picked at random in the usual way and announced later in the day.
good luck!
*** *UPDATE* – this giveaway is now finished – the winners have been picked and pandas gived away!***