In following the sea theme that keeps popping up in my drawings lately, I promised to make the following dolls for upcoming movies:
And I probably have to make another Quadropus as the one that was given away as a gift will never resurface again…
Yesterday, I decided to start on a project I had been talking about for a while. I can’t say I was prepared to make a narwhal, because I was feeling mentally frustrated. I cut a pattern, chose fabric, cut and started to thread my needle. I should’ve stopped there. As I was threading my needle, I somehow made a tiny knot in the thread and couldn’t get it out. Instead of cutting the thread and starting all over, I barreled through it and started sewing. By the time it was ready for tusk attachment, the narwhal had taken on life and I couldn’t stop even though I knew it wasn’t going to be what I wanted. Half an hour later, in a fit of madness, I pulled so hard on a stitch that the thread busted and I was done.
I’ve learned my lesson. Do not force myself to make stuff just because an idea’s been sitting in my head for a while. It’s okay for things to marinate. However, in this attempt, I’ve learned things for the next time I try making a narwhal.
He still looks pretty happy too.
Watercolours and I have never been good friends. Sometimes, we’re too watery, sometimes, too heavy. Never just right. I have tried different brands of watercolours, different papers, but every time I experiment, I fall short of the exact kind of effect I’m going for. Because of these challenges though, I have become kind of obsessed with perfecting a technique that works for me. I spent a good part of winter 2006 trying to get this technique down, but being too impatient, I gave it up. Now, three years later, I’m ready to explore this medium again and this time, have enough gumption to tackle it until I own it.
listening to: Little Dragon, Twice
Since I tweaked my back during yoga, I’ve been exercising my right hand by drawing every morning. The page my sketchbook is open to is a page full of ideas for new creatures. Creatures that will be mobile and featured in upcoming movies (hopefully). My tiny budget and time allowing, I should be able to post new stuff next year that will hopefully open new doors for me.
Also, job hunting again, is really unfun.
Now that I am unemployed, I am going to heed my own advice that I drew months ago..
Being recently laid off, I was given my sketchjournal back and I went through it today. I kept a lot of notes, but during meetings, when things were being discussed that didn’t necessarily pertain to me, I’d draw. Most of the time, I was drawing because it helped to flush out ideas for designs I was asked to create. A lot of my personal creativity was lost in most of the designs I made for marketing, but I could control what was going on in my sketchjournal.
Crazy tabs were also made to mark pages of importance. Basically, there was a tab on every other page because I liked making them and cutting out tiny arms and ears.
Two slices of Amish friendship bread that I baked the other night, and a new drawing. I worked on the drawing for a little while, before realising my ink wasn’t drying fast enough, so I kept smudging it. I don’t like smudged lines. So, I’m abandoning this to start anew. I wasn’t particularly feeling the tiny boytree anyway.
Looking at this drawing now, I have to laugh. I was inspired by a conversation to draw a sunbear riding a narwhal. These animals were both drawn from memory and after doing some research on narwhals, I can see so many things wrong with this poor little guy. However, it still makes me smile when I look at this. The sunbear.. well, we won’t even get into all of the things that aren’t quite right with him, but it’s true to my style. A little funny, a little wonky!
I made these diptychs years ago. Matte black 1shot + glossy white 1shot on plexi. Why I haven’t painted in years is really no mystery. Working a job that takes up most of my day and not having time/space/money to put into painting are hindrances that I should overcome if I’m as passionate about painting as I say I am. But, sometimes, the process is so much harder than the creation.
I’m determined to get back into it. Ideas are already germinating, waiting to sprout. I am going to give them a little time. Wait and see..
Oh, it’s just a little animation I made yesterday featuring BattyBoo flying over the trees. MORE TO COME!
