I’ve started up a new meme called Draw All the Things ( http://pencilcat.tumblr.com/post/64092290546/30-day-art-challenge-draw-all-the-things ) but instead of one a day, I’m taking my sweet time and turning out stuff that I like.
Day One was to draw Wild Animal, Thief, Winter.
Enjoy!
I know that I should be posting more often, but I’ve actually been really busy lately.
First off, I’ve been working on Strange Romance like a mad woman. I have finished all the inking and need to do the colouring. I’m waiting on my writer to let me know if he would like me to do watercolour and marker or digital. Either one is fine with me.
Secondly, I’ve been saving up for a new drawing art tablet. It’s not a Cintiq, as I’d be saving for years for that expensive sucker, so instead, I’ll be getting a Yiynova MSP 19U+ v5. They should really come out with a better name for it. Anyway, it’s supposed to be about as good as the Cintiq and about $2000 less expensive.
Third, I’ve been going to a lot of conventions. MCX was my first convention and I did amazingly well. Since then, I’ve been to Oshawa con, where I did okay, and to Forest City Comic Con, where I did really, really well again. I’m getting the hang of tabling and have big plans for an upcoming convention in December. I have two more cons before the end of the year: Sheridan College con, which is a Friday con, and Festivus con in downtown Toronto, where I am sharing a table with my artbuddy, Chris.
I have a ton of knitting to get done, as well as more prints. I’ll be working on crap every single day until the end of the con season of 2015…. and I’m already thinking about 2016. It’s going to be a busy rest of the year 🙂
I fell out of the habit of posting everyday really quickly when I fell ill. It’s been a horrible couple of months, physically, and sort of emotionally. I’ve just been feeling gloomy and like general shit about everything for reasons too personal to go into over the blog. Regardless, there it is. FWP to the Nth degree.
The good news is that over the past two months where I’ve been practically nonexistent, I finished my contribution to Toronto Comics volume 2. I illustrated, inked, and lettered a story written by Daniel Reynolds and got it in the day before the deadline, February 28th.
On the art front, I have a couple of things to mention. I’m working on the Red Surge again and hope to finish that soon. I’m doing the inks in Sai and the background line work in Manga Studio because I really dig their perspective tool.
As far as other art is concerned, I’m working on a Totoro piece for a dear friend of mine. He commissioned three pictures of Totoro for his young boy: Totoro on a train, Totoro in a car, and Totoro in the Cat Bus.
I’ll make Totoro on the train a daily drawing pic, even though I did it a few weeks ago and it’s still a WIP. Cheating, cheating.
I’ll try to post everyday again.
I need to form the habits again to be posting every single day.
It’s amazing how when you stop doing something for as little a time as a week, the habit just falls away. I was writing and drawing everyday and posting both and then after the week before Christmas, stopped. I will commit to this again.
On the drawing front, I actually HAVE been drawing on a daily basis, but I just haven’t been posting anything for it. I’m working on the Surge still and I’ve finally finished the concept drawings for Toronto Comix vol 2. I just haven’t been posting them because I’ve actually been ill the last few days.
Even as I type this right now, I have the chills while sweating.
Last night, we took the tree down and I did a good chunk of the work while sitting. Sweeping and bending over took a lot out of me and when it came time for bed, I passed right out. I had another cramp attack earlier that day, too, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as before, which leads me to believe that it might’ve been a symptom of what I have, considering that Alex had the same cramps a couple days ago.
Or, it was psychosomatic.
Anyway, Alex came home early yesterday to get Nick to Beavers because there was no way in hell I was in any condition to drive.
Today was garbage day and we didn’t get anything out last night. I was in no condition to carry anything up and down stairs and I can’t really blame Alex for not wanting to be alone in taking out all that trash. Instead, still sick, I took the trash out today. We missed recycling again.
Sunday was a great day. I went to Cindy’s house for a few hours and blended/carded some fibre I’ve been meaning to take care of for a long time, now. I also did some work on a sock that’s been a WIP but put it down after about five rows out of frustration of fucking up. When I got home, I had to cook dinner, and the rest of the evening was spent playing Grey Warden Sparkletwat in DA:O.
That’s that, I suppose. I’m going to get some drawing done, fold some laundry, then stretch out and try to recover until I need to get Nick from school. I have to cook dinner again tonight and I just feel like shit. Still, I have to do it.
Feh.
Not that anyone reads this, hahaha, but yeah. I missed yesterday. You know, it completely slipped my mind, but to make up for it, I have some pics to show off. I inked for a good four hours yesterday and am going to spend a generous chunk of today inking, too.
I also got the chance to play with my new copic markers the other night. I drew a simple Ivy and Harley picture and did some experimentation. I think paper will have a lot to do with it, though this sketchbook has 60 lb paper. Regardless, I’m going to give it a try on my mixed media paper to see how that works out. It’s definitely a thicker grade paper and will probably retain the ink better.
I just need to figure out what I want to draw on it.
In other news, nothing really is going on. I have to do groceries and I have to run a couple errands, but they can wait until after I finish all my drawing for the day. We have no plans for tonight and no plans for tomorrow, as per the norm. Maybe I’ll make Chinese food tomorrow to carry on my grandmother’s New Years traditions.
Yesterday was a bad day, emotionally. I felt like complete shit for the majority of the day and it only started to lift later in the evening, somewhat.
Anyway, that’s all for now. I’ll upload some art as separate posts to fill in the appropriate days.
I’ve been drawing everyday, I promise. I’m just doing so traditionally and am not posting them online as of yet. I’ve been working on Toronto Comix vol 2 and on the Red Surge. I need to delegate my time for each to feel productive, though. I’ll likely do some streaming to the Red Surge later, so don’t fret. I’ll also post some preview thumbs to see.
What’s been going on? Well, I finally got my copic markers and a travel case for my art supplies for when I leave the house. That way, everything is in one package that I can grab and go with. I also rearranged my desk! My printer and scanner are on the top shelf, along with my art books and art supplies. The bottom area, which is the main area, has the laptop, the light pad, the tablet, and the copics.
I also have a yarn bowl on the main table part which I’ll use next time I have time to knit. Tonight is knit night and I won’t be going. Quel suprise.
Today’s agenda: do Rusty’s laundry, as he wet the bed again, and draw. Story of my life!
I think I’m coming down with my kids’ cough. I was actually up at 5:30 this morning, unable to sleep, no matter how hard I tried. SO, instead of lying there, miserable, I came downstairs and worked a bit on The Red Surge. I was back up within about an hour and finally fell asleep until both boys were awake at 9:30. Damned kids just haven’t been wanting to go to sleep. Nick was up as late as 11pm and, as usual, we had to lose our shit at him before he went to sleep.
I just don’t get it; the little fuckers just don’t care. They only understand the “lose my shit” tone of voice and then get mad at me that I yelled. If only their hearing could pick up on the twenty thousand fucking times I ask them to do something NICELY.
Nick, can you please do this?
Nick? Please can you do the thing?
Nick, please do the thing, honey.
Nick? Nick… please do the thing.
….
(deep breath)
Nicholas, can you please do the thing?
Nick.
Nick!
NICK!
(at this point, he might look at me like a deer in headlights)
NICK! DO THE THING!
(by now, he’s staring at me, bewildered, as though he’s only started to hear me speak to him)
NICK! GET UP AND DO THE THING RIGHT NOW!
and at this point, “OKAY! OKAY! GEEZ!”
Really? Holy fuck.
Anyway, another day with the kids; Alex is bottling beer with Rob and starting a new brew. Five hours…
I slept wrong on my back last night, too. My right shoulder is excruciating right now. Stupid pinched nerve.
Today’s agenda: more drawing.
It was a hell of a day. The kids were really good for the morning, which was luckily enough to finish my daily drawing, but I sat alone with my thoughts and soon was completely miserable, by my own doing. All the reasons why are in that post I made, yesterday. Anyway, when the kids were done resting, the sick was replaced with evil and they were back to normal, picking on each other till one of them screamed. Because it took so long for them to get back to health, I hadn’t done my errands. Who wants to drag two kids around who are throwing up and pissing out their butts? Not me.
Anyway, I made dinner and called Alex, who picked up gifts for Beaver Scouts last night and he met me, albeit late, after a nasty exchange on the phone on the way.
Nick was really into the visit from Santa and Rusty hid behind me from Santa, but when Santa gave him a gift, Rusty said “Thank you”, which is a huge step, as he’s never said it before.
Alex joined us when the kids were eating snacks and he and I were civil again, thankfully. He wanted to go back to work but was really kind to let me drive out to see my friends at knit night. By the time I got there, they were waiting for the bill, but nobody had left yet and I was able to give them all a print for Christmas and stay and chat awhile.
I then drove home and told Alex he could head back to work but he decided not to. I could’ve stayed longer.
Ah well.
This morning was awful for getting up. Neither Alex nor I wanted to get up and we barely got Nick out the door. I was left to take care of the garbage by myself, so I did.
Today’s daily drawing is a gift for my son’s principal who likes both dinosaurs and Dr Who. I hope he enjoys it.
Have a great Tuesday!
Well, yesterday was busy. I inked 1/3 of page 2 of The Red Surge. Today, only one panel, and not even the whole panel. I just have too much to do, plus my children are wild animals who are crawling all over me like parasites. SO, I got an hour of drawing in, but that’ll have to be it.
Tomorrow is my major focus. There’s a Comiccon one day event and Toronto Comix has a table. I’ll be going to sit at the table and am bringing my art supplies, some old paintings to sell, and some prints. I have to get prints made today to sell tomorrow. I think $10 each is a fair price.
Other things to do today: Get Alex’s gift from the boys. I have something thoughtful in mind and it’s a cheap gift. Therefore, all good. Also, his gift from Santa, which is the basic yearly gift he gets of underwear and socks.
I got to sleep in today until 11, which was an amazing treat. I wasn’t expecting to be able to sleep so late.
Anyway, with so much to do, I’d better get my prints on SD card and ready to bring to Staples. Happy Saturday!