Pencil love

For the first time in a long time I managed to hold on to my interest in my sketch to completely finish it.  Clothes hair AND a hat...so happy with myself cos I usually do lose interest before the end.

I have lots of drawings I should complete and now I am thinking I would be so much happier to see them like this so I am trying to go back over past sketches and add to them bit by bit.
Hope you are having a creative week
hugs
Chris xx

Sketching again....

I go from one obsession to another but sometimes it's only a matter of changing the tools.  Doodling or sketching... the only difference is pens to pencils and maybe a little bit more time and patience... so right now I'm jumping from one to the other depending on my mood.  I don't always finish a sketch for months... I begin and get to a place when I like what I see and then can't be bothered to finish it...lol 

Hair is usually the stopper... after I've been sucked in to the concentration needed to do the facial details I think urggghhh I've had enough now.  Don't want to finish the barnett!!  So I give my ladies a name and then tell them to go hide somewhere until I'm in the right frame of mind to give them a hairdo. 

I guess if I worked from reference photos it would be easier but I kinda like seeing who pops up from my imagination.  It's cool to see those features turn into a 'person'  even when sometimes they aren't as 'pretty' as I may have liked (although I do like this one). 

So for now this little lady will remain as she is... one day I may go back and finish her hair... may even give her a different hairdo altogether but I'm not promising...lol

hugs

Chris xx

As She Sleeps....

she dreams....that the fairies have been and done all the housework.  In her dreams she has the energy to move everything that needs to be moved for the workmen to come and fit the eagerly awaited new kitchen and bathroom... that she will do it all in time and that she wants to do it.

She dreams that the clock stands still... giving her lots of hours to create to her hearts content and keep up with her blogging .  She also sees her sylph like figure appearing like magic without the healthy eating and hours of Zumba excercise...

But then.....

........................................... SHE WOKE UP (rofl)

hugs
Chris xx

Just Peeking

The pencils are out again...just felt like experimenting.

 

She was meant to be peeking out from behind the wavy edge but I don't think I managed to get enough depth. Back to the drawing board ? lol I'm happy with her face though and I don't think the adjustment will take long. Thought I'd share anyway.

Have a great day

Hugs

Chris xx

All's well that ends well...

It's been a worrying couple of weeks but finally things are beginning to settle down.  I've come home today after staying with Mam while Dad was in hospital.  She is feeling loads better and we are all relieved that Dad's operation went well and for the first time in over 3 years he is pain free.  He came home today so they are happy to be back together and a lot more settled. 

  I've had no Internet access so I couldn't blog and also haven't really been in the mood to craft... but hopefully now things will begin to get back to normal and that includes me being able to be creative again.   So thank you for all your support it means a lot to me.

I will share a few sketches over the next couple of days  that I did before all the drama began... and will hopefully have something different to share soon.

This is Bonita ... and a close up of the sketch...

followed by a coloured version.

Thanks for popping by... see you again soon
hugs
Chris xx

Adding detail

I've begun with a few of my latest sketches ...to add more detail to them with clothing and accessories.... slowly slowly catchee monkey.  Not biting of more than I can chew yet so to speak... but one step nearer the prized goal of doing a real portrait.

Makes a real difference I think and as is becoming usual I added colour in photoshop.  I left her hair grey in this one just because I liked the effect.

Thanks for all your good wishes re- my parents.  Mam is having a brain scan today so hopefully she and the rest of the family can be reassured that everything is ok once it's over and then maybe she will be given a course of medication that will alleviate her symptoms and make her feel better.
hugs
Chris xx

Another sketch

to share.. I haven't been around for a few days as my Mam was taken into hospital at the weekend... it turned out to be nothing serious and she is now home... but it's always a worry when parents are poorly.  Mine aren't in the best of health now they are older which isn't surprising... but panic always sets in when hospitals come into the equation.  I know they won't be around forever but I wish they could be... the thought of losing either of them absolutely terrifies me.   My Dad has to go in for an op next week so I guess the worry will last a bit longer so I hope you won't mind if I am not around as much as normal.   I may get chance to postdate a few things...well I will try anyway.

Been playing with eyelashes.... think I got carried away...lol

Thanks for popping by.
hugs
Chris xx

Queen bee

I've  been practicing a bit more...  drawing on a smaller scale and adding more to my sketches.  I just keep drawing faces as you know... but well they are left floating ha ha.  I will no doubt use them all later or prints of them in mixed media work but I guess it would be nice to have some sketches with bodies. I named this one Queen bee.... mainly cos her hair ended up looking a bit like a beehive.

As sometimes happens I also got the urge to give her some colour in Photoshop.  I love doing it this way because then I can change the colours to suit my mood.

Wish I had a figure like hers... I used to have once upon a time :-)
hugs
Chris xx

eye...eye...

eye... love eyes.  Can you tell lol.  I seem to have a fascination with them but I also find I can draw them better when I only have to do one.  Think I need to block of the rest of my sketch with a piece of paper with a window in it so that I can concentrate on one eye at a time without being distracted by the bigger picture.  Makes no sense I know but I think it will make my faces better.

I was going to share with you a journal page I did with an owl and a house that I did the other week... I remembered about it and then discovered... I've LOST it!!  What am I like... have searched for it but no joy.  Oh well another one to share when my mojo deserts me eh
See you soon.
hugs
Chris xx

Imagination....

is a cool thing and I'm so happy when mine decides to wake up and help me to create something different.  I took an hour out this morning to draw because I woke up with this image in my head and couldn't stop 'till I had it down on paper.  Maybe I dreamt her but I'm not complaining...I think she is fun :-)

I like that she is a little bit more childlike than most of my recent sketches too.

Maybe this means my mojo is on the way back.... I can but hope.
hugs
Chris xx

Meet Eloise....

...no she isn't anyone I know,  but I decided it would be rude not to not give my girlie's a name.... instead of face1, face2 etc..lol

Don't ask me where THAT name came from... it just sort of popped into my head...so Eloise she is :D

Now I know that some you prefer just the pencil version.... but I just can't stop playing in Photoshop although I just coloured the eyes and mouth in this one.

Thanks for looking
hugs
Chris xx

My latest pencil offering...

is another of my girlie's. Really happy with the way this one turned out.

I particularly like her nose.... I know sad or what .... but well noses I find the hardest to get right so I'm pleased that this one turned out to be a cute one :-) Bet she would be too if she could talk ;-)

Couldn't stop there either... after I scanned her I did a little bit of photoshop magic... love the transformation that colour produces.

Brings her more to life don't you think?
hugs
Chris xx

Tissue paper...

is my best friend when I'm drawing... I have tried paper stumps, a brush and fingers for blending but the tissue just gives a much more delicate result.  I've also been playing with white tack (same as blu tack but white) as an eraser and it's so cool and cheap as chips.  It makes getting those highlights in the eyes mega easy.

I know her hair is a bit wierd but I'm experimenting :D

hugs
Chris xx

My first PROPER sketch pad...

by that I mean A4 size... purposely meant for sketching and here's my first sketch in it.  I use all sorts to draw on but up to now have mainly used A5 spiral bound sketch books of the 99p variety...lol  Not quite what a REAL artist would use I'll bet.

 So I thought if I am to take myself and my art seriously it is time to play with the big girls and use Artist quality supplies. 

It won't stop me using my cheapy bits and pieces...cos I do like them... but I want to improve and I need to learn to draw on a larger scale I think.  Mind you the surface of this paper is sooooo different from the ones I usually use that it brings up new challenges all of it's own.   I'm getting  another step nearer to braving that first 'real' portrait ... which is why I took up sketching again. Wish me luck ;-)
hugs
Chris xx

Too much face.....

not enough page...lol  That'll teach me to draw big eh!!  I really need to take into consideration that a girl needs hair ;-p   I can't think of a way round giving her her crowning glory now so I think she is destined to be used in a journal page or two because if I cut her out and paste her onto another page I will have two levels to deal with...bah.  Don't think the coloured pencil will cope with that and I don't want lines.

I really do need to buy a bigger sketch book... A5 just ain't  big enough for me.... something to do with the eyesight on the old bird...rofl.

Need some really good pencils too now that I've discovered I can use them properly.  These were cheapo ones from tesco... I am just imagining how cool it must be to use the better ones.

hugs

Chris xx

Patience pays off....

well it has in my case anyway.  It took me AGES to draw this but I was over the moon with the result.  I guess the more I practice the quicker I will become which can only be a good thing.  This sketch is a bit surreal in places but I just felt the need to experiment.

 I am growing towards working from reality instead of from what's in my head but I need more practice before I start drawing portraits of REAL people.

 I'm also experimenting with coloured pencils which produces such different results but is so pretty.  I am soooo happy with myself for starting to sketch again.... I guess the talent was always there but sooooo well hidden I'd forgotten about it...lol

Have a great weekend all :-)

hugs

Chris xx

Merry Christmas

To all my Friends and family for your continued support through the ups and downs of 2010... for following my arty crafty journey and for being the best of the best.... THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart :-D

I hope that you are all blessed with love and happiness this Christmas and hope Santa brings you everything you wish for.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

FROM

ME to YOU

XXX

Chris

Okay this is the one.

My most favourite of all my sketches.... why.... well not only cos I love her sweet face... but I also managed

to draw plaits...whoooohooo.  I'm well chuffed with meself and I think this is the best of the hairstyles I've drawn too. My sketching isn't stopping here but I have to make room to blog more goodies so this is it for now.

Hope you enjoyed sharing with me :D
Back tomorrow with some DT stuff.
hugs
Chris xx

Sketch journal page10

Only one more sketch to share after this one...then we have to have a change of scenery so to speak...lots to share over the coming weeks cos my mojo is in overdrive (never thought I'd hear myself say that...lol).

Anyway still been changing hairstyles on my girlies (though my favourite one of all is the one I will share tomorrow... I know... I'm a rotten tease ha ha ha).

Hope you like her :D

hugs

Chris xx

Sketch journal page9

Getting a bit braver now and have started to add more detail to my sketches.... this one inspired by the lovely Hawaiian girls who wear gorgeous flower garlands on their heads and around their neck.

I'm having more fun with the hair too now that I'm not doing just outlines filled with colour.

I think that soon I will begin some larger pieces... these are only about 5" x 7"... just so that I have more space to experiment with the backgrounds. 

While rutting through my crafty bits looking for something the other day I came across some Crayola Shader pencils (sometimes I am soooo glad I am a hoarder...lol) and I can't wait to try them to see what different effects they will offer me.

Thanks for looking

hugs

Chris xx