hat

Part of a tattoo project on going to build on a portfolio. Also art therapy in the later night owl hours when the mind wants to sketch but not to think :) A perfect subject here reflects that balance and time of peace

Yes there's an island on the coast of Australia that's called Cabbage Tree Island.

My first attempt at cross-hatching with ink.

Please let me know what you think! I’m not sure abt the eye, the reference pic I’m using is low quality so I’m kinda improvising. Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

... what it looks like inside of my head

I am a professional Healer, and I believe in stepping up to shed our past, so that we can become the best version of ourselves. Then we're happier, and those around us become happier - the ripple effect is both needed and profound! I love drawing in my orange sketchbook that my hubby bought me.

Digital drawing in Procreate.

The hair needs some work before I can say that this is finished. It's the only part that I'm not happy with. Edit: I fixed the hair but made the face worse, and ended up ruining the painting. So. There you go.

Current project of a carriage horse in pencil. What do you think so far

Red Admiral of the Fleet :3 this was a toughie, for trying to find a genuine admirals hat and symbol that wasnt fancy dress! Eventually traced the real thing by finding actual people wearing their hats

Arctic whales for the ongoing arctic season...

A suit I designed for a fantasy SWAT (TSWATT, or the Taured Special Weapons And Tactics Team). They have wings which can fold into themselves, so far that they cannot be seen unless you look behind the back. They have special long fall boots (sort of like the ones from Portal) that allow them to fall from great heights. They have special glass goggles that act as sort of a VR set, in which they can see through smoke and walls if the area they are in is mapped out. The little orange thing on their chest records everything they witness. Drawn with FireAlpaca.

What is this kitty looking for as the 2 mice look and wonder...Check out the rest of my completed Inktober posts on IG: @dittofunkysketch123 :D

"That bikini stoked fires even before summer." ~ A blackout poem from a recycled page of Burnout, a young adult adventure/love story.

Words of wisdom that a friend came out with during a Lord Of The Rings Extended Editions film night over the weekend jumpstarted my creative juices this time around. :-)

Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010) “My life has been regulated by insomnia,” Bourgeois told an interviewer in 1993. “It’s something that I have never been able to understand, but I accept it.” Bourgeois learned to use these sleepless hours productively, propped up in bed with her “drawing diary,” listening to music or the hum of traffic on the streets. “Each day is new, so each drawing—with words written on the back—lets me know how I’m doing,” she said. “I now have 110 drawing-diary pages, but I’ll probably destroy some. - From Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey “I am not what I am, I am what I do with my hands...” ― Louise Bourgeois “Every day you have to abandon your past or accept it, and then, if you cannot accept it, you become a sculptor.” ― Louise Bourgeois #dailyrituals #inktober #LouiseBourgeois @masoncurrey

Meet Edgar Allen Pinfeather. He's a raven that enjoys solitude, rollerskating, reading (especially comic books), his laptop,and long nights

This is about the sensation of finding some hope. He hated his life so much. Got frustrated about the life choices. This boy here is looking for some HOPE in his life. Then the sun shines. Looking at the beauty, he refreshes himself

This is just a doodle, nothing special. Basically Tam and Keefe in a nutshell. I am THIS CLOSE to finishing Unlocked, which makes me sad and happy at the same time. Sad, because I am going to have to wait who knows how long for the next book to come out. Happy because I can now look at and watch whatever I want without any spoilers. So yeh. If you need something to do, go read Keeper!

I stumbled across this dilapidated coach house that would have once been part of the Glynhir estate while exploring the public footpaths around Llandybie. I loved the way nature had reclaimed it.

I'm a big fan of DSaF. I love the characters (kebab boy is my personal favorite), and I cried once I found out that they all freaking die in the end. But not like a little bit of programming can't do the trick, right? I'm using the same sense of Glitchtrap (aka not really being William, but rather an AI or sorts of him) to bring back (a replica of) Jack, Dave, and Henry in the modern world. They're stuck in springlock suits right now, surrounded by wires, as somebody works on them. Dave is in the Bonnie suit, Jack in the Fox suit, and Henry in the Freddy suit. The man who is working on them plans to open a pizzaria, and work alongside the three to create the "Fazfrick's experience". He will wear the Chica suit, because nobody else wants to be the girl. This is so sad. Drawn with FireAlpaca.

Old drawing that I had contributed to a charity art book for Japanese tsunami relief efforts. Feel free to follow my facebook for additional updates! http://www.facebook.com/sonialaiart

The Beltane inspired streak continues!

Years ago, I sketched Gibby at work—pencil in hand, bold strokes alive with motion. I caught them from over the shoulder: just the back of their head, the soft curve of their face, and that focused arm bringing something into being. They were 9 or 10 then, already showing the spark of creativity and concentration that pointed toward who they’d become. Now in their mid-20s, Gibby is thoughtful, insightful—quick to listen, slow to speak, and wired to process the world with care. Their path has been remarkable: two degrees in 2.5 years, no debt. That didn’t happen by accident. It took grit, German immersion schooling, 16 college credits earned in high school, and testing out of 24 more once at university. That’s Gibby—quietly determined, resourceful, and steady. But their story isn’t just academic. Gibby’s always been gifted with their hands—drawn to set design, locksmithing, welding. Trades they wanted to pursue early on, and still feel pulled toward. They’re at a bike shop now. It’s not the dream, but it fits: their hands know how to build, repair, and reshape the world. There’s been frustration—maybe even anger—that we didn’t let them follow the trade route right away. I get that now. Life veers, and sometimes the path chosen isn't the one imagined. But Gibby’s resilience—their ability to adapt and press on—is what I admire most. They’ve embraced their journey with honesty, stepping into their identity as a they/them person, unafraid to define success in their own terms. That takes courage. I’m proud of them—not for a résumé, but for who they are. This old drawing isn’t just a memory—it’s a thread connecting past to present. A reminder that the creative spark, the steady hands, the deep soul I saw back then is still shining. So here’s to you, Gibby: the kid who sketched with fire and the adult who still shapes the world with quiet brilliance. Your value has never been about the path you’re on. It’s about the person you are. And I’ll be here, cheering you on—every step of the way.

As far as things that I can’t seem to shake off are concerned, it’s this fact that a place like Edinburgh where I live is akin to a village where everyone (artist folk in particular) seems to know everyone, and the patterns or quirks that emerge from this said thought process. In most collectives I’m a part of and/or are associated with, there’s what seems like an endless sense of crossover and overlap with fellow artists etc for lack of better words, which is lovely as it is insane... you know? All in all though, even if it drives me mad it does so in a strangely positive way and I’ve learned to live with that. So yeah, make of that what you will. :-)

A remark someone at the fire spinning club I go on Monday evenings during chat I had with them last night got me doodling again!

Title: Heart and Soul Medium: illustration pens on sketch book paper Style: surreal Category: illustration Created: Dec-Jan 2024-2024 Artist: Stephen J. Vattimo Heart and Soul This is preliminary drawing for a painting I am about to begin. The concept for this illustration started as a design for a pumpkin carving contest. I feel the message of the design is so important for people to hear, I decided to make it into a painting. The original design, done in pen and ink. The design only shows the two doors of the entrance to a fortress. It was designed for a live pumpkin carving event in mind. At this type of event, the carver must create their piece of art live on site with spectators watching and asking questions, and there is a time limit. The evolution of the design? I added a wall on each side of the entrance, with matching pillars. Explaining the design of the pillars The triangle top: the triune God. Representing three persons of God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The cross shape opening in the pillars: The cross is the only path to God, to have the debt of sin satisfied. To reconcile humankind back to himself. To be released from being a slave to the Devil. To be a new creation empowered by God Spirit. Explaining the design of the entrance way(gate) The top of the entrance is in the shape of a heart, represents the seat of human passion, ambition, and allegiance. The cultic three petal flower is used to represent God in three persons united. The symbol inside the flower: God’s ministry toward humankind. Crown: Highest authority Cross: God’s loving salvation and restoration plan. The dove: Spiritualty made alive, fellowship with God, empowerment to weather the storm of life, and equip for service to God. Change in the design of the door. In the original design, one door had roses carved on it. The pattern took up the whole door. The other door had a grape vine carved on it. The pattern took up the whole door. I modified the emblem on the doors by making them smaller and simplified, so I could place them inside heart shapes, so the new images would more clearly communicate what they are meant to represent. I also added color to the emblems(color pencil) to make them clear of what they are, because of their size and the ink medium ,they were hard to interpret. Understanding the symbol of the two doors. The door with the rose inside the heart emblem represents a heart whose passions, ambitiousness, allegiance are focused on the cares, worries, and abstaining riches of the world. Only giving God lip service. I chose the rose to represent the heart of spiritual allegiance to the world, because roses are pretty, but you can’t eat them to nourish your body. They also have thorns that can cause injury to the body. So, the parallel point is, just as flower fade and turn to dust, so will the person who chases the thing of the world and has no time for God. For life is very short, we know not which will be our last breath on this side of eternity. But if a person leaves this earth without excepting the gift God offered them which is salvation from penalty of sin and given enteral life through the work that was done on the cross by God’s son. Then that soul will appear before Jesus, and just as they did not know him in their life on earth, He will tell them he knows them not. Into the lake of fire, they will spend eternity. The door with the grape vine in the heart emblem represents a heart whose passions, ambitiousness, allegiance are for God. To know Him intimately, to obey His teachings, to serve his will. I chose the grapevine to represent the heart of spiritual allegiance to God, because grapes are nourishing to the body. Jesus also used a grape vine in one of his parables. He paralleled the spiritual relationship he had with his disciples and the grapevine. He told them just as branches of a vine must depend on the base of the vine to live and bare fruit, so they must abide him to have abundant life. Abiding in Christ is not a religious act. It is outside of religion. It is an intimate relationship. Example: you can belong to a fan club of Paul McCartney and know a lot of things you have heard about him, but he doesn’t even know you exist. Where, if Paul is your father, and you have a good parent to child relationship, then you know him intimately. So, abiding in God, we commune with him through read his word and living by its teachings. It is spending time in prayer. Sharing our hearts with God and spending time listing to him. Trusting in him as our provider and giving thanks for his provision. Living our lives, with the purpose of pleasing him with the work of our hand and loving our neighbors in the workplace as well as in the community. Just as a healthy grapevine continues to grow and produce much fruit. Having an imitate relationship with God should be more and more evident in the way we live our lives. So, when the angel of death pays you an unexpected visit, he escorts you to Jesus’s throne, you know for certain he going to welcome you with loving arms and said welcome home my faithful servant. Now to which door I chose for my life? It’s the one that is open. This bible verse one of a couple that inspired me to design this illustration. 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 King James Version 12 Now if any man builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. This verse is not referring to the rebellious people who have rejected God, this is referring to people who are children of God, who failed to serve God faithful. Written by Stephen J. Vattimo. 3 Jan 2024 .

So why didn't Empress Electric make it back from their first tour? The answer is simple. The daffodils. Without Gale to tend to them, to keep the Jagged at bay, it began to wake up. Few are aware that the Jagged is all that remains of Fate. Now he's waking up- and the whole realm will feel his betrayed wrath without the Sisters of Subconscious to protect them. Radiation is coming.

Two hour sketch that will be presented in my first personal exhibition ❤

New sketchbook time again? That it is. Credit to one of my workmates for inspiring the title here, hehehehe. It's been a busy few days here at Bleu HQ... '^^ :-)