It's crazy to think that we've been in a pandemic for a year or to think we could ever get used to this new way of life. March 13th, 2020 was the day everything stopped for me: it was the last day I went to school and the last day I went to gymnastics for 5 months. The promise of two weeks' time, something I somewhat desperately held onto. Going into this, no one knew what to expect, it was the first time many of us saw life as we know it stop. Quarantine has definitely taught me a lot emotionally, mentally, and how to reach out and work through (and what bad panic attacks feel like :) ). I think it also goes without saying that I got through most of this because of the people around me, and I can't say enough how grateful I am to be surrounded by such amazing people. So, here I am. Life is still pretty rocky, but it's a process. Thank you to everyone who's been along for the ride so far ❤
A very quickly done Shockwave from Transformers. This was another attempt to do something decent enough in a short amount of time. Check out more of my artwork on sykografix.com.
I first bought some cheap soft pastels back in 2018 and did a couple of sketches. I bought a nice set of Rembrandt pastels a few months later — didn't use them. I bought some pastel pads, none if which seemed right. September 2020, I bought a couple more sets of bargain pastels and tried a couple of pieces — no good, still couldn't bring myself to use them. Jess bought me pastel pencils for Christmas — I was too scared to use them. I even bought a pad of Pastelmat which is supposed to be THE paper to use for pastel paintings in January. I was too scared to use that as well!
FINALLY, after a few unsuccessful attempts at working with watercolour (brush issues), I cast aside my fear and thought I'd mess around with pastels. Some time later, and this was the result. I've finally broken through my pastel fear-barrier.
I've got to say, I love soft pastels and I'm excited about doing more pieces in this medium.
“Claire!” Elle woke up with her daughter’s name on her lips. Startled, she sat up and looked around the living room with her heart still beating loudly in her chest. A dream, she realized dazedly.
Slowly, she crossed the way to the back door. With unseeing eyes she gazed out into the garden.
She remembered waking up in the hospital six years ago and seeing her husband sitting next to her. She remembered how he took her hand into his and looked at her with eyes full of despair. He told her that the doctor thought Claire might not survive. That she might die before she was even born, die before she had a chance to look into her mum’s eyes, feel a kiss on her forehead, clench her little fist around her dad’s finger, hear them speaking to her without a belly barrier between them… It was a silent, terrible death. It was the death of someone so precious, so innocent, so tiny…
Elle took a shuddering breath.
This piece is called, ‘Mrs Victoria,’ I created this for a friend in 2018. This is on a canvas. I use acrylic paint. This was a request, he was telling me the type of art that he wanted to give his girlfriend for her birthday. I love challenges as an artist, and it helps me to try new things in my art. My style is kind of versatile. He brought the piece, for his girlfriend. They both loved it. Prints of this piece is now on sale on my ArtPal site. Click on my links on page( where it says, click on my website) part of the proceeds of each sale will go to a charity.
I'm currently doing exercises from DrawABox. Although the header here is: "The Aspiration is just to fill a page. It's not a product. No one has to see it." I will probably end up posting more of these. This is not the same as the graphic journal, which is more about me, my daily activities, etc.
A little exercise is good for you, we know. Specially when one's home for what it seems like forever. But it's easier said than done. Still trying though. My legs hurt.
Daily Drawing 690
I graduated from school with a degree in Bachelor of Science is what my teachers told me is a good enough degree to get hired in the art world but I don't know what in the art world I want to do. It took me six-years to get a four-year degree and eight years after graduating from high-school to figure out what I want to do with my life. I want to be a freelance artist creating my own work and doing commissions for others but even with my degree the level that I am at now is not good enough to sell neither am I at the level I want to be at. So.... I am taking the rest of my twenties to get at that level starting at ground zero and learning the basics from this website I found www.drawabox.com. This image is one of the exercises I'm doing. I have seen some amazing artists here and would love to learn from all of you so if you have any feedback on my work or would like to have a conversation between artists please don't hesitate to send me a message. Thanks
I started sketching a scene and thought "I'm not that good at drawing trees", so rather than do an entire scene, I thought I'd have a go at a single tree as an exercise. In hindsight I used too thick a pen. Time to break out the 0.1 pens for future sketches.
At the top of Pentregwenlais near Llandybie is Gwenlais Quarry. In itself, the quarry is quite beautiful with its sheer rock faces and the way that nature has started to reclaim it. This scene is one of the paths that leads down from the top of the quarry back towards Pentregwenlais. I was going to do it as a pen & wash but by the time I'd finished with the watercolour I thought it was too complex to start putting ink in there. Watercolours on watercolour paper (6x8")
I’ve been practicing digital art lately. This was made in the Adobe Draw app on my iPad. I wanted this drawing to be a celebration and kind of sweet renewal after everything we’ve been through.
I genuinely can't believe it's already March (I also can't believe it'll be a year since the pandemic really started). Yesterday also marked one year since I started journaling, which isn't an actual major thing, but still. How quickly time flies and how big of a difference a year can make. "And when it rains, the rain falls down Washing out the cattle town But she's quite safe up far away in her eiderdown And she dreams of crystal streams Of days gone by when we would lean Laughing, fit to burst, on each other."
Yet again, this came from a doodle... then from there, i just couldn't help myself & continued to add more fun & a few extra nutty bonus cartoons. Hence the number 6. A great caricature artist by the name of Al Hirschfield used to add & scribble his daughters' name into each drawing. He then would add a number next to his signature signaling how many times the name 'Nina' would appear. So in a similar way i too have decided to add a number but mine will simply offer a hint for how many extra cartoons i have deliberately added. Can u find them?
Gwenffrwd-Dinas is an RSPB nature reserve out in the wilds of mid-Wales. You could easily miss it driving past, but if you do park up, you're treated to some gorgeous scenery. Here the river Tywi (the longest in Wales) flows past the wooded riverbank then through a rocky gorge on its way down to Carmarthen. Pen and watercolour on watercolour paper (6x8").
This is a digital drawing of two magical lions. I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out. The magical wind behind the Sky lion (with the horn) is especially cuter than I thought it would be. That wasn't planned at all -- just a last minute decoration thing. Anyway, hope you like.
Drew this a few years back... It's pretty self explanatory... What is Fantasy Football? Anything to do w Flying Pigskins? Does the kicker have to kick a field goal through a windmill? I imagine having a Squeaky Clown Nose guard would b fun. My fav team is the browns b/c i support the essential workers & UPS workers rarely get the appreciation they deserve. [What?]
This is a digital drawing of four random characters. The two on the left were totally spontaneous -- meaning they didn't exist until this picture was drawn. Buddy (on the right bottom corner) is one of my recent creations and he's developed into a very loveable character. Ninjo, I've actually known for a long time. She's a crazy gal -- always chopping stuff and crashing through ceilings. Come to think of it.. she's not really like a ninja at all..!
The whole purpose of this drawing was to showcase my skill areas. I'm skilled in people (both male and female), animals, and even inanimate objects.
A colour sketch of woodland near my home. I'm still not sure whether to turn this into a larger piece or not - or maybe I could switch medium and try it in watercolour?
I do browse some weird things on places like Youtube, without a doubt! Definitely in the search of inspiration 9 out of 10 times though (as you can see)...
I had so much fun drawing the concept art for the Liz Cat's crew, that I decided to make all the other Altitone animatronics (including a smaller Dellusion) as these more kid-friendly designs! They aren't quite canon, though, because the real Liz Cat's cast only had five animatronics: Elizabeth, Preistor, Altor, Lexibo, and Dexter. Drawn with FireAlpaca.
My first venture into artist grade colouring pencils - and I'm smitten! I never thought I could achieve such boldness and blendability with them! I'm still getting used to them and will think about choosing smoother paper with less tooth next time. The texture and weight was more for the water-based gouache along with alcohol inks (which are very unforgiving to even primed heavy paper!). Apologies for the unevenness of lighting between the 2 sides of paper; will correct that when I'm making proper image files.
In late 2018, after some time not doing any artwork, I really wanted to get back into it. I fancied doing something different and invested in some soft pastels. This was my first go with them and it was a hell of a learning curve about how they adhere to the paper, and how they blend. I'm not really sure the pastels I was using were soft enough for the look I wanted, but I like how loose this one turned out.
I got a pack of loose watercolour paper from eBay in 2018. The side this was painted on had a really strange pitted texture on it. I thought it might be interesting but I didn't like the way the paint gathered in the pits. I just use it for sketching and testing colours these days.
