Cute or Weird

Platypenguin Outside Enjoying the Flowers


I attempted to make a stuffed animal from this sketch of mine. I'm not entirely sure how successful I was in terms of resemblance, or cuteness, but I like him anyway.

He's just a prototype, so he's mostly made from scraps (old sheets, a button that fell off of some pants). He really likes flowers, though. Poking his beak in them all the time, like he's a hummingbird instead of a platypenguin.


Tune back Tuesday or Wednesday for a Real Life AstroCat
(Well, real plush.)

Cute Month, Wonderland Week!

Steampunk Alice Design, Front

All this week I'll be making a Steampunk Alice costume - which means all the posts are going to be Alice in Wonderland related. Of course, it could have been a normal Alice costume, but what fun is it if I can't mix some of my favorite genres, like steampunk, Alice in Wonderland, and lolita, all into one convenient costume?

I've always preferred the idea of a gothic Alice, more with a spade theme than the hearts or diamonds, so I've also folded that into the idea. I used to call this gothic spade-sprinkled Alice "Black Alyss" (a sort of reference to Frank Beddor's Looking Glass Wars) but I thought that might be a bit confusing (or silly?)

This shouldn't be too hard, since I only need to work on the apron, skirt, and various accessories, as I plan to wear a blouse and vest I already have for the top. Here you can see how I break down costumes when I need to put them together - by color. This is especially helpful when I'm making pieces, as I can see at a glance how much material I'll need.

The steampunk lolita skirt I made a few weeks ago was the prototype for working on this, so I have at least one under my belt before I started here.

On the other hand, I've never made an apron from scratch, and I'm planning to use some unorthodox transfer methods to get the spade designs on the apron, so we'll see how that turns out. I'm crossing my fingers that I avoid a debacle.

Mushrooms

I've noticed that mushrooms are making a comeback, I was thinking about that when I drew this

This week has been roller-coastery, to say the least. At least this time I don't feel like it's an isolated event, just me, roller-coasting around - naah, it was the whole country. I called my sister on election night, and got her voicemail, and when she tried to call back the system was down. See! Everybody! My mom left me a voicemail the next day "Happy Obama Day!" (I saved that one).

I've been working on finishing up all my outstanding gift projects, and starting some more for Christmas. Though I'm not entirely sure who wants a Kraken shirt or weird cuff links for Christmas, I've been using the Christmas deadline as motivation to refill my etsy shop.

Speaking of: I'm probably going to go to the Handmade Market on Saturday, and hit up the Flea Market while I'm over there, is anyone else planning to be there?

Platypenguin - Ball point pen drawing

I find ball point pen drawings really endearing. Over my years at school, I've gotten particularly good at hatching and cross-hatching with pens that are meant to be taking notes.

Anyway, this is one of my favorite ball point pen drawings, done while in a meeting at my former job (graphic designer at Lulu). I thought since it's a weird little creature I just can't stop looking at it!

Costumed Sketch Night: Kaiju theme!

Costumed Sketch Night was last night, and we had a Kaiju Big Battel-inspired evening!

Top-Bottom, left-right:
Annie as The Scarlet Pimp
Nick as Dandy Diabolico
Alison as Lucha Lolita
Will as Doctor Boxagon




A big thanks to all of my models! We had a great time, and didn't actually destroy as much of the city as it seems (if anybody needs a small cardboard city, I have one available). Thanks to everybody who helped build the city, also! This was the last Costumed Sketch Night of this year, and they will resume January 29, 2009 at the usual place.

Don't worry, I did sketches too!

If you'd like to see more, I'd suggest starting here since I did some ridiculous running commentary.

Costumed Sketch Night: Grab Bag Theme

Annie and Will Waltz

You guys know the drill! Last night was Costumed Sketch Night, and despite the fact that I hadn't promoted it at all (and didn't even remind people) we still had five people show up.

Since I'm putting a large amount of effort into the next sketch night (Daikaiju/kaiju themed) this one was a lot less theme-structured. Fortunately, I know people who will just show up with outfits and props at the drop of a hat.

HUGE thanks to Annie, Nick and Will for showing up and modeling! You all did a great job (and I like that you guys help me think of poses, too!)


Twenty Minute Sketch: Pouting and Drinking (Annie, Will, & Nick)

Since we had two people in formal wear, and Nick in... a panda hat, we ended up pitting Nick against Annie and Will a lot. Or performing as their black sheep. Though, judging from the funeral in the last pose, there was a lot more drama going on than we ever knew!

I hope some of the other artists scan their sketches and put them online. Would it offend any of you guys who usually attend if I asked to take pictures of your sketches to post online (duly credited of course) at the sketch night? I'm trying to figure out a way to have other people's images in the Costumed Sketch Night photo pool without necessarily forcing them to have a flickr account or anything similar.


Costumed Sketch Night in August: KAIJU THEMED!

Next sketch night details:
Wednesday, August 27
7 - 9 pm
at Camelot Treasures (251 Grande Heights Dr., Cary, NC)
$3 admission (and tipping the models is encouraged - since we don't pay them)
Theme: Kaiju

Costumed Sketch Night: Fairy Theme

Our model, Brittany

Last night was a really fun Costumed Sketch Night - and crowded! We had the most people turn out that we've ever had (which is good, but means I need to do a better job of spreading out the chairs).

We only had one model, Brittany, but her fairy costume was so elaborate, I don't think we'd have time to draw anything else. My friend Ruth (former co-worker at Camelot Treasures) knows Brittany and worked with her at the Renn Faire. She emailed me a picture of her in her fairy costume and was like "YOU NEED TO DRAW THIS" - and so I did.


Two Minute Sketch with Bow & Arrow

The theme was Fairies, but since we only had one fairy, we had a lot of props (and she had a lot). Again, her costume was amazing - she had a pan flute, and a bow and arrow - all kinds of cool stuff to play with!

I did a lot of drawings, but I am thinking of trying to simplify my style some for the next one... or at least doing some underlaying scribblyness in light pencil and then overlaying it with ink. Oh wait! You guys don't care! You can see all the pictures and sketches from Sketch Night here


Next Costumed Sketch Night has no theme currently, so if you have suggestions, let me know!
July 30, 7 - 9 pm

Theme suggestions so far for next month's Costumed Sketch Night: adventurers/safari, kaiju battle, traditional Japanese clothes, villains, vampires, Trekkies, zombies, togas/Greek

Draw Yourself as a Teenager Meme

Also, I must note, it wasn't that I didn't believe in wearing skirts, it's just that I was really self-conscious about my body, hence being incredibly covered up in baggy clothes. Which is kind of funny, since looking back, there was really no reason to be self-conscious... I mean, besides being a teenager in general.

Costumed Sketch Night: Steampunk Theme

Our model, Nick, checks his pocketwatch

Last night was another pretty awesome Costumed Sketch Night. Due to my busy/crazy/sick/gone April, it was a little less promoted than usual, and also we only had one model.

Despite all that, everything came out really well, so hooray! I didn't get to do as many sketches as I usually do, because I opted to help model in the last long poses (it's easier to have poses when you have interaction, I think).


re-enacts Dinosaur Comic's panel four - T-rex Retaliation!

The theme was Steampunk, so there was a lot of props, Victoriana, goggles, and, umm, a T-rex puppet... Because it's easier when the models interact with stuff!

Perhaps I just like making the models interact with puppets, since it's happened at the last two Costume Sketch Nights (though technically, Alison and Annie insisted upon the puppets, so maybe it's just their continued influence).


There were a lot of awesome drawings that came out of it, which you can check out at the Costumed Sketch Night group pool (there's more than just mine now!)

Next Costumed Sketch Night is Fairy themed,
May 28, 7 - 9 pm

Costumed Sketch Night: Lolita Theme

20 Minute Pose - Naptime

Wednesday night was Costumed Sketch Night. Many thanks to Annie and Alison who modeled and posed in frilly costumes and difficult shoes. They did an absolutely great job of helping me come up with poses beforehand also.

Nick did me a solid and took some pictures with my camera, since it's hard to juggle the sketchbook, pencils, timer, AND camera.

5 Minute Pose - (Gesture Drawing) Pout

We had a really good turn out, for artists, and Michelle has already posted some of her pictures online.

If you're interested, here's a link to the Sketch Night pool - though it's mostly my pictures so far. I'm looking forward to the next Costumed Sketch Night, which will be April 30 - the theme is Steampunk.

On a related note, Camelot Treasures is having a Mad Hatter Tea Party, April 20, 5 - 7 p.m. It includes food, tea, and games. Tickets are $8 available at the shop.

Costumed Sketch Night: Pirate Theme

Pirate Drinking Contest - 20 Minute Sketch

The Costumed Sketch Night last night was super-fun - the theme was pirates, and we had two great models, Ruth and Matt, who would pretty much pose however we wanted.

As usual, the hardest part of modeling is NOT LAUGHING - but we all managed to prevail, despite the silly pirate songs playing.

I don't have any trouble coming up with short pose ideas, (2-5 minute poses) but sometimes the longer poses, which have to be seated or laying because otherwise we're torturing the model, are hard for me to think of.

Fortunately, Stephanie had the great idea of having a saucy winner to the pirate drinking contest... (as you can see)


Ruth Wins!

I ended up only blocking in Matt on this last 20 minute pose - since Ruth was late I didn't get to draw her as much, and with all those myriad layers of clothing, it made for an interesting subject.

We had three times the people attending last night than we had the first time, with many people implying that next time we may have a great deal more. It's kind of exciting, since I really started it as a way of contributing to the new place I work, and a selfish way to get me more time to draw models.


Anyway, if you're a local artist and you missed, don't worry. The next costumed sketch night is March 26th, and the theme is Victorian Lolita (This style of stuff, if you're not familiar) so get ready to draw tons of fabric and bows! The admission is $3.

Costumed Sketch Night: Harry Potter Theme

20 Minute Seated Sketch of Harry & Draco from last night's sketch night

I was bummed out about several of the local Life Drawing etc. sketch groups seemingly disbanding, and as usual, I took it upon myself to remedy the situation. So, I started a monthly Costumed Sketch Night at the shop where I work.

Anytime I encounter holes in reality where I think things OUGHT TO BE, I have a tendency to try and organize a filling of those holes (local drawing groups, 24 hour comic book day, self-publishing participation in independent comics, etc.). The downside is that this tends to make it impossible for me to participate in the group. Fortunately, Costumed Sketch Night is not one of those occasions, I can draw and time things SIMULTANEOUSLY (and I can always hop in as a backup model in case someone doesn't show). For once, it's kind of good to be the organizer. Shew.

We had at least four artists, and I know a lot of people who are planning to come and draw at the next one, so it's officially a success in my book.


Harry & Draco play Wizard Connect 4

And, as always, a huge thank you to Will and Nick, who were awesome models.

Next Costumed Sketch Night is Wednesday, February 27th - the theme is PIRATES!

Here's the Flickr picture pool of all the pictures from last night - and future pictures!