Here be more dragons!

I carried on with the Schoolism videos, and I spent quite a lot of time on the 'fur' videos. I quite like drawing straight fur, but curly fur is quite difficult. I also felt like I spent way too much time on fur, so towards the end of the video I glossed over the last points. Then it was back to the dragon.

So I've spent quite a lot of hours refining my dragon. I feel like it was worth it, although I was feeing pretty down about it earlier today. It's nothing spectacular, but I feel it's a pretty good effort on my part:

Please excuse the giant rabbit. I wanted to get the silhouette down before I called it a day with this today. The rabbit won't be that big when this is finished!

I'm not sure if I'm going to get the Schoolism course finished. I have learned some key points already though, even if they're not the ones I'm supposed to be learning! I've learned that:

• Making a small thumbnail as an extra window on your screen helps you see the bigger picture while working on small details
• Use lots of reference
• Try to make sure whatever you're drawing has virality ie is cute/clever, etc
• Make sure you're drawing is clear and concise, the 3-tone drawing is good for this
• Always start with big brushes and work down to small for finer detail. Seriously, I never realised how useful this was
• I can pay for all of the tutorials I want, but unless I learn the basics and use basic techniques I'm never going to get better!

My writing course is going OK, I'm a week behind now, but I'm not stressing too much about it as this course is free, and it restarts in January anyway. If I get behind on this course because of my Schoolism course it's not a big deal.

I follow InPursuitOfArt on youtube, he posts some pretty good videos about being in the art industry, and I've just watched one of his recent ones this weekend, it's driven home a point to me that I don't need a Wacom Cintiq with state-of-the-art computer to be a good artist: https://youtu.be/1rg2c8FPf2E

And my Pinterest of the week is the following, hope you enjoy! https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/164386055/white-rabbit-print-rabbit-time-rabbit?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share

Not coping with Windows 10...

As you may know, I own an Asus VivoTab Note 8, which is like the poor-man's version of the Wacom Cintiq. Last weekend I had the option to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 10. I was so excited I upgraded straight away without researching if anything would be affected on my tablet.
The pen function does not work anymore.
And it's not isolated to all VivoTab's; some work and some don't! Unfortunately mine is in the 'don't' category, and now I'm looking on the internet to find ways to fix it. By the sounds of it though I'll have to wait for an update to fix the driver. However I keep getting sidetracked, especially with Google Hangouts at the moment.

Needless to say I haven't done any art. I actually cracked out my notebook and pencil earlier today, as I've had an idea in my head for a few days and wanted to get it on paper:

It's supposed to be 2 dogs sitting at a table enjoying afternoon tea. I've also been toying with the idea of having humans on leads so it's like a reverse situation, but I think if I drew that it would come across a bit weird. I'm not even sure where I got the inspiration to draw that from, or why I even would, but I figured I like tea and I like dogs so why not combine them? I'll have to get on my Wacom Bamboo to flesh it out. At least I still have that! I need to start drawing things that inspire me more, to hopefully get into a better groove for drawing. I just feel like I've had an art block that's lasted for far too long now.

I washed my car yesterday, and listened to something on Youtube to try and inspire me to do something with my life... the link is here, and it's well worth a listen: https://youtu.be/GakfEmYBukQ

I haven't read any of Imaginative Realism this week, I only read at night and I'm been so tired when I've gone to bed this past week I've just gone straight to sleep!

I'm back on Fat Fighters now :) We have a party for Slimmer of the Year tomorrow, so I'm going to take some cucumber cups for the party (thick cucumber slices, seeds scooped out to make a 'cup', then filled with a mixture of low-fat cottage cheese, garlic and chives).

So, here's to another fab week at work, and to me getting out of my artistic rut!

Feeling rather uninspired

I've been feeling a bit blue the last few days, and can't pinpoint why. Needless to say I haven't done any art, although I am in the middle of a Briefbox project, but it's only concept stages so far, so I don't have anything really to share.

I've started reading Imaginative Realism by James Guerney. I bought the book a while ago, and read part of it, but then put it away and forgot about it. I've since re-discovered it, and I need to do some of the tasks from it.

I also started reading Fun With A Pencil by Andrew Loomis, and again this is another book I've partially read. I think the reason I'm feeling a bit uninspired is I just don't know what to draw!! Before I started re-reading Imaginative Realism though I was half tempted to pick up one of the Terry Pratchett books and draw a scene from the book, or maybe pick something from Egyptian mythology (I like both of these topics). The Imaginative Realism book has also suggested to draw something from the pages of a book, so I think I might try that to get the creative juices flowing again. Also, I'm not totally on board with Fun With A Pencil, as it just seems a bit childish, but a lot of artists swear by him.

I'm also playing the same old broken record of I've been busy this week which is why I've not done any art. To be honest though, I've been to Slimming World (only put on 1.5 pounds for 2 weeks of holiday, quite happy with that :) ), been to see the bestie as it's her son's birthday, been to a pub quiz and then had guests over last night. Maybe I need to become a hermit for a few months and become an art-processing machine, ha!

My mood is usually better after exercise, and I haven't done any for about 2 months now. Maybe I should get back in to something? There's a new gym opening where I live, but I don't want to get tied into a contract again, and all of the bullshit that comes with being at a gym. I've quite comfortable doing something at home, and I'm thinking of getting Insanity Max 30. I don't think I can do Insanity again, month 2 is a killer!

Well, I should have something to share with you from Briefbox next week. If anyone wants to do a Hangout on Google for some sketching send me a comment with the time and I'll try to make it :)

Another quickie...

Sorry for the lack of material this month, I really am finding it a struggle to find time to draw at the moment! I can't believe it's the 28th of June already...

I started at my new job on Thursday just gone. Handing over everything in my new job was every bit as stressful as I thought it would be. Starting was equally as stressful, I've gone to a large company where there are lots of employees, and I was also invited to a team-building event after work on my first day. I felt like a lemming stood in the Rounders playing field, but the BBQ they put on was nice. I got on well with my new colleagues better by the Friday though, they seem like a nice enough bunch :)

I am so envious of their designers as well, as they do proper designing, not the half-arsed repro attempt I've seen in both of my long-term jobs in the past. One lady was even drawing owls and foxes for some promo material. So jealous. But they've all been to Uni, and I haven't. I can see now why no company would employ me as a designer. But I quite like my new job, it's all about being organised, which I love doing.

In other news, we're slowly getting ready for going on holiday. The trailer tent was put up properly for the first time in our local park on Tuesday:

I'm glad we've got all of the arguments out of the way now! I just hope the weather doesn't turn typically British while we're away. Also, as part of my leaving present from my old job my colleagues got me the following book. I've had a read through it, and it's frickin' amazing, it's definitely coming with us!

They also got me a Festival kit full of goodies like a bright pink poncho, cleaning stuff like shampoo and baby wipes, lip balm, glow sticks, etc, it's really cool. Also a nice box of chocs (already snaffled) and some bottles of cider. The sales reps who looked after me got me a bottle of rum (they know me so well).

I do miss my old work friends, but I really am quite anti-social. After going out with some of my colleagues for a leaving meal and with the gifts everyone got me I feel I really missed a trick not socialising with my old colleagues. I'm going to make more of an effort with my new colleagues (whether they like it or not, ha!). I have let my old colleagues know about some good perks I get with my new job, but I've not heard back from them :( Oh well, if they don't want to abuse my perks after I'm gone I'm sure I can get them used instead :D

Well, aside from Fat Fighters tomorrow I don't have any plans for the week ahead. I get to finish 30mins earlier than my last job, so there really should be no excuse for a lack of art next week. I think I have a bit of an art block going on at the moment, but I'm just going to find things to draw to get me back into the swing of it.

Until next week!

Portrait WIP progress, inspiring talks, and research

I feel like I'm losing my mojo with my life at the moment. This isn't going to be a woe-is-me post, but I'm struggling to find any motivation to do any art or research the things I need to.

I've forced myself to work more on my WIP this weekend, although I've been extremely busy:

All I have done is add extra colour, I haven't touched up any of the skin, hair or hoody. This week I'm hoping to finish off all of the main colour, and then start refining his face and hair.

Every morning I have breakfast, but I'm getting really tired of seeing depressing new bulletins, so this week I've quickly gone through my news app on my phone when I've got up,and then watched some inspiring videos on the internet. I've seen a couple of things this week I want to share with you:

TED Talks - Kickstart your Creativity

There are 5 videos on here, all of which I thought were good. I didn't think I'd like the last one, but after watching it it's given me a lot to think about. To me art has always been creating something that others will think is good, no matter what it is, but my horizons have always been very narrow: traditional media (pencils, paint, etc) and digital painting. But then seeing this guy embrace his limitation showed me there's multiple ways to create something interesting. I'll try to keep a broader mind when creating traditional art.

Youtube - InPursuitOfArt

Art School, University or Self Taught - My Worthless 1st Class Degree

https://youtu.be/741QcPO04As

If you have read my previous posts you'll know about my inner struggle with deciding to start a university degree or not. My partner has not been keen for me to start this for several reasons, the biggest being worth, and I agree with him. For the amount it would cost me would put me into quite a bit of debt. Also I'm not sure Uni would teach me necessary skills (there is a part in the video above where the guy started learning about perspective AFTER Uni!). Also, I would want to go to Uni for the networking, but the course I would do would be homelearning, so aside from forums I would have very little change to network unlike a brick-and-mortar Uni.'s

I've been looking for another opinion on whether Uni is worth it. Every job I come across in the field I want to work in requires a degree OR strong portfolio, of which I have neither. I have read a lot of stories though where people are in a job they love and didn't go to Uni. In my mind I used to have the view of going to Uni = instant job prospects. That might've been the case 20 years ago, but not anymore in the UK. My best friend has a Uni loan for law, and all that happened after she graduated was she working as a cash manager in a bargain store. Now she works in a care home. It doesn't seem right that's she qualified to work in law, but could only get sh*tty jobs. I don't want to spend a lot of money, and invest a lot of time into something that may prove useless, especially when I can spend that time practising and networking. So I think my mind is now set regarding this issue; I won't be going to Uni to further my art education.

Anyway, just to break up the rant above, we picked up the trailer tent on Friday! We've had it out today, and given it a good clean down. Tomorrow we're off to buy some canvas cleaner and waterproofer, also some other bits-and-bobs like pans, cutlery, etc, so we can just go on holiday at a moments' notice!

First set-up, ha!

Also, I lost another pound at Slimming World last week, that's 8lb off in total! I've not had too much in the way of chocolate today, although I didn't go to my parent;s for a scrumptious Easter dinner :)

I've managed to do a bit of research this weekend too. I can't find ANYTHING in the way of art conventions in the UK, I don't think I'm searching the right parameters. However I did manage to find some pricelists that studio's charge, and they vary wildly. I need to look up more places so I have something to base my prices on, that and the fact I need to start working out what I need to stay above the breadline.

Also from the above I've noticed company names seem to be quite snappy, or fresh, or memorable, something which mine isn't, so I'm thinking of changing the name. Mine is so 90's, and I think people would forget it in a heartbeat, so now I need to choose a new name!

Company name.

So next week I should have a more snappy name to brand myself with, finish the WIP and research some more. Have a good week!