Robert Baratheon finished

I've finished Robert Baratheon:

But now I've run out of paper, and the paper I've been using is now obsolete! Not sure what I'm going to do... I'm pretty certain the paper is 160gsm watercolour paper as it has quite a thick grain on it, but for now I can't do any more drawings without them being consistent!

I'm still finding the Shaw Academy Graphic Design course a bit useless, out of the 6 lessons I've had so far I've only found 2 useful, as the other lessons are tutorials in Adobe CC (and Shaw Academy also have courses for these programs). I've already done courses for the programs themselves. I'm hoping tomorrow's course is more informative. I'm glad I haven't paid for this course or I'd be really annoyed.

I genuinely enjoyed my introduction to yoga on Tuesday, so much that I've signed up for an actual lesson on Tuesday! I didn't think I was stressed out or anything, but when I left the yoga centre I felt like I was on another planet, I was that blissed out.

Not really much else going on with my life at the moment; July is shaping up to be a quiet month, but then it's all systems go from August through to mid-September. I've booked some tickets for Alter Bridge in November, so I've got that to look forward to, plus my break to Center Parcs in September, and I've just used the Jongleurs Comedy Gift Card my colleagues got me for my 30th (going for the bank holiday weekend in August).

Anyway, for this week's Pinterest of the Week is to showcase other artists: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/314548355206883532/ I love the amount of detail that goes into some of these works; it's the reason things like Studio Ghibli films are so popular and why I love them too.

Robert Baratheon started, and Shaw Academy course started

I've only managed to get an hour in of colouring this week for Robert Baratheon, but I really enjoyed doing his face. I think it's the closest likeness I've achieved so far, and I especially liked colouring his beard:

I'm really going to struggle to get any done this week. I started the Shaw Academy Graphic Design course last week. Lesson 1 I found pointless, as it was talking about the lessons due in the course, and a quick overview of Photoshop layers. Lesson 2 I found immensely helpful, and Shaw Academy have saved the slideshow as a PDF which I've since downloaded (I really wanted this as it has lots of good information on it). Lesson 3 was an on-demand lesson which was released on Friday, and I've only just got round to watching it today (Sunday). The first half I already knew (how to basically use Photoshop), and the other half how to make composite images, and using things like filters and effects. I thought this week's assignment was to make a composite image, but actually it was a test (I passed, 85%), but I decided to make a composite image anyway:

Who doesn't love penguins in the desert?

Anyway, I have 2 more lessons this week, plus I'm attending an Introduction to Yoga course on Tuesday. Together with catching up with friends will leave little time for finishing Robert Baratheon, but I will try!

Anyway, for my Pinterest of the Week, it's kind of art, but also a tattoo idea I've seen: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/314548355206637476/

Cat WIP

I think I'm over my laziness now, I've been working today on drawing my friend's cat today (she tasked me with it on Monday as I didn't have any ideas on what to draw), and I have a few progress photo's:

Milly, the spawn of satan

I've quit Facebook again, as I spend way too much time procrastinating on there. I'm still on Twitter though. Funnily enough, I do feel like I've got more done since quitting Facebook.

I bought a new colouring pencil kit the other week (a half decent kit this time, not cheap pencils), and I haven't used them! Instead I've been using the kit my parents bought me for Christmas, the cat pictures above have been done with a graphite pencil only. I have an amarylis, and I'm waiting for it to bloom before using my new colouring pencils. It's nearly there:

How many flower heads?!

In November I bought 10 yoga classes at my local leisure centre for £10, which is a bargain. However, the site I bought them from stated it was for yoga, but the leisure centre stated it was for Pilates. When I arrived it had changed again - to Stretch and Tone! Whatever, I enjoyed the class anyway, and even after going to the class on Thursday I'm still aching today. I've also been doing a daily yoga practise using the DoYouYoga Youtube video's, however I can't do them for a little while now as I put my back out today.

Anyway, I'll continue with the picture of the cat and see how far I get. I'm also going to try upgrading my laptop to Windows 10, I'm really apprehensive about it as when I upgraded my tablet the integrated Wacom pen driver wouldn't work anymore. Plus, the tablet kept crashing, so I reverted it back to its original operating system. Here's hoping my laptop copes with the upgrade.

One last thing that I nearly forgot, it's my Pinterest of the week, hope you enjoy! I think it's really pretty https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/314548355204375006/

It's Christmas time, mistletoe and wine...

Well, no wine for me after my horrendous hangover after the Christmas party! This week has been a blur - work, Christmas, Boxing Day and having a cold. I've gone back to the 1000 things to draw, and only managed one thing so far in a week:

32. Redesign a book cover (The Wolf Hound and the Raven), using my Graphiter app on my tablet

I should probably still finish my dragon piece, however my family got me a new sketching set for Christmas, and I've treated myself to some half decent coloured pencils today, so I think today will be spent playing with those. I bought my friend one of those adult colouring books for Christmas, and I've had an idea to make my own colouring sheet, so I'll probably be doing lots of doodling tonight.

At the start of the month I bought a Groupon offer to do 10 sessions of yoga for £10 at my local leisure centre. I've been doing the 30 days of yoga by doyouyoga.com, and in true spirit I've done them haphazardly. I've just done day 3 today, and it's probably taken me about a week to get this far! I wanted to get a feel for yoga though before going to a proper class. If anyone has tips or hints for me post a comment below.

I came across this link during the week and thought you might like to see it:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/13091885/list/11-tips-to-get-the-creative-space-you-crave

And here is my Pinterest of the week, I literally don't even have a corner to set up an art space, so I'm settling for checking out other people's spaces for the moment: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/330592428875273399/

Also, as of the 23rd of December my blog was a year old! I can't believe I've stuck at this for more than a year. While I haven't done as much art as I would've liked it's certainly kept me more accountable than if I hadn't kept a blog.

Anyway, the plan for the week ahead is to do some more of the 1000 things to draw, and I really need to finish the dragon piece. I have a terrible habit of leaving things half done. I've been having a think how to make it really work with colour, as I didn't get on with Bobby Chiu's method, so I'll have an experiment during the week. I'm at work between Christmas and New Year though (boo), so my time is as limited as normal. Hope Santa brought you everything you wished for, and have a happy new year!