I didn’t have a particularly good night last night. Well, with respect to drawing at least. I wanted to do a couple of EDMs because I haven’t since the early part of February and I have missed it. I accomplished that, but they aren’t particularly very good. The reason? I rushed them. Like a lot. I was more concerned about slapping them in my sketchbook than worrying what they look like or how well I achieved what I was “going for”. They are pretty messy and not rendered very well. Especially the hand. I mean, yeah, I have stubby, meat sausage fingers, but that’s a bit ridiculous.

Generally, I like the style I use when I’m doing the EDMs - its very different from my regular style. But last night, I just loathed it. I dunno. I guess it was just a bad night, but no matter what I did, it was just wrong, wrong wrong. Very, very frustrating. I should have just put down the pencil and stepped away. Maybe I will know better next time.

Or, ya know, not.

I’m avoiding homework, methinks. Hee.

I love almost everything about this sketch - save three things.

1. The pan lid. It looks like a squished flying saucer.
2. The lettering. Chunky and blah. Boring.
3. The scan sucks. Ok, that has nothing to do with the sketch, but it still makes me cranky.

I still don’t wanna do homework. I blame the crapass weather.

Another EDM challenge completed. Barely. I ended up crashing on my couch for several hours last night, and when I woke up (in a slight panic), I figured that I needed to draw something. I am finding that I get itchy if I don’t draw, which is kinda awesome. This was the result of my compulsive sketching. I might go back and add some colour to the lettering - not sure yet though. I also worked on mapping out my “egg composition” for my homework that is due on Tuesday.

Hopefully, I can get back to my anatomy studies tonight. I think, with my schedule quickly filling up, I might have to rework my anatomy studies. I thought I could do three days a week, but that’s proving a little difficult as well. I need to think about it.

In other news, I don’t want to say too much because this is in the really-real initial discussion, “what if/could we do it” phase. But there is a long-term plan formulating that might allow me to go back to school full-time after Will finishes his apprenticeship in a couple years. We’re talking about it. Well, I’m talking about it, he’s indulging me. But if it goes ahead, I might be able to start taking some credit courses relatively soon (Fall maybe) through Extended Studies while saving up some money for tuition and waiting for Will to finish.

And I wish they would just let the man rest in peace. I have decided to avoid any and all future media discussion about him. The media is soulless.

I have to admit. I’m less excited about the result of this one than any of the others. The main reason? It was a total rush job.

Last night, we were dealing with fall out from Will’s car not starting yesterday morning - trying to get plugged in and boosted and stuff. Danny was nice enough to come over and help boost it and get the bugger going. So that was a plus. Then we went out for yum-yum Vietnamese with Danny and Will’s Mom. By the time, we got home and I settled down to draw something, it was pretty late. But, I was adamant that I get something done. So I rushed.

This was the unfortunate result.

I considered re-doing it. But ya know, people learn from their mistakes and what not. Or at least they are supposed to.

Ok, so I had a bit of fun with this one. I couldn’t actually decide which childhood toy I wanted to draw . So I did both! I mean, I figure there is probably no rule against this type of thing. I also had some Cabbage Patch Kids (old skool ones, thankyewverymuch ;)) that I was considering, but a girl needs limitations.

The first one is the very first toy I ever had. My dad brought this plushy doll to the hospital when I was born. I still have it. She’s got a hole in her shoulder that needs repair, but other than that, she’s in pretty good shape. She’s pretty swell.

And the second! Oh! It’s my 1977 Han Solo action figure. I carried that thing everywhere. After all, the plan, in my “rational” 3 year old brain, was that I was going to marry Han Solo and live on the Millennium Falcon. Indeed! Now, its less about marrying Han and more about how much I loved this toy. I mean, by action figure standards today, its awful. The head is mammoth and he looks nothing like Harrison Ford. But still, I love it as much as I love my newest toy*. Sentimentality is a wonderful thing, my friends.

Aside from the EDM challenges, I didn’t get much else done this weekend. I went through my art kit with the purpose of cleaning out some of my old crap and I worked on my latest anatomy study. Hopefully, I will have it completed tonight. But honestly, there has just been an overwhelming attack of laziness the last couple of days. I blame it on the weather. It has been incredibly cold here. We’re talking -31° celsuis (-23.8° fahrenheit) with -46° for windchill. Och! I was quite bundled up on the walk to work today and thankfully, Will’s company decided it was too cold for his little electrician bum to be pulling cable outside in -46°. It sucks that he can’t work, but between you and I, I feel much better knowing he’s at home, instead of outside.

*Their eyes light up. Dudes!

Sleepy. Otherwise, I’d post more. But here’s my latest EDM challenge. I’ll post more tomorrow including bits about my art supply haul. I heart new art supplies!

I will say this. Juno is excellent. Especially the soundtrack. Fabulous!

Not too pleased with this one. Well, that’s not true. I dig the mug, but the background is too muddy. I think I really need that class I’m taking after all. Must learn to understand watercolour.

Ya know, I never, in a million years, thought I would be drawn to watercolour as a medium. I had a lot of prejudices surrounding watercolour and what I thought watercolour was*. But I guess I can thank Ben Templesmith for curing me of that. I took one look at his work and well, that was it. I saw watercolour (and pen & ink) in a completely new light. If I could do half the things he has done in those mediums, I would be a happy girl.

*Ok, I admit I thought most watercolour consisted of landscapes and boring-ass flowers. But I am not proud. I know I was wrong.

Ok, so this is my latest EDM challenge attempt. And wow, I struggled with it. Like a lot.

Truth be told, this is actually the fourth attempt. The first three were a different (funner) bag and did not go well at all. And I think I know why I struggled so much. Those pesky watercolour crayons! I thought I was using them right, but for some reason (and I’m not sure if it was the subject matter or my ineptitude), I simply could not get them to work right. I would either add too much water or not enough and sometimes you could still see the texture of the crayon which I didn’t like at all. It was completely frustrating!

So for this drawing, I went back to my traditional watercolour paints and I was much, much happier with the results.

In the end, I am rethinking the crayons and any possible pencil purchases. I know I should confront my frustration with the medium head-on, but I just can’t be arsed to try. At least night right now. I think I might invest in new paints though depending on how my first class goes on Tuesday.

But as a result of the frustrating evening, I didn’t get to any of my anatomy studies, which I was kinda disappointed with. But I was so flustered and frustrated with my wallet drawing that I’m glad I didn’t attempt anything else. And really, I am just pleased that I got this drawing completed and didn’t simply give up and watch TV.

Go team me!

Can I just say how much fun I am having just playing? Loads. I like not putting pressure on myself. Its kind of refreshing. Though, I think I might have to research waterproof/water resistant ink (can anyone refer me to any good brands?). I tend to lay down my ink outline THEN watercolour. Of course, this leads to some bleeding of the ink line which I’m not sure I love. I suppose I could always lay down the watercolour first? I should try it and see how it goes, maybe? Maybe with challenge #3.

But I’m digging watercolour. That’s a fact. Though, I think I might look into watercolour pencils when I hit the art store this weekend. Apparently, they are all the rage.

I know what you are thinking. That isn’t a spine or muscle or anything. Nope, not part of my anatomical studies thats for sure. Nope, I have decided to try out some of the EDM challenges in my new moleskine. I didn’t particularly know what to use it for and since joining the EDM mailing list, I have been able to view many wonderful challenges. So I figured .. why not?

The challenges seem pretty low-key and manageable. They also let me tap into a different part of my brain. I like that I am given the subject matter and I just have to come up with the execution. And plus, there isn’t a time limit or any particular order* in which they need to be completed.

I’m also experimenting with media. Funs! The above image was done with pen and some watercolours. I think my entire moleskine might be done in both of these mediums. They were so much fun! Now I admit to having almost no technique or understanding of watercolour, but its been exciting playing around it. And I think thats my goal with the EDM challenges - play around. Much of my other work is educational and meticulous - especially the anatomy studies - so this is really refreshing. Plus, it continues to let me pump my drawing muscles - albeit in a different manner.

Last night was laundry and grocery shopping. We didn’t even eat dinner until 9 o’clock last night. Ugh. So this sketch was actually perfect - nice and quick.

*That being said, I won’t lie, sister is probably going to do them in order. Heh.