Lord of the Rings Legos

Does anything else need to be said? Maybe, "bout time!" or, "where were you when I was little enough to justify buying these?" Such is life.

Ink & Fairydust: Fairy Tales!

Hello! I am proud to announce and display Ink & Fairydust Magazine (click on the link!). This issue is special to me for 2 reasons: 1) it's about fairy tales and fantasy, which are always the best topics, and 2) because, ahem, well, I illustrated the cover and one of the little fairy drawings inside. This is my first time illustrating something published, so, I am rather excited about it. I am so glad to be a part of such a fun project with such lovely people.

And, of course, we need a quote about the topic. Here is one by Mr. Lewis that I found recently:

“Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.” -C.S. Lewis

A Beautiful Musical Blog

written by my lovely friend, and very talented musician. I love her dearly, and I wish the world could know what she is doing for it by simply existing. She is a musician, and on her blog, she discusses music of all shapes and sizes. You can get some good ideas and thoughts on music, individual musicians, and simply beauty and art in general.

I love you Mimi.

Image by Eredel/DeviantArt

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent” -Victor Hugo


“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.” -Maria von Trapp


“Ah, music! A magic far beyond all we do here!” -Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Arthouse Sketchbook Project

       As I mentioned before, a loooong time ago when I did regular posts (who am I kidding- I've always been ify on that particular subject) I told you about the Arthouse Sketchbook Project that I started. Below are a few excerpts from what I have done so far:

          When signing up for a sketchbook, you have to chose a topic. Their list of rather vague topics leave lots of wiggle room. I chose, "the secret and how to tell it," for mine, and the title is Childish Things. Yeah, that's going to allow me to draw pretty much whatever I want. Just what the secret is, I don't really know yet, and it so far it hasn't really mattered. I figure it has something to do with imagination, common sense,  childhood, etc. Just think, of course, what Chesterton would say on the matter. 

       I am also TRYING to start painting digitally with my new bamboo tablet and Painter X. It's rather very very difficult, but, I am doing my best to teach myself. 

     Now some quotes on the before mentioned theme:

“Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.” -C.S. Lewis

“Grown up, and that is a terribly hard thing to do. It is much easier to skip it and go from one childhood to another.”-F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Well, one can't get over the habit of being a little girl all at once.”

-L.M. Montgomery

Miyazaki is at it Again!

      I am sure some of you are familiar with The Borrowers by Mary Norton? Well, Miyazaki is doing a spin off of the books with The Secret Life of Arrietty.

I am so so so so SO excited! I have never actually read the books... I have always wanted to, and I have watched a movie or tv version with Ian Holm when I was little. Anyway, the point is, I think this is rather perfect! You've got a lovely little British-like book series about little people who live in houses and collect, or "borrow," things from the "human beans," such as scissors for weapons, and a japanese movie maker who excels at lovely and gentle details. 

      Now, there may be some kind of new age spin to it all about protecting the environment that's not in the books, but still, I will take what I can get. And most likely, I will be taking my little sis to see this. I will probably enjoy it more than her, but it may be a good opportunity for some sister bonding time.

Below is the official trailer, which I haven't watched yet, but I imagine it is decent. 

If you are not tempted yet, here are some lovely adorable movie stills:

And NO WAY! It's Miyazaki's birthday today! (or, for ten more minutes at least- it will be midnight soon) Happy Birthday Miyazaki!

Fairy Sketch and a Fun Project

As you may know (I don't remember if I actually told you or not) I am an illustrator for Ink and Fairydust Magazine, and I recently did this little pen and ink sketch for one of the illustrations.

Recent news? Well, I have a new macbook and I am trying to teach myself some graphic design/digital art basics, and I discovered Doctor Who:

I find both of those things very exciting. Harry Potter and Doctor Who all in one year- what will Mary discover next?
      Also, a friend recently directed my attention to this fun looking project. I am going to try it out I think. Not that I need another project to barely finish, but, I do my best. It's a fact that you just never know what will become of things- even the unfinished ones.
   In the mean time, I continue trying to develop my skills through Drawing Tutorials Online.

God bless! I hope you all have a lovely new year of 2012 (not sure where the following quote came from, but I found it from a friend).

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." - Neil Gaiman