Fall is coming and I am alive.

Hey guys.

Yeah, I'm still alive. :)

I'm fighting again to get into art school, but in the mean time, it's almost Fall! A lil drawing to celebrate. Guest starring Mouse and Spider.

"Target Practice" made with a Bic Atlantis pen.

A kid using the falling leaves for practice with his "sword." Struck me as amusing, and it was fun. I love using my ink pen. It's kinda a sentimental thing for me. Maybe because I used it so much for drawing pictures in-between note-taking during class? Not sure. (But, I DID take notes. My friends would tell you I took more notes than anyone- and STILL had time to draw somehow.)

I hope you guys are doing well. I am doing pretty well myself. My hands are still giving me trouble, but, I think my health has really improved this summer. I have lots of hope for getting back into school soon.

Little Christ in a Garden

I am alive and painting. I just couldn't show you this painting until just now because it was a commission/surprise graduation gift for My Lovely Friend (click on the link!). Now she has it, so now you can see it:

Little Christ in a Garden

Detail Image

I love this painting. As you can see, I managed to do a ginger-headed, freckled-faced, little Jesus with a mouse and toadstools. I had fun painting this. I was hoping for a fairy tale feel- I don't see why the Christ child wouldn't have loved fairy tales.
      And I think I should let you know that for some reason my carpal tunnel is better lately. I am not sure why, and I don't know how long this good spell will last, but I will take what I can get.
      I just got back from Franciscan University where they sent off the newly graduated class of 2012. If I had stayed at Franciscan longer than 2 years, this would have been my class. I love them so. It was a great blessing to be there with them, through the good and the bad.

‎"WHAT was wonderful about childhood is that anything in it was a wonder. It was not merely a world full of miracles; it was a miraculous world." ~GKC: 'Autobiography.'

“My imagination is a monastery, and I am its monk” -John Keats

When you are describing,
A shape, or sound, or tint;
Don't state the matter plainly,
But put it in a hint;
And learn to look at all things,
With a sort of mental squint.
~Lewis Carroll

Angels and Dragons....

... Some of my favorites. They never stay away long.
    Well, I am still working on my friend's (Miss Emily) commission. So far, she has half an angel. If that. I rather like him.

So... are those anatomy lessons paying off? (What are you talking about Mary? There is hardly a body here at all.)

      Oh, and my scanner is fixed. That was kind of important. I'd like to say that the wretched contraption was the main reason I haven't been posting much, but that would be a lie, unfortunately. A false lie. (King and I anyone?)
    The. Point. Is. I have a scanner, and I was able to prepare that second dragon sketch I mentioned before.

Alas, there is still a shadow. But I would have to tear the page out to get rid of  it, and that did not sound ideal. Wretched spiral bound sketchbooks!

   The dragon is reading Knightboy: Dragon Slayer with Mouse as before mentioned. I copied this out of Me and My Dragon, as also mentioned.

   I recently joined Drawing Tutorials Online and I am rather excited! I have only been a member for less than a week, but I can tell you that I recommend it very much. You can find sample videos on youtube if you would like to check it out. Just search for "drawing tutorials online" or "Matthew Archambault" and you should find it. He is quite an amazing teacher, and is well learned in both traditional art and computers/graphic design/illustration, etc.

Happy Belated Birthday Hobbits!

     And a happy Hobbit Day to the rest of you! Technically, that was yesterday. September 22nd is Mr. Bilbo and master Frodo's birthday, but I didn't realize it until the later morning hours, and didn't have time to draw and post properly the day of. However, I did find a website that said the week containing Sept. 22nd is considered Hobbit Week, so if you haven't had a chance to celebrate properly, you still have almost two days left! I celebrated by watching the Fellowship of the Ring extended version (for fans, there is a HUGE  difference), while drawing these pictures. Can one draw and watch at the same time? You tell me. Did I succeed? To be perfectly and entirely honest, I do think it takes away a bit from the drawing, but, I wanted to do both, and I didn't have time before work to do them separately. I had fun anyway. I think I will have to reread my Tolkien collection soon! There are so many things I have forgotten, and that makes me exceedingly sad.
      I picked out a bit from the "Long Expected Part" chapter of the Fellowship, because I thought that the most fitting.

'You mean to go on with your plan then?
'I do. I made up my mind months ago, and I haven't changed it.'

It is based off this:

Inside Bag End, Bilbo and Gandalf were sitting at the open window of a small room  looking out west on to the garden. The late afternoon was bright and peaceful. The flowers glowed red and golden: snapdragons and sunflowers, and nasturtians trailing  over the turf walls and peeping in at the round windows.
    'How bright your garden looks!' said Gandalf.
    'Yes," said Bilbo. 'I am very fond indeed of it, and of all the dear old Shire; but I think I need a holiday."
     'You mean to go on with your plan then?'
     'I do. I made up my mind months ago, and I haven't changed it.'
     'Very well. It is no good saying any more. Stick to you plan-- your whole plan, mind -- and I hope it will turn out for the best, for you, and for all of us.
     'I hope so. Anyway I mean to enjoy myself on Thursday, and have my little joke.'
     'Who will laugh, I wonder?' said Gandalf, shaking his head.  
    'We shall see,' said Bilbo.


Happy Hobbit Day to you all!

              

 

 

 

A Bit of Nonsense Really

   In the past week there have been reports by one sibling (ONE sibling mind you) that there is mouse in the house. I for one don't mind- we live in an old house, so it's only right and decent to have one if you ask me! Anyway, while no one else, not even Brenna the kitty, has seen a trace of this mouse, it did, erm, inspire me. If this bit of nonsense even deserves the word "inspiration." Funny, I am working on an respectable  painting of monumental proportions, and I feel more accomplished by this mouse balderdash than I do something like my painting.
    Yes, I did use my Mac Dictionary/Thesaurus for a few of those words. But hey, maybe I learn a bit of nomenclature that way.
     In any case, I haven't written any rhymes since I was little- and even then it was no deluging amount. The only things with which I've provided such quantities to this earth are all those horse drawings I did when I was little. Hundreds I tell you! Thousands!
    As it were, so to say, the point is, it has been awhile, and I've not done much- so be merciful. I was rather thrilled when this burst out of me, and I only hope it makes some sense.
    Ahem:

There's a Mouse in the House!

Grab your shoes! Grab your mop!

Cover your feet, don't ever stop!

There's a mouse in the house there's a mouse in the house!

It'll nibble at your toes, and away they goes!

Over the hills, or far away?

You'll never know, 'cause you'll have to stay.

Unable to move, that's how you'll pay, 

For not keeping your little toes at bay!

There you have it. Exceptionally sensational, is it not? I even illustrated it:

   Now, just why the mouse is holding a tack, I am not positive. I just wanted him to have a weapon, and it seemed to me that a mouse might heft a tack.                                         

May 26th, 2011: McDonalds, Coffee, And Drawing.

    So I went to TN to visit my lovely friend from waay back during my model horse playing days. :) I had a blast as I always do- complete with anime, Opry Mills, an introduction to Firefly and Dr. Who and Dance Dance Revolution, and lots of shopping and coffee and talking in between.
    We went to McDonald's one day for lunch, and we drew each other while I drank coffee. It was really fun actually.
    Here's is Monica's drawing of myself:

And here is my drawing of Monica:

   I think it is interesting how the two contrast. I am definitely the more quick and rough sketcher here, and she is more deliberate and refined and just more patient, as I should learn to be. Ugh, I had her mouth almost perfect... and then I went and messed it up when I realized I had to erase and shift her whole face. Anyway, we will have to do this again! 

    I also sketched the mouse after I finished Monica, and she wanted me to sit still so she could draw my profile. 

    Oh and please say a quick prayer for me: I just found a scholarship due on the 31st, and I have to write the essay for it TOMORROW, and I have no idea what I am going to write about. It is for the American Chesterton Society... and so it has to be Chestertonish. Sigh, I am having difficulty finding a way to go to art school this Fall, and this scholarship could really make all the difference- I just wish I had found it sooner! I write about something that has to do with art, only I have no idea just what exactly. Oh well. Maybe my angel will do it for me!

   

"Idealism is only considering everything in its practical essence." -G.K. Chesterton 

Hehe, I almost feel like saying "St. GKC, pray for me." I mean, he's pretty much the pope after Tolkien isn't he?  Totally kidding of course. Or am I? Hmm.... 

May 15th (I think), 2011: Hand Bones And A Death

So... today was boring for you guys. I for one thought it was nice: I got to talk to both Mimi and Ed today, and I got text from Anne (even though I don't have texting- which makes it quite exciting when it happens anyway). So much socializing! I feel spoiled.
   Ok, so I worked on my anatomy CDs... and I am DONE with the skeleton! Finally. Now we are moving on to the muscles.

    The hand bones. On a messy desk. But, after all, "An empty desk is the sign of an empty mind." I look to use that quite whenever I can.
     So my little sister was watching High School Musical- she loves that movie, and so was quite animated and adorable as she was watching it. If I give that movie credit for anything it's for making my little sis light up, and for coming up with the song that goes "It's hard to believe, that I couldn't see, that you were always there beside me," which I find rather catchy. Anyway, so I was going to sketch her little lit up face, and reached for the little drawing pad inside my adorable new modcloth purse that has roses all over it (I am rather proud of it). But everything inside my purse was soaking wet! I don't know why! It wasn't wet last night, and it's been hanging on the coat rack all day. But yeah, my lovely perfectly sized drawing pad is completely ruined. It didn't even have a chance to grow up. I didn't even get to write my name on it.
     And so I drew this little tribute. And the mouse is here with his trusty hanky. And there's me again, with the cute boots and the awesome hair.

 Rest in peace nameless drawing pad. At least my check book wasn't ruined in my purse flood.
       I would do another Illustration Friday this week, but the topic is "safari", and I think that sounds boring, and has too many warm colors. I am a rain person most of the time, and I do not want to deal with a bunch of yellows and oranges right now.
       How about some Chesterton:

"To be wrong, and to be carefully wrong, that is the definition of decadence." ~GKC: 'A Miscellany of Men.'

May 4th, 2011: DRAW SOMETHING!

   I know I haven't drawn much... and I do have some legit excuses... But, legit or not, I have not been drawing, and my heart is sad. And so this just burst out of me about 10 minutes ago while I was uploading pictures for my website, and listening to get 'er done music.... I will tape this somewhere like over my bed, so maybe I will awake with awareness of my heart's longing ache to draw. It's worth a try anyway. 

     I made it a little larger so you can read the Alice quote. Not sure how it relates to the whole idea, but some how I thought it fit the the sentiment.... 

     Maybe someday my hair will be that long and awesome......

     I want rain boots like those! And a little mouse with a kerchief when I cry. Where is Despereaux when you need him?! 

     You know, if this here mouse keeps making an appearance in my work, I will have to name him! Any ideas?

April 6th, 2011: A Blustery Day and Runaway Umbrella

Ok, so I think umbrella's are cute- especially red runaway umbrellas.... and so I decided to do a quick sketch before bed, and delay practicing piano yet again. I used an adorable child's face from an old children's prose book that's filled with Jessie Willcox Smith illustrations. ( I love that book. SO MANY pretty pictures.) There is an odd shadow in the top left corner that is not on the original, but that I cannot get rid of no matter how many times I scan the picture. I am a little too tired to care much about it right now; I want to go read a book or sleep or something. Anything BUT practice piano.

Hehe. Where is the mouse? See him? I love mice at the moment. Five second cuteness right there (i.e. takes a short to draw, just incase you were confused). How about some Despereaux Tilling quotes then? (What? How did we go from kidnapping umbrella's to Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux? I don't know. I don't plan these things.)

"Once upon a time," he said out loud to the darkness. He said these words because they were the best, the most powerful words that he knew and just the saying of them comforted him." 


"There is nothing sweeter in this sad world than the sound of someone you love calling your name." 


"Despereaux marveled at his own bravery. 
He admired his own defiance. 
And then, reader, he fainted."


 "He was reading from the beginning so that he could get to the end, where the reader was assured that the knight and the fair maiden lived together happily ever after." 


"Love is ridiculous. But love is also wonderful. And powerful. And Despereaux's love for the Princess Pea would prove, in time, to be all of these things: powerful, wonderful, and ridiculous." 


I spose I got a bit carried away there. That is easy to do with such a lovely book. I love Despereaux! Is it insane to be a smidgen bit in love with such a tiny big heart? He has the most adorable over-sized ears! (Look at me gushing over a mouse.)

March 21st, 2011: Another Crying Dragon

This is roughly based on Reepicheep and Eustace in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I always loved this scene, and the idea of a big physically strong dragon being comforted by the little mouse with a big personality. I liked the opposites- which was what I was aiming for with the size of the huge puddle of dragon tears, and the little tiny handkerchief that the mouse offers the poor dragon. How could the little clothe wipe all those tears?

I have also been working on a painting or two as well. So just because I am not posting drawings as I should does not mean I am not busy.
Oh, and I shall be out of town for nearly a week starting Friday, and I do not foresee computer access. But, I do hope to draw while I am gone, so maybe I will have a few things to post when I return.

When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you sometimes find that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out in the open and has other people looking at it. -Winnie the Poor.

Very true, silly bear. Very true.
And it does seem I am very fond of dragons does it not? They are growing on me I must admit.