DS_029

One of the cool features of Colours! - the wonderful free paint program for the Nintendo DS - is the ability to play back the painting process. This is great for learning as you can watch the way other people work and pick up a few tricks. This image could do with a little more thaught and brush economy, as the playback will show, but I do love a good scribble so I guess it's just a case of finding the middle ground.

Anyway, if you want to watch the process of this particular speedpaint you can do so here by scrolling to the bottom of the page. You can also view my older efforts and other users stuff by navigating in the usual formal manner.

DS_028

Trees... Again!

Although I'm not a tree hugger, I do have some sort of rapport with the fellows. I can't see myself ever getting all "lovey-dovey" with them, but I do tend to find myself passing by one I've grown up with and making some sort of mental note - kinda like a "alright mate, how you doing" but without actually saying or thinking it. What the hell is that?!

I wonder if there's a name or category for that kind of brain activity?

Anyway, here's a speedpaint of a tree that I have known for some time. It's been a good 15 years since I walked up to it's trunk, so I found myself gazing up and realising just how much it has grown.

Not Impressed!

My cat is not impressed with my painting skills. :(

Breaktime Biro Scribbles

In between working and eating apples (Granny Smiths are my favorite) I've managed to cobble together a page of quick biro sketches. I'm not sure I like the medium, but sketching in ink may (eventually) force me to think more about the marks I make - preferably before I make them.

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After Watteau

I had a little fun with this quick study of a Jean-Antoine Watteau painting. No disrespect, sir.

Black & White Films II

After scanning this page I realised that the man on the right might be mistaken for being a bit of a letch (see eyeline). I assure you he is quite innocent as the two were standing much further apart in the film scene.

Black & White Films

As a kid I used to like watching old B&W films on a Sunday afternoon (if I wasn't leaping around outside in an attempt to add to my scab collection), and although I haven't indulged in this ritual for quite a few years - I can barely stand to watch any television nowadays - I do slap the odd DVD on from time to time.

It's refreshing to watch films in which the heroes are not so annoyingly handsome and the femme fatales manage to ooze sexuality without running around in their skimpies.

Faces

More sloppy work, but at least I'm putting pencil to paper. :-)

Dribbles

Here's the product of a tired mind at work a few days ago. I spent the whole day making the odd mark here and there when I had a few minutes. A very soppy mess, but worth posting as a note to self: You shouldn't have bothered!

At least it was the start of a (hopefully) more constructive period. I have managd to fill a few more pages in my sketchbook, so I will be parceling them out in an attempt to keep ahead and so, have more regular updates after the dry spell of late.

Sperm Whales vs Mobile Phones

I hate my mobile phone - I really do. I hate all mobile phones. I hated the fact I was considered socially impotent when I didn't have one and all my friends and family did. I hate how, now I do have one, my friends seem to think I suddenly need random (but annoyingly constant) updates on their daily life... "I've just had a mushroom omelette and now I'm sitting down to watch a documentary on sperm whales!" Oh really. Well I've just been trying to use my free time more constructively, but now (thanks to your unnecessary update) I find myself in the shed with a hammer and several rusty nails.

Sperm whales, indeed!

I hate mobile phones becouse my friend and I could have had a nice conversation about sperm whales this evening - over a few beers. He could have introduced the topic during the course of the conversation and everything would have been nice and pleasant. I would have come home knowing some very interesting facts about the beasts. But no... I already know too much about his week - and many others who seem to be on my "contacts" list.

Gone are the days of catching up over a few beers at the weekend. I don't need to know about the funny incidents at work... You already told me! I don't need to see what state your kitchen was in when the kids went wild... I got's da picture! I don't need to know about how your lawn mower burst into flames... You sent me a freakin' video! And I certainly don't want to hear any more about bloody sperm whales. I used to love their shape and how they attracted barnicles, but now I don't give a hoot about them. I hate my mobile phone - and I hate sperm whales!

So, in the spirit of retaliation, here's a beautiful image of a whale shark. It's not even a bloody mammal, you fool. This'll teach you to spam text to me about filthy whales!


Note: For those that may scream about the lack of a "sketch" - or even a speedpaint in this blog update, I will point out that I did happen to cover my own back (see blog sub-title regarding "odd random thaught"). I do, however, have sketches to post now that my overtime frenzy is at an end. I shall commence scanning operations tomorrow.