31st January 2015

I did a doodle today to further my attempted self-teaching of watercolour pencils. It turns out that my last attempt (25th January post) was my most popular post on this blog for January! So, to keep all those watercolour pencil enthusiasts happy (or to keep those who like a good giggle happy), I have gone back to the watercolour pad and pencils and embraced the fleeting snowfall and polar winds we had this week and created my penguin family.

Now the beauty with technology is that it can cover up all those insecurities and also inexperience that we might have. So, with the wonderful power of technology manipulation, I present my penguin family in four different finishes... Can you spot the original (unmanipulated) piece?

Which is your favoirite?

30th January 2015

I did a doodle today for the Colour Collective (#colour_collective) who had set the challenge of creating an illustration incorporating the colour Brilliant Violet. Brilliant I thought!

So after some failed attempts at brilliant violet elephants, I headed in a less cutsie direction and went in for the kiss.

I wonder what next week's colour will be?

29th January 2015

I did a doodle today to play with pencil and wax crayon in my quick-sketch re-education. Swans took my fancy today after I saw some beautiful photographs by Oliver Hellowell (look him up). So here's my ten minute scribble...

28th January 2015

I did a doodle today as part of my 'back to basics' sketching, my attempt to remove some bad habits I've picked up with my drawing and to free up my lines. Stifled myself a bit of late which has ended up with a little frustration and some very odd looking animals!

So today, with the aid of my 'how to sketch' library book, I focused on pencil lines and lead softness. Quick fire doodle sketches of a random selection of things. Was actually a very fun ten minutes... Looking forward to twenty minutes tomorrow.

27th January 2015

I did a doodle today because I have to make a decision, one I have been floundering and fussing over for the past few days. I have three different page layout designs for my new book and cannot decide which is the best, ahhhhhhhgggggggg it's driving me bonkers. I am normally so decisive and certain about these things, but something has been making me flit to other work and other distractions, just to avoid this quite critical task... I cannot complete the illustrations until I make the decision!

Well enough's enough, no more head-in-the-sand, I have to decide. It's crunch time...

26th January 2015

I did a doodle today because I'm feeling a little silly and also suffering from ongoing-brunchitis. Yes, I am constantly getting the major hungers at about 10.30/11am every single day. I have breakfast and always plan on having lunch, but I can't seem to stop that mid to late morning craving for egg butties or crispy bacon bagels... all of which play havic with a gluten-free diet. So, to satisfy my braunch craving, I did a brunch doodle (and sorry about the pun!).

The little hairy hungry fella in the doodle is also going to make a guest appearance in my next children's book.

25th January 2015

I did a doodle today and think I can safely say I have a long way to go before I master watercolour pencils! But in the true spirit of trying new things, I scribbled and splodged and smudged and smeared with great enthusiasm. The result? Well, I am sure they at least look like a baby and girl but beyond that I think it may be back to the drawing board! Fun and games.