art

New Goal

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I was at a social gathering last week when someone mistook a filtered photo for something that I had drawn. While complimentary it tweaked that perfectionist side of me that looks at what I currently do when input pen to paper.

Before and After

Now, the second image is something I’m a lot closer to these days since I started using brush pens and trying some new things in the sketch book. It reminds me of some of Tim Sale’s artwork but not, perhaps, as clean with some of the lines.

The nearest I’ve got so far

So my new challenge to myself is to practice until I can create something similar freehand, just to prove to myself I can.

Shouldn’t be too difficult to make that leap from where I am – but then doing it consistently whole cloth from imagination rather than from a reference will be the step that will make me happier.

A Delivery

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A while back I took part in an impromptu competition in one of the cosplay groups I frequent. The challenge was to draw or represent the various admins of that group; so I put together a composite drawing of various cosplay elements they were known by. And then I was deemed to have won.

Well, despite the best efforts of various couriers to fail to deliver it, my prize arrived yesterday at one of my libraries. Admittedly they abandoned it outside the back door, but technology is a wonderful thing, and I was able to get a message to staff at that library to check for it and bring it inside.

Today I got my hands on it.

I have a new project to work on.

Maps and Pens and Rock and Roll

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My current methods of zoning out and calming down continue to mostly be drawing and making maps. I bought a book of gridded paper off Amazon recently, and have started filling pages with designs that I may never end up using, but that are still an outlet that allow me to work out the story of their use and history.

The sketchbook also continues to grow full of designs, and I’m posting things mostly to Instagram as I go to share with the world. I’m very much enjoying the wider availability of pigment ink and fine pens for the more consistent finishes they offer.

Some of them I’ve started adapting using the map building sites and software so versions of some of these locations may appear, but then again maybe not – that’ll depend on which way the stories go.

It’s the Weekend! Almost!

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Time to relax…oh, wait… as you were…

On the plus side, although I’m working tomorrow, I have already prepped enough material for a couple of game sessions so I won’t be too anxious on that front this week.

Oh, and I have of course been doing some more doodling – I’m trying some new things in character poses and composition along with stylised light and dark. I’m not aiming for anything I’m particular, but I am pleased with the results:

Odds and Ends

Migraines and Musings

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Yesterday was lost to a migraine, today in scrambling to cover for an error in rota planning – so that was tiring. I have at least been creative on the drawing front in the evenings

The first picture is my post-migraime brain buzzing, the second a competition entry for a friend’s cosplay group that composites the cosplays of all the moderators of that group.

On a musing front, I have had two members confirmed of my new team of library managers. Three more need to be found in the next round of recruitment interviews.

In the meantime I’m getting drawn into wider project conversations and needing to step up into the role early while the current boss is on holiday – so far so good…

Low Day

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I’ve been rough today, but it’s only been a blip at its worst point. There was nothing in particular that sparked it; I think the stresses of the last few weeks and being a carer while Lady M recuperates just hit saturation point.

As a result instead of things sliding like water off a duck’s back, I sank for a while. Cuddles and reassurance from Lady M helped hugely. Then she put the xbox controller in my hand and told me to shoot things in Destiny for a few hours – and that helped too. I’m a simple soul sometimes.

Other people on social media and via messaging also helped lift my spirits, as did some TV shows, and some graphics stuff that has ended up in both the RedBubble store and on Amazon as well. Links are in the menu above for each.

I’m still feeling a bit grey and subdued, but it’s not as heavy, grey, and brain fogged so, yay?

Art Stuff

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I noticed today that I’ve been bumped up a tier in Amazon Merch which increases the number of designs I can sell from 10 to 25. I’ve been focused on Raglan tshirt designs there for the clarity they give my line art pieces so most things will go up in that format, and then a few as more general tshirts.

To find my things, search for Ludd Clothing as a brand. The latest piece as of the time of writing is based off a sketchpad piece I’ve had bubbling away recently, and myr s asked specifically to see it appear on a shirt. What better way to celebrate!

Well, by adding more things to the RedBubble site (see the site menu above for that link at any time)

Unexpected Sale

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I sold my first original yesterday – I was on a Discord server chatting to people and posted a recent sketch I’d done to illustrate to the channel the sort of things I do. This led to an enquiry about sales, so I linked to my RedBubble site, assuming they might find something they liked up there. Instead I got a direct message asking to buy the original sketch.

This was an absolute first. I’ve sold tshirts and some artboard prints through the shop, but a physical artifact? I had to make sure they understood that this was in an ordinary notebook, and posted a picture with my fingers and the rest of the page for scale. This was deemed acceptable, and a price was agreed.

Me, worried?

So I bought a card on the way home to protect the piece of paper, and this morning sent my first physical sale off to its new home by recorded delivery.

I’m somewhat blown away. It’s one thing to hear people admire the things I scribble, but for someone to put their hand in their pocket for something I’ve made – well that’s kicked my imposter syndrome between the legs and no mistake.

I may even have included a free mini addition on the card, mostly because getting me to stop drawing is the hard part…

At last, the weekend

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It’s Saturday night, I’ve been working, and I’ve had counselling. I think I can stop now. At least, I would if not for all the Diwali fireworks that are making me flinch.

So, here’s some more digital art from the archives. I’m going to put the kettle on and listen to something loud enough to drown out the explosions