Author Archives: Cindy D

Could it be an Acrylic Painting post? IT IS.

two painted beasts, omg. 11" x 14" Acrylics

two painted beasts, omg.
11″ x 14″ Acrylics

Wooo, I’ve been painting! And pretty big too, if you keep in mind I’ve been mostly drawing 2.5″ x 3.5″ art card size the last couple years.

Since my last progress shots post, some WordPress update business or another has removed my slideshow function. I may search out another for future posts, but here is a little gallery of shots. You can click on each to enlarge, but tragically you cannot page through them.

So, I was pretty happy at step seven. The next day, after a couple hours working at it (with some frustrations!), what a big difference! I still have to fix up the background. Might just cover the splatters, or might add something new. Or might start the next painting! Here’s a sneak preview:

11" x 14" sketch on canvas board

11″ x 14″ sketch on canvas board

Thanks so much for dropping in! Please, please feel free and encouraged to drop any and all acrylic painting tips in the comments. I’m a bit of a hack at it still, and probably will be for another few years. (But that’ s ok!) :-)

January One, Sketches and Musings

Horace with Friends, 6" x 6" pencil sketch

Horace with Friends, 6″ x 6″ pencil sketch (with lots of smudging, d’oh)

When she saw that Horace was feeling melancholy, Gina called in the troops to cheer him up. Just moments after this image was captured, Horace cheered up immeasurably, grabbed his bright green mandolin, and led them in a rousing rendition of “I Want to Be Your Friend” by 11 Acorn Lane.  Gina beakily provided horn accompaniment, while Oditi (far left) insisted on repeating the  Deedlee-doo, Deedlee-dee bit. They jumped and clapped and spun around.

Happy January 1! The year ahead is filled with promise, opportunity and undreamt surprises. New discoveries, rediscoveries and unwelcome news. Birthdays, lazy Saturdays, and days when the sun will seemingly fail to shine.

But you are here! Thank you for coming. I hope this year holds lots of the good things and less of the bad things, for everyone. More recent sketching below.

Two sketch Dec 26 2015

2 with Birds, 6" x 6" pencil sketches

2 with Birds, 6″ x 6″ pencil sketches

And then there were fish, and things became muddled. pencil sketch, 5" x 7"

And then there were fish, and things became muddled.
pencil sketch, 5″ x 7″

 

 

Poirot and Me

There is a moment in season 8, episode 1* (“Evil Under the Sun”) when David Suchet’s Poirot says, The murder that took place here was the work of a mind that was brilliant. But there is one thing that the killer did not expect, ah? The mind of Hercule Poirot. Es bien? Now is the time for these two minds to meet and the truth at last must come to light.

David Suchet's Hercule Poirot, sketch in progress, 6" x 6"

David Suchet’s Hercule Poirot, sketch in progress, 6″ x 6″

His eyes twinkle, as they often do, and he manages to suppress all but a momentary hint of a smile. The denouement is imminent. The Good Guy shall unmask the killer! after a careful reconstruction of (re-enacted) events. So satisfying. I mean really. Not to mention the charming cast, the British accents (and terrible, hilarious American ones), and a peek into the imperfect lives of the upper crust. (Spoiler: They are crusty. In more ways than one. Gross.) No seriously, even rich people have problems/can be nice/aren’t monsters.(?)

In any case, since the Bad Guys often seem to be winning in the world we actually inhabit, I enjoy the quiet inevitability of the triumphant Belgian.

For this sketch I decided not to look at a static photo, but to watch the show and watch him in action. I got to concentrate on a whole range of expressed emotions, and study all his features from many angles, which I found helpful. It needs work. Or I may start a new one. Either way, expect more Poirot portraiture at this address. :)

I apologize if you are unfamiliar with the show and I totally bored you to death. But you would like it. Who wouldn’t like it?! I am currently watching (the second time through) via Netflix. Thanks for dropping in!

*Agatha Christie’s Poirot

More Fluffy Things! And Still in December!

Thank you so kindly to all you folks who came to visit my neglected blog for my last post! I have been inspired to do another in (comparatively) record time!

Some of the fluffy critters have been colored! Colored pencils and Copics.

Three in Color Each 2.5" x 3.5" Copics, Prismacolors, ink

Three in Color, each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, Prismacolors, ink

Some new ones have been made in larger sizes (gasp!)

Three 5x7 pencil sketches, Dec 2015

Three 5×7 pencil sketches, Dec 2015

I am fond of this fellow. Perhaps it’s the teeth?

IMG

Wulfrid, 7″ x 5″ pencil sketch

Wulfrid is both friendly and adaptable, though he has been known to spit at squirrels. Squirrels on the other side of the sliding glass door. So, lots of spit on the sliding glass door! But otherwise extremely sweet and only sheds ten months of the year.

Thank you for dropping in! it’s nice to have a community of bloggers, even if it means checking in just a few times a year. More is always nice! But as noted ad infinitum, one does not always have the time for the things one wishes to do. (Like more progress slideshows. Maybe next time!) Happy Hannukah and Christmas and Solistice and all the other things!

 

 

Fluffy and Big-Nose Sketching, for December

Hello! Thank you for stopping by my neglected (again!) blog! I also have a neglected Tumblr and Flickr account. Woo! I do try to post new art to Facebook, if you want to see more things.

It is December 13th. I wanted to write a book this year, and though I did not finish a book, the plan to write a book actually did spur some book-related writing! So, now instead of a vague idea for a book, I have 3-5 ideas and some scribbles to go with each!

Meanwhile, I’ve been sketching a variety of big-nose and fluffy creatures, while watching my current favorite show in all of the universe – Agatha Christie’s Poirot. I don’t know if the show has influenced the drawings, but if so, I don’t mind!

Pencil sketches, 2.5" x 3.5", Poirot set one

Pencil sketches, 2.5″ x 3.5″, Poirot set one

Pencil sketches, 2.5" x 3.5", Poirot set two

Pencil sketches, 2.5″ x 3.5″, Poirot set two

Pencil sketches, 2.5" x 3.5", Poirot set three!

Pencil sketches, 2.5″ x 3.5″, Poirot set three (includes one in color from set 1)!

Pencil sketches, 2.5" x 3.5", Poirot set four

Pencil sketches, 2.5″ x 3.5″, Poirot set four

I have this idea to paint some of these characters, likely in acrylics. But as some of you may know, I have had the HARDEST time getting myself to start painting. It’s the whole – tons of supplies to set up, cleaning up, the brushes the mess, oh my! But it could happen. And if it does, I shall post about it here.

Thank you kindly for stopping by! If it’s your first visit, I will try not to wait another six weeks for the next posting! If you’ve been here before and returned, thank you ever so kindly. You’re all the very best. :)

 

Well Hello There, November

Wow, two months since my last post! I believe that is the longest I have gone since the first one back in May, 2011. If you’ve come to visit, welcome! If you’ve come BACK to visit, welcome and thank you!

Most recently, over at the trading site illustratedatcs.com, I’ve been doing tons of Halloween-themed art cards. Some of my faves:

Six Halloween Art Cards Pen, Pencil, Copic markers, gel pen

Six Halloween Art Cards, each 2.5″ x 3.5″
Pen, Pencil, Copic markers, gel pen

House listing:  Quaint fixer-upper in quiet neighborhood with the occasional homicidal ghost.

Also a little bare-breasted ghost, a dragon in mostly pen and pencil, a magic amulet, a scarecrow, and a teeny pumpkin house with some potted candy corn flowers. Sounds like Halloween to me! Mostly cute Halloween, admittedly.

So last time I was hinting about writing a book. I have not forgotten. Or gotten very far. Lots of life goes on while one is trying to, you know, do stuff. On the other hand, I have some new ideas! We’ll have to see how it goes. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy November!

Fancy Animals Make a Return Appearance

4 Fancy Aug 2015

Four Fancy Animals, August 2015
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″, Copics, fine liners, gel pen

From left to right: Sapphire Spaniel, Waldrich Wombat, Timothy Peppercorn, & Koala Princess.

I am just going to come right out and tell you, I have not found, let alone joined, a life drawing class. I did get a new easel and started a 12″ x 16″ canvas. It shall probably be a cat in fancy clothes. I will let you know!

Thanks for dropping in!

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Dr. Who, A Pack of Dogs, and Dick Blick

Sister of Plenitude, Clockwork Droid Bad Wolf Each 2.5" x 3.5" Copics and Prismacolor Pencils

Sister of Plenitude, Clockwork Droid Bad Wolf
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics and Prismacolor Pencils

I turned around and August was mostly gone. I did a variety of oddments this past few weeks. The Dr. Who themed swap, above, as well as a variety of dogs, some in an older style and some experiments with Prismacolor pencils.

3 Dogs Aug 2015

Jimmy Fluffball, Brother Cyril, Hap (with bird)
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, Prismacolor Pencils

I liked these a bit better.

Fennec Fox and Junebug Each 2.5" x 3.5" Prismacolor pencils, Copic markers

Fennec Fox and Junebug
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Prismacolor pencils, Copic markers

And I have made my second appearance in the Dick Blick catalog! I think they found me on Tumblr. Which reminds me, I haven’t posted there in ages. Keeping up is hard.

Blick Aug 2015

Thanks for dropping in! I know these posts are fewer and further between, but I hope to be working just a few fewer hours soon. Which should help. :)

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The Mushrooms Continue to Multiply

Recently I’ve been wondering whether I should stick with mushroom houses and make that my thing and do them for a couple years until I am making the coolest mushroom houses in the land. I do not know the answer but the production of mushroom houses continues unabated. (Also snuck in a pumpkin house a few months early for Halloween.)

Eight Mushroom, One Pumpkin House (click to embiggen)
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, gel pen

Row One: The Jolly Cot, Quilt Topped, Micro Units

Row Two: Blue Fae Cabin, House with Plant Monster, Unintentionally Suggestive Mushroom Home

Row Three: Daisy’s Fixer Upper, Mail Day!, Flower Top

And then I thought, let’s put them all together. Because large groups of tiny things are VERY NEAT. imo. Here’s twenty. (click to embiggen)

Twenty Mushroom Homes, woo!
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics. www.theslumberingherd.com

Thanks for dropping in! A few progress pics below.

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Hello August. I have Plans for you.

Happy August, fine visitor people! I had this plan that for July I would make certain changes and meet certain small goals. Most of that didn’t happen, but some did, and that was far better than none. Now it is August, and I am considering July a test run. I know that is all rather vague! But this is an art blog so here is some recent art. ;)

Skye, Lou Blue, Mistress of Ceremonies
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, gel pen

Two Cat Princesses and One Mushroom Princess
Each 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics, fine liners, gel pen

Faces and more faces. One thing I am looking into this month is life drawing classes, which is I think the right thing to do for my art. Sal Schiebe continues to do life drawing and she already has crazy enviable figure drawing skills. I think it’s time!

Of course, I missed signups for the class at the local art center by two weeks and will have to wait until another starts. I haven’t yet found just a drop-in life drawing class, but I shall continue to search.

Thanks for stopping by! Some progress pics below. :D

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