Dolls, dolls dolls

Dolls + clothes= fun, fun, fun! This is my version of the Idoru doll.

And now...

Let's say that...

Mr and Mrs Jenkins were kind enough to sit for us for a second (and uncle Denny of course, in the background). Mrs Jenkins' friends say her skin has quite lost its fair complexion since meeting Mr Jenkins (as they both are quite fond of gardening). But she doesn't care - and neither does uncle Denny.

Coloured pencils and watercolour on Bristol paper.

+ Music: Does listening to BBC count? Yeah, thought so too. But it's good for your pronunciation.

Jammed up

It is strange how you never come to think of some things when you're younger. When I was small, I hated oatmeal porridge - it was the most dreadful thing a person could think of gulping down his or her throat! However, now that I'm older, I have come to realize something important (which my mother, for some strange reason, never told me): you cannot eat oatmeal porridge if it isn't accompanied with a very big spoonful of jam. Once I had discovered this delightful fact, oatmeal porridge has enlightened my evenings as a very quaint thing to eat. This event has finally persuaded me to believe that you certainly get wiser when you grow older.

It could be pointed out, though, that the fact that oatmeal is one of the cheapest thing to buy somewhat increases its delightfulness but I say that is utter nonsense. People who come up with something like that clearly have no idea how greatly a big spoonful of jam can enhance your culinary treats!

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I recently found a book with Lewis Carroll's letters to children and they turned out to be very nice to read. Of course there is no reason to assume otherwise since I quite like his books also. Moreover, the Finnish translation is espescially nice. A bad translation makes a book quite unreadable. In any case, since I found some of his letters online, I will post the opening letter of the book here.

Christ Church, Oxford,March 8, 1880.

My dear Ada,—

(Isn't that your short name? "Adelaide" is all very well, but you see when one's dreadfully busy one hasn't time to write such long words—particularly when it takes one half an hour to remember how to spell it—and even then one has to go and get a dictionary to see if one has spelt it right, and of course the dictionary is in another room, at the top of a high bookcase—where it has been for months and months, and has got all covered with dust—so one has to get a duster first of all, and nearly choke oneself in dusting it—and when one has made out at last which is dictionary and which is dust, even then there's the job of remembering which end of the alphabet "A" comes—for one feels pretty certain it isn't in the middle—then one has to go and wash one's hands before turning over the leaves—for they've got so thick with dust one hardly knows them by sight—and, as likely as not, the soap is lost, and the jug is empty, and there's no towel, and one has to spend hours and hours in finding things—and perhaps after all one has to go off to the shop to buy a new cake of soap—so, with all this bother, I hope you won't mind my writing it short and saying, "My dear Ada"). You said in your last letter you would like a likeness of me: so here it is, and I hope you will like it—I won't forget to call the next time but one I'm in Wallington.

Your very affectionate friend,

Lewis Carroll.

(the text was taken form here)

Hold on to your heart

Sometimes it's good to know that you have control over who you give you heart to and who you don't.

This is a quick Bristol paper test. It's a lot different from grainy paper but it has its good sides. Takes a while to get used to.

Artsy thoughts

Today I went out and bought myself some proper paper - no more annoyances over paper that wears otu when you use a little colour. I got Bristol paper and some other type of paper designed espescially for comics (ink, marke,r watercolour). I copied yesterday's sketch onto the latter type of paper as I've never used Bristol paper before and it's quite shiny so it might take a little to get used to. One problem still persist, however: how to get black spots an even colour. Maybe the trick si to use ink and a brush because the ink won't dry as quickly so the bigger black areas have an even colour. I hope to scan this one once it's finish (IF it gets finished without me screwing it up :P ).

Since this post is slowly building up to a rant, I'll add some things about drawing that I've learnt over the years:

1) Direction and contrast create shapes. Rigid lines create rigid pictures.

2) Learn your colours - the way you create depth is not always by using just light and dark colours. When you know how to use contrast between warm and cold, you'll get a more vibrant result.

3) If you use colour pencils, go lightly. Erasing can be done but isn't usually a good idea. Plus, good pencils create a waxy result when you use a lot of colour. Once the surface gets waxy, your job is mostly done - no use trying to make any big chances then.

4) colour pencils and black: when you have a waxy, black surface but want to get a deeper shade still, use ink. Take e.g. an ink pen and colour the place where you want more depth and quickly before the ink dries, blend it with a black colour pencil. Works like a charm!

5) When you start to colour your drawing, start with the shading. This is because

a) shadows create shape, if you don't know how the shadow falls, the chances

are that your drawing will end up looking completely flat.

b) you can't get rid of colour easily (as a general rule), so when you start by

lightly defining the darker areas, you'll know where to start building

up the colour.

6) Anyone can learn rules, not all know how to use them.

7) If you want to improve in an efficient way by yourself, get a tablet for drawing - it's a cheap and clean way to experiment and will improve your colouring skills. It allows you to save and go back so you're not so careful about screwing up as you can always get the old version if you've saved it. Programs such a Painter also allow you to get a feel of different tools (watercolour, oils, pastels) without having to buy them.

9) Baking paper is a cheap and handy alternative for copying paper.

10) Colouring is like cooking: good cooks know how to add just the right amount of each spice and ingredient.

And last, but not least, it all does pay off eventually :)

+ Music: Gepe - La enfermedad de los ojos (watch&listen)

Two ladies

Two sketches of ladies who are waiting for their special someone. I know the other one looks like she's just showing off her boobs or something but I think she's fixing her hair. The first one's coloured a bit but you can't really see that here.

I don't know if Egotrippi's music has any extra value to anyone who doesn't know Finnish but they have such nice songs :) Melancholy and at the same time really positive - makes you feel really nice.

+ Music: Egotrippi - Asfaltin pinta (watch&listen)

Redo

I'm more and more convinced that she liked the guy but he didn't like her. Been there, done that... Doesn't feel too nice.

I didn't feel like sleeping so I started colouring this but now I'm not sure if I'll colour it any further... I kinda like the face, though.

+ Music: Scandinavian Music Group - Hölmö rakkaus (listen)

By comparison

Cinderella (who seems to be in a hurry). Maybe it's midnight?

Now, the upper one is some random girl I drew because I wanted to draw summer clothes and the lower one is what I wore today (I think it somewhat looks like me... possibly...). I can now definitely see why people say that you model things after yourself :P I usually wear pigtails because I like sleeping and don't have time to do my hair. I've been pondering, though, if 23 (soon 24)-year-olds can still wear pigtails...? However, people sometimes think I'm 17/15/whatever, so maybe that can act as an excuse for wearing pigtails :P

I found this book at the library, it's really great. Well worth buying for sure. Full of nice stuff!

+ Music: Coldplay - Sparks (listen)

Some more

It was so windy today, I thought the wind would blow my glasses right off my head.

+ Music: Rie Tomosaka - Cappucino (listen)

Two more

1) Do you know how small kids sometimes take things literally? When I was small, I used to think that the kind of fungus you can get on your foot is like mushrooms growing betwene your toes (in finnish it's called jalkasieni, which translates to "foot mushroom". Anyone coudl thinkt he same, right?). My sister thought that a scyscraper (in Finnish pilvenpiirtäjä, "cloud drawer" or something suchlike) was one of those jet planes which leave a white streak trailing behind when they fly. They do draw clouds... :P So this one is a pilvenpiirtäjä.

2) Just another silly vampire... thing.

A spring vampire

A friend drew a vampire so I wanted to do one too. I think it looks a bit flirty... Or like it has just spotted its lunch :P

+ Music: Kill the Young - Origin of Illness (listen)

I've been wondering how you've been...

Yeah... one of those things that could possibly have gone better. Oh, well...

+ Music: Janita - I Miss You (listen)

and willingly mine

I love this song. It has exactly the kind of mood to it that you have sometimes. Or oftentimes. A love sort of a feeling. In any case, I like it. The picture isn't so good, though.

+ Music: Nouvelle Vague - The Killing Moon (listen)