Fabulous lazy sketchy evening

Finally got to scan this, which was made several weeks ago during a lovely lazy drawing evening with an old friend visiting me here in Berlin (miss you, M!).

I used a photograph for this as a reference which I found on tumblr by googling "fabulous" or something along these lines (obviously). Unfortunately, I lost the link and can't find it again, so if you recognize this please let me know so I can properly source it! Thanks! ♥

Black and white and everything in between

I'm really sorry for playing possum for such a long while. I've been up to a lot (again - life has a tendency to get in the way, hasn't it?). Like, starting to play roller derby (now that's some huge euphemism - but more on that in a later post, possibly in form of a comic). Or learning how to develop my own negatives and make prints (b/w). I love it (and the chemistry geek in me does so even more)! Here is my very first "handmade" photo:

It kinda feels like a terrible blasphemy to upload a scan of an analog, manually developed photo on my blog...

There are definitely some "errors" and things I'd have done differently that I see now, but on the whole I really like it. This is, by the way, the beautiful owner of a neat little Berlin based shop called Lashopp (she's still working on her online shop I believe, but there's also some stuff on her dawanda, if you're interested).

Also, my beloved favorite sister sweetheart sent me a real ...err... Japanese ink stone (?? what is the correct name of that stuff?). Here's my first attempt of using it (you may recognize the subject ;) This quick sketch was done earlier already from the first tiny contact print):

I can't seem to get a really dark black from it though. Not sure if I'm even supposed to. Anyone got some experience with this kind of ink?

CoE and sketches

I know it's been a long time since my last post. That's usually a good sign (for RL-me - I've been doing lots of stuff: visiting my hometown and seeing family and friends, finding new great friends in Berlin and spending time with them, adopting two cute little rats to save them from going to the shelter, studying Korean, end-of-the-year craziness at work...) but I do miss having time to draw. I guess I need to improve on making priorities...

Here's two quick sketches I did while I was in Graz. I'd really like to make a painting based on the first one...

and a poster based on this:

Tata for now. Hope my next post won't take that long...

Comics and kisses

Ladies having a lovely time together (inspired by Ross Campbell's style):

And some girly queer fanart? 

(Kate Kane and Usagi Tsukino if you can't tell. Harrr. :) )

Eyeliner accident

Let me introduce to you one of my favorite heroines of comics: Kate Leth (also known as KateorDie). This pretty lady isn't only a highly talented artist. She also inspired me to purchase an eyeliner for the very first time in my life.

Unfortunately, it ended like this:

I'm serious! I had eyeliner in my eye and on my nose! I was so desperate that I searched for youtube tutorials. It looks so easy when they do it in front of the camera. I mean, there's no hope for me ever being able to hold my one eye so relaxedly closed to draw an even line on its lid. Without a (un)healthy helping of botox that is. Am I missing a gene? Oh man. How? How????!?

The jeans dilemma

And this is why I hate shopping for pants. And why when I do find a fitting pair I wear it till the bitter end when it falls from my ass in rags.

(bigger view on flicker *clickclick*)

I was going to say, I'm not made to fit into jeans. But really the thing is: jeans are not made to fit my behind and my waist at the same time. Be cursed, jeans industry!
It's time for spring and skirt season.

Nighttime TV doodling

I'm really no good at multitasking in general but I can't watch TV shows without doodling around. These were done during some episodes of Big Bang Theory.

Quick life sketches with the help of Posemaniacs:

The yummy licorice liquor on our table:

Two girls and a cat.

Silly doodles... (Moleskine sketchbooks and watercolor - ackh!)

I ♥ riot

This is (A) a love letter to all the awesome women* on this planet (heavily inspired by Wet Moon btw, if you couldn't tell) and (B) a little watercolor sketch not completely unrelated to a (longer-term) comic project I'm planning:

[Edit: I find it rather unbelievable but this picture apparently was rated too sexy (or something?) to be uploaded on imageshack (it was removed and I had to upload it directly on blogger). I mean, come on, she's wearing underwear. Most facebook profile pictures are probably more explicit than this...]

Aaahand, completely unrelated: the following is a goodbye card for one of my flatmates who'll leave us tomorrow to study in Augsburg. I drew it with the crayons he gave me for my birthday. Good luck, Jin! May there be shitloads of crazy fun awaiting you in Augsburg - and wherever else life will carry you! And don't you dare forget your freaky flatmates in Berlin.

Measurements for your successful wintertime survival

The days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder, and the world beyond my blanket is getting significantly less attractive. Winter is coming, I'm afraid. The time of the year when I miss having a bath tub. Only pathological amounts of tea and granny's knitted socks can help. And this:

Oh, and did I mention mulled wine? Yeah. Mulled wine.

What is your strategy to convince your neurotransmitters that there's still enough light to live a happy life?

Halloween costumes for women on a budget

Happy almost-Halloween everyone! Lots of people have noticed the limited range of non-humiliating costumes for ladies and are expressing their opinions artistically. Among my favorites are, for example, these and these.

Seriously, how many of these have to be drawn until the female (identified) half of the world gets some reasonable (and fun) options?

Today, I'm gonna be a bwitch...

... and tomorrow, I don't know yet. Because sometimes being a princess just gets too boring.


Yet another Drawing Lab exercise: A portrait of my Mum "Modigliani-style" (@Satia: be prepared! ;D). I think it actually really looks a bit like her. Don't tell her I said that.


This is a quick blind contour of my parents sitting outside on the terrace. Mum usually tries not to show it too much, but I think she's often a bit offended by these...


Aaand another one: A dog. Obviously.

Acrylic waste and memories

Saving some leftover globs of acrylics - from palette into sketchbook (plus err... random creepy cyborg lady?).


Also, I found this old scribble in one of my (hundredgazillion) old sketchbooks. Easy to date - I supervised the LabVIEW lab in January 2010 (everyday the same tutorial just with another group of students... after a while that makes you dream in "G"). ;)

The holy charm of ecstatic danced through nights...

I sketched this out months ago but finally got myself to add some color (which took about three minutes - goddamn laziness!).


And here comes... fanart!

Transcription/Translation:

VIRGINIA PAINE
has been enchanting me
with her comics for a while already.

...but I didn't know
until recently
that she also makes magic talismans.

*time-honored holy charm of
ecstatic danced through nights
and awesome surprise sex*

Two weeks ago, I treated myself to some goodies from fantastic Virginia Paine's shop. I've definitely got a new favorite necklace! I've been a huge fan of her diary comics for quite a while but didn't know she also crafts magicked jewelry (she makes supercute wallets and skirts, too)...

Oh, in case you're wondering what that ugly blotchy stuff (on the left) is: it's proof that (copious amounts of) india ink isn't a desirable option for Moleskine sketchbook paper.

Breaking the ice

Now that I'm finished with the Sketchbook Project, I finally started with the Moleskine sketchbook (real sketchbook, not shitty flimsy notebook in disguise) I treated myself to some time ago. Just couldn't resist when I walked past it in the bookstore. I always have to pull myself together not to hoard too many at a time - serious case of sketchbook squirrel disease (includes: finding sketchbooks you never knew you bought). Also, I'm one of those who are ridiculously afraid of "the first page". Especially if it's such an expensive one. Usually the best: start with a bad drawing. Breaks the ice. :)


I guess I now know why they have a dedicated watercolor sketchbook. I've never seen paper behave in such a weird way after getting in contact with a little bit of water. Sepia ink isn't much better either. So, uh, don't try this at home, kids.

Sketchbook Project - it will be done, I swear!

Of course, I could have just sent it in with a few empty pages, but what are all-nighters for if not for a good sketchy cause?

Cover:

"First" page:
(people can - and hopefully will - insert there own "screens" into the transparent pocket!)

Back:

And the cover as a whole:

If you want more detail, just click the images and you'll be beamed to my flickr (there's a dedicated set for my Sketchbook Project, in case you haven't noticed!).
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go to bed... wait, no. Work. Knew there was something else. Dang.

Sketchbook Project - almost there!

I'm not so very happy with these pages, but anyway. Time is short. It's almost done!


There are two things I want to say about this:
1) The most realistic aspect of this sketch is probably the size of the pencils - turquoise and violet-blue have been among my all-time favorites since kindergarten.
2) Straight lines are devil's work! Seriously. I'm just no good at straight-lined objects. (Maybe a reason why I'm not too fond of drawing buildings...)

Aaaand the last page (aka house advertising):


Not entirely there yet, though. I still have the very first page (yeah, totally copped out and left it empty till now) and the cover.

Sketchbook Project - let go

Let go and open up for something better!



If it was always so easy (and fast!).

An examplary dialogue:

Dear Fate, please hurry up with the new good stuff!
Dear E*phi, will you please work on your patience already!

Sketchbook Project - sober fun and curiosity

Lesson number one: Always have your good ol' permanent marker with you!


Lesson number two: Nosy people get to see more of the world!


This was a bit difficult to scan (I didn't want to fold and squish it too much).
FYI: The embroidery on her panties says "How DARE you?".

You see, my Sketchbook really is interactive and (most of all) very educational.

Oh, and I'd like to emphasize that, in real life, looking up somebody's panties is a total NO-NO unless they unambiguously ask you to. Seriously. Consent for the win, baby!

Sketchbook Project - relaxingly stupid

These are very sketchy, indeed (no pun intended). But it's called The Sketchbook Project for a reason, isn't it?

Sometimes I must stop myself from working on a picture. Sometimes because the paper starts to dissolve.

((clicky-beam yourself to flickr to actually be able to read this!))

We have a saying that the first day of the new year will set the theme for the rest of it. If that's true, I'll spend 2011 drawing comics and eating loads of chocolate. Not too bad, actually. (Although, my boss/supervisor Mr G won't be impressed.)