EDM Challenge 8

Hello there Peeps.

Well as I write this, I have playing in the background, on itunes, my favourite track from the "Isle of Wonder" Olympic opening ceremony CD - And I Will Kiss. The one with all the drumming during the scenes of the depiction of the industrial revolution. My favourite part! One word for it. Brilliant!

However, that's by the by, I'm actually here to post my next entry for the EDM Challenge...

...to draw your watch or any other jewellery you own.

Another, quick scrawl, as I was beginning to realise that the gap between drawings was growing longer apart and I'd better get on with it to keep the momentum up. Crafting is still suffering from my poor time management, as I still haven't made anything this week. But I thought I could at least sit down for a few minutes and draw a watch. Yet another "grey" object. My watercolour set is beginning to look mostly untouched apart from the grey which is about half the size now.

Tomorrow I have a visiting Sister-in-Law which promises to be a riot and the day after I'm off visiting somewhere new (fingers crossed) for the day. However, I am determined to fit crafting in at some point before the weekend's over and perhaps another sketch?

Hope you all have a fun weekend planned.

Pxx

EDM Challenge 7

Yes, another drawing for the EDM Challenge. And don't worry if you're sick of seeing them, I will be posting some crafts eventually. It's just that I haven't sat down and made any cards or tags or the such like recently.

However, another seemingly easy but turns out not to be the case subject matter, this time is...

...to draw a bottle, jar or tin from the kitchen.

I've drawn glass before but I normally shy away from it because I need to work on the skill of making an object look as if it's transparent. There's a knack to it and I haven't quite figured out how to within a sketch format. When deploying cross hatching & watercolours, solid objects are far easier.

So here you go. A glass jar with a cork top, from the kitchen. It's one which holds our granular sugar. And well, nothing is quite as simple in our food cupboards, so of course you'll find a couple of used vanilla pods in there too, creating a subtle flavouring. Although, you'd think, with my sweet tooth, that this jar would require frequent top ups, it's not so. It's normally reserved for visiting tea drinkers who like to add a spoon or two of sugar to their brew. Neither Nick nor I add any extra sweetness to our daily cuppas, so it sits upon a shelf, gathering, well not exactly dust, but you know what I mean.

Well the weekend awaits, things to do, places to be, so I'll sign off hoping you all have a great couple of days. And, cross fingers, I'll hopefully find some time to play with paper, paints and ink.

Pxx

EDM Challenge 6

Okay, I missed a day! But thankfully this isn't a time sensitive challenge. I don't have to do them everyday. However, it is good for me to attempt to discipline myself and try to keep up the momentum. It's just that (get ready for the excuses) I ran out of time etc. etc. etc.

Anyhow, I nearly talked myself out of it today too, so I'm more surprised than anyone that I have another EDM Challenge to share. I'm now up to number 6...

...a childhood toy. An easy subject to choose as I only have the one. My ancient teddy. I've kept him all these years because he was bought on the day I was born and I'm a tad sentimental about the fact he's as old as I am. He's just about as worn, tatty and frayed as I am too.

Anyways, I think I'm going to have to make something soon. With all this drawing, I haven't attacked any paper with scissors or glue, nor have I been within sniffing distance of a stamp, inking pad or handmade flower. And I can see all those expensive punches I own, sitting in a box to the right of me, quietly gathering a layer of dust.

And for those who asked...the Coq was delicious! Good job too, as the quantity was a little bit more than expected and tonight we'll be tucking into it for the fourth night in a row (and thankfully the last). No meat is ever discarded in this household where possible (as in, if it hasn't gotten to the point of becoming a health hazard). Nick is of the opinion that if an animal died to provide the food we bought, it should never be wasted. It messes up my weekly meal plans but I know he's right.

Besides, how can you ever tire of boiled chicken!!!!

(& thankfully a salmon has given it's life for tomorrow!)

Enjoy the rest of your week folks.

Pxx

EDM Challenge 5

A bit hurried this one today. I didn't have a lot of time but I wanted to keep the momentum going. So EDM Challenge number 5 is...

...to draw my bed. Not that there's a lot in it to draw. Okay, if I put more time into it, I could have created something with a lot more detail and careful cross hatching but an outline and a wash of colour was all I had time for. It's either that or we go without dinner tonight and seriously, I am drooling at the smells wafting up from the kitchen. Coq au Vin which will be served with garlic mushrooms & green beans, which has been freshly cooked today, from scratch.

MMMmmmmmm

Pxx

EDM Challenge 4 - An Update

Okay, sorry, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't just do a bad sketch and leave it at that. The instant I pressed the "publish" button on here, I turned a funny grey colour and a panicky feeling came over me.

I grabbed my art supplies again, opened up my sketchpad at the next page and went for a second attempt.

Not perfect (they never will be in my eyes) but a heck of a lot better than the last attempt. I can now mop my fevered brow and my panic-stricken heart can stop racing away trying to beat it's way out of my chest.

Looks as if I still have to work on my creative insecurities haha.

Px

EDM Challenge 4 - Getting Too Cocky

Hmm, this is what happens when I start to be a little cocky and over sure of myself.

The fourth EDM Challenge is to draw your mug or cup. Couldn't be easier, I thought to myself. I've drawn plenty of cylinders and mugs before. I can do it in my sleep. So, in order to challenge myself, I plonked my lovely Villeroy & Boch mug in front of me.

If you know this company and their products, you'll be aware of their beautiful trademark curves. Their cups and mugs, in particular, have a wonderfully sensuous, swirled lip culminating with a twist to form the handle.

However, as you can see, I went completely off. The perspective is out, the shading is awful and it all results in quite a mess. A kind, supportive art teacher would probably give it a D-. Normally I hide/destroy my mistakes. I would usually tear it up and start again. But there's a voice in my head urging me to be more honest. To keep sharing these sketches on here, even when they go wrong.

Don't worry, I'm not beating myself up. I don't know of a single designer, artist or illustrator who hasn't had an off day, or produced something completely awful. Besides, I have drawn this cup before, a couple of times and both attempts were far better than this.

So the lesson to myself here is that the next time I look at a challenge and think I'm going to be able to walk it blindfolded, I need to kick myself up the backside and focus better on what is in front of me.

Right, time to pick myself up, dust myself off and climb back onto the horse. I'm off to attempt the next sketch.

Px

EDM Challenge 2

First of all, thank you everyone, for all your kind comments, especially regarding my newest profile picture. If only someone had sneakily taken a photograph or video of how it came about, it would certainly make you look at the result in a whole new light haha. Believe me, it's not easy acting like a diva when you're the only one around, setting up a tripod to take your own photo. Temporarily, I found myself transforming into Jekyll & Hyde and being the only one to witness it!

It's been a busy morning so far. I began the day with a lovely online chat with two crafting buddies from across the pond. An unexpected and delightful surprise. They were a tonic first thing in the morning. Great to have a few laughs before I'd even thought about breakfast. Then it was off for the weekly food shop (my life is so glamourous) before fitting in a smidgeon of work.

Again, during what I will laughably call my lunch break, I dug out my sketchbook and cracked on with the second EDM Challenge...

...to draw a desk lamp. The nearest I have to a desk lamp, in our house, are the two identical ones either side of the bed, purchased from IKEA and which are perfect for providing the lighting for nighttime reading.

Two drawings in two days????? I can hardly believe it. Can I keep up the momentum??? 


I'm still not happy with the written scribble but it's a marked improvement on yesterday. 


I've nothing planned, as of yet, for the weekend. Rare, I know. So, I may even find myself crafting away like a madman. Or I may just drag a duvet down onto the sofa, whip up a batch of popcorn and have my very own mini filmfest. I know there's something important going on in the UK this weekend but for now it seems to have slipped my mind and will probably keep "slipping" for the next two weeks.

Until next time.

Pxx