Quick New Digital Painting: Rainbow Feather Practice

Just posting this quick sketch of a fantastical rainbow feather to let you know am still here and will be posting in more detail again soon.

I did this the other day, purely for practice in different digital watercolour blend modes in ArtRage4, and not intending to post it here at all. Then there was such enthusiasm for it in the Creative Every Day Facebook group that I realised (as ever!) that something done casually, quickly and "just for fun" had actually turned into something prettier than many a product of excessive "trying"...

Why is life like that?

I haven't a clue. But what I do know is that I'll be back soon with something new and different that I think you'll like and find useful. Please just bear with me whilst I get it done...

'Tis the Season For...Cute Woodland Animals and...Labels?

Most organised people, I'm guessing, would not simply draw an autumnal wreath like the one on the left, without a plan. However cute it is.

But confession time comes early in this post: I did.

I didn't have an idea of what would happen to the cute rodents and shiny berries that kept appearing amongst russety leaves. Not an iota.

In the end, it didn't matter. Becuse thinking about autumn made me remember that even I've been baking more. And that organised people probably even bottle carefully-grown produce, and/or put it into jars at this time of year. (In the Northern Hemisphere, anyway).

So if you're looking for packaging for your home-produced goods (or craft-fairs, or anything similar), then look no further. Because it turns out that these little fellows, complete with their nuts, leaves, berries and whatnot, can help you with that.

They'll add a cute *and* professional touch to your produce. (And naturally, you can customise this bags, wine labels and jam or jelly labels to say whatever you want...).

So without further ado, here they are:

 Custom Autumn-Themed Favor Bags/Paper Bags Personal Wine Label: Autumnal/Fall Design Label Custom Jelly Jar Label: Cute Fall-Themed Wreath Label

& 

And what if you're not so into home produce, but still love these little cuties?

Fear not! You can also wish someone a Happy Birthday, or (a few weeks early, but as discussed organisation may be more of a thing for you than me) if you're in the US, Happy Thanksgiving, instead.

Like this...

Greeting Card by BoundingSquirrel

And this:

Greeting Card by BoundingSquirrel

So there you have it. Cute woodland animals to suit your every autumnal need...despite my disorganisation. Enjoy!

A Lily Motif, And The Value of Looking Backwards...

This new  pink "star-gazer" lily motif will probably end up in a pattern, eventually.

But before it does, am letting myself realise that it symbolises a lot more than that.

I almost didn't draw it. Because, even though very inspired by all the flowers in the wonderful garden at Fulham Palace, I kept thinking,

"Oh, but I've drawn a stargazer lily before, and quite recently".

But I went ahead and drew the one on the left anyway (digital watercolour in ArtRage4).

Looking back

Looking back I realised that I had already drawn a similar (though not identical, type of lily this year (on January 6th, if you're interested).

Now, whether six months is a long time these days is a moot point. (With the kind of year 2016 has been for the world so far, January might well feel like a decade ago to you). What really shocked me was just how much difference just six months of practice and persistence seems to have made.

The picture below shows my drawing of a similar type of flower as a, using the same program and tools (ArtRage4 and a graphics pen and drawing tablet) just over six months ago...

The real point

The real point here isn't for me to be proud of the change. (Though I have to admit, it was greater than I had thought it would be, and left me feeling chuffed).

The real point is that most of us are probably moving forward at warp speed in one or more areas of our lives, even if it feels like many, many aspects of them aren't moving at all.

So, whatever your special passion(s)...You know, that thing (or things) you love to do, that you always feel drawn to persist at, even when you really don't understand why...Here's a dare, or a challenge for you, that's very, very likely to boost your creative confidence and enthusiasm, too

Dare yourself to look back just six months (or whatever period in the lifetime of the activity feels right for you). Really allow yourself to realise just how far you've come in a short time, and to celebrate and enjoy that. Then record the moment in any way you like (a blog post was my choice, it doesn't have to be yours...)

And, if you feel so inclined, please *do* share anything you find or discover as you do this in the comments below.

'Til next time...

Easy Pattern Motifs and Seamless Patterns (Two Videos)

A friend asked me to demonstrate how I go about digitally painting motifs, and then making seamless repeating patterns. Thanks to discovering Screen-o-Matic.Com, this has suddenly become much easier than I thought...

So I've done a couple of videos, showing the basics of the process, though not in-depth (which would take hours!).

Here's a quick ArtRage demo, showing (v. fast) inking and painting of a small motif...

And next is the basics for making that motif into a seamless pattern in Patternshop. (With the added bonus that Patternshop is an open-source, free program).

Let me know if you find this useful and or what other digital painting/digital art/design topics you'd like me to cover.

Meet Flamingo: New Digital Illustration

Meet Flamingo, the latest in a series of  illustrations...

To share the picture as it is (with watermark), just right-click and save. For a larger version without the watermark, watch this space...and have a great weekend.

Honeysuckle (New Digital Illustration)

This honeysuckle sketch is quicker than I would have liked. Am working on something new that will be able to tell you about in a few weeks when it all comes together.

For now, just took a break from planning to relax with this.

And by the way, if you're in the US, do you call this a "woodbine" or still honeysuckle? Please do leave a comment if you know!

Daily Illustration #100: Tortoise & Hare (Digital Painting & Final Day of the Daily Illustration Challenge)

It's here. Daily illustration 100. Thought the "tortoise and the hare" was appropriate. not just because it's the end of the challenge, but also because it's been interesting to cultivate patient and slower "tortoise"-like ways and let my "inner, impatient hare" take a back seat.  Plus it's helped me to  cement and build up work in my new style, that now feels like second nature.

Would I do it again? In a heart beat. Would I recommend or help you to do it? You bet! (please let me know in the comments if you would or wouldn't do a 100 day project like this yourself).

And, will I keep drawing? Absolutely.

In fact, as the phrase goes, it feels like I'm, "missing it already".

I'll also still be posting new illustrations and digital paintings regularly, and creating something every day. The only change is that I won't necessarily be posting an illustration onto the blog every day. Which means more time for learning, for developing my own courses and projects for which people have asked or suggested, and for linking and interacting with more people, places and websites than I've had chance to recently.

So this isn't the end. If anything, it's simply the "end of the beginning" of something so joyful (and now so well ingrained) that there will be more.

But right now, it's time to celebrate. And whilst the tortoise in that picture may be delighted with lettuce, it's time to celebrate these hundred days with something a little stronger tonight...

Daily Illustration #98: April Cartoon

This cartoon is for anyone who's ever read one of those women's magazines where the content seems to be several months ahead of the rest of us...

Enjoy, and please share if you'd like.

Daily Illustration #97: Fluffy Bees on Fluffy Catkins

OK, so this is another challenge that may or may not have come off. The other day we saw the fluffiest bumblebees, feasting on fluffy catkins. It was all pollen and cute delightfulness.

Have had about zero time to complete this today, but wanted to do something towards capturing the moment before the feeling faded, even if I come back and readdress it in much more detail (and fluffiness. Did I mention the fluffiness? ;-)
 later.

More tomorrow.

Daily Illustration #96: Zebra

Wanted to draw a zebra weeks ago, but am glad I left it this long, as he was surprisingly tricky. Just like dogs are defined by their fur, this guy is pretty much completely defined by his stripes. (It turns out that even zebra manes and tails are stripey, which I'd never noticed before).

Anyway, this was daily illustration 96. Just four more days to go until the end of this challenge.

(In answer to a query about this, after the 100 days, I'll still be drawing on most days, and posting often. It'll just give me more time for eg, paintings that take longer than a day to complete, and learning new techniques).

More tomorrow.

PS.(April 7th) In relation to the Creative Everyday "Rainbow" theme for April 2016, someone asked about adding a rainbow. This was the thought I had. Didn't like it at first, but it's growiug on me...

What do you think? Do you prefer this zebra plain or "rainbowed."? Please do comment and let me know what you think.

Daily Illustration #95: Spring Has Sprung (New Digital Painting)

This new illustration/digital painting (pen and watercolour effect wash in ArtRage 4) is a simple celebration.

For the first time this year, it's been warm enough to walk through a local nature reserve without a coat, in the sunshine, and notice flowers blooming (like this magnolia).

So it's definitely time for a celebration. Spring has sprung!

Daily Illustration #91: Rose Quote/Sketch

Have been doing a lot of rose drawings-this might even go on for a day or two. May or may not keep the words on this image to the right. What do you think?

Daily Illustration #87: A Cheerful Ditsy Tulip Pattern

Just a simple little tulip pattern today, to cheer things up with a blast of spring.

Daily Illustration/Doodle/Sketch #80: Being Happy

The last thing I expected to doodle today was a person, let alone a cartoony sketch. Never mind, here it is!

Daily Illustration #77: Cherries (New Digital Watercolour)

Just a digital watercolour sketch of cherries today (in ArtRage4 again).

Daily Illustration #69 (& New Digital Painting): "Mad" March Hare

March hares (or hares generally) are apparently, not showing any signs of madness at all. Their leaping and boxing is just part of a mating ritual. (And in a blow for feminism, apparently it's also the females who "box").

But the phrase persists. So this is still a "Mad March Hare", illustration. Besides, the leaping around illustrates pretty much how I feel as am trying to get the new items for sale together. They are coming, folks, I promise!

Update: This hare (and much else besides), is now available if you click here

Daily Illustration #65: Layer Cake!

Mmm. Today's offering is a slice of cake filled with cream. So much less fattening to draw than to consume...:-)

At the moment there's no background as it might become a pattern motif.

Here's to cake!

Daily Illustration #58: Cute Dinosaur Motif

So today's offering is a (hopefully!) cute dinosaur. Not much background because he's intended as a potential pattern motif . Meaning that yes, you'll probably see him again in a pattern.

He came about because of a conversation with The Computer Man, who expressed doubts about whether a dinosaur could be made cute.

I agreed that creating a cute T-Rex could be a challenge, but a cute diplodocus (thought to have been a herbivore) was probably possible.

Hence, here is an attempt at a cute diplodocus. Question is, I succeeded in the challenge by  making him sufficiently cute?

Daily Illustration #55: The Swallows Return

Actually, I haven't seen any swallows yet this year. But within a few weeks, they should be back...


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Daily Illustration #51: Tulip Fever Design

This"Tulip Fever" pattern started out looking very different, based on quite a prim sketch of tulips (below).

But decided I quite liked the end result, including its funky-and-impossible leaf crossovers. What do you think?



















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