I made Rory as a Funko Pop Figure, inspired by the next episode of Nutty Bites that I was editing today. I really wish this could be a real figure now, I’d buy so many of them, make it a reward level for the patreon. I designed this in illustrator using the dimensions of a real figure. You can expect to see this as the album art for the next episode.
Happy first day of Spring, it never feels like Spring on the first day. I painted this Spring Maiden, she is inspired by Jill Scott in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I had seen the show before, and read the book. My friend Matt reminded me of it, and told me all seven episodes were available on youtube, so I have mainlined them. I love this show, and Jill Scott especially. It resonated with me back then and more now. We need more roles like this on TV, and more TV this inspiring. Why no season 2 HBO?
Watercolors on paper.
This Love Your Body piece was originally going to be something else. I was using the reference photo for a fallen angel idea I had, but as I was creating the image, I didn’t want to add the wings, I was enjoying the way this figure was taking shape too much. I drew this with fountain pen ink, Diamine Oxblood, and used water to create the shading. This ink isn’t the best for shading in a watercolor style, but it wasn’t supposed to be what it became. I really like how this came out.
ink on paper.
Apparently today was National Fertility Goddess day, so the best thing I could draw was the Venus of Willendorf. This is one of the earliest pieces of art known to man. It is believed to be a fertility idol, though more and more it is learned about it and speculated about it. Many believe it is a self portrait, the sculptor was also the subject. Likely one of the earliest pieces of art we have was made by a woman. The proportions may be distorted because there wasn’t mirrors or cameras, so from top to bottom the figure shrinks. There is something about this piece that speaks to me, a big part is that my body resembles hers, or how she saw hers. I love the curves and how the light plays on the figure. I tried to capture this with my shading.
Pencil on paper.
I painted this Shamrock feast for Rory in honor of St Patrick’s Day. I didn’t do much this Paddy’s day. I have been growing more and more uneasy with how the holiday has been celebrated. It ends up feeling like green marti gras. where people use it as an excuse to get drunk and do stupid things. It’s not about being Irish, or celebrating the Irish. It’s not about faith. It’s just an excuse to act like frat heads. I like the idea that everyone can be Irish on Paddy’s day. I’m not against going for a pint or more with friends. I am against people doing stupid things and using this holiday (or any other) to excuse their behavior.
From the nonsense of pinching people for not wearing green, to being able to kiss or harass anyone who IS wearing green, to people driving drunk, it grosses me out. If I see one more set of green beads… and I know people reading this are thinking, I like those green beads, they are fun. Fine, I just think it is the tipping point that shows how this holiday has become more of a festival and far from the origins than anything.
Still, as a person who is second generation Irish, Paddy’s day is still special. I toasted, I had a mini celebration with a tall boy of Smithwick’s (which thankfully Tek bought for me and I didn’t have to hear the beer store clerk unable to pronounce it and pushing a hard W, ugh) and baked some soda bread and at the food my grandma loved, steak. She wasn’t a cabbage person, and the only corned beef I really remember eating growing up came with hash.
Watercolor on paper