in cold blood

Euro kitty

2012-01-24T00:45:00.000+11:00

Hi internet! Guess what, I'm going to Europe!
May/June this year I'll be doing my dream holiday and attending both Wave Gotik Treffen and Defqon1. I am SO excited. So if anyone reading is from Germany, Paris, London or Amsterdam, hit me up, I'd love to meet you.

Also here is a kitty girl in progress.

a serious dancing video

2012-01-16T20:37:00.000+11:00

So I've spent my last week teaching myself how to edit videos. It's hard work, trying to figure out why sometimes my programs will work with mp4s and other times won't. Turns out it's just easier to avoid the situation and get a free converter for a friendlier format. But I will learn. We take being alternative very seriously here at Angel HQ. Featured in this video are my awesome friend MissMachines (in pink/white), Lycanthopica my housemate and myself (in green). I have a little obsession with watching industrial dancing videos on YouTube. I really love serious industrial dancers, and many hours are wasted watching them. But we here in Sydney do not take goth seriously, we like to have fun. So it made sense to us that if we wanted to make a dancing video, it's have to be a parody. I do plan on making more silly videos like this.

This same day MissMachines and I did a black and white themed photoshoot, but I'll show pics of that once they've finished being edited. I can't rush Lench (there's already a few up on his flickr).

Resolutions for 2012

2012-01-02T21:16:00.000+11:00

New year resolutions:
1: more art!
The last 2 years this has been dwindling off. It's not that I don't enjoy it anymore, it's more that I've been distracted, and been putting social higher on my list of priorities. Time to try and even up things again. I have been hating it when people tell me I'm good at this when I haven't had anything worth while to show from the last year or so. So fixing that.

2: get skinny
I've already knocked myself down a size in the last few months, so this isn't just the usual resolution that gets forgotten. I've already started. I already know it's possible. So just get to it.

3: drink less
Along with all that party I do, there is a high alcohol tolerance. It's expensive! I know I don't need to drink to have fun when I go out, so why do I feel the need? Usually it's because I just like to have something in my hands. Once upon a time that was a pencil for drawing anywhere, recently it's been a vodka, or a cider.

4: Go somewhere!
I want to go to Europe. Badly. Hopefully the money I save by not drinking can help me save. I want to go to London, I want to go to a few music festivals in the Netherlands and goth festivals in Germany. So once I get back into the art I could even try making money off that to help me get there.

Blog I am back.

sleepy sketches

2011-11-07T22:43:00.000+11:00

I am still doing the monthly portrait for Limelight magazine. The other month for the first time I got to do someone I actually had heard of. Quentin Bryce, the governor general. So yay, someone important and cultured saw my art. Not that it matters.
I've been sketching a bit more on the train to and from work. But I usually fall asleep with the pacer in my hand. I always magically wake up a station or 2 before I need to, no idea how my body manages it. I find I'm far more interested in fashion than my art these days. Perfecting the perfect outfits, making and finding the accessories to match. If only I could somehow consider that an art.

Scary movies

2011-10-05T23:56:00.000+11:00

I am not dead! I swear. I've been focusing my creative energies on other things. And working (today I made a mummy costume ^_^). Machete girl was hectic, but I looks like they don't need me anymore, which I am kind of happy for, for various reasons I shouldn't publicize. Good luck to them in the future.
Here's a work in progress I've been working on while watching scary movies.

No more excuses

2011-09-19T16:39:00.000+10:00

Well DEFQON1 was amazing, but I guess I can't use that as an excuse for lack of artwork anymore. And seeing as I'm pretty much settles into the new place after a month, that's no excuse either. Time to start getting back into the swing of things and mixing things up! My artwork looked great on the White stage, everyone kept comments. Thanks to everyone that came and for all the lovely words. The Shallow team did such a great job with the stage, it's always great to see industrial music getting out there.

Shallow Nation White stage!!!

2011-08-28T17:33:00.000+10:00

So Defqon1, Australia's biggest hard dance music festival had a competition to run your own stage. All my buddies at Shallow Nation won it. So we get to expose cyber and industrial to the masses and prove we aren't a bunch of gothy try-hards. Awesome! I'm doing some sweet artwork for the stage and entrance. I like it when cyber goth/cyber ravers and industrial gets noticed XD

new place

2011-08-22T20:37:00.000+10:00

Oh readers, I've been neglecting you, but alot has happened in the last month. It's been stress central as I've had to rather suddenly had to move house. But with a new house comes new beginnings, and oh what new beginnings they shall be. I had been looking for the perfect reason to overhaul my life, and a new house is certainly a great way to go about it. With new place I have more space and MUCH better living conditions and cleanliness (totally the most exciting bit). I plan to actually get my ass into gear and get some art happening again now that I have the space to do it and a crafty room mate to keep me encouraged.

I've also been helping out on Machete Girl magazine. The first issue that I've partially art directed is out now. It still has a long way to go art-wise. But we still need to work on our work flow.

store update

2011-07-27T00:45:00.001+10:00

Updated my Redbubble shop to include a loli-pede T-shirt ('cause I know you are all just dieing to have one) as well as have a few art prints.
Also stress stress stress life!

Loli-pede

2011-07-12T00:37:00.000+10:00

SMASH is coming up next weekend. Like any con, I'm super excited. I'd really like to sell a bit at this one too, because I want to take a break from them next year. We do conventions for the love, but it's very difficult to make money. I do enjoy vending at these events though, so I'll probably sit on other people's tables & help them out in future. But that could change come con season next year I guess. maybe I'll get famous between now and then & have a massive cult following. LOL.
Drawing again. Should have some new pics by the weekend, this'll be a really busy week getting it all together because I have to organise a photo shoot for my the magazine I'll be working on on the Sunday.

Also here is a little lolita fun. I've been on a lolita kick at the moment. Combine that with watching disturbing movies with the boyfriend. Things get weird.

cyber on a unicorn

2011-07-05T00:44:00.000+10:00

It's my birthday. So I drew myself riding a unicorn. 'Cause that's how I roll. It's head is too small among other things.

Sydney Supanova 2011

2011-06-21T22:44:00.000+10:00

Another successful Supanova. I made a little over half my money back, so I guess that's good considering I got 200 books printed up. All the usual suspects were there, namely Siberian Productions. Hayden ever so nicely lets me take up space on his table every year in return for the odd pin up or this year, the cover art of his 10 year anniversary book. I realise now I haven't taken any pics of the new books, and now they are stuck in Haydens car till SMASH, so no pics till then. PZK will still not be released online.

I leave you with the back cover art of PZK 2 though. It is kind of a spoiler, but these things happen when dealing with zombies.

Cat's in space

2011-06-06T15:40:00.000+10:00

Cute little bit's that'll be a part of "Unusual Happenings" to be released at Supanova in 2 weeks. Cute story about a girl and her cat travelling to space. It was actually written for the 24hour comic challenge 2 years ago but never saw much light, So I'm bringing it to the surface again this year because I was proud of it, so why not show it off.

And another portrait for Limelight magazine, this time of Bruce Beresford.

PZK2 preview

2011-05-26T23:38:00.000+10:00

Trying to get this ready for Supernova in 3 weeks time. I'm need to have this done, I really don't want to sit there another year and have people's questions about when the next issue is. 2 years after PZK comes the second volume. Better art (done on trains instead of busses this time!), crazier monsters & even crazier death scenes.
Not quite sure where I'm going to find the money for the print run though.

There is alcohol involved

2011-05-02T20:30:00.001+10:00

Tequila shot with orange & cinnamon. Yum. (I remembered how to make gifs, lol)

Also a sketch of John Devoy who plays acoustic versions of songs from his various bands & covers every Thursday night at the Sando in Newtown. You'll likely find me there on Thursday nights.

Also I started a tumblr - so follow that for colourful, gothy and ravey things.

Gaia lolita

2011-04-20T00:07:00.000+10:00

Logged into Gaia Online for old times nostalgia's sake. I don't use it at all anymore. Drew the first pretty avatar request I saw and left.

Sando life drawing

2011-04-19T00:04:00.000+10:00

It's been so long since I last went to a life drawing session! Oh it feels good enough to make it a regular occurrence again. Now that I know my local pub, The Sando in Newtown does it on Mondays, handy. I shall sit amongst the art fags and watch them look down on me for using a pacer.

Also, started a tumblr for random pics, inspirations and things. Everyone else was doing it! I have succumbed to peer pressure once again.

Bell & it's time to go

2011-04-07T12:57:00.000+10:00

I can draw old guys too! AND get paid for them ^_^ This is John Bell. Hoorah!

I start a new job at a costume hire shop next week. I'm a bit nervous. But I'm glad I'm leaving the games arcade, that was the strictest place I've ever worked. How are we meant to inspire fun in the customers if there are a billion rules and procedures to follow and we all look and act like drones? Every day i was coming in and they'd have slightly changed the procedure for something, it got very confusing what we were meant to be doing. So up and out I go!

Jez's sketch

2011-03-30T01:52:00.000+11:00

Housemate and photographer Jez. He's been all "draw me" ever since I moved in here. Now I have.

Rose punk

2011-03-23T00:41:00.000+11:00

Armageddon was dull

2011-03-21T19:53:00.000+11:00

So you can see one of the Android shoot images here, but you'll have to wait for the rest :p

Also went to Armageaddon the other week. Not a particularly spectacular con. I wasn't even meant to be there but my other plans canceled on me so I sneaked in on a friends table and traded some of my left over prints and did a few sketches. I made enough money to cover my train ticket and a mexican wrestling mask, so I was happy enough. Had I actually been prepared for it I would of made more, but it was a totally quiet con anyway. But it's definately got me keen for Supanova Sydney. I can't afford to do any out of state events this year, so I'll have to make sure I do well at home. SydNova and Smash are still a few months off though, ages to prepare.

anrdoid lolita

2011-03-09T20:35:00.000+11:00

The android photoshoot went amazingly! I'm so excited that my first shot at art directing looks as fabulous as it did. Major props to my amazing photographer Jez (impbox) and Noon Willows on Special effects makeup (pictured working on super hot model Katie). You'll get to see the photos once the next Machette Girl magazine comes out XD.

Last Friday was the opening party for First Blood, a new body mod studio in Sydney. The party was great fun, I was especially excited to wear a full lolita dress out for the first time. (a custom made star wars themed one at that!) I was totally surprised when, in a room full of corsets, leather and denim, I won the best dressed award. The prize being a gift certificate for the new store. I know exactly what I'm going to do with that! muahahaha.

And just for good measure, a work in progress from today.

pink and green cyber imps

2011-02-22T14:38:00.000+11:00

So what did you do on your weekend? I pretended to be a model again. I just like the attention really, I make way to many silly faces to model for anyone but my friends. These pic were taken by my housemate, ImpBox photography. Who knows what's he's doing and makes us look awesome. Hanging out with Alex in that first pic. ^_^

Thought I'd also add a preliminary sketch for the photoshoot I mentioned last post, done at work, while customers peered over the counter as I hid it under my keyboard.

Shallow eyes

2011-02-17T13:16:00.000+11:00

Photo taken at Shallow Nation Jan 29th 2011. That was an epic night! But then, Shallow always is a good night. They've moved upstairs to a bigger venue now, and while it's no light up walls, it has a stage and a more adult atmosphere. They've asked me to do some massive posters for the walls to make it a bit more colourful too.

I've been trying to organise a photoshoot in the coming weeks, which is super exciting for me because it's so fashiony-designery. I'm totally psyched to have my first go at art direction, especially with the amount of makeup that'll be involved.

And in other news, I've been developing these! Funky eyelash decorations for advanced false eyelash wearers, taking heavy inspiration from Japanese designer Takuya Angel. I'm even wearing a set in the Shallow Nation pic above. If all goes according to plan, they should appear on etsy in the next few weeks.

Artificial in too many ways

2011-01-25T22:35:00.001+11:00

There is sweat on my tablet this week. At least back in the sketchbook the paper absorbs the moisture. Artificial Flavour on the top is a real person and alt model in Sydney (not to mention a total wierdo!) Second sketch is no one in particular though.

new start 2011

2011-01-11T11:43:00.001+11:00

New years resolution? More art. Save for trip to Germany/Tokyo (I need to go back there so badly). Loose a little meat.
There's a sketch here for a piece I uploaded on DA today.

New Years Splice

2010-12-31T13:08:00.000+11:00

New Years Eve. I haven't arted nearly enough this year, but it has been a crazy year. My resolution is to definately catch up in my arting. As soon as I finish the new games I got for christmas! Muahahah! I got a new job, so that helps up the creativity.

Watched Splice recently. It was acceptable. But I did love the creature design in it, she's so cute when she's young!

Cyber Santa

2010-12-07T00:10:00.000+11:00

Well last weekend was epic. Straight from a Bass Control during the day to Combichrist gig in the evening. Much dancing was had and my feet were certainly sore the next day. Bass Control was fun, Combi was amazing! I love a band that puts effort in. And I think I constructed a pretty good Santa-girl outfit too with none of that red and white crap. That photo was taken at about 2am too so I'm totally pooped out. I loved the idea of cyber santa so much I made it into a christmas greeting.

Huginn and Muninn

2010-11-20T23:16:00.000+11:00

I've been very all over the place emotionally over the last few weeks. But luckily I've got a best friend that I can count on to pull me up. He sits there and makes me do the things I need to do to get stuff on track. He just gives me that little friendly poke that says, hey, I think it'd rock if you did this. So I'm getting on top of things one by one. I couldn't ask for a better BF.

Todays pic is a tattoo design based on the norse myth of Huginn and Muninn to sit on the collarbones. I can't wait to see it on skin. ^_^

Halloween's Blue Moon

2010-11-05T12:34:00.000+11:00

Under the Blue Moon was awesome! Lots of amazing people were around. Caught up with the Fashionate Traveler who always looks amazing, she blogged about the day event here. Overall was a good Halloween. I even got trick or treated by a kid dressed as a zombie banana!

Looking like crazy for a part time non creative job so that I can pay the bills. It's proving very difficult to find, even though people should be hiring for christmas casuals. I shall persevere. I've always had crazy luck that as soon as I run out of savings and get desperate, something appears for me, so I'm counting on that.

Under the Blue Moon 2010

2010-10-22T16:37:00.003+11:00

It's Under the Blue Moon time again! That means I've spent the last month slaving away behind the scenes on this festival. But I expect anyone in Sydney to make an appearance during the day or buy tickets to the Halloween Ball. I've done all the artwork again this year, as well as an extra illustration for Sydney's Rocky Horror Picture Show cast, which was awesome fun to work on and you can see the workings of it above.

Also check out my latest photoshoot. I do like pretending to be a model on occasion.

fingers

2010-10-06T17:08:00.004+11:00

What's wrong with your fingers little buddy? Does the colour hurt?

Also I know you were just dieing to see me in that rave dragon outfit. so here you go.

green heads

2010-09-28T12:50:00.003+10:00

I haven't got alot to say at the moment. I'll let you guys know when it's safe to come out of hiding. Lots of things have happened, and I now have a lot more free time on my hands for the moment.

Top image is part of a portrait won at the August Shallow Nation charity Auction. Second is just a quick doodle of the boy and I.

Dark dragon

2010-09-16T00:08:00.003+10:00

I haven't posted about events in a while. Last weekend was Lunarmorph. Sydney's dark alternative fashion parade that was held as part of the Fringe festival this year. OMG so much want. All the outfits were sooo pretty! Steampunk certianly seems to be the flavour of the month too. With a few of the designers with rather steamy offerings and the Steampunk Symposium that was held before the parade. You can find photos from my fav event photographer here.

This weekend coming is Defqon1. The biggest most epic rave in Oz. I decided that I loved the dragon outfit from Magic city so much that I wanted to wear it again, but in daylight so you could actually see the black wings in photos. I've altered it to be better too, turing the wings into a backpack and making a separate tail. Even did a new sketch design of it. My dragon head looks a little retarded, but it's like that in real life. lol.

Many life changes have been happening recently. It's going to take me a while to get back into creativity.

undead angel

2010-08-31T22:17:00.004+10:00

Life updates - SO BUSY! lots of personal stuff is going on at the moment which is filling up a lot of time. My day job is jerking me around a bit so I never know how I can plan my time ahead to freelancing. Since starting the facebook fan page for my artwork I've been attracting more and more attention. Like it for updates on events I've done work for or blog updates and whatnot.

Here, have some train doodles.

and a pub doodle. I blame the wine!

unusual people

2010-07-18T19:42:00.003+10:00

Portraits of people.

busy

2010-07-04T23:31:00.002+10:00

Poor neglected blog, looks like updates have dwindles to once a month. I've just been far to busy to update you. Here is a sketch to keep you happy for a while.

Lots of work to do, more illustration stuff in the works as well as UTBM again.

welcome to new life

2010-06-06T23:07:00.005+10:00

What happened blog?! it's been so long! WEll I moved out of the 'rents place to Newtown that's what. Getting used to the new place has been a bit odd. I've not lived away from the family before but I'm shacked up with a few nice guys so everything's alright so far.

Supanova is coming up quick to. I have a little more time to get stuff ready this time around but it's still leaving it late. I don't think I'll be doing cons again next year unless I jump on the Oztaku table. They are pricey, involve so much work and don't make much money for artists. And having been slack art-wise in the last year I'm not comfortable showing how little new work I've done at them. So you may or may not see my art behind a table for a while after this.

In other news. I have alot of projects starting up at the moment. And they are the sort that I shouldn't talk about or show off until I have decent stuff to show for them. So this blog may be getting slow, but rest assured, stuff is happening behind the scenes that will be awesome.

In the mean time, Magic city was fun. Not awesome, but fun. I will definately have to re-work my dragon wings I made for the event for defqon, where there is more room.large wings made going onto the main arena floor difficult, so many lads pulling at me and being poked in the eyes by wing tips.

goth dancing chickens

2010-05-06T23:54:00.004+10:00

I know how you guys like to see the workings of an illustration, so here's an upcoming commission piece for 3 Sydney goths and their industrial band they will have going on. I don't believe I've caught a name off them, but once I know I'll let you guys know. The spikey headed fellow has appeared in my gallery before, I drew him a portrait as a 21st present, and he wanted more.

Big news is I'm moving out to Newtown. First time living away from the parents, it'll be awesome. Moving in with friend and awesome photographer FTSF. We'll see how that works, going from a 10 min walk to work to an 1 - 1.5 hour train ride to work, but it's worth it for the cool!

24 April was Utopia - 15 years anniversary. Theme was party monster, though no one ever does anything special for the themes at utopia, which is a shame really. Check out some of my raver buddies, including our own lad chicken. He was hilarious.

Brisnova 2010

2010-04-22T23:01:00.005+10:00

I guess it's time to play blog catch ups.

Brisbane Supanova! I'm not really going to give you a proper break down of the con, it was 3 weeks ago now! I'm slack posting about it. Met some awesome people, draunk with some awesome people, abused some geeks, the usual con shenanigans. I didn't make a huge amount of money, but I did well compared to the others. I had A3 prints for the first time, and I know for Sydney I'll need more. I've never had them before because I'd never buy one myself. But I was amazed at how many sold, so they will definately be a table staple from now on. On to pictures now!

When bored, draw your own outfit. I practically live in that cyber outfit these days.

The guy cosplaying as an Aliens Xenomorph was a legend, 'cause Brisbane is hot and muggy!

Awesome sketch by Chamba. I coloured it 'cause I loved it so much.

Zombies and supanova lead up

2010-04-13T09:48:00.005+10:00

So with a computer out of action, blog posts involve super ninja skills at work. Muahaha. I'll just do a quick few weekends in one, since as soon as I got back from Japan I went full blown back into socialising and artwork.

Everybody loves a good zombie lurch. Here in Sydney we like to scare people for a cause by Zombie lurching through the city in supports of getting an R18+ rating for games here in Australia as well as against the government filtering our internet. There was an awesomely huge turn out this year, as usual, my mate Kris was there to document the horrific zombie action.
So after the zombie march my computer power supply decided to die. Talk about bad timing, after being in Japan and spending the few months before hand stressing about Japan, I had no new artwork ready for Brisbane Supanova. I spent all my Easter weekend at work trying to get new artwork prepared but in the end, not alot of new stuff came out of it. A few images got put onto bookmarks, A3 print of a few things were made. But I know what needs to be done for Sydney Nova so I'm not crapping myself at the last minute with a broken computer again. I did get a quick new character drawn up for bookmarks which sold out. Check my DA for a final image. She was based on the Takuya angel mask I picked up in harajuku.

Supanova will have it's own post

the gist of Japan

2010-04-04T15:47:00.014+10:00

I promised I'd write about Japan. So here we are, over a week after I've gotten back. Lots of stuff has already happened, mainly my computer died as soon as I got back so I've got very limited access to.. well... my life. My camera also died as well, so a lot of these photos are my brothers. You guys are getting the short version of this, I'm on borrowed computer time...

Tokyo... you know how you've got this image in your head of what it's going to be like? how awesome it is? it's exactly like that. I am in love and already planning the next trip back there. We slept in boxes (not a capsule hotel) walking distance from Akihabara (Electric town), so we were there alot. Everywhere is crowded, but I never felt unsafe. Its all so clean and tidy, but it was almost always raining. We were just a tiny bit early for the cherry blossom season too, next time I'll go in April instead of march.

A massive garden near Hamamatsucho in Tokyo

Being a little bit of a pop culture geek we had to check out the Ghibli museum. You're not allowed to take photos inside it but this iron giant sits on the roof.

And more on the geekery, that's a tv studio in Odaiba, Tokyo, but more importantly, it was in the original series of Digimon! haha, my brother and I had a small geeky moment outside there.

Meji Jinu shrine, next to Harajuku. This place was so pretty, I'd like to come back and play there when it's not raining. The rain also meant there wasn't many people nicely dressed around Harajuku that Sunday.

One of the reasons I had wanted to go to Japan in the first place was to check out Tokyo Decadance. And all my dreams were fulfilled by this club. You know how goth clubs in movies have performers, stages, circus acts and all kinda of awesome things, that's kind of what Tokyo Decadence was like. Gothy, arty, industrial but it was white night so incredibly bright too. I went with new friend Leanne (who was dressed much more fabulous than myself) and stayed until close at 6am (oh, if only clubs at home kept going all night). I got to see Sisen and Seila perform, so I was mega happy.

Kyoto was mega pretty too!There's practically a shine or temple on every corner. And Gion is a very pretty area, that's where the geisha's hang out. I can't tell you if I saw one or not 'cause more than anywhere else, girls dressed in kimonos and yukata here just for the hell of it. As well as the tourists dressing up too.

Lol, Studio Park in Kyoto. Cute film studio where they make period dramas and samurai movies. Some of it was so tacky, but it was super fun. Try the haunted house, never have I actually been scared in a haunted house until that one.

Down in Hiroshima now. The best way to get over how insanely depressing the A-bomb museum is, is to visit Hiroshima castle! complete with holographic ninja to explain how it was built.

Miyajima island. Holy crap this place is STUNNING. Bhuddist temples all over the place, mountains shrouded in clouds, wild deer running all over the place. I'd like to point out that that photo is not a set up or taken from anywhere, that wild deer really was posing for us.

Now I only have a few days to get things ready for Brisbane Supanova. Egads! with no computer... I'm in trouble.

Japan update

2010-03-11T13:22:00.002+11:00

Japan is awesome,I love Harajuku. But I really can't be stuffed messing around with photos and blog atm, You'll get it all at the end of the trip. lucky you guys! I can tell you it's cold, it sleeted the other night, for every day of rain there is one not as rainy. Fashion here is refreshing, the boys look like rock stars, the girls like dolls. Love it all.

HTID Vid

2010-03-01T23:55:00.000+11:00

HTID was awesome. I have no sketches to accompany this post though, new PS3 is rather distracting. I'm off to Japan tomorrow! wish me luck dodging Godzilla on the way in.

blogging inspiration

2010-02-22T18:24:00.004+11:00

I spent most of my working day looking up Japan, Tokyo, fashion, goth events and blogs today, a constructive day at work I'd say. But it started with the Fashionate traveller, who I happened to meet at Febuary's Die Maschine. (DM has become a regular haunt for me) She's an awesome chick that I'd heard about through gothy connections and working on UTBM last year. When I said I was going to Japan her eyes lit up, when we compared dates it turned out we were going at the same time. Great news, as it means hopefully I won't have to walk into a Tokyo goth club all by myself not being able to speak a word of Japanese. And her blog has got me thinking. I love fashion, I was planning on writing about my Japan trip anyway, I should stick some more photos of what I'm wearing. I do alot of sketches of outfits I'm planning to so maybe some of them. And more of the people I meet and the events I attend. Make this blog more than just sketches. I like this idea.
So on to today's images! one pf the photos from my shoot with Kris I've mentioned before. To go with the fashiony theme I guess. Also a sketch done during a meeting with Disco Volante. You don't know the name yet, but you will. But I'll tell you more about that when there is more to tell.
This weekend's events: Mardigras and HTID. I won't be at mardigras again because they always put awesome raves on the same night. With a bit of luck this'll mean slightly less tight security, we can only dream. I'll post pictures of crazy rave fashion before I leave for Tokyo on Wed. I need some new outfits. I keep repeating myself at these events.

I forgot to mention how totally freaking excited I am for next week!

beach holiday sketches

2010-02-16T22:25:00.004+11:00

Ahhh internet. I thought I lost you but it turns out you were just unplugged.
What did we learn while on a beach holiday kiddies? Rachel is not an ourdoors person. We kinda knew this to begin with, but now we are positive. I'll spend the next few months getting rid of this tan! But I'll give you a few sketches done whilst on holiday. A fashiony sketch of my friend Shelly, a freaky creature thing and a life drawing on the beach of Emma.

stress stress flowers

2010-01-28T23:51:00.004+11:00

Everything is creeping up on me so fast! Lots to get done and organised. Here is a work in progress of a pin-up I'm working on for Brisbane Supanova based on what Alisha and I will be wearing. 'Cause we're cool like that. I just really love my home made lolita skirt enough to cart it to another city. But that's still not for a few months. Have to focus on organising my Japan trip first. ARG! stressed out about it.

Mellie and the unicorn

2010-01-08T17:58:00.003+11:00

The power went out at work today, there are definately worse places to be with no computer... in a lift... in a helicopter...breaking into a bank vault with power tools... But today I got to sit in the gardens, plug my earphones in and draw. Mind you, what I'm listening too did not influence my drawing like it usually does. Today I worked on a creature design for a comic project. This project has kind of been put on the back burner until I can figure out what kind of visual style I want it in, other comics are coming first as practice, to get me more into the swing of them.

Also there's last night tablet doodle, say hi Mellie. She's an awesome chick I hardly know, but I am so jealous of her wig I had to draw it.

new years nude

2010-01-04T22:04:00.004+11:00

Happy New Year Bloggeroos. What's with the lack of updates of late? To busy partying. damn social life getting in the way again. I haven't got much new to post, i realised I haven't touched my sketchbook in weeks, that's unheard of for me! But I'm definately starting the new year of with more art. I accepted a challenge from some friends to do 48 pages of comic before Brisbane Supernova. So far I have 1 drying on the table, 'cause I've decided to use real inks to do it. I must be crazy. I'll post those pages as they come. I'm really going to try get more comic work done this year. I loved being behind tables and cons last year, so I want to actually try make more than $5 at them this year. haha. I'll be using the same technique at last BrisNova to be sure "we'll stop yelling at you if you buy our stuff and help us get back to our own state!"
Also, have some life drawings. and a pic of me being silly on NYE.

Cows of War

2009-12-11T17:33:00.003+11:00

So what have I done in the last 2 weeks that is note worthy? umm... check DA, it's been updated! I've been inspired by the current exhibition at work to do more traditional media stuff. The creative juices are flowing again! yehaw! I blame it on Cow.
World of Warcraft piece that was a leaving present for a friend who went back to England. His character, Battlecow and mine and another friends. They picked me up, the drawings of them not the actual game characters, and got me to draw big things again. Yay for Cow. There's an unfinished first attempt at Cow, but I'm much happier with the style I ended up doing.
I was also going to upload the pre-painted lineart of this Labyrinth pic, but apparently I saved over it and can't be stuffed making another web sized version right now.
That it all for now peeps!
... why do I call you peeps, I'm no gangsta...

Creature diary - a new world

2009-11-25T21:08:00.003+11:00

Well it has been some time since I whipped out the time machine I found last year. I haven't touched it in such a long time, I guess I've just been busy living in this time. And I still don't understand how it works. So a gave it a little bash, as you do, just to see where I'd end up...
I don't think I was even on Earth this time. The forests were so dense, and damp, like rainforesty but filled with plants like I'd never seen before. Many of them extended like tentacles with glowing tips in the darkness of the thick canopy. Bugs everywhere, some familiar looking, some not so. I was standing in mud, as I went to take a step my shoe practically stuck to the ground. I attempted to gain higher ground by climbing onto the woody roots of one of the massive trees that reached so high up I could hardly see where it became the leaves of the canopy.
As I clinged to my perch amongst the roots I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. The oddest creature was sitting on a low hanging branch, dangling by nothing but it's long tail. It had massive front mantis-like arms with only small back legs that had spindly fingers. A face that only a mother could love that was short with strange long nose whiskers that stuck up that reminded me of a bat. Its skin was a rich dark green and it was shiny, probably moist. Four tiny yellow eyes right near the front of it's snout and it's body was decorated with tendrils similar to the plants it was hiding amongst. It certainly didn't look like something that had parents from my time.
I listened to it call, it's tendrils shuddered as it let out high pitched squeals. They hurt my ears. I definately did not feel the need to stay in such a strange place any longer and bleeped my way home with the machine. I am left wondering, is this thing a time travel device, or was that another world too? The first attempt still had the remnants of human civilization but that place was just...
I remember why I haven't touched it in so long...

Techno zombies

2009-11-17T23:31:00.004+11:00

How about some updates?! What did you do last weekend? I was a zombie, how about you? We lurched around Sydney to support getting an R+18 rating on games, because Australia doesn't have one and they either don't release games here or they dumb them right down. I'm not a huge gamer myself, I just wanted to be a zombie. But being a zombie with a cause is even better. One of the highlights being while walking through Darling Harbor an indigenous street performer guy called the mob over and began playing his didgeridoo to techno music, and the zombie mob danced. Kris took some great photos of the event, he's totally geek paparazzi.
I know you are over this Blue Moon stuff by now, but here's a sketch based on how Jill got her name. Really, I'm sure it wasn't such a hard train of thought to follow. Goths on Halloween = Nightmare before christmas = Jack Skellington = Jack & Jill. Totally makes sense

This is halloween

2009-11-02T22:46:00.004+11:00

Blue Moon gets better every year. This year had a great turn out, with some extra crazy characters being Halloween and all. Haloween isn't really celebrated here, but damn, I love going clubbing wearing silly outfits. But we didn't have to 'cause of the ball! man it was awesome. And so many people took my photo while i was walking around Newtown/Enmore, one crazy lady wanted video of me too. I even got on News.com.au which makes me feel famous. haha! Ego much.
I'm sure I'll have some UTBM inspired art up soon.
Here, have some more photos of the event taken by my good buddy Lench

Dr Sketchys UTBM Special

2009-10-29T14:30:00.004+11:00

Dr Sketchys - Under the Blue moon special event 27/10/09.
Very fun, I'll be going back to Dr Sketchys again sometime soon.
Event photos.

Blue Moon Halloween

2009-10-20T21:44:00.003+11:00

Halloween people! 31st October. And with the cancellation of Green Fairyland festival Under The Blue Moon is now the biggest Halloween event this year. If there's one night of the year to get your goth on, this will be it. I'll see you all there!
I would like to do more work like Blue Moon. I get such a satisfaction from walking down the road and going to clubs and seeing my artwork all over the place. And not in a creepy way like last years, which was an illustration that I didn't like based on my own face. Its weird walking around and having your own face look back at you from the telegraph poles. But Jill I love, I can hardly stop drawing her.
I should probably do some artwork for the clubs I love. Been going out a lot recently and can't help but think that they'd love some of my artwork on their fliers. Or perhaps that's my ego talking, there's been a bit of that lately too.

Crazy horse

2009-09-30T18:21:00.005+10:00

Woo today sucked. And I am in two minds whether or not to bitch about it. Part of me says, stay professional, keep your annoyances to yourself, and the other part of me says screw the fuckers, I'm not getting paid for this work, I have no obligation to not put my personal opinion out in my own blog. But bitching is unprofessional, which is the reason I am pissed in the first place.
Under the Blue Moon is a big thing to me this year. I have full control over the art finally and it looks more professional than ever. Well that is until the latest issue of Fiend (oh yes, we are naming name 'cause we are angry) came out. I have had personal qualms with Fiend for a while, mainly along the lines of thinking I could do it better design-wise. But that is not what this is about. My problem is that they published incorrect artwork of the festival, and older version that they asked us to re-supply, and we did, but they printed the rejected version anyway. And this greatly annoys me. Because I want both myself and the festival to look legitimate and professional, but the fiend dps page is not. (above is what it is meant to look like) It probably doesn't seem like much to the casual passer by, many people might not even see my problem with this. But I do this festival for free, and it's a fuck ton of work at times. If I'm going to push myself for tight deadlines and do a weeks worth of work in 5 hours for them they better be professional. I almost feel like I've been stabbed in the back.

And to make my day worse, I've been shuffled onto a different computer at work, the slowest computer on the planet. Who let these people put design programs on computers that can't handle them? I spent more time doodleing shit like that crazy horse up there than actually working. And the girls I work with are quite ignorant at times, they are impressed by the simplest poster designs I'm doing and laughing about how ugly the ones they've done in the past were. It's people like that, people who aren't designers doing design work that make it next to impossible for those of us who are actually trained to get work! People, please stop putting shit design out there, you are making the people who actually have talent look bad!

rave angel

2009-09-25T23:56:00.002+10:00

I find raves and clubs very inspiring. The people, the culture. It stems from a love of dressing up myself. The most recent event being Defqon1, a huge hardcore dance music festival from Europe. Much fun was had by all. The attendees of events like this often like to dress-up, like I do myself. I spent a large amount of time at this event with a pair of rave angels, literally, the guys had wings. They inspired this pic, particularly the white angel.

future sailors

2009-09-09T18:43:00.003+10:00

How about I use this blog for the reason I made it in the first place. Work in Progress! wohooo! Really looking forward to Defqon1 next weekend and have been listening to a lot of hard dancey rave music. I love it. So I was inspired to use this music as inspiration for a contest pic on Penciljack. It was my turn to pick the topic, so I picked pirates. So I guess because I picked it I won't get in trouble for stretching it. haha. So here have some thumbs and the under sketch, without the background so far. This piece will be called Techno Pirates when it's done. Almost reminds me of The Mighty Boosh, Future sailors!

Scarlet sketches

2009-08-26T21:04:00.003+10:00

Man I suck at keeping self made deadlines. I wanted to try and get 3 pages done a week, but I'm so damn slack. But I have been working on the characters anyway, so it's not all a loss. In fact, since Smash I've been mega lazy, I guess not working towards a certain event deadline brings me down.
In todays post. A sketch of a Gaia couple, and a 1 hour draw off pic of Scarlet Witch. I don't really read xmen, even though I collect stuff with Deadpool in it, so I don't know much about her, but any topic with a chick I can do, looks like a win too.

devilish smash

2009-08-16T20:41:00.004+10:00

A week later and it's time for the SMASH report! Fun was had by all. So far my most profitable convention, mainly because someone awesomely bought my hand painted shoes. Lots of nice cosplayers, decent stuff to eat, and the best part as usual is the socialising with friends from far away. See that awfully colourful pic up there? *shudder* But I'm not one for con reports anyway, you weren't there, I'm not giving you photos, you don't read my writing anyway :p So on to other news.
The Devil Inside Me is a new blog I've started up in the hopes to collect sketches by aussie working artists around the theme of devil/demon. Why did I pick that as a theme? You can enjoy the aesthetic of evil without actually participating in it. I like the way it looks, and I'm sure I'm not alone. I just like to see peoples interpretations of dark themes. I've started it off with myself and a friend: Lazytigersan, to get the ball rolling.

ring on that ear

2009-07-30T14:23:00.004+10:00

Well SMASH is getting closer by the day, and I have to admit, I'm very excited about this one. Not because it's another excuse to sell my art, but because I have delved into an entirely new realm over this last week and have started making jewelry to sell. WHAT?! that's right, jewelry. well, more accurately earrings only at this point, 'cause they are quick to make and effective. If I have any left after Smash I might opened a temporary etsy store for them or something, not sure yet, but I would like to pass them onto the people of the internet if I can.

hush kiss

2009-07-27T00:15:00.003+10:00

ARG, I've been sick for 10 days and it sucks! I've had this throat infection that has morphed into irritating cough. I'm so sick of coughing right now.
Over the last 2 weeks all of my sketching and thought have been trained on a certain project that I am kind of reluctant to show in case it doesn't go very far, but at the same time, I don't want to neglect my blog. So here are early character concepts. This project is aiming to be very manga-esque, hence big poofy hair experiments.

Also, a quick portrait of some raver friends. Damn, you do one and then everyone wants one.

gearing up the goths

2009-07-16T16:40:00.005+10:00

Some time ago I posed a pic with a preliminary sketch of Jill. I can reveal her final form now since UTBM has started posting her around. My initial concept was to have more than one illustration of her for various aspects of the festival But I'm lagging behind a bit and only just getting to new versions now. We'll see how that pans out 'cause on the graphic design side of things, I'm annoyed with the sameness of everything at the moment. I'll try fix that now.

Also attatched there is some concept sketches for a Bleach-style shimigami. Just a bit of fun. Finished concept sketch is here.

SydNova 09

2009-06-30T17:03:00.004+10:00

Wow Supanova was fun. Met lots of great people, did heaps of sketches and sold lots of comics. Thankyou to everyone that dropped by, you made the con worth it with your weird anecdotes and strange cosplays. Saturday probably made us more money, but Sunday was more fun. We ended up having staring competitions with Jake Loyd who was sitting opposite us in the signing area. Then there was throwing stuff, messages sent via random cosplayers, we made him read Billy vs. Red, and he liked it. haha. He eventually came over and we sketched him and he bought comics, it was great fun messing with him. Shout outs to the OzTaku guys, you always make cons worth going you crazy bastards. I'm not gonna do names 'cause I'm terrible at remembering them. And the Azerath guys, love your stuff. All the sexy Promo girls who put up with us and kept coming back, you rock too. Rhys of The Plastic age - I won't stop bugging you till you make me a pin up girl.
It's got me thinking what I need to get done for the next one, SMASH. Need a few larger prints, more sexy pinups and Usual Happenings, the next short comic ready to rock. Quite a fe people on the Sunday were taking my photo telling me I'd come as a Steampunk. While I see the resemblence in that outfit, it was unintentional, But I think I'll use that to inspire my next sexy pinup so that I can cosplay her. lol.

upcoming Nova

2009-06-24T12:12:00.003+10:00

Supanova this weekend! I'll be there selling prints, comics, badges and sketches. You can even pick up my latest comic! That's right, a new one! I'll be picking up Billy Vs. Red from the printer on friday. Right now getting some last minute preparations done including a new print. There's a preview above.

Unusual Happenings

2009-06-07T13:14:00.003+10:00

Unusual happenings indeed. There is an Aussie comics traditional competition that's always held over Queen's birthday long weekend. This was my first year to participate, and I had a blast. I managed to whip out 24 pages, which is more than I've ever done on the one comic because I tend to get bored around page 15. This comic was no exception, but I soldiered on this time thinking of the possibility of... prizes? doing better than someone? personal gratification? proving to myself that I can do this comic thing and not be crap at it.
Sooo.... the title came out before I had any idea what i was going to write about. I figured it was broad enough to cover just about anything. I didn't like the 11am words, so I hoped the midday ones would be better. My cat had been bugging me for attention all morning for food, so I figured that was as good a way as any to start it. right in 12 I started the first page without even checking the words. Turned out they were ok words; Novice, conjunction & button. I could vaugely see how I wanted to start it, with the cat, the girl and the rocket ship but beyond page 5 it was totally thought up page by page. Which is a fun but scary way to work given you've got so many pages to fill.
I just included things as they came to me. The rocket HAD to look like the one from Wallace and Gromit, there HAD to be a big shinny GO button, and I've always loved the idea of whales in space. The cop came from the movie Super Troopers, I nearly threw in a "meow" joke too, but wasn't to sure. God knows where the resort Space Jail came from, but the gay pirate Lizard room mate came from a friend when I was stuck. The end is totally just thrown together, but hey, it kinda works.
Just go read it.

demons of the meet

2009-06-01T22:32:00.003+10:00

fearsome sketches that came about at a meet with some of the Oztaku guys. Those crazy bastards.

So I quit my job at the garden centre today. I'm very happy about it too. I never belonged there, it wasn't my thing at all. I never intended to stay there a year either so I had to get out before the day hit. I don't remember the date but it was this time of year last year. I got to do the mural before I left too, I'll post that later, photos are all the way upstairs.

Getting stuff ready for Sydney Supanova. Should have a Billy vs. Red short out in collaboration with Siberian Productions in time. It's already looking pretty darn hot.

draeni's chillin

2009-05-23T21:13:00.004+10:00

Hi there blog. I feel like I've been neglecting you. Well I've been super busy, I think I have an excuse. I've been working 7 days a week, got a decent graphic design gig for a while that may or may not be permanent depending on how much they love me. Been there for a few weeks now, I am really hoping they pick me up permanently, I can't wait for the day I can quit the stupid garden centre. I'd rather a few computer geeks over creepy old customers anyday. And then beyond that I've been trying to get another quick comic done for Sydney Supanova as a team up with Siberian Productions, since we'll be sharing a table again like we did in Brisbane.
So sketchblog isn't a sketch blog without the sketching part. Her we have my 2 main characters on WoW, both Draeni, Doomdoom, 80 Death Knight & Duskrunner, 43 Hunter with her pet Gobear. I wouldn't mind slapping some colour on this sketch, but I'm really to tired right now.
And there's something I found unfinished on my compy. Inks from early last year I think. Just sticking to the same subject matter for this post.

the girl with the hair

2009-05-06T00:05:00.005+10:00

Trying my hand at one of those montage type images. Didn't really work 'cause I didn't plan it, was really just doodling in front of the tv not paying attention.

been on Gaia a lot recently here you can see some of the results of hanging around there. It tends to mean my art shop there moves rather fast.

Going to the hairdresser tomorrow. Man I love going to the hairdressers. It's my little pamper day. A trip into the city, get new hair, get a nice lunch, come back via all my favourite comic and dvd spots in Chinatown. Makes me all warm and fuzzy just thinking about all that me time and the spending of money on myself. I do need new books to read so hopefully I can find the books I'm looking for. Just for that little insight into my reading habits, I wanna pick up Empowered, something Wolverine Origins (dear lord it better be better than the movie) and some manga I've been keeping and eye out for.

Cougar the imagined

2009-04-28T23:04:00.002+10:00

Introducing Cougar, my baby boy. Cougar in this form is a personification of my cat in the real world. One day when Fun & Games(the GN that waits in the wings until the day I actually put pen to paper) makes it to paper he'll be a character in that. This human form is actually a figment of our heroine's mind, in reality he is just a cat, plain and simple. But Red treats him as if he were a housemate having conversations with him. Since his human form only exists in Red's mind, he can appear wearing anything or doing anything really. Though he's not usually manipulating magic fish like this pic. He usually just hangs around and gets in the way, as most cats do. Pretty much I wanted to doodle, and he's been begging for a redesign for a long time. here he is in the real world.

those scary trees

2009-04-16T20:35:00.004+10:00

The under sketch for a recent pic I uploaded on DA. It was originally 5 different sketches blended into one, each item was drawn separately then stuck together in PS to get the layout I wanted.
Second is a character we should be seeing more of. keep an eye out. She has a pumpkin head.

Life is going to get a bit hectic for the next 2 weeks. 2 jobs, working every day including weekends and I have freelance jobs due too. great, wish me luck...

Nova + zombies

2009-04-14T22:27:00.005+10:00

Well peeps Brisbane was awesome. Despite being stuck with people that have horrible nasty dirty minds all weekend. I got to meet lots of great people, sell comics and buy lots of toys. But I'm not going to give a full reports, just rest well knowing fun was had by all.
So I've got quite a bit of freelance work coming up, as well as a new graphic design job that I am yet to work out the final details for but it's looking like part time for a few months. So that's kind of exciting.
Also need to start working seriously on UTBM this year, I'm still conceptualising how I want the art to look this year, the festival is on halloween this year, which I'm excited about, but at the same time I am bummed. I wanted to go to normal people clubs dressed as a zombie this year, but if the goth festival is on I want to do that to and a zombie costume isn't so impressive when you're surrounded by goths, vampires and other zombies. I'll have that for another year. Failed zombie self portrait sketch up there. yuk!

Brisbane here I come

2009-03-25T16:19:00.006+11:00

Next weekend I'll be in Brisbane flogging my body... I mean wares. I haven't been to Brissy before and I haven't been behind a table at a con before so I'm double excited. There are so many talented people I'm really looking forward to meeting. It kind of makes me feel bad that the mini comic I just got back from the printer is so rushed compared to my usual work. I mean, I like it rushed, but the next issue will be something to look forward to.

PZK was done mostly just to prove to myself that I could do it. And now I have it, it's in my hands, I know I can do it again, better. I know how I want to work future comic projects. I have a few jobs lined up at the moment so we'll see how things play out as to when the next issue, or even one of the other projects I've been wanting to start will happen.

I'm really enjoying a loser more angular style recently.

creme egg

2009-03-16T11:58:00.003+11:00

I'm going to take PZK to the printer today. how exciting!

Above we have Red, my favourite crazy gamer girl and Cane from an unrelated story about demons and such wich is also very fun. Both their stories will be told one day I swear.
And I just ate one of those Cadbury Creme eggs, I now need to run a few hours to wear it off.

Autumn

2009-03-04T16:48:00.002+11:00

So on monday I got to do the new season mural for work again. I really wish I could do more stuff like this there, it's so much fun. I just plug in my music and do what I love and get paid extra for it. So this months themes were Easter, autumn leaves and kids, since they are going to replace the main table display that was there last season with something more child oriented. So we have a giant bunny, golden chrysanthenums, leaves, mushrooms and fairys. horaah.

Very excited about this weekend. it's finally Godspeed time. We've all been hypeing ourselves up for this one, I'll be devastated if I don't get a call tomorrow saying my phatties are ready to be picked up. I'm glad that they finally opened the train line near here, means I can get to stuff like this without trying to organise lifts everywhere. getting to the city has never been a problem, it's been getting everywhere else that was annoying. but no longer! the new stations are so shinny and clean.

Pegasus

2009-02-26T19:52:00.004+11:00

So what if a bird and a horse were combined? somehow I don't think you'd get the majestic winged Pegasus Disney would have you believe. I think it'd be a retarded freak of nature. That was the gist of the conversation, followed shortly by "Rachel! you should draw that" which often ends such conversations. I usually don't. But while watching dvds this afternoon, thinking of things to doodle, this... thing popped up. I could not deny it's sad pathetic existence, I had to get rid of it. So I let him onto the page and he stared up with those weird fishy eyes, and I laughed. I should draw things retarded more often.

PZK is coming. my first self published comic at a grand total of 12 pages long! wow, I know you're impressed. It will be availible at Supanova Brisbane. I have no intentions of selling copies online at the moment as that involves posting things around, and I am afraid the post office will eat me.

Femme Fatal - 2

2009-02-18T19:07:00.002+11:00

So there's how that sexy devil girl turned out. I'm not so happy with the background, but the character I am proud of. It's been a while since I've finished a pic properly. Makes me want to do more. The other sketch there is just a something for a chick on Gaia.
So plans are being made to attend Brisbane Supanova and to share a table in the artists alley, which I've always wanted to do. Now that it's getting booked I have to get more art worthy of selling done. keep an eye out for more work as I get my ass into gear, step out of WoW for a little bit and join the real world of artists who actually sit down and put effort into what they do. It really does feel like it's been a while since I've put effort into anything, I'm actually excited to work on illustrations again.

feme fatal

2009-02-11T13:27:00.003+11:00

A sudden burst of inspiration and the urge to have something new for Brisbane. If I'm going to cart my butt up there and go halves with the Siberian Productions table I better have something to sell. sooo.... pin up posters. I can do that.

I've said it before, I love nothing better than drawing demons. Pencils for a pin up with an inset of the initial thumbnail sketch.

2009-02-09T12:34:00.001+11:00

What shall be my new raving outfit, I know you want those phat pants. they are being custom made for me by the awesome people at Alternaegear.com
that is all for today.

world of monsters

2009-02-04T20:28:00.003+11:00

feels like it's been a while. hi blog, how are you doing. What can I say? addiction to WoW has kept me away from you. I'm not spending as much time on public transport so there are less doodles to share. And personal projects are being sacrificed for... well nothing really. if there is no immediate money promised I find it hard to motivate myself. Which I promised to fix this year, looks like I'm off to a bad start. But it's not all bad! there will certainly be more stuff coming now that my scanner works... (got plugged back in).

girls with short hair

2009-01-13T16:23:00.004+11:00

Sooo. I've been attempting to get some comic stuff done. that's not it, I don't want to show it until it's worth showing and I have more than one page done. But it should be good. Otherwise not alot to report. Above sketches are my current GaiaOnline avatar and what I'd like to look like if I were a street fighter character along with my brother. Go team Venture! I actually love short hair on girls, as long as it's not to boyish.
Here is a really simple tutorial to make photos of real things look like photos on miniature things. Which is awesome :-)

NewYears Ox

2009-01-02T17:52:00.003+11:00

Retail over christmas is horrible. I have learnt my lesson. I work at a garden centre, so it wasn't even bad for us, I really don't dig all the extra hours the combination of holidays and summer bring. Now that the new year is upon us I'll start my search for a real job. But in the mean time I still have to put up with this stupid check out chick job that I hate. money is money. But there is an oasis amongst all the crap of retail. I was given permission to do a large mural at the entrance to the centre. At first they weren't sure whether or not to trust me with it since it's one of the first things you see when you enter, but I showed them. Had to have a tropical theme along with something to do with the various holidays and events associated with January, so New years, Australia Day and Chinese new year (the Ox). Ended up looking rather like a view of Taronga Zoo.

Happy New Year everyone.

the O.Z.

2008-12-26T23:38:00.003+11:00

First half of The OZ was on telly boxing day night, gave it a go. love the costume designs, Glitch and the army uniforms in particular, but not to keen on the rest of the movie/miniseries whatever you call those things. Anyway, today's sketch is Wizard of Oz inspired, (more the original movie than this strange version). Welcome to the O.Z. dawg, in da house

Oh wow, years up. Better start getting onto all these mighty things I had planned soon. hmmm.... I'll start by tidying my room and we'll go from there. Happy holidays guys.

college is over

2008-12-05T23:03:00.003+11:00

Well that's it. College is over and done with. It hasn't really sunk in yet that I have to go join the real world, but I'm not sure it will. I'm not the sort to get all teary eyed and emotional about things, I just take things as they come. And that seems to work for me. When I sit back and let the world go by opportunities seem to arrive without much work. Or at least that's how alot of my life has happened in the past.
My first job (be it at a KFC) my brother and I were hired on the spot when mum suggested we get jobs while waiting in the line. My second job, the most awesome job ever at a games arcade, was the first thing I applied for when I got sick of the KFC. And when that place shut down and I was unemployed for ages I got my current cashier job the week I ran out of savings. Stuff has just worked out. That's not to say that is how it's going to work in the future though. I really mean to step up my game and actively search for new opportunities now.
I dunno, I really wanted to write that down.

So the exhibition went very well. I had two studios interested in my work, though I definately need to practice up a bit more. What is strange is that I've spent most of college trying not to do comicy styled images for projects; it always seemed that comic styles were looked down upon by many of the teachers. Even when we did story-boarding I found myself trying to steer away from it because of this aura of dislike (but it was probably in my imagination anyway). But it seems that's what draw attention to my folio. I guess college was good for making us try new things. I can now apply that to my own style. I'm glad for it though, I have improved so much these last 2 years. I can't believe I even got in the course in the first place with such a horrible folio before.

Oh yeah, sketches. My World of Warcraft Draenei Death Knight, Doomdoom. I'm rather addicted at the moment. And an attempt at drawing my cat, Cougar, with accurate but exagerated face markings. Yay

gaian minis

2008-12-02T20:36:00.003+11:00

you know. I realised today that I've been running the same shop on gaia for over a year now. ARG. how stupid is that, it's a silly site. I do enjoy doing such an individual style on them though, they don't take long depending on the complexity and I don't have to think about character designs since the customers all have their own. I've even stuck a number of them in my portfolio. I've done over 37 of them so far. Thought I'd post a few recent ones just for the fun of it. It seems a shame to only post them on gaia.

My graduation exhibition is tomorrow night. Hopefully I can meet someone who would like to employ me so that I don't have to sponge off mum for a job. There have been a few hiccups getting there but all in all things seem to work for me. I know my mini dramas could of been alot worse and I am thankful that if I just sit back and trust things will work in my favor they generally will.

hercules

2008-11-21T17:48:00.002+11:00

So yesterday was my last day of classes, and life drawing was it. Just thought I'd give you guys a little look. I may get around to scanning/photographing some of the others as I clean all the college stuff out of my since I'll no longer need most of it. No more college, yay! real world here I come.

took my portfolio to the printer today. I really hope they don't mess it up. I am rather worried, and I don't usually worry to much about this kind of thing.

Jonny cheater

2008-11-16T21:37:00.004+11:00

WTF is this! that's just a dodgey sketch with a whole bunch of PS filters chuck on over the top! that's cheating! Yeah, well no one ever said there was gonna be amazing works of art in this blog.

The first Graphic novel I ever owned was JTHM:Directors cut. Nny will always hold a special, gruesome place in my heart.

impending ending

2008-11-12T23:51:00.002+11:00

I don't always do characters, I just prefer them. So here's a piece of college work to prove it. College is really winding up now, only a few weeks left. And after this one, only 1 more project to hand in, other than our final portfolio. Which is sweet, as long as the folio doesn't get messed up at the printers or binders. I'm cruisin. Which I shouldn't be. I'm more stressed about the fact that I should be stressing than I am about the folio. Everyone else is pulling out their hair over it, but I'm just taking it one step at a time, trying not to worry to much.
Also, I'm very excited to be getting back into WoW now that college is winding up. yay!

wierd place to have wings

2008-10-28T21:42:00.002+11:00

Not much to say today, too busy watching cartoons on youtube. But interesting news here, my college website is up, just needs a few minor details added but you can go check it out, it's got a cool flash interface thing and was designed by the freaky talented Elm Underleaf. check it out here.

what bugs me #2

2008-10-22T17:04:00.003+11:00

what really bugs me #2
this stupid class I'm in right now! so freaking annoying. it started the year as an after effects class, WTF? seriously, when am I, the graphic designer and illustrator ever going to need that? after spending half the year on that is morphed into a photoshop/illustrator class where he taught us techniques that (in my opinion) made the whole digital art process much longer than it needed to be. Then he tried to teach us a bit of stop motion, which under the right circumstances could of been ok, but that would of been a complete waste of the room we are in, which is the only room with tablets in the college. So we rebeled and are now doodling around in PS painting. But the guy has no idea how to paint in PS. he's never done it before. So he keeps trying to tell me what I should be working on and how to do it and it's all completely useless! arg. I get so fustrated with him. He wants me to work on the one illustration for the next 4 weeks or so, but I can't be stuffed, I've had a different image every lesson so far, I have proved that I can use PS better than most of the people in the class so get off my freaking back already! I may be just extra fustrated because my course will finish soon, but seriously, all year long this class has been a waste of the facilities and almost entirely irrelevant to my interests and future career.

After effect? why bother in an illustration course. we didn't even get to film anything.

Gabriel

2008-10-19T22:03:00.003+11:00

dammit. I've been trying fulfill a certain request I got on DA ages ago from a guy, heartnet, who wanted a portrait of himself in a very animated style. I wouldn't usually say yes to a request beyond a sketch but I was very impressed with his gallery and his style and I've been thinking about it ever since. So last night I sat down with the total intention of doing it whilst watching the movie Gabriel. Not the greatest movie ever made but cool and gothy, a little stereotyped but meh. I ended up sketching the lead character Gabe instead of hearnet, well it started as him but ended wrong, lol. So now I feel bad that I haven't done something I've set out to do. I will get there eventually, it'll just take more time till I find the right inspiration for him.

College work is starting to reach a hectic climax. I really can't wait for it to be over, I'm quite over the whole course. I want to get out there in the real world, get out of my stupid check out chick job and feel the real world. wish me luck. Also handed in the maquette half finished and still got a distinction for it. go me!

what really bugs me #1

2008-10-11T18:46:00.002+11:00

What really bugs me issue 1.

Why is it that in my Deviantart gallery the works that involved the least effort or I hate are the most popular? Exhibit A, this is my most popular work on DA, it's a tattoo design. I never do tattoos, not a big fan, I'm happy to do it as a request, but it's not where I'm at. This frog was a request in highschool. freaking highschool, but what's worse is it took a whole 5 minutes to do, lots of effort there. Yet it's my most popular Dev. Bugs me to no end.
Exhibit B, the World of Warcraft sexy troll. I hate it now 'cause I see all the flaws, the bad colouring and the heavy black lines. it's just yuk to me. Yet because it has WoW and Sexy in the tags it's popular. I get nothing but comments about how under-rated the trolls are for sexyness. yeah, big whoop, I'd delete this image if it wasn't bringing those stupid people to my gallery. Maybe they will stay long enough to appreciate something that's not token sexy fan art. Above is a doodle redraw of it though, I like it better than the older version, but it's still pretty generic.

UTBM08 done

2008-10-06T23:11:00.002+11:00

Just a little entry to say UTBM went great, not sure if it was my most profitable, but damn it's was the most fun I've ever had at one. Mainly because I actually stayed late for once, found an old friend and consumed plenty of alcohol. That top pic is the only one of my caricatures I took a photo of. They started to go off in the afternoon, when I had a few customers drag others into it. That second thing is just a doodle of my GaiaOnline avatar. Can't waste too much time there since a new tournament over at PencilJack has started and I don't want to loose out in the first round.

hoop angel

2008-10-02T16:31:00.004+10:00

I really can't wait till Blue Moon is over. I'm sick of it. I don't like organising people, just getting people to respond to emails is hard. None of them are as... online as I am, and it really annoys me. I really like it when you get a response to an email within a few hours, but most of the college guys don't live on their computers like I do. So I have my supplies for the weekend, my new corset is ready to be picked up, there is still money left for a good night. All should be ok.
That hoop girl above was sketched on our college openday when we had an acrobat just hanging around, had a little fun sketching her. amazing poses.

Also, sculpey is expensive! gah, why'd they have to make it so expensive, and why'd I make my maquette for college so big. :( Thought I might as well document my first ever attempt at sculpting with Super Sculpey. I've done small things in Fimo before when I was little but nothing ever of this detail or size, currently standing at about 20cm tall at the highest point. wish me luck with him.

MaskedMan

2008-09-29T15:28:00.002+10:00

So I've got a bit of a break atm. Which is great. UTBM Festival is on this weekend. Went to the launch party on Sat, that was a real experience. Strangest Band on the planet Toy Death was the main act.

So I really think this guy needs his own comic or web comic or something. Ordinary office worker from the apocalyptic future. He's only a first rough though.

Visual Kei

2008-09-23T09:09:00.004+10:00

So apparently that over the top costume look they have in Jrock sometimes is called Visual Kei. You learn something new every day.

So I ended up getting my license, next stop... get a car. haha. as if I have the money to keep one running. Under The Blue Moon kicks off this weekend with the launch party. I'm very excited. I get to go out to these gigs all dressed up :D I love dressing up, and having a really good excuse helps. shame I'll have to go after work, so no heels or else my feet will fall off by the end of the night. I was never much of a heel wearer, but now that the option is gone I really want to wear them when I go out :S you always want what you can't have.

it's really creepy walking down Enmore road and King street seeing my face in the windows. Only people who know me can pick it up, but it's still creepy, specially since I don't particularly like the illustration. We have definately learned a lesson for next time, if there is a next time.

leppers can't drive

2008-09-09T10:10:00.002+10:00

I shall be doomed to catch busses forever. I just can't get a license. I drive just fine just I'm terrible at taking the test, but the last one they testers wife was sick so they had to postpone it! I don't really want to reveal how many times I've been in there to try get it, it's a bit embarrassing.

Red is really nice to sketch with on the bus. lead pencils usually end up looking messy but the red and blue ones seem to be more forgiving of the bumps in the road. I get some weird looks drawing on the bus.

doodles

2008-08-29T20:04:00.001+10:00

just some ok doodles. can never decide what colour I like sketching in more, so I keep all three close at hand.

Wraith lines

2008-08-19T18:51:00.002+10:00

Pretty much just getting the character down for the same commish I've mentioned before. He's been very patient waiting for it and I want to do something really good 'cause the money from this kept me alive for 2 weeks a few months ago when I was major poor.

Long dragon

2008-08-13T20:44:00.003+10:00

So I've decided not to touch that time machine thing until I have some more time on my hands. I'm a bit to busy at the moment working on college stuff and UTBM. (Even though it's a time machine and has the potential to give me more time, I don't want to risk it right now).

Here's a doodle done entirely on public transport over the course of the day on Monday. I don't usually ink things while on the bus 'cause it's hard, but gave it a go anyway and it turned out pretty well. The bus is a great time to just doodle whatever I want, you just have to ignore whoever is sitting next to you. Dragons are always way fun to draw.