I still haven't been drawing as much as I should. But here are some practice portraits I did. No references of course, which is why some of them looked skewed.

Remedy - IF

Perhaps with a spoon full of sugar. . .

That Watercolor Moleskine

 I'm gonna admit right now that I haven't been feeling my best lately. In fact, I've been downright depressed. Not a new feeling, but a bit worse than usual. I seriously want to believe that things will turn around for the better soon, but I find myself feeling more and more skeptical that things are gonna change. I want to believe. I'm even going to church for goodness sake! But I just feel out of place when I'm there. Everything feels so plastic and superficial.


 

As most of you probably know, Borders bookstores had to declare bankrupcy. As a result all the local Borders closed several weeks ago.
I painted this watercolor in my notebook about a week before the Seattle Coffee in the Borders stopped serving their Javakula's, and everything in the store went on a clearance sale. 
I was very sad to see this place go, since I have lots of fond memories of the place. Browsing the magazines, and finding new books to buy was one of my favorite past times.  

I've since been visiting Barnes & Nobles, but it just isn't the same. I find their payed membership offensive. So I'm sticking to Amazon now for the actual shopping. And I've actually purchased more Kindle books than actual paperbacks. *sigh* Times sure have changed.



Sometimes I think I want to abandon all types of gadgets and electronics. I'd like to go live somewhere closer to nature, where I could do something simple and/or at least be away from all modernity. 
Maybe run a cabin in the mountains. . . .
That's not a silly wish is it? I had a cousin who claimed he wanted to raise bunnies for a living. >_>

 But one can't deny there are certain comforts to living in the city, which are pretty hard to give up. Especially a city like Los Angeles, which is so diverse you can find anything! I once brought some souvenirs for a friend, only to find the same trinkets being sold at Venice Beach. 


And every day we have more and more new things coming in, and it's amazing and grand, and just a little overwhelming. 


I'm not that old, but I was born and raised in this city. Seeing it change, all the new shopping centers, luxury condos and lofts, Public Schools and the gentrification that has and is happening in my surrounding neighborhoods, it's all kind of bittersweet.

I went up to the Griffith Observatory to observe the fireworks on this past 4th of July. The place had quite the crowd, most watching silently as different zip codes lit up in colored showers of light. 

 And I quietly marveled at this city. 

Soaked - IF

This Illustration Friday the theme was Soaked.

I think this picture had a bit of a mind of its own. It was one those pictures where I just let myself paint without really planning anything.  I think I'm actually happy with it.

Warning - IF

Kike was very proud of his new shoes.  Arthur just wished Kike would stop smiling so big and watch where he's going.

Gosh, it took a while to find the time and draw!
This was done last night, but I was pretty busy this Sunday so I didn't get a chance to scan it. And then I thought I'd a add some color. I played around a bit, but in the end I left it with minimal color and practically no clean up.  I guess I just liked the messiness.

done in iPad

Have you seen the new iPad? OK, ok! I know, who hasn't? right!

Can I just say WANT! WANT!


Why couldn't I wait patiently for the new one?!!!!

I just couldn't believe that it would arrive so soon.  I keep arguing with myself on whether I should try and sell my iPad (which I've only had since December!)
and buy the new one, or just stick to this one until the 3rd generation comes along. In which case I definitely won't be able to sell it for the low price I could get now.
If I had gone with my impulse to sell just a day ago I could have gotten nearly one hundred dollars more on ebay instant sell. But since I waited. . . GRRR!

What to do. . . what to do? ? ? ?

gals

trying stuff out.

The Sweater

For Illustration Friday

heart me

Color pencils drawing from my moleskine, with a little water mixed in.