A Little Bird Once Told Me...

Hello, my dear friends!  Wow...it's almost the middle of December already?!  The malls are getting pretty crazy now, so, as good measure I'm trying my best to shop early in the mornings while people head off to work...which makes for a little better experience as I tend to shop like a man. *laughs*  I made the mistake two weeks ago of going to Wal-Mart on a Saturday (that was not smart!), and I left quite surprised that I was still alive! Yay!  Tonight is the first night of Chanukah.  Aaaannnddd, that means lots of Latkes, doughnuts, chocolate gelt coins, fancy coffees, songs and lighting candles. Yummmm! I love this time of year.  Walking around the neighbourhood to see all the twinkling, festive lights and smelling all the wonderful spicy smells of Christmas. *sigh*  Hmm, and I've just realized that I have not done any holiday art work...uhhh-no...

Okay, so on to some art.  In my last post I posted up some sketches.  I have two of them done, but I have to still scan one in.  This is the Dryad with the small bird.

As you can see, my scanner doesn't like my gold pen too much. (laughs)  After completing this, it gave me another spark for doing another Dryad for my story, so, I've been working on a couple of really rough sketches to flesh out some ideas.  I really wanted her hair to look like bark, but I think I overused the burnt red a bit.  Does anyone have any tips for creating bark?  I'd love to get a bit more of a  realistic feel.  I'm still so happy with this all the same though.

And I wanted to thank all of you for such sweet comments that you all made!  I really wish I could fully express my gratitude and awe for getting to know such wonderful artisans yourself....you have no idea the smile you all gave to my heart!  You make me fly!

Wishing you a wonderful, happy, creative and festive week!  Eggnog Cheers!!

From My Messy Desk:Sketchbook Sketches

Hellooo! Yay, I'm having no connection problems today!  The RAM on my poor laptop is quite low, so I've been having all sorts of issues in getting my computer running.....and I've been dying to blog for the past two weeks. So this has resulted in a lot of yelling at an inanimate object, which really does no good, but, does make one feel much better after. *laughs* I've done some major cleaning up file wise, which has help enormously in getting a better performance.  I cannot wait to replace my old laptop!  Still saving my pennies for it.

Anywhoooo, I thought I'd share of quick drawings from my sketch book, which really isn't a sketch book but rather a book of tracing paper.  I like working on tracing paper best, as if I really like the look of a particular drawing...I can then just use my light box to make an inked drawing later.  Plus it saves me from ruining perfectly good art paper if things go wrong. And I use my eraser....a lot!

So I'll start with this one, which is already finished and coloured(you'll see the finished piece in a later post.):

As I haven't thought of a name for her yet, I've just been calling her "Tree Woman". *laughs*  As you can see I love using quick rough lines to flesh out an idea I usually scribble down on another small idea book I keep.  This was originally meant for Illustration Friday's topic "Tree" last week. But totally missed the deadline. *sigh*  Maybe the little bird is giving her a message from another tree or telling her how much he appreciates having a place to rest his tired wings.  I really played with hand gestures here, trying figure out what would look nice.  I always pick my lines as I'm inking, so a sketch always ends up looking slightly different in the final drawing.

Then there's this one, which is a fan art of Stocking, from the anime "Panty and Stocking with Garter belt".  She is at this time, halfway coloured:

I'm using this piece to sort of focus my mind on the book I'm currently working on to generate some ideas...so it's been very meditative and relaxing to colour this one. I don't normally do this kind of brightly coloured hair, so it's been nice to do something different...and I kinda like it.  Panty and Stocking are two angels that have fallen to earth and kick all kinds of demon butt on earth.  The animation is so very stylish and full of raunchy humor.

And I'd like you all to meet one of my character's from the book I'm working on; his name is Nemo:

He's around ten years old, but I wanted him to look just slightly older than his years due to the kind of situation he has been in.  He's the companion to my main character, Sandy.  I plan on making him the guide for the readers and for Sandy in the world which I'm spinning as there is some very wacky things that are going to be happening. So, he's very wise, strong, but I've stuck in a few faults that he'll have to overcome by books end, changes that will surprise even himself.  Oh! And that is a sword that he's holding, *laughs*, with talons on it just to up the coolness factor.

As you can see I also avoid any sort of ruler use too, so I always have wobbly lines.  Well, currently that's all the sketches I have scanned in for now.  It's not a whole lot, a peek at best.  I'll share more when I get more scanned in.

I'm looking forward to seeing "Lincoln" on Tuesday!(Tuesday is cheap day at the theaters)  I haven't been to a movie in ages, it's going to be a real treat from what I've seen from the trailers.  And! I'm super excited about "The Hobbit" that's coming out next month. Woo hoo! I love that book.

Anyway, my dear friends, it's always so nice to share things with you.  I wish you all a very happy, creative week ahead. Cheers!

Harry Potter Doll Giveaway Winners!

Hello muggles!  I am happy to announce to winners to my paper doll giveaway!  Woo! *Does geeky dance*  Drum roll please:

Tammie Lee

Lucy Chen

 Congrats ladies!! 

(Okay very old drawing from five years ago here...but the only one I could find that said "Congratulations" on it. *laughs*)

I hope you two will enjoy Harry very much.  Please email me at  eri(dot)chan68(at)yahoo(dot)ca  with an address to which I can mail you your paper doll.  Thank you so very, very much everyone for entering.  This was so fun to do and I'll think I'll hold another one sometime soon!  I look forward to mailing these out. Whoop whoop!


Okay, short post today.  I was thinking though, I've seen a lot of other artist share their sketchbooks, which I love to see myself as it shows beautifully where their ideas bloom from; I'd like to share some drawings from my messy sketchbook next post.  I've never shown anyone those drawings before as I'm an utter perfectionist and hide my messy drawings with glares. *laughs*

Anyway, hope you all have a very spooky Halloween.  Anyone ready for Christmas?  Though I bet none of you want to hear that yet do you? *Heehee*  Have a very happy and creative week my friends. Cheers!

A Not So Spooky Giveaway!

Happy (early) Halloween my fellow muggles!  The big spooky day is on Thursday and I thought I'd have my first giveaway as a little Halloween treat.   And since Harry Potter has kinda taken over my life right now, I thought I'd create my first boy paper doll to show how much I love this little wizard.

I'll be drawing 2 names at a random from my cauldron with the prize being this little Harry Potter paper doll you see on this post today.  Harry comes with his wand, book of spells, the golden snitch and Hedwig.  He'll arrive un-assembled, with supplied mini-brads, all you will need is a pair of scissors or an exacto knife.  He looks lovely in a little shadow box, which my mum is doing for the one I gave her.  Who's as much of a Potter fan as I am. *laughs*

I'll be drawing the names and posting them here on Sunday, November 4th.  All you have to do is mention in a comment that you would like to be included in the draw and leave an email where I can get in touch with you in case your name is drawn.

Thank you so much my friends and good luck to you!

I think if I can squeeze in the time I would love to make the whole set of the characters, Ron and Hermione...maybe even Ginny too, along with Fred and George. (Just because those twins are my favourite!)

And since I'm such a lazy pants at creating proper backgrounds for my dolls, I used something I found in an art magazine that I have for children.  Called 4Cats Arts Studio .  If I did have kids, I would definitely take them to one of these places...they look like so much fun.

Thank you for reading my wonderful bloggers.  Wishing you a very happy Halloween! Cheers!

Wondervixen: The Kitsune Superhero

Hello blogger munchkins!  So fall is in full swing now, it's been raining almost non-stop here in Vancouver...which has made for perfect excuses to stay snuggled at home with movies, good books and art! 

I was asked recently by a good friend, who runs a comic in the UK called Reynard City , who is hosting a calendar contest and asked if I'd like to make an entry.  How could I say no?  I love his characters!  I've been following their adventures for just over two years now and what a joy it's been to watch the growth of his brain baby.  It's about three crime fighting hero's that transform into foxes.  I chose Wonder vixen for this contest since she's strong of will, mind and body...plus she has a wonderful showgirl like figure that I always like drawing in my ladies and gorgeous flowing hair.  ( I just cannot go on enough about how much I love to draw lots of hair. *squees*)  I originally intended to go with a summer like background...but changed my mind once I saw how nice the fall colours complemented Wonder vixen's fox fur and tail.  She took a little longer to complete...about three weeks as I've been distracted with job searching and pounding my brain over what to name my Etsy shop.  Which I've been stumped with for the last few months. *laughs* I'm so slow to start anything. Ha!

Oh! And before I dash, I wanted to share an awesome pinterest find I stumbled across.  This little cup of heaven is perfect for a cold night and will warm you from head to toes.  When I first made it I thought I died and went to heaven! 

This originally came from a Tumblr post (the art for the recipe is theirs too) and I thank them deeply for posting this...for it is gold!  It's very easy to make.  Make sure though, that you do not use whipped butter...but just plain regular butter.  I stood in my kitchen on my first taste of this...unsure if was a good butter beer recipe...but ended up yelling out, "Yum!" at least 10 times. *laughs*  Try it...if you love sweet things, you'll love this.

Now, off to watch some Harry Potter movies and finish my current paper doll.  Have a wonderful, creative weekend, dear friends.  Thank you for reading.  Cheers!

A Moet And Chandon Themed Wine Label

Yayy! Got my laptop working smoothly again.  I was having problems keeping it running for longer than four hours at a time, so I went digging and I seemed to have found the root problem and fixed it.  So good to have it going again.

Anyhow, my wine label theme continues!  I've kept this lady hidden for almost a year in my files, as I had a wonderful friend in France try to pitch this to Moet and Chandon.  I decided to post this now as we never heard back from them and were obviously not all that interested...so up on my blog this goes! *laughs*  

When I first did the rough sketches for this I already had an idea in mind for the colours.  I wanted something that would match the colour of champagne or at least pink champagne. (one of my personal favourite spirits to drink, as red wine makes me sick.)  I put a little bit of myself in this, as I tend to get the giggles after just two glasses of wine.

The image of the bottle one from a bunch of images that were googled by my friend and sent to me.  I could have painted it, but as time was running short in getting this sent off, I pasted the image in.  I have got to work on my laziness factor...or at least learn how to speed up my drawing process.

She is coloured in watercolour pencils (used dry), with white and sepia inks and with some touch ups made in CorelDRAW.  In all she took about two weeks to finish off.  Her hair was the most tricky to colour in as there's just soooooo much of it.  It's like mine, I have hair just past my waist. *laugh*  And I tell you, my bloggie friends, I use at LOT of shampoo and conditioner!

Oh! I was also part of Cameron's "Mermaid Swap" recently.  I'll have mine up here just as soon as I finish adding a good background for her.  But, I got Cameron's mermaid in the mail just yesterday....and I'm in love with it!

Isn't it beautiful?!  It always brings me joy to be able to really touch someones art...to get lost in their colouring techniques and line work. I also felt like a little kid again opening up the wonderful packaging...just like Christmas!  Thank you so much again, Cameron...you so totally rock, girl.  I;m going to be making a special frame for this beauty.

That's it for today my lovely and creative bloggers.  Have a wonderful weekend. Cheers!

A 1940's inspired Catwoman

Helllloooo out there!  I never did thank my lovely readers and fellow bloggers out there from my last post for all the helpful advice and hints you all gave me to make this an awesome blog to come to. I give you a great big internet hug...you guys are awesome, awesome people.  My next step is to be a more active blogger and see if I can join in on some blog groups, so I plan on doing some searches to see what I can find. Yay!

So anywho, I know I have a lot more projects to be finishing up on, I just finished a mermaid paper doll for my lovely friend Cameron.  Which I have to print off and assemble, she'll be up a little bit later.  But, I had this burning desire to create some Batman fan art.  Catwoman has always been one of my favourite villans.  She's a strong, no non-sense kind of girl, nobel, but not so self-confidant all the time...she tries to be on good's side, but the darkness that's in her heart sometimes takes control of her.  I love her character for her complexity. 

I borrowed from the library a huge...I mean huge book on all the characters of DC Comics throughout the years...from the 1930's throught 2012.  When I came to the section of Catwoman, my muse decided to tickle me until I couldn't ignore it.  I loved Catwoman's out fit during the 1940's, where it was a long black dress with a deep plunging neckline and she sported one terrific mask.  Though the one I created here, is more along the lines of what Batwoman wore in the '40's.  I liked it and wanted to see how catwoman looked in it.

I used a plethora of different multi-liner pens and inda ink.  Sadly two of my pens died in this drawings creation. *laughs*  I also had to apply ample ammounts of white ink to clean up very messy lines in the after math.  It also gave me good practice on my inking skills...and inking smoke.  In all, took me about two weeks to finish her off, as my hand kept cramping up.  I think I need to get a stress ball for that problem, to exercise my fingers.

It's also Rosh Hashanna this week!  So to all my lovely blogger friends and creatives...I wish you a very happy Shana Tova Umetuka!!!  May you all have a prosperous and sweet new year!

Have a wonderful and creative week!! Cheers!