Talk About Tuesday

 

In Which I Am Lump

Today was another sunny, windy, chilly day that reminded me that I live in a state that has half-seasons. Currently, we are not in either spring or winter. We're in Wing, which is kind of like spring, but it's freaking cold.

I confess, the only things I've done today are crochet, eat, drink coffee, and grump. I woke up later than usual and felt far less rested than I should have. Apparently my brain thought I needed a dream about getting abandoned on a road trip with strangers... how annoying.

So I woke up cranky, went downstairs and chugged a mug of mocha. After that, I talked to my guy for a bit, put on my sweatshirt and fuzzy pants, and went back to bed. I repeated that two or three times, minus the adding layers of clothing lol.

I did some more work on the Mystery Project (not a ton, just a round and a half with the new thread, which feels lighter than the old stuff...), ate some tuna on a burger bun, tried to nap, failed, read over my notes for the stories I'm working on, thought about art, then ate dinner (meatloaf & fried cheesy potato pancakes). All in all, not a bad lazy day.

Right now I'm listening to Mikey Chen exult a brunch buffet while I type. It sounds and looks incredible. I'd recommend his video on Zuma.

Anywho, the plan for this week is to sketch or paint something for Thursday, and then get more work done on the Mystery Project for Monday. I have no fancy plans because my brain barely functions lol.

I hope that my art this week is good, and I'm hoping that the area warms up a bit again. The day it was near 60 was very very nice, and I miss that.

That should about do it for me today. Not many tales of cats or nature, just a quiet day in for myself.

Go Enjoy Something,

FC

Thursday Art Walk

 

In Which I Meme'd

I had a very silly idea today. It's based off of this video, and I want to draw more parts to it. Yes, it took me several hours to draw this, and for someone still learning how to use a USB tablet, I'm pretty darn proud of it!

"What Do You Have In Your Hand?!"; digital; 2022

Can you guess what that Happiny has in its lil hand?

I can see some things I need to fix (blush on the cheeks, better shading, smoothing out the lines, add a background) but as a first draft, that's not bad!

As for my missing Tuesday blog, lemme be real for a second:

I've been fighting an insomnia cycle for the last couple weeks. I have not been able to sleep and what sleep I've had has been plagued with bizarre and uncomfortable dreams. Nothing bad, per-se, but definitely not anything you want when you need the zzz's. So Tuesday wound up being a day where I tried to nap. I also tried napping yesterday (which was far more successful). I'm far less exhausted today, and I can't wait to try more art and writing tomorrow.

I might pop out in the early afternoon for a shuffle around the neighborhood, too, before it drops back into arctic temps, since it should be in the 40s (~4 - 6℃) for a couple of hours!

Apologies again for fluffing on Tuesday's blog, and hopefully next time I'm in Walmart I can snag some more red thread to to finish the Mystery Project on Monday!

for now, though, I hope you're all doing well and enjoying yourselves!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday(ish)

 

I Was So Busy Working On Crochet I Forgot To Write!!!

I won't get into my dumb butt's steadfast belief in overworking myself right now, but suffice it to say I have crocheted a lot this week, I just can't show you most of it.

Also, we're on to a brand new part of our very interesting Secret Project, so if you're just joining us, here's the pattern so far:

Round 1: sc 6 into magic ring (6 sc)

R2: 2sc around (12 sc)
R3: [2sc, sc] around (18 sc)
R4: [sc, 2sc, sc] (24 sc)
R5: [2sc, sc in next 3 sts] (30 sc)
R6: sc around (30 sc)
R7: [sc in next 2 sts, 2sc, sc in next 2 sts] around (36 sc)
R8: [2sc, sc in next 5 sts] around (42 sc)
R9: [sc in next 3 sts, 2sc, sc in next 3 sts] around (48 sc)
R10: [2sc, sc in next 7 sts] around (54 sts)
R11: [sc in next 4 sts, 2sc, sc in next 4 sts] around (60 sc)
R12-13: sc around (60 sc)
R14: [2sc, sc in next 9 sts] around (66 sc)
R15: [sc in next 5 sts, 2sc, sc in next 5 sts] around (72 sc)
R16: [2sc, sc in next 11 sts] around (78 sc)
R17: [sc in next 6 sts, 2sc, sc in next 6 sts] around (84 sc)
R18: [2sc, sc in next 13 sts] around (90 sc)
R19-21: sc around (90 sc)
R22: [sc in next 7 sts, 2sc, sc in next 7 sts] around (96 sc)
R23: [2sc, sc in next 15 sts] around (102 sc)
R24: [sc in next 8 sts, 2sc, sc in next 8 sts] around (108 sc)
R25: [2sc, sc in next 17 sts] around (114 sc)
R26: [sc in next 9 sts, 2sc, sc in next 9 sts] around (120 sc)
R27-30: sc around (120 sc)
R31: [2sc, sc in next 19 sts] around (126 sc)
R32: [sc in next 10 sts, 2sc, sc in next 10 sts] around (132 sc)
R33: [2sc, sc in next 21 sts] around (138 sc)
R34: [sc in next 11 sts, 2sc, sc in next 11 sts] around (144 sc)
R35: [2sc, sc in next 23 sts] around (150 sc)
R36-40: sc around (150 sc)
R41: [sc 2 together, sc 23] around (144 sc)
R42-47: sc around (144 sc)
R48: [sc 11, sc 2 together, sc 11] around (138 sc)
R49-55: sc around (138 sc)
R56: [sc 2 together, sc 21] around (132 sc)
R57-64: sc around (132sc)
R65: [sc 10, sc 2 tog, sc 10] around (126 sc)
R66-74: sc around (126 sc)
R75: [sc 2 tog, sc 19] around (120 sc)
R76-84: sc around (120 sc)
R85: sc around, sl st to first sc (120 sc)
R86: ch3 (counts as 1^st dc), dc in each sc around, sl st in top of ch3 (120 sc)
R87: ch3 (counts as 1^st dc), dc in next 10 dc; yarn over, insert hook into next dc, pull through 1 loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through 2 loops (does not count as 1^st foundation dc), foundation dc next 96 stitches, then (being careful not to twist) dc in the 12^th dc from the end of the round, dc to the end of the round (24 dc, 96 foundation dc = 120 dc); sl st to top of ch3, fasten off.

You should now have something that looks like a hinged ring or a handle attached to an odd, pear-shaped pouch. Now we’ll begin the underside of the lid (this is going to be weird, I’m sorry).

Form a magic ring from the same color as you’ve been using. I use a double-magic-ring for added security but you can start this in the round however you like.

R1: ch3 (counts as 1^st dc here and throughout), dc 11 in ring, sl st to the top of the ch3 (12dc)
R2: ch3, fpdc in same dc, (dc in next dc, fpdc in same dc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (12dc, 12fpdc = 24st)
R3: ch3, dc in next st, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 2 st, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (24dc, 12fpdc = 36st)
R4: ch3, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 3 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (36dc, 12fpdc = 48st)
R5: ch3, dc in next 3 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 4 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (48dc, 12fpdc = 60st)
R6: ch3, dc in next 4 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 5 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (60dc, 12fpdc = 72st)
R7: ch3, dc in next 5 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 6 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (72dc, 12fpdc = 84st)
R8: ch3, dc in next 6 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 7 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (84dc, 12fpdc = 96st)
R9: ch3, dc in next 7 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 8 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (96dc, 12fpdc = 108st)
R10: ch3, dc in next 8 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 9 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (108dc, 12fpdc = 120st)

Take your hook out of the disc you formed (which we will now refer to as the “Lid”), then choose a spot to attach it to on the weird flap/hinge part of the first piece (which we’ll now refer to as the “Body”). With the ridged pattern facing downward (towards the open mouth of the Body), insert your hook back through one stitch of the Body’s hinge/flap and back into the loop of the Lid. We will be making our stitches through the hinge/flap stitches and back into the Lid for this round.

R11: ch3 (pull the first loop all the way through the hinge/flap stitch to make your 1^st ch), dc in next 9 dc going through the corresponding flap/hinge stitches as you go; on the next stitch, do not go back through the hinge/flap stitch to make your fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 10 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around until the last fpdc, which is basically impossible (if you figure it out, great!) so just fake it til you make it; sl st in top of ch3. (120dc + 12fpdc = 132 sts)

You should have something that looks a bit like a sand dollar stuck in a ring.

R12: ch3, dc in next 10 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 11 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (132dc + 12fpdc = 144 sts)

R13: ch3, dc in next 11 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 12 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (144dc + 12fpdc = 156 sts)

R14: ch3, dc in next 12 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 13 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (156dc + 12fpdc = 168sts)
R15: ch3, dc in next 13 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 14 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (168dc + 12fpdc = 180sts)

This week:

R16: ch3, dc in next 14 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 15 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (180dc + 12fpdc = 192sts)

R17: ch3, dc in next 15 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 16 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (192dc + 12fpdc = 204sts)

R18: ch3, dc in next 16 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 17 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (204dc + 12fpdc = 216sts)

R19: ch3, dc in next 17 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 18 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (216dc + 12fpdc = 228sts)

R20: ch3, dc in next 18 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 19 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (228dc + 12fpdc = 240sts)

And here's what I've done this week:

R21: ch3, dc in next 19 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 20 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (240dc + 12fpdc = 252sts)

R22: ch3, dc in next 20 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 21 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (252dc + 12fpdc = 264sts)

R23: ch3, dc in next 21 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 22 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (264dc + 12fpdc = 276sts)

R24: ch3, dc in next 22 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 23 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (276dc + 12fpdc = 288sts)

R25: ch3, dc in next 23 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 24 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (288dc + 12fpdc = 300sts)

You'll have a nice big weird ribbed disc now, but we're not done yet!

It doesn't look.... great yet, I'm sure. Mine's super lumpy lol!

R26: ch3, insert hook through back loops of next dc - by this I mean the back loop usually used and there should be a very small wrapped section just below that loop that you can wiggle the hook onto. If you cannot find that, don't worry, just work in back loops only to the end of the round, otherwise, dc into both loops around, change to your second color in the end of the last dc, sl st in top of ch3 to join. (300 sts)

It's very unclear, but there is a small horizontal bar under the back loop.
I'm using that bar plus the back loop!

Another angle, but unfortunately it is blurry. Sorry!

Did you catch our color change?! We have begun the finishing touches, my friends! If you missed the color change or if you just hate doing them, don't worry, you can actually just tie off the first color and attach your second color in this first stitch of the new round!

R27: ch3, dc in next 74 dc, hdc in next dc, sc in next dc, sl st in next 146 dc, sc in next dc, hdc in next dc, dc in last 75 dc, sl st to top of ch 3 to join. (150 dc, 2 hdc, 2sc, 146 sl st = 300 sts)

The Project So Far (on my laptop lol)

As You can see, we made a bit of a gradual drop to the sl sts!
Also my beige yarn is very dirty and I'll need to wash this before I block it...

As for why we just added those slip stitches, I will explain now, but show you next week:

We're making another opening! This one is only half as wide as the project's current width (150 stitches wide, to be specific) but it's waaay wider and more open-looking than our little lid/mouth that we made on the body. We'll be building up the top after we establish the opening in this red section, and once we're done with that, we'll make some finishing touches, but we really are nearly done with this! It just... doesn't quite look like it.

Also, fair warning, you may want to get a pair of zippers that are as long as the openings we're making. You could probably hold these closed another way, but zippers will be more convenient for future use!

Any guesses so far as to what we're making?

Also, I'm going to say this here: you can customize this to any size you want, really. It just takes a bit of math and understanding how the repeated parts of the pattern work together. What I'm providing here will hopefully be a jumping off point.

And of course you can sell items you make based off of this pattern. I'd love it if you'd credit me with the pattern itself, but I can't tell you not to sell objects you made, that's silly. It's not as if this is based off of any licensed characters or anything. It's just... a mysterious project ;)

That'll about do it from me tonight! Tune in probably halfway through tomorrow when I remember that I committed to writing a blog on Tuesdays lol!

I hope you have fun working on your own projects, and...

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Talk About Tuesday

 

So... It's Been A While...

I'm back!!! I'm not gonna lie and tell you some sob story about how oh woe is me, I had so much to do!

I didn't. I just wasn't home for a lot of last week lol! I took a wee bit of an unexpected vacation and spent time with my partner! I got back on Wednesday last week but I didn't have my stuff together for a proper Thursday Art Walk and I decided I'd rather just fill y'all in today without a sudden Fiber Monday popping up before my explanations.

So yes, I've been Out a bit, and I've loved every second of it lol!

From Sunday before last to the Wednesday that followed, I was in a completely different town. I had access to internet, but I was spending one-on-one time with someone I love, so I basically unplugged. I also went for a lot of walks!

Taken While On Tip-Toes!

Truly a beautiful vista...

Very pretty this way too - and I love that dead tree!

Those pics were from my mini-vacation out of town. These next ones are from today about 1.5 miles from home!

Lol that last one was an oopsie on my way back, but I actually like the play of light and shadow, grass and brick, so in it stays!

All in all, I had a very busy day - I went down to the beach and painted, I went shopping at the fancy art store in town, and I even picked up some fabric from my local fabric shop (my masks are getting very worn, and I'd very much like this pandemic to end...).

Sadly my trip only lasted a couple of hours because my town is hosting a stupid cruise ship and all of the tourists wanted desperately to drag their toddlers and dogs to the fanciest restaurant in the neighborhood, despite about a dozen other tastier and more affordable options much, much closer to the boat. Being allergic to human interaction, I fluffed off homeward and settled in, uploading all these pics... a task that took several hours and multiple attempts. Seems I've got to purge my photo folders...

A task for another day, perhaps!

For now, I will be oozing into bed and falling asleep, nursing the bugbites on my calves and the strained muscles in my feet. Yes I am that out of shape. Give me a break. Everything's over a mile from my house and it's been raining. Today's mostly-sunny 70℉ (21℃) weather was a freaking reward.

So to you all, I say good night and good luck!

And Go Enjoy Something!

FC

PS: I'll be back on Thursday, dropping some art and the results of my shopping spree on ya!

Thursday Art Walk

 

In Which I Am Proud Of Myself :P

This week was a pretty good one, creatively! I'm setting up and prepping a bunch of future fanart sketches involving some Pokemon Original Trainers (really looking forward to introducing the McHannon Cousins and Zed with their pokepals!), wrote a bunch of notes on what to include (and contemplating fanfic - sorry Z!), and picking color palettes. I am also trying to figure out if I'll do this 100% digital, 100% traditional, or a combination of the two... I'm leaning towards "combination".

But alongside that hubbub, I was also looking for references on Twitter and YouTube.

One of my favorite folks to follow on Twitter is @Weird_Animals. They posted this hilarious photo of a Double-Crested Cormorant and I... I could not resist. At all.

Behold, my first attempt at a non-spherical bird:

"FEESH NOW"; watercolor pencil on watercolor paper; 2021

I cannot stop laughing when I look at this piece. Seriously, it's just so goofy, and I can't wait to take it out of the notebook and scan it onto Redbubble.

For now, though, it's getting a little late, and I'm enjoying an author talk with my partner (it's Richard Lange discussing Rovers, and it involves vampires).

If you guys have any questions about my fanfiction ideas, feel free to tell me! I have never actually posted a fanfic on the internet before, so I'm a wee bit nervous, tbh.

I hope y'all are having a decent week. Mine's been pretty alright, to be honest. I have been having a headache around 5pm every day, which is weird, but it's probably dehydration. It always is.

Anywho, that'll do it for me!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Thursday Art Walk - Yard Care In The Outback?

In Which I Drew Another Cute Pic!

Blogger is being a bit finicky today, so I'm trying to copy/paste images as opposed to use the tool they built into it.

Also, it's really beginning to alarm me that the underline under my title keeps turning red...

Regardless, I have, in fact, drawn a picture! And it's another Australian mammal! Specifically another marsupial!

It's another wombat - nature's lawnmower/tiller.

"Lawn Care Down Under"; graphite on printer paper; 2021

This is a Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat who has just finished grazing the lawn down to an appropriate height. She's quite satisfied with herself and the enormous meal she's given herself lol!

I should draw more of these odd, large-nosed marsupials. I love how they waddle along, how their butts are both a shield and a weapon, and how they're just so cute! Just... wonderful critters :)

There may not be a drawing next week - I'll be getting my second Moderna shot shortly before then and may be out of commission for a bit.

How are all of y'all doing?

Until next time, then,

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday: FINALLY

 

In Which I Have Finally Finished the Stocking
(Kind Of)

Despite all of my procrastination, seasonal depression, unrelated stress and anxiety, and just plain not knowing what I was doing 90% of the time, I have finally finished the stocking! Kind of.

The stocking is done! I have the whole body made up, just have an end or two to weave in, but I haven't even begun to think about where to put the name or just how I'll do it. Do I do a 5x5 stitch cross-stitch? 3x5? Serif or sans serif? Lots to think about.

But that's Tomorrow Me's problem because Today's Me is proud of what I've accomplished!

LOOK AT IT!

I'm so pleased with how the antlers came out, and I can't wait to add the name. It was suggested that I put it on the foot, and I may go with that :) Regardless, it's done and it's huge and I know there's nothing there for scale, but I measured it at about 32 inches (81cm) top to toe!

I'm thankful to you all for bearing with me, to my sibling and nibling for their patience, and to my joints, which have gamely stood up to several months of use for this project. I only have a handful of that original skein of blue yarn left now, though both the brown and white are much more plentiful.

I feel like I've earned a few days away from the hook lol

What do you guys think of this project? Is it too big? Should I have made it bigger? Should I have put less space between the borders and the snowflakes? Should I put the name on the foot or do I monogram it around each snowflake in a V formation (one initial to the upper left of the snowflake, another to the upper right, and one at the bottom center)? Whaddaya think? :P

For me? I'm just gonna....

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Filmic Friday 327: It's Not A Mall

This week on "what did I just watch, no seriously?!"...

Once upon a time, someone decided that there needed to be a musical sitcom, that it needed to be set at a shopping plaza, and that it needed to co-star Allison Mack as a chipmunk-voiced child. Predictably, something that sounds that fever-dreamed and nonsensical did not make it very hard of you'd have immediately known what I was talking about. Since you probably don't (unless you're my partner, who showed it to me, or you're part of a very small subset of Internet People), let me tell you about Shangri-La Plaza.

This show was created and run by the guy who played adult Michael Myers in the original Halloween, Nick Castle, along with Mark Mueller. You might not recognize Mueller's name, but he's the only reason I sat through the show. See, Mueller is the guy who wrote the themes to Duck Tales and Rescue Rangers. As you might have guessed, the show has an incredible theme song.

If only it weren't utterly destroyed by the cast, only three of whom (Melora Hardin from The Office, Carmen Lundy who sang jazz, and Broadway staple Terrence Mann) could sing, but who only get... okay songs.

Speaking of the songs, except for the theme, most of them are choppy little songlets that just appear and vanish as soon as they begin. It's... It's not good guys. One or two songs actually get off the ground - one about making donuts poorly is Lundy's big piece. The rest are basically sing-spoken and it's not that great to be honest.

And the story! What a half-imagined thing! Basically, Hardin and Mack are a mother and daughter who have inherited a donut shop on Shangri-La Plaza, but Hardin wants to ditch it and move to Paris with her kid for a fresh start. That's the story. It doesn't show up until about 1/3 of the way through the pilot! Instead, we open with a pair of mechanic brothers who, unfortunately, are our romantic leads.

Oh, and if you're wondering why there's a slightly racist street punk Chorus like a modern-vintage Shakespeare play, I don't have answers. I can, however, tell you they took one of the world's best tapdancers at the time and put his character on crutches.

Now, if you're wondering how this "show" went, I'm going to paste it in here for you so you don't have to clutter up your YouTube recommendations extra hard by both looking for and watching it. "Enjoy".

Final note: Allison Mack went from being obnoxious here to being kinda cute in Smallville to being a legit monster thrall in a monster cult. That is all.

Go Enjoy Something! (Preferably something better)
FC


Oh, and:

Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor.
Black Lives Matter.
The current method of policing America cannot, on the whole, be rehabilitate, therefore it should be completely overhauled and funds largely redistributed over multiple highly-regulated organizations who are hyper-specialized while being dispatched by a highly-regulated dispatch office so that we don't have armed and fearful officers beating in the heads of mentally ill people on "wellness checks" or shooting unarmed social workers for no reason.

Thursday Art Walk 321: Hippity Hoppity I Can't Use Photoshoppity

In Which I'm Getting Better at Paint.net!

Three things:

1. I'm 31 now. I am going to try much harder this year. At everything.
2. That includes trying to figure out how to do shading in my free paint program on my computer
3. I really, really liked the Bunnicula series as a kid. What's not to love? It's a book series supposedly written by a fairly silly dog about a vampire rabbit and a theatrical cat and a sweet numpty of a Dachshund!

So now you know what I started painting today:

Bunnicula 1, digital; 2020

As you can see, I'm still not 100% confident with the use of transparencies and layers, and I haven't even begun to cover backgrounds. I'll work more on this piece in the future, I think. It's based, of course, on one of the millions of stock photos of "smol bunny" in Google, but I hope I've changed it up enough that while the pose is similar, it's its own thing.

I'm actually kinda okay with the gray shading around the eye, and I'm looking forward to brushing in the floof and highlighting the ears so you can tell where the ear starts and stops. I'll be adding more shading to the inner ear, too.

I'm really happy with that eye, though. That's a really good eye, in my opinion.

I really can't use Photoshop, though, guys. I can't afford it, first of all, and secondly, it's... super complicated to me. I don't understand 99% of the tools available, and, to be honest, it just feels like a gross cash-grab from Adobe. So no Photoshop or Lightroom for me. No thanks. I'll find free alternatives and do my best to master them.

So expect a lot of progress shots from me learning digital this year.

I'm about to go scramble an egg into some leftover Thai food from dinner last night, so I'll just leave you with this:

Whatever art you make is awesome.

Yes, even crayon doodles.

Yes, even potato faces.

Yes, even the doodled genitals in the margins of your notes (but make sure those don't end up with your teacher or boss).

Yes, even fingerpaints or random Play-Doh sculptures.

Yes, even glued-together popsicle sticks.

Your art is great and valid and I love it.

Make your weird poured-paint organs and bones.

Make your ugly monster dolls.

Make your hyper-realistic insect paintings.

Make your super-simplistic line sketches of plants.

Splash some color on some canvas or paper.

Go monochrome.

Just...

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Thursday Art Attempt 320

In Which I *TRIED* To Make Art

So you haven't seen many examples, but one of my favorite art forms is watercolor. I love painting with watercolors. I find it very relaxing, I love how dreamy the colors can be, and I really enjoy the process.

Unfortunately, I forgot to close my door today.

So I ended up with a "helper"

Evie cannot be around the watercolors when they're out, since they're not pet-safe, so I had to wait for her to decide to leave my room.

Guys, that was three. Hours. Ago.

She's still in here, wandering around, giving me death glares when things aren't to her liking. My allergies are acting up. I won't be able to finish this piece today :( BUT! I did get an undersketch done. Check back next week to see if I managed to finish this watercolor of a cityscape!

Now, a few extra wrinkles:

• I haven't used this kind of watercolor paper before. I haven't had much luck with the paper tablets you can get at most stores, because I tend to work very wet, and that just... mushes the paper up. I prefer a good cotton paper like Arches or something. Still, this is what I found, and as far as practice goes, this should help.
• It's been over a year since I painted anything. Hopefully I've still got it.
• I don't know what colors to make this. It's a four-layer image: background of the sky, mountains, cityscape, and foreground of a park. I usually just do two layers (sky and city), so I'm not sure what colors to make things. Mostly, I need help with the foreground (do I just do darkened shades of what the actual park colors would be or should I go with a monochrome effect?) and the background (I know the top is black, but what should it fade down to? Is this black-to-purple, black-to-red, black-to-green?!)
• I don't 100% remember how to watercolor paint properly, so if this comes out looking like garbage, we'll blame my poor practicing, right?

Regardless, I'm looking forward to getting back into watercolor again :)

What are you guys up to, art-wise?

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Saturday Casual Gaming 314: Uhhhhhh......

Besides being my current gaming logo, this is an accurate representation of me today...

I am aware that Saturday is almost over in the EST Zone, but I also am aware that I spent all day playing video games and napping like a child.

It rocked.

I mean, yeah, my eyes are gummy from all the napping, and I feel like I want to take a run around the block (I'll do some pushups instead), but actually, today was pretty great.

I just... uh...

I don't have a game to tell you about.

Because I was literally just testing possibilities.

I mean, I could tell you all about Conceptis Games, but I'm pretty sure I did that at some point in 2018... Long story short, they're all logic games, they're heckin fun, and I'm pretty sure you can find them on app stores as well as Kongregate or just their own website.

Currently, I'm testing out an idle game that is turning out to be fun, though it has 0 tutorial and is basically trial and error.

I'm sorry this is up so late, and I'll try to do better tomorrow. I actually have something Viral to show you!!!

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Thursday Art Walk 306: Dedbert Strikes Again

In Which I Have An Art For You!

Thursdays can be a bit weird for me sometimes. Some Thursdays, I have the house to myself, waking up at 9AM and working through til noon, when I finally post my art for you guys. Other Thursdays, the house is full of people, hustle and bustle distracting me for hours (like today). Still other Thursdays find me sleepless and exhausted, desperately trying to scrape together enough brain cells to make art, despite staying up all night or sleeping past 11 and hurrying along.

Basically, Thursday's a crapshoot.

But today I have a picture for you guys! Remember how, last week, our boy Dedbert was typing away?

"Editing Sweet"; Ballpoint pen on sketch pad; 2020

Well, the lil stinker actually beat me to the editing phase!

Maybe...

Hang, on, is this just him talking about that fat owl? I thought you were writing fiction, kiddo! Hey, nonfiction's pretty neat too.

Or are you gonna do a story based on her?

However things are going with that manuscript, I'm proud of him :)

And whatever you guys are working on, I'm proud of you, too.

It could be an ongoing effort to brew the best cup of coffee, a shawl you're knitting, a quilt you're sewing, a home repair you're finishing, or art or a manuscript or literally anything!

When you do the work, you should be proud of yourself, and you should know I'm proud of you, too.

Good luck out there, friends!

You've got this!

Go Enjoy Something,
FC

Thursday Art Walk 252

In Which It's the Last Art of 2019!

It's a beautiful sunny day today. There's leftovers in my fridge, my family have their gifts (including the Purrmaid!), and I have plans to go see a showing of Strangers on a Train at my local library. All in all, this is a fantastic December 26th.

Unfortunately, I have the Christmas Crud, which means that my throat hurts, my nose is leaking like a faucet, and all I want to do is sleep. I'll be 100% fine, though. This happens every year, it feels like, lol!

I'm not the only one, either...

"Christmas Crash"; permanent Marker on sketch paper; 2019

Poor Dedbert. The poor lil guy is so zonked from his exciting Christmas exploits that he's got his Santa hat dipped in his coffee! I'll give him the week off next week - it's been a while since I've done some bubbles :)

Here's hoping that your Christmas was merry and bright, and if it wasn't, then hopefully the new year brings you better days ahead.

I love you all.

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Talk About Tuesday 252

In Which I'm Busy lol

Today is a sunny day, most of our snow has melted, and I'm 90% done with Christmas stuff! So Excited!

Now I just need to remember to start next year's gifts on December 26th this year, instead of December 3rd next year...

So What's the Week Looking Like?

• Tomorrow is Christmas. Don't look on the blog. I'll be busy eating and opening gifts :P
• Thursday will be something fun and wintry!
• Friday... maybe Fear And Loathing?
• Saturday... Poker?
• Sunday is a bit up in the air, since I doubt I'm cooking much in the next couple days...
• Next Monday, stay tuned for something creative-like...
• Next Tuesday I'll give you weather and blog updates

So that'll do it from me today...

Because if I have to have it stuck in my head, so do you!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC