Thursday Art Walk: Two Days Of Witchtober To Go!

 

In Which My Wrists Are SO SORE

"Jaq"; Cactus Witch; 2020

"Rita"; Beer Witch; 2020

"Teuta"; Pirate Witch; 2020

"Yawen" Rain Witch; 2020

"Scathach"; Warrior Witch; 2020

"Maud"; Tattooed Witch; 2020

"Aster 2"; Forest Witch; 2020

Detail from "Aster 2"

Detail from "Aster 2"

I'm pretty exhausted, and I had to fight tooth and nail to format today's blog as well as I have. This has been a rough day. Thankfully, I'll finish my last two witches tomorrow and Halloween, posting them to the blog as I go, and then I'm finnnniiiiisssshhhheeeddddddd.

I'm excited to move on to other art - found a neat website that creates palettes for you and I can't wait to play with it! I will also get to finish working on other projects, which I'm looking forward to as well.

I always enjoy my time doing Inktober and its lovely variants, and I'm very grateful to Instagram user @A_Ginger_Witch for making the prompt list I drew from, but holy cow is it grueling to make art every day. My thumbs ache! Maybe I'm just old lol.

Anyway, I hope you've all enjoyed this year's passel of witches, and I look forward to exploring next year's art community's prompts!

It's about time for dinner, so I'm gonna head down and eat whatever's there and then come back upstairs and maybe... not draw for 12 hours? That sounds nice :P

Please go and

Enjoy Something!

FC

Talk About Tuesday - The Importance of Being Cwispy

 

In Which I Am Very Odd

I'm a weirdo. There, I've said it.

Oh, you already knew?

Huh. Yeah, I probably should have guessed that, with how weird the blog can be and all...

Anyway, yeah, I'm pretty weird. I do that whole rocking-to-self-soothe thing, I act out scenes from my books when I think no one's home, I draw the bubble art because I really dig repetitive motion with variation, I talk to my cat like she's a person (though I don't believe she's human - that's not healthy, she's a cat and I try to treat her like herself!), and I sing along with the radio when I know the music. I watch pro-wrestling and sumo wrestling. I cook weird stoner food despite having never smoked a joint in my life (or done any drugs at all, really). I pay too much attention to the color of the sky and the movement of the leaves and the way a squirrel hops. I drop my R's like a toddler when I'm joking with my partner because it sounds funny and makes both of us laugh. I come up with borderline-rude nicknames (whineoceros, for instance) for people. I watch weird YouTube videos that probably make people uncomfortable (though one of them got a TV show, so maybe not...)

I go through color phases in my wardrobe (it's a Green Day, just not the band. Yesterday was black & red). I go through book genre phases (noire! Victorian detective! Sci-Fi comedy! Fantasy! Urban Fantasy! Horror!). I go through art phases (bubbles! no, sketches! no, crayons! no, markers!). I go through music phases (all Irish! all metal! all classical! all synthwave! all 80s! and on and on). I go through times where I'm able to sleep no problem and times when sleep is as elusive as a clouded leopard in broad daylight.

And I'm sure all of you have weird things you do, too!

Thing is, we need to, as a society, embrace the weird.

We need to accept that people have different styles and ideal selves than what we've been trained to accept. Sometimes, people have Afros. Sometimes they wear mullets. Sometimes they want bright pink hair. Sometimes they want a sand dollar on their wrist, or their family tree on their back, or a pair of swallows on their chest, or their mother's favorite poem on their forearm. Sometimes they have scars. Sometimes they have voluptuous chests that clothes literally aren't sewn for. Sometimes they want to dress like it's 1845 and they live on the prairie. I don't really get why any of this is an issue, but apparently it's a huge issue to some people?

We really just need to chill.

Cultivate your own weirdness. Talk to your cat (though if she starts talking back without mechanical assistance, maybe see a doctor because either you're experiencing some illness or you have a legit miracle on hand and a doctor is legally not permitted to rat your magic cat out if you have them witness the talking first hand on your Zoom chat or whatever). Paint your paintings of pepperoni pizza ninjas (and let me see your art!). Write that song about the exact shade of blue the sky was that November day you went to your first convention (and let me hear it!). Cook that chili that you know no one else will be able to eat because you overloaded it with capsaicin (and tell me how it is!). Read that book you think you're too old for (and tell me about it!). Listen to that weird metal/jazz fusion band with the clowns (aren't they cool?!). Watch your favorite show. Read your favorite comic. Play your favorite game.

We only get between 60 and 100 years on this planet, if we're lucky. Up to about 120 if we're extremely lucky. And only parts of that time are really accessible for us as full and self-contained humans to enjoy as we wish. Enjoy what you enjoy when it causes no harm and share it with as many people as you can.

Not everyone will appreciate the same things as you, which is fine. We all like different things. But! You would be surprised how many people do like what you like. You'd be even more surprised at what they can introduce you to! We're all stuck in the same shared experience, after all, so why not really share it! Find your tribe, weirdlings! Find your people, share your weird with them, and accept their weird too!

Now Go Enjoy Something!

And share it with someone!

FC

Fiber Monday - Witches Get Stitches

 

In Which I Am Le Tired

Once upon a time, I was capable of sleeping more than 4-5 hours at a time. Hopefully I'll get back to that soon, but last night was bad, bad, bad. I could not sleep. I could not concentrate. I couldn't relax. You might think the cup of mocha I had before bed had something to do with it, but no, it was decaf and I used half as much cocoa as usual. Was it the soreness of my legs and feet after a couple miles of walking around town on Saturday? Nah, I'm used to being sore - I'm just over 30, that's life. Was it the racket outside? Nah, dead silence.

So why did I stay up until dawn?

Because my brain is stupid and doesn't shut up, even when the rest of me screams at it to give it a rest already.

And also because I was starting to need a shower really badly - amazing how much oil can build up in your hair when you move around.

And also because I was trying to sleep. Because my brain hates it when I tell it to go to bed. Like a sullen toddler, it will pitch hissy fits and throw itself around in rage because it doesn't want to calm down and give me over to the sweet embrace of Morpheus (the god, not the hacker).

All that is to say:

I am a very sleepy potato.

I did come up with a pattern and (basically) finish it this week, though! I made a bright orange ball to stand in for a tangerine because I am going to be a capybara for Halloween. In my house. Because, y'know... Corona.

Tangerine Headband for Capybara Cosplay

• The ball is made on a double magic ring (my first success at this method!), then you single crochet 6 into the ring, close it.
• Next, you increase in each stitch around (12sc)
• (Increase, sc) around (18sc)
• (sc, increase, sc) around (24sc)
• (increase, sc in next 3 sc) around (30 sc)
• Sc around (30sc)
• (sc in next 2, increase, sc in next 2) around (36sc)
• Sc around for at least 3 more rows (36sc/row), moving on only when the ball is as tall as you like. I eyeballed it at 3 rows, but your mileage may vary.
• (sc in next 2, decrease, sc in next 2) around (30sc)
• (decrease, sc in next 3 sc) around (24sc)
• (sc, decrease, sc) around (18sc). You may want to start stuffing here, as it will soon be too small an opening to stuff.
• (decrease, sc) around (12sc)
• decrease around (6sc) fasten off.
• Sew the opening shut and either add a brown button or some felt or something (even a nice hefty knot of brown yarn works! to form the stem end.
• Affix your new tangerine to a headband of your choice in the manner of your choosing. I'll probably be sewing mine on if I can't buy an appropriate headband - that way I can remove it later - but you could easily use hot glue or wire or whatever you think would work.

sc = single crochet

increase = single crochet two times in the same stitch

decrease = insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull up, then insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, pull through all loops. Basically, you're making one single crochet over two stitches.

For the rest of this costume, I own a brown fleece from Lands End from probably 1999. It has grown shaggy and shapeless with age, but that's perfect for my purposes. I'll wear that, a pair of brown or tan pants, and my brown suede boots and boom - capybara lite.

In case you're wondering why, here's a picture of a capybara chilling with a tangerine balanced on its cute rectangular noggin:

Look at this majestic critter!

So yes, that's my inspiration this Halloween lol.

I also think I'll try to work on a few other projects related to the title, but we'll see if they come together in the next 5 days. I have my doubts, but I'll try anyway!

I have been working on my other projects, worry not, but I don't know man, I'm so tired all the time. Maybe I'll feel better after a nap!

Naps are good. I like naps.

I also like all of you, so please take it to heart when I tell you to

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Thursday Art Walk: Witches Galore

Oh man oh man   o h   m a n!

I am beyond thrilled with how this week's witches came out!

"Chu'mana"; Snake Witch; 2020

Did I base this cute lil magical danger noodle off of an image of an Emerald Tree Python? Yes. Yes I did. But I raised her head so she's looking more alert :)

"Benzaiten" Music Witch; 2020

Oh my gosh, guys, I'm so proud of Benzaiten and her cute lil face and her cute hair! Not too thrilled with the legs/feet, but that's what practice is for!

"Niradei" Tropical Witch; 2020

Oh Niradei, your face was supposed to look more Polynesian, but my dumb fat fingers couldn't hack it yet. I will improve you one day! Also, her skirt is supposed to be made from fishing nets, but I was too impatient to actually make it look right. I like how you can still see her creepy reflection a bit, though, and her flower is cute!

"Makuu" Fire Witch; 2020

Makuu here was supposed to have a skirt, but I... forgot it while inking. Oopsie. Ah well - it probably would've burned up in the fire she's dancing in anyway lol. I like her creepy mask and headscarf combo though!

"Orazia" Time Witch; 2020

I lowkey love how Orazia came out. She's my Italian Time Witch from the far flung "future" of the 1980s lol. I especially love her thigh-high flat boots lol. She'll be done up with the most obnoxious neon palette some day :)

"Yaz" Summer Witch (with tiny pet Watermelon Dragon!); 2020

I'm kinda crushing on Yaz here. She looks so cool! And yes, you can't exactly tell that's a Watermelon Dragon in black & white, but when I color this bad girl? Yeah, you'll know what I'm up to. Also, I love that I gave her a wand holster on her Spandex shorts and I'll finalize her arm tattoos some day :) She's carrying a towel, not a yoga mat.

"Venancia" Hunter Witch; 2020

I really like this drawing, but I couldn't zoom out to show you the whole thing because it doesn't capture on my phone camera. There's a moon above Ven, who is threatening the man in the foreground. He's holding a (slightly wonky) sword, and he's terrified. I think this one will fare the best with coloring, since I'd be adding in a dark forest, illuminating the spectral stag, and giving Ven's body an ombre effect (lightest at her face, darkest at her hands and feet).

Now that I've shown you my hard work (and it was hard to figure out what to draw this week!!!) I get to tell you about my cat!

My cat is a 100% indoor cat - she's missing teeth and has zero survival instincts. She's very sweet, and we love her, but she wouldn't last 24 hours out there. Which is a bit of a problem, because our girlie now has a crush.

Our neighbors, the ones with the chickens and the ducks and the dog that never stops barking because she's so high energy, have a big gray cat named Sky.

Sky is very much an outdoor cat (which I worry about a lot, knowing about the bobcat and the coyotes that live nearby!) with outdoor cat skills and a shy nature. He's a big gray floof of adorableness, and we all love him, even though he poops in my mom's gardens.

Our cat, Evie, is absolutely obsessed with him. She watches him out the windows with an intensity we'd only ever associated with closed doors and unattended but out of reach chicken. She wants this boy.

So I managed to catch them flirting yesterday!

Taken just before he saw me and ran away, disappointing poor Evie.

Ah, young love!

Alright, that'll do it for me!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday

 

In Which I Have Been Working...

You may not know it from following my Twitter account or my Facebook or just talking to me, but I have been slowly continuing my work on my various and sundry crochet projects. I've also been struggling a lot with my focus and ability to maintain motivation, so things... they're progressing very slowly across the board. I have all these ideas, but lately I've just been so tired that it's hard to get anything done.

This is, in fact, a closeup from last week, but you get the idea. Add 2 rows lol.

I know this isn't much of an update, and I'm sorry about that. I'll try to keep y'all up to date on what I'm up to, though!

Tomorrow's another day!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Thursday Art Walk: Witchtober Wk 2

 

In Which It's Another Week of Witches!

So, I have a lot to explain for today.

Firstly: I was absconded with on Monday, hence no Fiber Monday. I did succeed in getting a few new pattern repeats done on some projects, though! 

Second: I was busy on Tuesday with both writing and art and also doing a lot of juggling of household stuff, so no Talk About Tuesday. I got some writing done, pre-gamed with my art, and cooked some noodles. It was a very good day.

Third: Yesterday was the worst day I've had in a while for motivation. I could not get anything done. Nothing. I didn't even bathe. It was bad. BUT!

Today, I:

Drew a bunch of pictures of witches that I skipped like a lazy butthole

Wrote a paragraph of my novel

Wrote a comment on a Tweet about the lady authors I read as a kid while obsessed with dragons and Margaret freaking Weis LIKED IT!!!!!

Cooked dinner (cheddar sausages with pierogi!)

So without further ado, here's this week's Witches for @A_Ginger_Witch's Witchtober list on Instagram (which I don't have, like, or want, so I'll hashtag it on Twitter like the dork I am).

"Alys"; 9. Wonderland Witch

"Audhumla"; 10. Zodiac Witch (Taurus)

"Timothy & The Captain"; 11. Tea/Coffee Witch

"Rachel"; 12. Demon Witch

"Xue"; 13. Academic Witch

"Cadhla"; 14. Pinup Witch

"Kara"; 15. Candy Witch

I always forget after October what a grind a daily picture can be. I'm proud that Kara's prosthesis looks believable, and I like that I drew one of Cadhla's shoes dropping from the sky, and I'm so proud of my cute lil demon-summoning bow-loving Rachel, but I think I'm most pleased with sweet lil Timothy pouring a cup of love potion coffee (it's just a magically delicious cup of coffee, exactly what you wanted, every single time). A close second to Tim is Xue, with her frustrated look, and the fact that she may look like the oldest witch on here!

Anyway, I'm going to try to keep up with the blog next week, but if I miss Monday & Tuesday again, don't panic! I'm probably just busy lol.

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Thursday Art Walk - Witchtober Week 1+Today

 

In Which I Drew Witches Aplenty

Last week I announced that I was going to do Witchtober 2020 this year, and I have not given up yet!

I'm up to 8 drawings of witches (and so, so many ugly sketches...) So here are my witches so far (with a refresher from Witch #1, the Gothic Witch ;) )

"Mistress"; Witch #1 - Gothic

"Aster"; Witch #2 - Autumn

"Kara"; Witch #3 - Garden Witch

"Naomi"; Witch #4 - Kitchen Witch

"Vix"; Witch #5 - Kitsune/Fox Witch

"Aella"; Witch #6 - Skater Witch

"Sophie"; Witch #7 - Alchemist Witch

"Imina"; Witch #8 - Seer Witch

I am really enjoying this set of prompts, and I'm looking forward to the next seven, who consist of a Wonderland Witch, A Zodiac Witch, A Tea/Coffee Witch (Tim?!), a Demon Witch, an Academic Witch, a Pinup Witch (hmmmm that could be tricky!), and a Candy Witch! This is gonna be so much fun!

I'm still working on the dragons, but I'm taking less time on them than I am on the witches. I plan to have an inked, colored, and completely finished picture of the Watermelon Dragon by 2021 lol.

I think that'll about do it for me, today. I've been up since 8, didn't go to sleep until about 4, and I could really use a nap lol.

If you're doing this (or any other!) challenge, feel free to send me a link on Twitter or in the comments - I love seeing people's art!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC