EDM 6 - Draw a Childhood Toy

Dollinha (Doll-ee-nyah)

I brought this tiny doll with me from the Azores (Portugal). My grandmother gave it to me. When Anthony, my husband, saw her he immediately named her "Dollinha": the English word "Doll" and the Portuguese diminutive suffix "inha" (meaning cute and small). The name stuck.

There is a whole Dollinha mythology and back story that Anthony created for this little doll. He even created an anthem for her that he and I sing at the top of our lungs. It is a march.

When I was looking for a name for my online self, I had Dollinha (the doll) sitting on my monitor, and decided to use that name. I have been Dollinha online since the early 1990s!

Here are some photos of the actual doll, that I took today. As you can see by the photos she is tiny and she has been handled a lot. She was and is a favourite doll of mine from my youth.

My little Moleskine sketchbook is 5½" tall and each page is 3½" wide. That should help with sizing Dollinha.

EDM 5 - Draw Your Bed

I love my bed. It is very comfortable and I think it is beautiful. It is made of solid cherry wood and stained very dark.

We were originally looking for a traditional sleigh bed but chose this Euro-Style because I would be less likely to bump my knees against it as I walked by. I also like the lower foot-board. Alexander, who is quite tall, can inherit this from us and fit in it.

I rarely tuck in the bed-spread (comforter) like this, although it does look nice. I did it so I could show off the frame.  Normally I have the bed-spread just hanging out, all around the bed. It looks nice that way too, and is a lot less work (and a lot less scraped knuckles).

When we know we are having guests over I put on extra-fancy spreads and fancy pillows and pillow throws.

For everyday use, I just have the sheets, a warm bed-spread, and three pillows. Two pillows in dark pillow cases are Anthony's and that one pillow in a light coloured pillow case is mine. I do this because it drives me crazy when Anthony uses my pillow. I like my pillow to be "just so" and when he uses it it gets all hot (and sweaty in the summer months) and he crumples it in ways that are not comfortable for my neck and head. To be fair, he doesn't like it when I take his pillows either. He says I get them too hot as well.

Well, that is our bed.

Rooster Stamp

While I was walking through Michael's Arts and Crafts store this little stamp caught my eye in the discount bin. I picked it up and put it down several times. I went and grabbed the things I had gone into Michael's to purchase, and as I walked back to the cashiers to pay for my goodies, I pass the discount bin again. The little rooster stamp was still there. This must have been an omen so I dropped it in the shopping cart.

I don't stamp often, but I do enjoy it. Somewhere, in a box, I have a whole set of stamps and peripherals from when I took it up as a short-lived hobby.

Roosters are a mild passion of mine. I am not certain why I enjoy them so much, but some people have suggested it is because I am Portuguese (by birth) and the Portuguese love their roosters. Here is a story that explains why: Barcelo Rooster.

Portuguese Good Luck Rooster
Found on site "Good Luck Roosters"

There is an online shop that caters to the Portuguese Rooster.  (Wow, there is just about a site for anything you can think of on the internet!)

Perhaps it is because of being Portuguese that I enjoy looking at roosters, but I don't know for sure. I just find them beautiful. I have lots of rooster wall-art, bowls, napkin holders, coasters, etc., in my home. However, despite my love of them, I have not created any art with roosters in them, yet.

EDM 3 - Draw your Wallet, Purse, or Bag

This little wallet is just a little bigger than my had and fits in any of my pockets as well the smallest of my purses. It holds everything I need to carry in a wallet. Often I just slip it in my pocket and don't bother to carry a purse.

The front has six slots to carry cards, including a pocket with clear front so you can carry your photo I.D..  The back has a zippered area for loose change and a pocket for paper currency folded in half. I ordered this from FlyLady's FlyShop. This was money well-spent.  I love this wallet!!!

This is the most perfect wallet, as far as I am concerned, and I am thinking of getting one for my son to carry too. He could use something that is easy to carry in his pockets without weighing him down.

Trek Nation

The above was done, in pen and ink in my small Moleskine sketchbook, while I watched a very interesting documentary about Star Trek's influence on the world as seen through the eyes of Gene Roddenberry's son, Eugene (Rod) Roddenberry Jr. It was also about father/son relationships, and his, in particular. I found it fascinating.

Here is the description from their FaceBook Group:

Trek Nation Documentary film directed by Scott Colthorp examining the positive impact that Star Trek and creator Gene Roddenberry may have had on people's lives as seen through the eyes of his son Eugene Roddenberry, Jr. ("Rod").  It includes interviews with cast members and crew from all five Star Trek shows, as well as various fans and celebrities who were markedly influenced by the show while growing up. Rod Roddenberry also visits Skywalker Ranch to interview George Lucas on the influence that Star Trek had on him. Lucas shares how he had gone to Star Trek conventions prior to creating  Star Wars. The film premiered on November 30, 2011, on Science.

Links:
IMDb Trek Nation
YouTube Trek Nation Channel
Vimeo Trek Nation
Trek Nation: Director’s Log Featuring Deleted Interview Clips

Sebastien

Sebastien is my nephew: my brother, Mylo's, son. He is a special boy full of energy and imagination. I am not sure why he is pulling his turtle neck over his face, but he is likely creating a superhero alter-ego.

Sebastien loves to read and write. He fills notebook after notebook with his stories. It is important he has a notebook because if he runs out of paper he will write on any surface he can get his hands on. I noticed, at my brother's Christmas party, that the Kleenex box was covered with writing.

It is always interesting to see what he will come up with next.

Willow

Willow lives with my brother, Mylo, and his family. She is so ugly she is cute. And, she has a great personality. Willow is a very sweet and friendly dog. She steals your heart the moment you set eyes on her.

This sketch is done in pen and ink with coloured pencil.

I love Willow's face and may revisit this as a larger, more detailed, piece in the future.

Rough Sketch - Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind

Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind film was playing on television so we decided to watch it again. I tried to draw Richard Dreyfus's character molding the mountain out of mashed potatoes. I did not quite capture the likeness but I think I captured the intensity.

I really need to learn how to control pen and ink. It is not a medium I am very versed in.  My friend, Raven O'Keefe, does amazing pen and ink portraits. I hope to some day be even half as good as she is with pen and ink. 

EDM 2 - Draw a Lamp

This lamp is on a side table in our living room. I drew it with Pelikan black ink and Drewent water soluble coloured pencils (with water).

The base is a silver globe with little indents in it. It helps shine the light brighter in the room.  It looks really nice both on and off, and suits the table and the room.

EDM 1 - Draw Your Shoes

Unlike many women in North America, I do not have a lot of shoes. I have a pair of dressy shoes, a pair of everyday-kick-around shoes, a pair of sneakers, a pair of flip-flops (to quickly go down to the laundry room), and a pair of black converse with bright red laces.

I love my converse high-cut shoes. They support my ankles and I can wear them with casual long black skirts or jeans. The red laces matches my lipstick and adds whimsy.

These shoes are casual, comfortable, and cool. Need I say more?

Sitting Around Watching Television

I was just sitting around, watching television, and decided to grab my sketchbook instead of my laptop.  

Normally I sit with my laptop on my lap as I watch television. Sometimes I multi-task and work or play as I watch TV, sometimes I watch a movie or other television program during the commercials of the one I am watch live, or sometimes I look up info about the program I watching and/or the actors in the program. I love computers!

However, this time I decided to just draw. The first image, above, is just one of my generic cartoons. It is not very interesting so I added some festive streamers to it and some colour. Still, was not thrilled with the image. Then I decided to draw a "Crumb" girl. Well, sort of in his style, but not quite. Alexander (my son) draws in the Crumb style much better than I.

We watched a three day marathon of The Big Bang Theory. 

I figured I may as well try drawing one of the characters so I sketched Penny, above.  I may revisit this show later and draw all the characters. This can be decided at a later time.

One of the disadvantage of watching three days of the same show is that you end up dreaming about it. It is difficult to turn off your brain so it is like watching the show 24 hours at a time! Ugh. LOL.

Nonetheless, I still enjoy the show.

Graphic Novel Group

The Graphic Novel Group (GNG) meets monthly in the basement of L.A. Mood Comics and Games shop to discuss a graphic novel. It is basically a specialized book club. We really enjoy attending. The conversation is always stimulating and interesting. Sometimes we have guest speakers in the form of graphic novel writers and/or artists.

Normally I just sit and listen, and contribute when I have something to say. This day (November 12, 2011) I had my little sketchbook with me and a pencil so I sketched the people around me.

Anthony always has interesting things to contribute. He is really good at finding meaning in the novels that others miss (okay, I miss). I love listening to him speak.