Drawing

Greetings internet!

Before I start, I'd like to say that my honours film is now online. There's a link on the side of this page, just click on Viola. Burn the Witch was my third year film, feel free to check that out also.

I've been getting so much done lately! I'm currently without work and instead of wasting my time, I am using it so, so well. How am I using it well? You ask. By drawing all day. Oh yeah!

I've mostly been working on my graphic novel. It all gets inked by hand on A3 pages, then scanned and altered in Photoshop. That's wear I put in the red. Check out a page:

I don't have a scanner big enough for A3, but I found on Facebook a free creative space for the young people of Brisbane, called Visible Ink. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/visibleink It's a pretty great place and I had a rather enjoyable afternoon drawing there.

I've also been working on some pre production for an idea that I have for a short animation. I'm pursuing funding for this, because I really want to make it.

Check out the main characters, Faye in the stripes and Marina with the long hair.

To colour the outlines I followed a tutorial by one of my favourite artists, Katie Hanahan. Check out the tutorial: http://ktshy.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d3aaii7 and her blog: http://ktshy.blogspot.com/

ALSO. I got a kindle and it is the best thing ever. EVER.

Well, it's time for some 'breakfast' and drawing.

Lex

Arts and Music

Oh man, I have been neglecting my blog! I am pretty lame that way.

I have been kinda busy though, working at Liquid Animation again. It's been fun! I quite enjoyed the project, which involved cut out 2d animation and hand rawn animation, which I love. I certainly know ToonBoom pretty intimately now, a lot better than I knew it before. Also, working on a Cintiq was SO GOOD. I should really get one, I would do a lot more digital art if I had one.

But my contract is about to end and I'm not sure if there is enough 2d work to keep me there for the moment. But it's not all bad! I had started learning 3d before I was working there again, so I'm going to continue with that. As well as doing my own art, of course. Because I am feeling pretty damn inspired lately!

This weekend will (hopefully) be a weekend dedicated to working on my graphic novel. I inked up the first page and it is looking might fine. I need a bigger scanner though, so that I can scan it in and fix it up. I'm going to be making Polina's hair red in Photoshop, rather than during the inking stage.

My scanner may not be big enough, but here are a couple of photos to give you a peek:

(My apologies, I really am the worst photographer.)

And here are a couple of train sketches from my trip home today:

(I really need to draw from life more often.)

And a work in progress picture inspired by my new favourite thing to listen to:

The album is Nighty Night by 8in8. Download it here for only a dollar (or more): http://music.amandapalmer.net/releases

It's Amanda Palmer, Neil Gaiman (he actually sings on this), Ben Folds and Damian Kulash. Their goal was to create eight songs in eight hours. They made six in twelve, which is still incredible and they sound AMAZING. Seriously, pay the dollar, listen to the shit and you won't regret it.

Anyway, I have things to do, so I shall go off and do them!

Also, I have an idea for a short animation...more to come on that later...

Paintings and a Shoe

It's been a while since I updated...oops!

So here are some paintings I created for Queeriosity:

They're meant to hang from left to right, not from top to bottom like this. But oh well! Anyway, Queeriosity was a festival that a friend of mine was helping to organise, and he suggested that I submit some art. So I created some new paintings and also submitted a really big mixed media/oil pastel drawing that I created in highschool.

These paintings are each based on fairy tales. Can you guess which ones?

I also made an entry for the Footlocker Art Prize:

Click on the link and have a look!

Bats! By: alexisdraws

Also, I've been coating my quillings and they are on the verge of being sell-able! So close! Soon you will be able to buy them on Etsy. :D

Also again, I have a job again (as an animator, hurrah!) so I am really going to have to be more disceplined with my spare time, so that I can keep making my art and witchcrafts. Here's hoping I use my time well!

Okay, that's all for now.

Lex

More Quillings

Hello internet people!

I should really do some drawing or painting, this latest batch of art is all quilling. But fear not, once I'm done typing today's blogpost I'm going to paint!

So here's a suggestion from my friend Karlyne:

It's Disney's Stitch! He looks a lot like a bulldog, but I think I like it.

I wanted to quill the CatBus from Totoro, but I didn't have anymore dark brown paper. So instead I quilled a whole bunch of little cute things. My favourites are the apple and the teapot.

Also, this Friday (when I get money again) I'm going to get my hands on some resin and test some of these out. Well, I'll make a throw away test first before risking any of my nice quillings. The point is, these all might be wearable soon! And once they are, they'll be for sale. I'm thinking that I'll sell them as pendants and the people who buy them can supply their own necklace. That way it's cheaper and easier for everyone. :)

Hm, what else do I have to say? Well, I just finished listening to every episode (so far) of the podcast Kiss and Tell. It is so damn good. And it kinda makes me want to do a podcast. Although I don't know who I'd do it with or what we would talk about.

-Lex

Dr Sketchys and Whatnot

Dr Sketchy's was tonight! I wish it was on more often, it's so damn good. I should find another life drawing class as well...Hm, I think I say that every time I go to Dr Sketchy's.

Anyway, check it! Arts.

I got there early, so this first one is just a doodle I did while I was waiting for Dr Sketchy's to begin, a little bit of art therapy. I really like how it turned out, I should explore it further and turn it into a finished piece rather than just a doodle.

And here are the better sketches that I did tonight:

I managed to do some nice drawings tonight. As well as some pretty awful ones. But hey, that's how life drawing goes.

Aaaand here's some quilling.

The Beast from Beauty and the Beast. Such a pain in the ass to create! But he came out so well.

And Cinderella. A much easier design.

I can't wait to get my hands on some resin and see how it goes protecting these babies. I want to wear one around my neck.

And here's a little concept image for My Sister's Voice. (The graphic novel I'm working on.) I have been neglecting it too much this last week. Time to get on that shit!

Well, I'm off to bed...or off to prepare some canvases...

-Lex

PS. I get to sing a solo at choir. I'm pretty excited about it. :)

Super Nova and Other Such Things

Well, for someone who doesn't have a job, I've been pretty busy this week! Mostly I've been doing social sorts of things, meeting new people and all that. And it's been pretty great! I must do more of these things.

Choir practise, QUT Queer Collective screening of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, parent time, Sprinkl (a creative networking group) and Super Nova were all the highlighting events of this week. And tomorrow I'm going to see 'A Cat in Paris', a feature length french animation. Joy!

Super Nova was pretty damn great, I came away with about a million billion business cards and flyers of a lot of things that I'd like to check out. As well as some amazing art by Ben Templesmith. Seriously though, so many things and artists to check out now! There's some pretty great local talent in Brisbane. And I definitely want to check out the Brisbane Quidditch Group. :D

Also, next year I totally want to share a table with someone at Super Nova. So friends, I'm putting it out there, it's just an idea right now, but let's Super Nova it up next year!

Speaking of friends, it was so great to see so many friends at Super Nova! It was just lovely to catch up with people, especially people that I hadn't seen in a while/ages.

Although while I was at Super Nova, I did manage to make myself ill in some way. I blame the sun. I was standing outside in the sun for quite a while in order to get in and when I made it in it was pretty hot and crowded. Combine that with no lunch or water and you get a Lex who very nearly passes out. x_x Or perhaps my friend Jarrod is so manly he made me swoon.

Well, that's enough talk! Time for some art:

It's Snow White! I quilled her using paper and I really want to turn her into a necklace. I'm going to coat her with resin, get a metal loop to attach her to a necklace and test her out. If she's sturdy enough I'm going to quill more necklaces and put them in my Etsy. :)

And here's Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. :) She shall also become a necklace!

That's all for now, I need some more rest, that sunlight sure takes it out of me.
-Lex

Chest Hares

Hey there Blog-peeps,

My shirt design 'Chest Hares' made it onto Threadless!

I would be so grateful to you all if you were to vote. I'd love to see my art as a Threadless tee and it's such a great opportunity to get my art out there and make some MUCH needed money.

You don't even need a threadless account to vote, you can use your facebook account!

Go vote here: http://www.threadless.com/submission/332073/Chest_Hares

Thank you all in advance!
-Lex