tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35155366336201748532024-03-05T03:29:11.591-08:00a little dash of colorAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-76519819923988047392014-03-17T19:16:00.000-07:002014-11-13T20:33:14.841-08:00More Muffins!<br />
More muffins!<br />
I've been promising to get this recipe up and available for a few people, partly because I'm terrible at remembering to write more than one email, but mostly because I hadn't gotten the recipe actually written down until just now.<br />
<br />
Here we go:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1 cup quick-cooking oats<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1/2 cup packed brown sugar<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2 teaspoons baking powder<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1/4 teaspoon baking soda<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1 egg, lightly beaten<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1 cup (8 ounces) plain yogurt<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1/4 cup butter, melted<br />
2 tsp vanilla<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1 cup chopped cherries<br />
1/3 cup chocolate chips<br />
<br />
First thing you need to know, is this turns out somewhere closer to a really sticky dough than a batter. A little like oatmeal cookie dough, if I were to compare it to anything. That's good, that's how it's supposed to be.<br />
The vanilla is a minimum, honestly. My hand slipped the first time, and I'm pretty sure I ended up with rather more than a tablespoon. It was wonderful.<br />
As for the yogurt, I've been using that 0% fat plain Greek yogurt. It works great for the texture, and I think it makes the muffins just slightly tart, which works wonders with the dark tart cherries I've been using. (turns out it works with regular, full fat yogurt, too)<br />
I have discovered that Costco, once a year or so, has frozen cherries in stock. I have a bag of the dark tart ones, and to get them ready I just chop them roughly, the largest pieces being halves. I haven't had access to fresh cherries, but I'm pretty sure they would be tasty, too.<br />
<br />
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.<br />
Combine the first six ingredients thoroughly, then mix in the egg, yogurt, butter and vanilla until the mixture is moist. Fold in the cherries and chocolate.<br />
Make sure you grease the muffin cups well, fill each cup about two-thirds to three-quarters full.<br />
They'll need 18-22 minutes, or until they're lightly golden and have no obvious wet spots left on top. You can also check with a toothpick, and if it comes out clean, they're good, or if they feel firm when you tap them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiG3jwq7rAGbGcCaEfWTbDWz035LR4shKGXAJh7kXsj2h9LP67JS21mOajhloaj3IJo1oR29KnJydc7MLonC0MWyPehsu-kAnb3OEHUemYl_kNVPau4sVt4K-DJ9JUHo_s1KdEjxGfP4F/s640/blogger-image-790579558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiG3jwq7rAGbGcCaEfWTbDWz035LR4shKGXAJh7kXsj2h9LP67JS21mOajhloaj3IJo1oR29KnJydc7MLonC0MWyPehsu-kAnb3OEHUemYl_kNVPau4sVt4K-DJ9JUHo_s1KdEjxGfP4F/s320/blogger-image-790579558.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDk9LXG9FxFKiwQd_T_qA34f6DyCNvSaqn34Ennn3xS6u5jztokRvE-_3OTqwph5tVWzdgrAgOEAP_gj1PIFC3S_FCmPBgOF1N7qwmb9WtiVgkJIi59GqiAElqXQ45L7XhYFsReKzJlJcb/s640/blogger-image--816420624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDk9LXG9FxFKiwQd_T_qA34f6DyCNvSaqn34Ennn3xS6u5jztokRvE-_3OTqwph5tVWzdgrAgOEAP_gj1PIFC3S_FCmPBgOF1N7qwmb9WtiVgkJIi59GqiAElqXQ45L7XhYFsReKzJlJcb/s320/blogger-image--816420624.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
These come out dense and a little chewy, and transport very well. I bag them up and toss them in my backpack and they don't squish or turn to crumbs before I get a chance to snack.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-40072211651910050912014-02-19T08:59:00.001-08:002014-11-13T20:28:55.340-08:00It's just muffin!I've been working with this muffin recipe lately... It started out pretty good, I have to admit, but I'm a firm believer in stuffing breakfast muffins as full of tasty goodness as is, well, tasty. So, I've been making batch after batch of these things. Partly because I want to keep tweaking the recipe, but mostly because they keep getting eaten so quickly.<br />
<br />
I'm considering that a good sign.<br />
<br />
I somehow got it into my head that I really wanted oatmeal muffins, and I had bananas that were...well, only good for baking at best. So I dug through about fifteen or so recipes, and <u><a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/banana-oat-muffins" target="_blank">settled on this recipe</a></u> as my starting point.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After a few weeks of messing about, though, I've made a few slight alterations, though I'm not sure if the adjustment to the moisture content was necessary because I live in a desert, or because I'm not using the quick-cook oats.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Maybe they cook the same as quick-oats, I don't know... I have a terrible confession to make- I hardly ever eat oatmeal. I don't like it. But in muffins, well, that's another matter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The second change...I added chocolate chips. Who doesn't like chocolate in muffins? I add in a handful of chocolate chips, probably about a third of a cup (I have large hands, so that's an easy scoop) and chop the pecans and chips roughly, so that I get some smaller bits of chocolate and some whole chips. I aim to end up with a heaping cup of the pecan-chocolate chip mix.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbUnx1BHfdcgUe0DCOZcfEeBIVCK8GOjT80bUcvj8s35olknuiCr7h5m4dkpKBt9H9t1tPlD1E-BlL2lOZPE4fVmzT-ueO2302iJnlHa8aGnye7KQwAl062Lm85fCGWlm0EjOm6Hp97Zg/s1600/Image-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbUnx1BHfdcgUe0DCOZcfEeBIVCK8GOjT80bUcvj8s35olknuiCr7h5m4dkpKBt9H9t1tPlD1E-BlL2lOZPE4fVmzT-ueO2302iJnlHa8aGnye7KQwAl062Lm85fCGWlm0EjOm6Hp97Zg/s1600/Image-1.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
After my slight adjustments, the recipe looks more like this:<br />
<br />
3/4 cup all-purpose flour<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3/4 cup quick-cooking oats<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1 teaspoon baking powder<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1/2 teaspoon baking soda<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1/4 (heaping, for me) teaspoon ground nutmeg<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2 egg whites<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium)<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1/4-1/3 cup packed brown sugar (depending on how sweet you want them)<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1/3 cup milk<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1/4 cup canola oil<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> 1</span> heaping cup chopped pecans and chocolate chips<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
You notice all the 'heaping' measures. It's not a terribly fussy recipe, and you can tweak these around to taste.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1-In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl, beat the egg whites, bananas, brown sugar, milk and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Stir in pecans.</div>
<div>
2-Coat muffin cups with cooking spray; fill two-thirds full with batter. Bake at 400° for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.<br />
3- let them cool just as long as you can bear before trying one of your delicious muffin creations.<br />
<br />
Some tips and why to try them-<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Don't try saving bowls by just dumping all the ingredients in and mixing.<br />
There are several reasons: one, mixing the first six ingredients breaks up and evenly distributes the baking soda and powder (and the spices), which otherwise tend to clump terribly on contact with moisture and taste pretty bad when you find a plain lump. Second, beating the sugar and the rest breaks up the bananas and egg whites, and works some air into the mix, keeping what could be a very dense recipe just a little lighter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This recipe does make one dozen (12) muffins, but with the extra ingredients you are going to fill the cups pretty full. I just evenly distribute the batter with the measuring cup I used on the milk. You have heavy ingredients, so you'll want to keep scraping the bowl to mix things up, even as you're scooping the batter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
They'll be ready when the tops are firm and dry looking, and bounce back when tapped (instead of feeling gooey or sinking) and they turn this lovely dark gold. Or you can use the clean-knife trick, just know the chocolate chips will always be messy and if you leave any chunks of banana they'll stick to the knife no matter how done your muffin is... well, there may be limits to that, too...</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
(I finally got around to cleaning this post up a bit! Yay!)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-51868846431970741272013-10-25T10:08:00.003-07:002013-10-28T09:55:23.359-07:00Character Design and how bacon saves livesFirst, bacon saved our lives this week. Seriously. It was one of those weeks on the semester where everything comes due all at once right after one of those hellish weeks where you slipped just far enough behind to feel like you'll never catch up ever again and all of a sudden you're pulling an all- nighter every other night and it's all you can do to appear mentally stable in class the next day and who can even mention actually turning in homework or taking that test?<br />
<div>
...And so we come to bacon. That wonderful little packet of bacon that we bought as a treat a week ago, thinking nothing more of it than 'wow, last week was hectic, but we survived it, here's our reward'. Little did we know that bacon was to be our coping and survival mechanism, emotionally and it seemed physically, for the next week.</div>
<div>
I would be up till three and have to get up at six, I would wake up to the smell of bacon frying. Martin would face down a brutal day full of angsty student teachers, pop quizzes and sudden deadlines, and come home to smell bacon.</div>
<div>
It doesn't take much to make our whole apartment smell beautifully of frying bacon, and we've made that little packet last... but we just ate the last bite, and now all I think we can do is hope next week is not nearly so hectic.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One of the things that made this week so crazy was the fact that all of my midterms were due... split between only two days. Art midterms are a bit different from what most of you are accustomed to. In most art classes, we get projects throughout the semester, and these projects take anywhere from seven to thirty+ hours to complete. When the project comes due, we bring them into class, set them up for everyone to see, and sit down and spend the next few hours taking turns presenting our work to be analyzed, critiqued, and... kind of torn apart. In a matter-of-fact, my-turn-is-next, I-really-hope-this-helps kind of way, because then you have however long is left until midterms to fix whatever was found lacking in your piece.</div>
<div>
You don't get a break in assignments, though. They just keep coming. Which means that <u>uuusually</u> most of the redoes are pushed off until the last few days before midterms and you pull several all-nighters getting all of the touch-ups, repaints, redraws, and overhauls finished just barely in time to turn them in.</div>
<div>
Yesterday (or really, last night at midnight) the redraws of all my character designs were due. (That morning at eight it had been two other paintings for my senior studio class)</div>
<div>
So, without further ado, here's a little peek at my character designs. Next post I'm thinking of doing a little walk-through of how I did these :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It'll be a lot less wordy, I promise.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJ1aMx8GLtPAti9zIb8CCfdIe1yC6-BjTUYERJ0QVjdQtdaYIdlgF_34UX5SDYWjMxJFxy59_g0qAmIZ1eG9YipCzGAMxVf_GjuIowrfVuSn0-njoNPk0KfChu2aw0AktIkT0it0r71MI/s1600/docfinalalone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJ1aMx8GLtPAti9zIb8CCfdIe1yC6-BjTUYERJ0QVjdQtdaYIdlgF_34UX5SDYWjMxJFxy59_g0qAmIZ1eG9YipCzGAMxVf_GjuIowrfVuSn0-njoNPk0KfChu2aw0AktIkT0it0r71MI/s320/docfinalalone.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
An aboriginal medicine doctor. His name, we've decided, is Bric.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqWcNfCUIAjN5Y0__w8oW9DtkMR32OQp99oTAeqZIo-d17XUCHhwJI_naRF_Sq4lTFFHMjUgNZh2jSwetjJiLwVL-VUXo3Cwv2cxTvtexNDNFgpe_k7Cq2whiGu6Fl_5IGrKLvWpxlKkv/s1600/stiltwalkerfinalalone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqWcNfCUIAjN5Y0__w8oW9DtkMR32OQp99oTAeqZIo-d17XUCHhwJI_naRF_Sq4lTFFHMjUgNZh2jSwetjJiLwVL-VUXo3Cwv2cxTvtexNDNFgpe_k7Cq2whiGu6Fl_5IGrKLvWpxlKkv/s320/stiltwalkerfinalalone.jpg" width="174" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A circus stilt-walker.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmpHYnOqCwH7gnVQ5Uwe-EPzTxn7_DHrR0NlJpL4nkd-RAs44967Keq7kDnZp1qQs6r9pzbEBFjKID9-pDF2K_vwASY3Qv8NUX_ss01YWmVBvuZZpkNkxgsa3nzjkWUfoRZkB1HqJ4ebq/s1600/villainredalone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmpHYnOqCwH7gnVQ5Uwe-EPzTxn7_DHrR0NlJpL4nkd-RAs44967Keq7kDnZp1qQs6r9pzbEBFjKID9-pDF2K_vwASY3Qv8NUX_ss01YWmVBvuZZpkNkxgsa3nzjkWUfoRZkB1HqJ4ebq/s320/villainredalone.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A villain. His name is Mathis Jostad. The prompt was to create a 'soft' villain. That was the entire prompt. Immediately I knew that for me, the most terrifying villains are the ones that are so soft spoken that the way you know you're in trouble is they get quieter and calmer the more angry or dangerously excited they get...he's one of those.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-23672229250857876132013-10-14T19:45:00.001-07:002013-10-14T20:50:58.105-07:00Things that are happening...I have some projects in the works. Some you will see sooner than later. Some will take considerably more time :3<br />
As for the sooner, I really am just waiting until I can get a good sunny day or access to a scanner, whichever comes first (though the scanner seems much more imminent at the moment...) I'll be able to get some of my digital work up a lot faster:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYhMderxCxxZnrAcJlWl0reTpkUVB3zbXsyxXByVGghWGpA_ojdYvBpoTO6GNXHl2K4xL5oa76BSwAZ6qrKiXLRTGhgre9uj6XxFJTxtXeyorp3FRD2agWhh841XOUoIXQoDSZx4b_h6F/s1600/colstudy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYhMderxCxxZnrAcJlWl0reTpkUVB3zbXsyxXByVGghWGpA_ojdYvBpoTO6GNXHl2K4xL5oa76BSwAZ6qrKiXLRTGhgre9uj6XxFJTxtXeyorp3FRD2agWhh841XOUoIXQoDSZx4b_h6F/s200/colstudy2.jpg" width="87" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">A quick color study for a piece I'll be finishing (hopefully next week) in acrylic inks.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpi9qPZzdfKtG0DcWPgBjPegCC2DNYqTjWHBzwZmk7vcQNuRCBxUGBiq6LClx-O_1ZYAKVVq-XNag6OM0kN0S2Boihn1oUy_gvF4kbYkN_4OLc9OKn7GOACiTxIkHObiLWl6IS0TcPa7mN/s1600/facebook_banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpi9qPZzdfKtG0DcWPgBjPegCC2DNYqTjWHBzwZmk7vcQNuRCBxUGBiq6LClx-O_1ZYAKVVq-XNag6OM0kN0S2Boihn1oUy_gvF4kbYkN_4OLc9OKn7GOACiTxIkHObiLWl6IS0TcPa7mN/s320/facebook_banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">My new facebook banner...I've never had one before, ad it was starting to feel a little barren looking...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
...but I've been taking a head painting class, and the required medium is oil, which is a bit more difficult to digitize than other media. Also, apparently really difficult for me in general.<br />
It feels like it's fighting me tooth and nail, but I really feel like I'm making great strides in a lot of ways, artistically, as I work out my problems with oil paints. And with each success I'm coming to love these paints more and more.<br />
I've also recently discovered acrylic inks, and I've decided those are the best thing since toast. And I love toast. As soon as this piece for my senior studies class is done I'll see how it scans. ...And how it turns out before I scan it.<br />
Anyway, as for the later, I can start sharing some teasers right now. Martin and I are working on a super-not-quite secret project that we have yet to decide how many details we will divulge about later. Here's some of the initial concept items, though-<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9sS7mowPv32l8NnzEtqjDZ25KgGuKufoxIVddZSD38uMnN6u_S7pdG5Q18Qw7-30xHBclFTGnD1dhS4PUH1Sw1UxoprjNsWLZqhLx2YtdTf5OkLilgiObM3GeZrGvQ7A3AhHrk4eSL1B/s1600/tranquility2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9sS7mowPv32l8NnzEtqjDZ25KgGuKufoxIVddZSD38uMnN6u_S7pdG5Q18Qw7-30xHBclFTGnD1dhS4PUH1Sw1UxoprjNsWLZqhLx2YtdTf5OkLilgiObM3GeZrGvQ7A3AhHrk4eSL1B/s200/tranquility2.jpg" width="166" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfVMht5B9fFRDUOKgvw8SgR-BeMjabSAB8osDJW4gswLLixk_Ke_gfMFb1Yi3UdLkO9DZ_1ifsG5qpik7YR_ec-x36sJRklTfFm6EQpKojsPLkK4Q4Kam4HESYv9oXfbutYn64gNmEo43/s1600/tranquility1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfVMht5B9fFRDUOKgvw8SgR-BeMjabSAB8osDJW4gswLLixk_Ke_gfMFb1Yi3UdLkO9DZ_1ifsG5qpik7YR_ec-x36sJRklTfFm6EQpKojsPLkK4Q4Kam4HESYv9oXfbutYn64gNmEo43/s200/tranquility1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklmChqrXYUm1If0qQGbCg6kiBbX8xyme3wUHVo5BUPyFXvq3H7qeuZ_hl4Mh3D_gGJA-86p8uMAs1Y5WIcbnjqxu7xM4Ql4xhlOwHKoBneL8B8XHNaqKwHe4c6wi6dWvA6lkdKxkPUfQf/s1600/cat!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklmChqrXYUm1If0qQGbCg6kiBbX8xyme3wUHVo5BUPyFXvq3H7qeuZ_hl4Mh3D_gGJA-86p8uMAs1Y5WIcbnjqxu7xM4Ql4xhlOwHKoBneL8B8XHNaqKwHe4c6wi6dWvA6lkdKxkPUfQf/s200/cat!.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
One more big thing! I am starting an Etsy store! I've started carving small shell pendants, and I'm going to be selling watercolor and ink drawings. This week I'm going to be stocking the store, and next week it goes live! I'll be posting with the name and address of the store, so be sure to check it out. Initial proceeds go towards a scanner (so that I don't have to hunt down a functioning scanner on campus anytime I want to show anyone anything) and then to fixing my printer.<br />
<br />
See you all next post!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-82677574015625738882013-10-06T09:58:00.003-07:002013-10-06T09:58:43.198-07:00'Quick' studyIt was supposed to be a quick warm-up sketch before I got to my homework... but then I started noodling. Ah well. Didn't turn out to badly :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBmVhhoOR79daSqVww1d_efe970wdbMvmUwlqFK8Ak7S0fjducnf3UHVkPZ8GzuDUnvDKdaASguiQTcxVaXM48-9nL-pbnacmnU8Ice9BBi4E7yGKNyPDU5vROgJAeEWD9UmJgIfpgaTo/s1600/portraitpaint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBmVhhoOR79daSqVww1d_efe970wdbMvmUwlqFK8Ak7S0fjducnf3UHVkPZ8GzuDUnvDKdaASguiQTcxVaXM48-9nL-pbnacmnU8Ice9BBi4E7yGKNyPDU5vROgJAeEWD9UmJgIfpgaTo/s320/portraitpaint.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Reference photo found <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/230105862184944666/" target="_blank">here on pinterest...</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Oh! Also, I'm still alive ;)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-69243312451508816742013-03-21T09:08:00.004-07:002013-03-21T09:09:45.235-07:00A brief feature...I have a piece I've been wanting to show the in-progress of so bad, but my professor hasn't given it back to me yet, so I don't have a good picture of the final product. I think it's going to be another few days before I can get that post up.<br />
In the meantime, for my folklore class, I'm writing a sort of investigative paper on webcomic artists, and how their fans and admirers affect their experience as artists. A few of these artists I've been following for years, (since high school, even) and they've had quite a hand in influencing where my art is today.<br />
Interviewing them has just proved to me that they are as awesome, grounded, and excited about life as they'd appeared through their blogs and comics. These guys are great.<br />
<br />
So, continuing my comic feature from ages ago, here's three more amazing webcomic artists (who I now know more about than ever before and are way cooler than I'd ever thought!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://minnasundberg.fi/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtc1i6WfD84LYj8ZOR_Z492HEXMNaXUSyiuGahIL0QnEAYIH8jcnDkpI44bHwMtfAfFWDwcHICw2ZLHmMd0UiAbmSgHpTv30mpdyf6czu7n2tkMVeItUjJXjOK-ZVbSStWaCfQdVrn-s6/s320/eng00.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Based out of Finland, University student Minna Sundberg somehow manages to create a page a day of this beautifully crafted multi-media webcomic<i> </i><i><a href="http://minnasundberg.fi/" target="_blank">A Redtail's Dream</a>.</i> 24-year-old Hannu and his dog, Ville, are enlisted by the <i>great</i> and <i>powerful</i> spirit Puppy Fox to fix a grievous error on his part before the council of elder foxes gets out and notices how badly he messed up in watching the Northern Lights while they were away. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
...I'm really not doing this any justice. The art is breathtaking, the story absolutely wonderful, and it is a definite must read.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2TLkzmFb_v5Cmbik88CSshAkx_jTkqxCfgkr_5R92-A-v9ZGOoYjJDMoEqIKGb-nFExh1rFKA7-9O1T6vEA0eI1clw-lI_i_3yW6eVvrUqca8afY_g_9VTpvJNIrOFyGO8xmegj20VQl/s1600/eng198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2TLkzmFb_v5Cmbik88CSshAkx_jTkqxCfgkr_5R92-A-v9ZGOoYjJDMoEqIKGb-nFExh1rFKA7-9O1T6vEA0eI1clw-lI_i_3yW6eVvrUqca8afY_g_9VTpvJNIrOFyGO8xmegj20VQl/s200/eng198.jpg" width="128" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1-z3alewZ2Njm27K7dILt5Wg7TZ7h_YFjQNRM6t9cqU574Ew-L4i_sOxqRSPu70kI_6IE2JplX6wrKCFdyicjzYrl6aut0q5bUlN_ALanNjwHrFpPEL0wJ-zBdFup8kX6LvhNE-xBcCb/s1600/eng354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1-z3alewZ2Njm27K7dILt5Wg7TZ7h_YFjQNRM6t9cqU574Ew-L4i_sOxqRSPu70kI_6IE2JplX6wrKCFdyicjzYrl6aut0q5bUlN_ALanNjwHrFpPEL0wJ-zBdFup8kX6LvhNE-xBcCb/s200/eng354.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfmILyDOJSIMN7u1TQwWMBboyW_ygaf9Fe_7gaTZyHFjXGUKlKTJhoyCelcv-PMD6R-b8cW2g-HZ6G0lOvTPyPICUtkFk2k1gWwWf7am8MoYnHwD6StGETFtWBKP5IpXFIrz6_NW1acej/s1600/eng131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfmILyDOJSIMN7u1TQwWMBboyW_ygaf9Fe_7gaTZyHFjXGUKlKTJhoyCelcv-PMD6R-b8cW2g-HZ6G0lOvTPyPICUtkFk2k1gWwWf7am8MoYnHwD6StGETFtWBKP5IpXFIrz6_NW1acej/s200/eng131.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6s23fhN6r6FD_l5Nz5jThtR0-FnO8UEzOG6um47QcggrXTObFvWwV1Zpc6fkUfIwA2VtLkFvxlBskmPYc9ffeHL4BPNezykDJ2rdXe8Tpvya5TWl-EdK7Cw-A72eQJFPKRMlDIsKlHRtx/s1600/eng335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6s23fhN6r6FD_l5Nz5jThtR0-FnO8UEzOG6um47QcggrXTObFvWwV1Zpc6fkUfIwA2VtLkFvxlBskmPYc9ffeHL4BPNezykDJ2rdXe8Tpvya5TWl-EdK7Cw-A72eQJFPKRMlDIsKlHRtx/s200/eng335.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Second for today is <a href="http://gingerhaze.com/nimona" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Nimona</a>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdO7mN57tB47avGa2PVr-mEUlHylumXW6snWSJXG1T9I4Kv_jsMkeHt49P9yTtpu83Ksl4zvne8EGwu8dGM_YbAI-G8mz6Um52iWfw7ikwwyT67qlueRBzEEwLJfTxuIyNN9TSWeIpRlya/s1600/nimonabanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdO7mN57tB47avGa2PVr-mEUlHylumXW6snWSJXG1T9I4Kv_jsMkeHt49P9yTtpu83Ksl4zvne8EGwu8dGM_YbAI-G8mz6Um52iWfw7ikwwyT67qlueRBzEEwLJfTxuIyNN9TSWeIpRlya/s400/nimonabanner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Written and drawn by Noelle Stevenson, <i>Nimona</i> updates on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It has already won a couple of awards, and is slated for publication by HarperCollins in 2015.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3501751096919179" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3501751096919179" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3501751096919179" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Lord Ballister Blackheart has a point to make, and his point is that the good guys aren't as good as they seem. He makes a comfortable living as a supervillain, but never really seems to accomplish much - until he takes on a new sidekick, Nimona, a shapeshifter with her own ideas of how things should be done. Unfortunately, most of those ideas involve blowing things up. Now Ballister must teach his young protégé some restraint and try to keep her from destroying everything, while simultaneously attempting to expose the dark dealings of those who claim to be the protectors of the kingdom - including his former best friend turned nemesis, Ambrosius Goldenloin."</span></b></div>
<div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3501751096919179" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Noelle's terrifically unique art style is completely charming, and belies the careful and deceptively solid plot and complex characters. The totally anachronistic world is hilarious and whimsical, and feels like you can read whatever sardonic social commentary you would like into it, but on the surface is just funny and entertaining.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLvKGv6rEmEjDHzlF-_duYJrkwTo40KcYZzi_YhvTzxr-s0wY2UZYKOvRxiOY8YrFgX1hFGKK3bUIXcq1HfUttDAtQ-ynvE85eq1zWwlop_BXAnh0MB-Xb2tyt5DlrEl2LwRsPkry43K6/s1600/nim72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLvKGv6rEmEjDHzlF-_duYJrkwTo40KcYZzi_YhvTzxr-s0wY2UZYKOvRxiOY8YrFgX1hFGKK3bUIXcq1HfUttDAtQ-ynvE85eq1zWwlop_BXAnh0MB-Xb2tyt5DlrEl2LwRsPkry43K6/s200/nim72.jpg" width="154" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoonD477sIKNxdlz1JCSZ-1VaLafSmmw_dxM7SS-M_LKDeOBya7lVPOf_nFmTpyQK12Vh2PiSg3jrZlGBPZg3Gkh2VRCWwZrrlKGHtD-nrJirp10kFNJglLNVDXzCoznIoq2x6kRVm4W4d/s1600/nim78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoonD477sIKNxdlz1JCSZ-1VaLafSmmw_dxM7SS-M_LKDeOBya7lVPOf_nFmTpyQK12Vh2PiSg3jrZlGBPZg3Gkh2VRCWwZrrlKGHtD-nrJirp10kFNJglLNVDXzCoznIoq2x6kRVm4W4d/s200/nim78.jpg" width="154" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDCmJsViVVpTLTNXWWZj42SAm6W9tYfc7F8zaZQdokvdD-aawsZeO-NnOTEBcQGZl_s7nwavI2nKsJhlgj0uiUax9f-CFwODjIK6dTKZHgamezhZuQzqAW5BQjiL5LLsB-39wg_PTMsDc/s1600/nim39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDCmJsViVVpTLTNXWWZj42SAm6W9tYfc7F8zaZQdokvdD-aawsZeO-NnOTEBcQGZl_s7nwavI2nKsJhlgj0uiUax9f-CFwODjIK6dTKZHgamezhZuQzqAW5BQjiL5LLsB-39wg_PTMsDc/s200/nim39.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-69080526739956364842013-02-16T14:01:00.002-08:002013-02-16T14:14:28.602-08:00Markers!And a long weekend! Yay!<br />
<br />
Also, I really need to clean off my desk. I'm sitting here with my elbows in trying not to lean on anything or bump anything over as I move about. It's been one of those weeks.<br />
...After lunch. I'll start then.<br />
<br />
Anyway, yesterday I woke up really early. That doesn't mean I actually got up that early, but I woke up then. And that's where the problem started. When I wake up early but don't get up, it does really funny things to me and I typically end up getting nothing done at all for the rest of the day. My surefire trick to breaking free of that funk, though, is sketching. Figure drawing is my favorite. Really fast gestures, no longer than thirty seconds, typically. On Fridays at my university there's an open draw session where they have live models come in and you can go sketch for free, but I'd already bummed around the apartment long enough to miss that (sad day) so I went to my favorite fallback, <a href="http://artists.pixelovely.com/practice-tools/figure-drawing/" target="_blank">the figure and gesture drawing tool over at pixel lovely</a>.<br />
I spent a good long while making completely unintelligible scribbles all over my new sketchbook with my copic markers, which have hardly seen any use of late. I'd forgotten how great those things are.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI3EXs6G9XpMj1RnNiAa6fibSFtpAMogVyP0CyL5oiBr8oaP5y1mf1exebM5Bx6xrJPPxzPaKHczYbcruh52URKpTrPIw6RZM37DkuuOvLIKqgRhuia_OhUL-Px_Br11JdBgioqTQWi7u/s1600/figsketch2-15-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI3EXs6G9XpMj1RnNiAa6fibSFtpAMogVyP0CyL5oiBr8oaP5y1mf1exebM5Bx6xrJPPxzPaKHczYbcruh52URKpTrPIw6RZM37DkuuOvLIKqgRhuia_OhUL-Px_Br11JdBgioqTQWi7u/s320/figsketch2-15-13.jpg" width="80" /></a></div>
<br />
Later that night, I was still kind of in the swing of things, so I decided I wanted to try my hand at something a little more finish. There's this model on deviantart, <a href="http://devinwillow.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">Devin Willow</a> who does modeling and photography, and is just always inspiring to me, so I pulled up one of her latest portraits and did my best with it...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWOxI1cAxle7enOKoS3M1IFB7F0nfUCrN6DwcMFl4R7wyVG3J50G6kF39OECJzVhBf0knTIGzE38P8oqdzqbCBlKlkxnK-7pNKrB-lKZ5HDdyg9y43uV4vzYuCA7K55GtmuyOu-ORR262/s1600/copicportrait2-15-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWOxI1cAxle7enOKoS3M1IFB7F0nfUCrN6DwcMFl4R7wyVG3J50G6kF39OECJzVhBf0knTIGzE38P8oqdzqbCBlKlkxnK-7pNKrB-lKZ5HDdyg9y43uV4vzYuCA7K55GtmuyOu-ORR262/s320/copicportrait2-15-13.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
<br />
Not a terribly good likeness, but not a very bad drawing...<br />
<br />
And there's my day. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-82682435883084724892013-02-04T10:33:00.002-08:002013-02-04T10:33:13.907-08:00I never knew I was doing it wrong......but THIS, my friends, is french toast.<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppwc1lLvckQq3LKmO6FRyvsoQfc9OUh4_RJ-k7NvQanRzDkYfgh9VBOPiwG_Et0PHic-HvCAcv1JTTEv0UXjWugIsAaJ-haaxaUYTwlGnTyXBtDWK5y8ZOcfZwOqjkSDS68GYS3cnvPjV/s1600/stuffed+french+toast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppwc1lLvckQq3LKmO6FRyvsoQfc9OUh4_RJ-k7NvQanRzDkYfgh9VBOPiwG_Et0PHic-HvCAcv1JTTEv0UXjWugIsAaJ-haaxaUYTwlGnTyXBtDWK5y8ZOcfZwOqjkSDS68GYS3cnvPjV/s320/stuffed+french+toast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And so I stand forever corrected. My life has been forever changed.</div>
<div>
This is stuffed french toast, the stove-top version. It's all crispy and wonderful on the outside, and all full of warm, sweet and tangy gooey amazing ... stuff on the inside.</div>
<div>
French toast has probably the least precise recipe of anything I've ever encountered, so I apologize to all of you out there who just cannot function without a recipe... Also, my husband (Yes, my husband, I got married over the holidays. I was going to make a special post about that, and it's still on the way. I'd been waiting on the photo CD back so I could actually get some pretty pictures up here ;) made this for me, so I didn't really catch anything more than what went into it, not how much. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Good luck to you <i>(it's worth it!)</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Take nice, thick slices of french bread, and cut a pocket into them. Don't cut all the way through, but cut deep and wide enough you can kind of fold them open a bit. Also, don't worry about scooping a pocket into them or anything, the bread should be soft and you'll be able to smoosh the fillings in well enough :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We filled them with previously frozen berries and a mixture we made of softened cream cheese, maple syrup and brown sugar. Heavenly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The dipping stuff for the french toast was pretty classic, eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and lots of vanilla (that was my contribution... I always get a little carried away)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, you stuff the bread with as much of the cream cheese mixture and berries as you can (and it will be oozing out all over the place, that's how you know you've done it right apparently. And once I tasted it I couldn't find room to argue), dip both sides in the egg mixture (don't concern yourself too much with the sides, that'll leave room for it to toast a bit and then soak up syrup later), and toss it in a hot buttered pan and brown it on both sides.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Top it off with more berries and sweetened cream cheese and some maple syrup as desired and fall into the deepest and most blissful sugar-coma you've experienced in the past two-years.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Needless to say, I was highly impressed. I think I have found myself a good man.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-86653763330491039562013-01-23T12:09:00.001-08:002013-01-23T12:09:31.872-08:00Hey! Another post!So, that paper airplane painting I mentioned? Finished it! It didn't turn out too badly, either.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewy0zA_HsV8Lc_Z5uYaljwu2jEcLa908F6ezA44CgsZLDXgwhzosk43tSiPZyOLV895rBQHy8SNwXCxMzUaD13EjIOuiUdgzS8u1Tev_2mHQblcWGGvOBdBN8wXQJ1GUFcbUxbXznUIsG/s1600/paperplanepaincropt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewy0zA_HsV8Lc_Z5uYaljwu2jEcLa908F6ezA44CgsZLDXgwhzosk43tSiPZyOLV895rBQHy8SNwXCxMzUaD13EjIOuiUdgzS8u1Tev_2mHQblcWGGvOBdBN8wXQJ1GUFcbUxbXznUIsG/s320/paperplanepaincropt.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-51810832898477367022013-01-21T11:15:00.001-08:002013-01-21T21:23:01.608-08:00New year, new classes, new new new... Could also be titled 'what I like to do when I don't want to do what I have to do', but that's a long title.<br />
<br />
So. This upcoming week I have the first projects of the year due. In one class we are doing cover illustrations for Peter Pan. Tons of fun, really. I'm loving designing it. sketching it, doing color roughs and noodling about and composing the whole deal... It's just really intimidating to sit down and paint what I've designed XD Here's one of the face sketches for Peter, though. I think I'm getting to about the right amount of smug. Almost...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YQD0v37LYn1JXwIQeV-qDhFELQ6oa8za8O4e0mxwd5hr6N3883Q5A28kS8uVUtCXTJzxIbMSSqWB6MxLbdAWcoeJWZwTBK7u90cGkr2o6VuCyXzRHusuUdMsyRbdmBUxgeQzsFY1pt8A/s1600/petersketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YQD0v37LYn1JXwIQeV-qDhFELQ6oa8za8O4e0mxwd5hr6N3883Q5A28kS8uVUtCXTJzxIbMSSqWB6MxLbdAWcoeJWZwTBK7u90cGkr2o6VuCyXzRHusuUdMsyRbdmBUxgeQzsFY1pt8A/s200/petersketch.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
The other painting is a still life. My teacher in that class gave us a list of requirements involving a paper airplane made of college-ruled blue-lined paper, and said go. The exercise is supposed to help us get familiar with acrylic paints, which I've not really used before, unless you count using the really crappy stuff in high school a few times. Which was fun, but it's been a really long time, and I honestly hadn't the foggiest idea what I was doing back then. Anyway, I got my list of requirements, and sat down at home, made my paper airplane, started setting up my still life... and proceeded to throw the plane against the wall for five minutes. My teacher laughed when he saw my photo reference and said go for it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpl3BICkjS8vjVAh-EZUGtH_8bqXKakKrpP_XGpSA8Fz0V9aQ_jVNinLTILeUSUYIafwt-v-ODXNNRqO5NVeJ2EhYhg5KNihZ4E5AnNTH6we2MJtQ3UEyqNCy4xjUiecVLvKJ1DfpjDQMm/s1600/planesm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpl3BICkjS8vjVAh-EZUGtH_8bqXKakKrpP_XGpSA8Fz0V9aQ_jVNinLTILeUSUYIafwt-v-ODXNNRqO5NVeJ2EhYhg5KNihZ4E5AnNTH6we2MJtQ3UEyqNCy4xjUiecVLvKJ1DfpjDQMm/s200/planesm.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
So, here I am, down to crunch time on both of these, getting a little overwhelmed and more than a little scared of this new paint, and so what do I do to relieve the tension?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FB12r-qWYbLr5Uxjbs6TIZ2aK-Fbls4Lu9I84rPuAQHHJHdwNyfKWpSgG1xAAdRBvTaPvgvuY-82SH4lPj8az95TW-UViw-DFSDU6apCEXHsEIArxI8HcUvm-C4Jlqjr94WG6vbcohjk/s1600/lizardbowlerpipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FB12r-qWYbLr5Uxjbs6TIZ2aK-Fbls4Lu9I84rPuAQHHJHdwNyfKWpSgG1xAAdRBvTaPvgvuY-82SH4lPj8az95TW-UViw-DFSDU6apCEXHsEIArxI8HcUvm-C4Jlqjr94WG6vbcohjk/s320/lizardbowlerpipe.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<br />
Tadaaaaa~<br />
I figure I might as well do something that is <i>not </i>for a grade as my first foray into the new medium instead of risking my life, livelihood and reputation before the class on the first thing. Also... come on. The bowler hat is going to be so much more fun to paint than all those stripes.<br />
Seriously.<br />
<br />
<br />
Also, later, I have a huge explanation with many pretty photos as to where I've been for over a month. It was good. I promise. ;) Some of you kind of already know, but I have pictures of New York and me in a pretty dress and all and I want to show off. So there.<br />
<br />
Quickly update- My behatted lizard has a background ;)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2impinkimPomZsUkDOulWH32Qx0wwsv-w82JjBVNu7JfO19_s_rfHYAlbEBKapayptAonwDiPMYC1o4wbNuSXdWERnpEc-_8UqREqt5l_JQDg4tPghFbdyoBXKJLO9OIWm8N7eCqFRXhg/s1600/bowlerbg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2impinkimPomZsUkDOulWH32Qx0wwsv-w82JjBVNu7JfO19_s_rfHYAlbEBKapayptAonwDiPMYC1o4wbNuSXdWERnpEc-_8UqREqt5l_JQDg4tPghFbdyoBXKJLO9OIWm8N7eCqFRXhg/s200/bowlerbg.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oops, could have sworn I'd taken a shot with just the flat color step... oh well. See what I'm doing with my day off? NOT HOMEWORK! Yay!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrRWXVJmQ1yM0-VeSE64kRkXco3tz9zq4pidXlCc8pQdsBx28M9v9SISSP2x8OrzlMYH694GQ9EGnJ3j5HOO9yQRMpcEU-lynbn1WiKdG6akGAt5rksEWXrKgIqRuUayA4zWYcqrKq4fr/s1600/bowlernext.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrRWXVJmQ1yM0-VeSE64kRkXco3tz9zq4pidXlCc8pQdsBx28M9v9SISSP2x8OrzlMYH694GQ9EGnJ3j5HOO9yQRMpcEU-lynbn1WiKdG6akGAt5rksEWXrKgIqRuUayA4zWYcqrKq4fr/s200/bowlernext.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Aaaand... done! He's such a posh professor type looking sort of skeleton raptor thing. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strike>There'll be a better scan up eventually</strike>. <i>Better scan is up!</i> I'm thinking I might enter this one into a local art show, though. I'd been planning something else, but this turned out so nicely and in theme... should i put him up for sale?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6oOypu7TOL9I-Ir-oodj6Rs32dDtk8giU5eCu3KAxtVpm8uJbFsMEyo6QO-eLw6sFRx1VOlhJQuBq8KUqC5TsocVhBm0bhprM3TtYGAk3pXaCGKt53ts-EEvkYpMHnK5652tXNPt3ZB9/s1600/lizardbowlerpipepaint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6oOypu7TOL9I-Ir-oodj6Rs32dDtk8giU5eCu3KAxtVpm8uJbFsMEyo6QO-eLw6sFRx1VOlhJQuBq8KUqC5TsocVhBm0bhprM3TtYGAk3pXaCGKt53ts-EEvkYpMHnK5652tXNPt3ZB9/s320/lizardbowlerpipepaint.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-46366362780676310182012-11-26T20:56:00.001-08:002012-11-26T20:56:09.089-08:00The Christmas ornaments are out!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrAxly0fDVqalkmFFBSZttr3JaqhNQkER1NeyG1KAFChhrxRiroByqcFvPKsDKI2Vfsvsf18QMnNsKfch5xnwcksihng70aJggL0cJMlF3wrJ-FeDsM-P7urw3lnbR_MbH6oeCAHB3BDo/s1600/ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrAxly0fDVqalkmFFBSZttr3JaqhNQkER1NeyG1KAFChhrxRiroByqcFvPKsDKI2Vfsvsf18QMnNsKfch5xnwcksihng70aJggL0cJMlF3wrJ-FeDsM-P7urw3lnbR_MbH6oeCAHB3BDo/s320/ornament.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Yay! It's the holidays! As an exercise in class today we drew Christmas ornaments. I really need to do more of this. It was a ton of fun :)<br />
<br />
On a mildly related side note, I had kind of a cool thought yesterday, and a mid-holidays personal resolution.<br />
It is so cool (and sadly under-noticed) that in America our 'holiday season' kicks off with none other than Thanksgiving, the holiday dedicated to gathering together those nearest and dearest to you and counting your blessings. What a way to start out the best part of the year, really.<br />
I've resolved to do my best to let this influence every bit of my holiday season.<br />
<br />
Cool little moment. Maybe its a little silly, but it was a bit of a perspective change.<br />
<br />
Anyway, hope you all had a terrific Thanksgiving, and that your Christmas preparations go well and any traveling you do goes safely and if anything goes wrong it's the sort that gives you good stories to tell at the other end ;)<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-25657094927329795672012-10-21T19:00:00.000-07:002012-10-21T19:00:06.031-07:00Landscape, continued...So, after I had the composition and my basic color scheme figured out, it was time to get over my qualms and start the piece. I should have taken more in progress shots, so you all could see how ugly an oil painting starts out, but I was actually focused, and didn't think of it. Oops.<br />
<br />
Initially I had this piece planned for a larger canvas that was about the proportion of those initial sketches, but because of time constraints I had to do some quick problem solving and figure out how to make it work on a smaller canvas.<br />
<br />
I've done a piece before with this really lovely vignette effect that I thought might look really nice if I got the right level of detail into the interior of the painting, and frame the image, leading the eye in deeper to the image. I think in the end it actually worked, and my teacher seemed to get it. He actually gave me a couple of suggestions to make it a little more successful that I'm going to try once the paint sets a bit more.<br />
<br />
Anyway, with all that prep the painting actually went really smoothly, especially for anything oil paint related and me... up till this point. And then something about the composition just really started bothering me.<br />
<br />
At this point I remembered a post I'd read by Justin Gerard about something Rembrandt reportedly did- whenever he got stuck on a painting, instead of pushing through and, like I always do, risking ruining the whole thing, he would do small studies of the painting to figure out the problems. Gerard picked up the idea... but digitally. So, I decided to give it a try.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoD1AUrah2Kg1c4GkIfFMnZR3S05NKxP1jC4f0maqyXDsQHluQf11aF1N2NBzxoEAn0NcP595tTpEmqgog2BF1l7or5CKKfO8k8bzlm-cnQ57OWVyJmG-uOlwFGRmX4gnfZXvBa9HqcPG/s1600/scapeoils1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoD1AUrah2Kg1c4GkIfFMnZR3S05NKxP1jC4f0maqyXDsQHluQf11aF1N2NBzxoEAn0NcP595tTpEmqgog2BF1l7or5CKKfO8k8bzlm-cnQ57OWVyJmG-uOlwFGRmX4gnfZXvBa9HqcPG/s320/scapeoils1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
It actually helped a ton!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaLZnZujvUEAhco-8hI2R05olOqBB4DhJGrPBguZMbituU-dXB6nhyphenhyphen0yNB7UHongyH0xmXzZiG0ZKxPlnkFh9WHgVrj5U8Uyzo6eCXbCNNCDG-3vH1sgS_CS537leKpr1OM28j03eQ6H9/s1600/scapeoils1mod.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaLZnZujvUEAhco-8hI2R05olOqBB4DhJGrPBguZMbituU-dXB6nhyphenhyphen0yNB7UHongyH0xmXzZiG0ZKxPlnkFh9WHgVrj5U8Uyzo6eCXbCNNCDG-3vH1sgS_CS537leKpr1OM28j03eQ6H9/s320/scapeoils1mod.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Many hours later and a little more back and forth and I'm actually really happy with where it's heading... and i've hit that point where the fear sets in. You know you're close, and you have that last set of details you want to add, and you know they're absolutely crucial to the painting.<br />
<br />
You also know that at this point you have every potential to absolutely destroy everything you've done so far.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFu4U4vYe2J6xCIuFazNi9XcE0uhvpRoqjpFxAM7M5ycSbAbvxOMbu0q4br1c7bK1nfq3OwN5afNnI148Gu7uHVTNaZWCCb7uuzDaXidL2rkpdovztSggcNwrE1nY9T8oXJL-DjM79bhZ/s1600/scapeoils2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFu4U4vYe2J6xCIuFazNi9XcE0uhvpRoqjpFxAM7M5ycSbAbvxOMbu0q4br1c7bK1nfq3OwN5afNnI148Gu7uHVTNaZWCCb7uuzDaXidL2rkpdovztSggcNwrE1nY9T8oXJL-DjM79bhZ/s320/scapeoils2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
So, I took one last photo, and went back to my trusty Paint Tool SAI and started messing about again. It really saved my tail. It doesn't seem like much, but this was the first substantial composition change I'd made to the painting since I'd come up with it in the first place. It is much better for it, really, but there's really no way it would have happened without the digital 'inter-medium'...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzJE_amHOnNBpjQBc9_a-MqjMy_8gvJ_OTm2v4Ps1XxWVjSYyz_1gpRvVUlOAV46PNsXfpHfrqhhfdTroIr6m0l7dYKFyvzykrpEvnG8ANSBVp0wksQ5IIITvjrosqOVx5dvscaf4p1vm/s1600/scapeoils2mod.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzJE_amHOnNBpjQBc9_a-MqjMy_8gvJ_OTm2v4Ps1XxWVjSYyz_1gpRvVUlOAV46PNsXfpHfrqhhfdTroIr6m0l7dYKFyvzykrpEvnG8ANSBVp0wksQ5IIITvjrosqOVx5dvscaf4p1vm/s320/scapeoils2mod.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
And after another few hours of touch-ups and fiddling, here's my final piece. :)<br />
<br />I am rather pleased with the end result. There are certainly things that need to be fixed, but on the whole I think I'm finally getting the hang of oils :D<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRbz7Kgnby9vKqIKo6f3yH5yZImuB6T4eGxf-rtmeNHLM7uXAu5KHtwXtoJq_yipZt7SggeguxNGfojHfTGk0LDE3Bry6RvHzuFFeyzFTdo_2cYbpj1r4xzAZwrhzvw0_NArWDvS8ZcK6/s1600/scapeoils3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRbz7Kgnby9vKqIKo6f3yH5yZImuB6T4eGxf-rtmeNHLM7uXAu5KHtwXtoJq_yipZt7SggeguxNGfojHfTGk0LDE3Bry6RvHzuFFeyzFTdo_2cYbpj1r4xzAZwrhzvw0_NArWDvS8ZcK6/s320/scapeoils3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-88825934904932709102012-10-18T22:51:00.000-07:002012-10-18T22:54:03.381-07:00Landscape in ProgressFinally, some original art! Yay! (that I'm not afraid or ashamed to show! Yay!)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To get things rolling again around here, I'm going to start out with a couple posts on the progress of this oil paint landscape. First stage- reference. Color, composition, material, whatever you are referencing, find it. It's always best to get your own shots, so you'll be certain to get just what you need, but in a pinch the internet sometimes has something close. I can say I definitely didn't take <u>t<a href="http://klarens-photography.deviantart.com/art/The-Dark-Hedges-Misty-194760250" target="_blank">hat lovely foggy sho</a>t</u>, but it ended up helping me a ton in my color roughs.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDiMZUshoL4aV0NVqddFXlWq6ao6sjaf0RGuh5lDjUxT_jaz9C2zU2KuPj0HfISbbP9cN18juFiKsmPbwZoFKmMOvyFGK2jzSNWL4DOXBP4Nw_vM7Hi4P_VcM7DZJbhtnJVnddfwDoGSi/s1600/IMG_3103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDiMZUshoL4aV0NVqddFXlWq6ao6sjaf0RGuh5lDjUxT_jaz9C2zU2KuPj0HfISbbP9cN18juFiKsmPbwZoFKmMOvyFGK2jzSNWL4DOXBP4Nw_vM7Hi4P_VcM7DZJbhtnJVnddfwDoGSi/s200/IMG_3103.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5T7ZrcyjZ8aS96gNgwMECr2zxSrBUEZyXAv7phfwgNVPX_LuI2Xi7fn8krXu-1FBI0FxPEAVoc-c86fG3rzF9XpXZIgPKpU5h5aAjN4uGYEawLIYOvKVj3qwK2DJGNB7q0ekiAIc6plM2/s1600/IMG_3100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5T7ZrcyjZ8aS96gNgwMECr2zxSrBUEZyXAv7phfwgNVPX_LuI2Xi7fn8krXu-1FBI0FxPEAVoc-c86fG3rzF9XpXZIgPKpU5h5aAjN4uGYEawLIYOvKVj3qwK2DJGNB7q0ekiAIc6plM2/s200/IMG_3100.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMWMlV0bg9tc-ligvoPyplhIfeRnKvWMvHLHuXva_NlByaquRv42mXQT_vViQoueWygNEwuS0F8jQc4HHfzyctP4V7o5SCRFxpVEYZppsQNJsjzMP_glYbMGUNPHPwSe_l1p0WJA4NEZc/s1600/IMG_3104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMWMlV0bg9tc-ligvoPyplhIfeRnKvWMvHLHuXva_NlByaquRv42mXQT_vViQoueWygNEwuS0F8jQc4HHfzyctP4V7o5SCRFxpVEYZppsQNJsjzMP_glYbMGUNPHPwSe_l1p0WJA4NEZc/s200/IMG_3104.JPG" width="150" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<u> <a href="http://klarens-photography.deviantart.com/art/The-Dark-Hedges-Misty-194760250" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6f94ZSwHUmW4NlthncZNTxrg-c4qcD0e-1_s35GuLrbG3fpJkXcx3938n475gxfyDBDMsgydMTRxZVpJcD4tX6vPbpr5jnMEIVFSHwzfcoN0Va_tFPF78fDs628PRCDhz1e5GStwA4E9/s200/the_dark_hedges___misty_by_klarens_photography-d37ydyy.jpg" width="200" /></a> </u></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also, on-site studies, even better than any photograph ever. I'm terrible at them, but they still help a ton.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqO-ir-blBICxNEil6MoBZ6shx0-2ubb09hyv_kM1WXHKws7weD77UITqVgKz4ODX6laKUD1A64EX_Ec5MfmS02d0txvPEhUaklXarABtyarGuOY5M27ak5lWiVvpZ06rVPkr86o1MgHM/s1600/IMG_3102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqO-ir-blBICxNEil6MoBZ6shx0-2ubb09hyv_kM1WXHKws7weD77UITqVgKz4ODX6laKUD1A64EX_Ec5MfmS02d0txvPEhUaklXarABtyarGuOY5M27ak5lWiVvpZ06rVPkr86o1MgHM/s320/IMG_3102.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Next stage, composition sketches. I struggle with color a lot, so I keep them in greyscale and leave the color out of the mix entirely. Also, I'm really coming to love doing almost all of my fiddly composition work digitally. It seems to save a lot of headaching.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYuHTgHuL3Kq63b0lkjtMQxf_qFdxFoliXB8wu2GXXePxDHzHmUvQvhGeFy2zxdFucxlkD0XLMJKoNPcnRzfTMxdmtXJigGHLOGQL_I3qgthYI8Ok55RM-zw6joV28GElaUg1p8I9M2_F/s1600/landscapestudiescomp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYuHTgHuL3Kq63b0lkjtMQxf_qFdxFoliXB8wu2GXXePxDHzHmUvQvhGeFy2zxdFucxlkD0XLMJKoNPcnRzfTMxdmtXJigGHLOGQL_I3qgthYI8Ok55RM-zw6joV28GElaUg1p8I9M2_F/s320/landscapestudiescomp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
These are a few of the best that I thought up. I still struggle with this a bit. I used to do this part all in my head, which is problematic in a lot of ways. It's like doing math in your head. Yeah, you might do it alright most of the time, but then sometimes you're wrong, or you miss something, and you won't know where or when it was because you never wrote it down. So, I'm trying to train myself out of a very bad habit and actually draw out my thought process. My art really is improving as I do so.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Next comes the color studies. This is my favorite digital trick in the pre-painting stage.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_G4S2LYxvV1aZzAREEuds0sc15UuMr8A4xL-R5UoFEXI74gRytZucGRFjI7JdNzYaWgnkunjaYk_gQDE3MQKG7ZMDpWOoknrpkE_jSvZUDsfPilzfyMXxy3iVyp8sFmPgVRg7uNzCmyGV/s1600/landscapestudies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_G4S2LYxvV1aZzAREEuds0sc15UuMr8A4xL-R5UoFEXI74gRytZucGRFjI7JdNzYaWgnkunjaYk_gQDE3MQKG7ZMDpWOoknrpkE_jSvZUDsfPilzfyMXxy3iVyp8sFmPgVRg7uNzCmyGV/s320/landscapestudies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
See? So simple! You just take your favorite composition and go over and over and over again with all your different color potentials. Which is the same thing as you'd be doing by hand, except in this case you don't have to worry about the composition constantly accidentally changing on you, too. Fewer happy accidents, but far fewer frustrations as well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Aaaand I think that's it for tonight. Next post I'll get into the actual painting :) I'll have to see the finished thing in the light of day, but I think I actually like this one.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-74597382574926079852012-09-12T23:40:00.000-07:002012-09-12T23:42:27.275-07:00Pita!!Not of the Hunger Games variety.<br />
So, yesterday was shawarma. Today I talk about how I discovered my oven could get up to five hundred degrees.<br />
It was deliberate.<br />
We made pita bread, to put our delicious shawarma and tahini spread into. <u>Using <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Whole-Wheat-Pita-Bread-108122" target="_blank">this lovely recipe we discovered on epicurious.com</a>,</u> we successfully made a double recipe of sixteen lovely light brown puffy hollow pita pockets :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIfVWD56N7AGpLKZ1iT3caSLTSibMX-XlNK6_FZM6rh_U-S4EXn_gbzLlgOz53aTiRj0A2DE5ExWiIwrO50C6yV6cWLAhcA6PgzdxavO5FGC7YvnAFyqBMrz4Pk8VlUzVJOp_ImyV3qgl/s1600/s3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIfVWD56N7AGpLKZ1iT3caSLTSibMX-XlNK6_FZM6rh_U-S4EXn_gbzLlgOz53aTiRj0A2DE5ExWiIwrO50C6yV6cWLAhcA6PgzdxavO5FGC7YvnAFyqBMrz4Pk8VlUzVJOp_ImyV3qgl/s320/s3.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">1 teaspoon honey</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">1 1/4 cups warm water (105–115°F)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">2 cups bread flour or high-gluten flour, plus additional for kneading</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">1 cup whole-wheat flour</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">1 teaspoon salt</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Cornmeal for sprinkling baking sheets (I just lightly rubbed flour over the sheets)</span></li>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjMLcXm8rv_MJXcitdgEX7ObIw0XxCf78n23qBTf-UiX6ERRJ_7hmjm9dMMGdHKQrWtHJbMq48zV8UZVEwzuLS1TKinKVYwWjiKov7k3b76WHI129koSJ_d17JLk_Xu9zBcYQ-LAydwtT/s1600/s6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As far as the steps, we followed this recipe pretty religiously and it worked wonders. It's a bit long and involved, but I looked through several recipes and it is not at all the longest or most involved of all the recipes even just on the front page.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As far as the recipe, we used an even half and half mixture of unbleached flour and whole wheat flour, and simply used three cups of it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, we used six, because we doubled the recipe.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a lot of pita.<br />We planned on having a lot of leftovers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's not quite going as planned.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Regardless, the recipe goes as follows.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Stir together yeast, honey, and 1/2 cup warm water in a large bowl, then let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn't foam, discard and start over with new yeast.)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">While yeast mixture stands, stir together flours in another bowl. Whisk 1/2 cup flour mixture into yeast mixture until smooth, then cover with plastic wrap and let stand in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk and bubbly, about 45 minutes. Stir in oil, salt, remaining 3/4 cup warm water, and remaining 2 1/2 cups flour mixture until a dough forms.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead, working in just enough additional flour to keep dough from sticking, until dough is smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Form dough into a ball and put in an oiled large bowl, turning to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour."</span></h3>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjMLcXm8rv_MJXcitdgEX7ObIw0XxCf78n23qBTf-UiX6ERRJ_7hmjm9dMMGdHKQrWtHJbMq48zV8UZVEwzuLS1TKinKVYwWjiKov7k3b76WHI129koSJ_d17JLk_Xu9zBcYQ-LAydwtT/s1600/s6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjMLcXm8rv_MJXcitdgEX7ObIw0XxCf78n23qBTf-UiX6ERRJ_7hmjm9dMMGdHKQrWtHJbMq48zV8UZVEwzuLS1TKinKVYwWjiKov7k3b76WHI129koSJ_d17JLk_Xu9zBcYQ-LAydwtT/s320/s6.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Punch down dough and cut into 8 pieces. Form each piece into a ball. Flatten 1 ball, then roll out into a 6 1/2- to 7-inch round on floured surface with a floured rolling pin. Transfer round to 1 of 2 baking sheets lightly sprinkled with cornmeal. Make 7 more rounds in same manner, arranging them on baking sheets. Loosely cover pitas with 2 clean kitchen towels (not terry cloth) and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.</span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-----Set oven rack in lower third of oven and-----</span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-----remove other racks-----</span></h3>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6KtqMvfy19DTpbJCVPUn3sGWjH-I-6obRdiF_AmrwlXdBVCfrpSY8TxJlVEmYmd8TpbQd8K-Ct3n-E_pWhQaJLlmiJ6qwe76knGZqiJYzjxx9-0f0HOSkjigOaZNpUYNKG4xyhyphenhyphenbmCcn/s1600/s4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6KtqMvfy19DTpbJCVPUn3sGWjH-I-6obRdiF_AmrwlXdBVCfrpSY8TxJlVEmYmd8TpbQd8K-Ct3n-E_pWhQaJLlmiJ6qwe76knGZqiJYzjxx9-0f0HOSkjigOaZNpUYNKG4xyhyphenhyphenbmCcn/s320/s4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Preheat oven to 500°F.</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbxjLQ2tNm8EG12ByHeUsSC7qjh3hZ3Rbg-v_VSx3OQ2bEXxkgN5fSPCIEF6m3WuSLlKgdPWeANORn5t0VxrXVH6E7TlrMJFbCzE-7IlhanQzW6AAXIpWVBJ30cXH2VmhsH9kpTQb3fk1/s1600/s5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbxjLQ2tNm8EG12ByHeUsSC7qjh3hZ3Rbg-v_VSx3OQ2bEXxkgN5fSPCIEF6m3WuSLlKgdPWeANORn5t0VxrXVH6E7TlrMJFbCzE-7IlhanQzW6AAXIpWVBJ30cXH2VmhsH9kpTQb3fk1/s320/s5.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Transfer 4 pitas, 1 at a time, directly onto oven rack. Bake until just puffed and pale golden, about 2 minutes. Turn over with tongs and bake 1 minute more. Cool pitas on a cooling rack 2 minutes, then stack and wrap loosely in a kitchen towel to keep pitas warm. Bake remaining 4 pitas in same manner. Serve warm."</span></h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu9hUE7jbUo4UwAbG7G9Q_qRZOLmFt0UVTzgn-NjPrNxfQCnhbfAV4lWnPDk4Jy6_x51A8PdyQCcGqDakOwbXS4WJHKB1_PDTwAIZNcJBRzL9jK57Pg89ZsaKX4wukvhGNYrYBOG2NFvJ/s1600/s2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu9hUE7jbUo4UwAbG7G9Q_qRZOLmFt0UVTzgn-NjPrNxfQCnhbfAV4lWnPDk4Jy6_x51A8PdyQCcGqDakOwbXS4WJHKB1_PDTwAIZNcJBRzL9jK57Pg89ZsaKX4wukvhGNYrYBOG2NFvJ/s320/s2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm tastey.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcBrYeGU1HNTHWHeJfOqSX-h5VYlQijs0qx0suhvJfPEQSKx2638bS4WFL1R6kl2wMYzlPCAJGaC1ujPRm1pjno6wszj3OjTB0az3Uy_FBzRnCtRHQgrXeWEzb1PGQLg6nAIKzKRYuYLT/s1600/s1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcBrYeGU1HNTHWHeJfOqSX-h5VYlQijs0qx0suhvJfPEQSKx2638bS4WFL1R6kl2wMYzlPCAJGaC1ujPRm1pjno6wszj3OjTB0az3Uy_FBzRnCtRHQgrXeWEzb1PGQLg6nAIKzKRYuYLT/s320/s1.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm tastier.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQXoQi0oCj0HVUFtpqDCijPxKgnJ-z27mu6kHn99pLBx8MXhoDTKuSxDzAu2YfJQPzTPqknnEVSuRbPrW2iWcQ8geh3E4sWEVAPV6Fy47p3OXYqE8LB4yBMLSykg5BpEj6rpQEovv_Uvu/s1600/s7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQXoQi0oCj0HVUFtpqDCijPxKgnJ-z27mu6kHn99pLBx8MXhoDTKuSxDzAu2YfJQPzTPqknnEVSuRbPrW2iWcQ8geh3E4sWEVAPV6Fy47p3OXYqE8LB4yBMLSykg5BpEj6rpQEovv_Uvu/s320/s7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
tahini sauce.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRevX7cHoxQPeZAlrAVjFmkMYTuZvM7jm8jOzc2_VFmG6AUxE-8oO0Ja4phNS2K-rZgee3ZYD9gbuvwszhoOrscH2KY2InUaZC4fOrXVlrXQ2aLRZwzoGpGPUKV0dBaEOncAeFXSNSoOu/s1600/s8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRevX7cHoxQPeZAlrAVjFmkMYTuZvM7jm8jOzc2_VFmG6AUxE-8oO0Ja4phNS2K-rZgee3ZYD9gbuvwszhoOrscH2KY2InUaZC4fOrXVlrXQ2aLRZwzoGpGPUKV0dBaEOncAeFXSNSoOu/s320/s8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Shawarma chicken. Best stuff in the whole world, in my humble opinion. I will definitely be repeating this experience.<br />
Tomorrow or the next day, I will be posting art! Yay!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-5815842589942726372012-09-11T23:36:00.000-07:002012-09-11T23:37:16.608-07:00Shwaaaarrrrrmaaa......for those of you who have seen 'How it Should Have Ended' for the Avengers.<br />
<br />
Or, on other words, shawarma.<br />
<br />
I have an awesome boyfriend, by the way. After seeing the Avengers, most boys went around quoting Iron Man and pretending to be Captain America. Well, no- ...okay, yes, there was and is some of that. But. But, my favorite part is when he comes back and says that he wants to go see it again at the local discount theatre and then come back and make shawarma.<br />
Of course, college life being what it is, things didn't go quite as planned, and we didn't get to do things quite in that order.<br />
The actual making of the shawarma meat was stretched over two days (which didn't hurt the marinade in the least, I must say), and then we had to wait another two days to make the pita bread to put the stuff in, and we won't even get to eat the sandwiches until tomorrow! However, we've gotten to sample everything along the way and it all appears a smashing success.<br />
We just haven't had a chance to assemble our heroic meal yet.<br />
See what I did there?<br />
I should be ashamed of myself, shouldn't I?<br />
I'm not.<br />
<br />
<br />
On to shawarma!<br />
Because I was cooking as part of a team, I didn't do my typical recipe deconstruction, so I have actual recipes to refer you to today!<br />
The shawarma recipe comes from <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-shawarma/" target="_blank">Wendy on allrecipes.com</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="ingredients" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<ul style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">1/2 cup malt vinegar</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">1/4 cup plain yogurt</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">1 tablespoon vegetable oil</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">salt and pepper to taste</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">1 teaspoon mixed spice</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">1/4 teaspoon freshly ground cardamom</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"> </li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">1/2 cup tahini</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">1/4 cup plain yogurt</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">1/2 teaspoon minced garlic</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">2 tablespoons lemon juice</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">1 tablespoon olive oil</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">salt and pepper to taste</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"> </li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">4 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">1/2 cup sliced onion</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">4 cups shredded lettuce</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">8 pita bread rounds</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<br />
<br />
Okay... I did change a few things. For instance, I had only a couple little sauce packets of malt vinegar that I'd picked up at a fast food place ages ago, so I had to use the tail ends of some white balsamic and some rice vinegar that I had about.<br />
I just realized what an odd college student I am.<br />
Oh well.<br />
Probably could have used extra light olive oil just as well as vegetable oil in here, as the vinegar would have more than made up for any flavor discrepancies.<br />
Also, I used chicken breasts, and had already chunked them about half-fist-sized for portion control earlier. Worked just fine.<br />
One last note before we move on- cardamom is amazing. This cannot be understated. It is the miracle spice in this recipe. Wonderful.<br />
Moving on.<br />
<br />
As the recipe says, you put the chicken and the marinade in the baking dish, cover it, and stick it in the fridge. It says at least four hours to overnight. I say, if you go with that 'at least four hours' bit, you're crazy. Overnight is a minimum. We actually had to let it sit until i think around noon... I'll have to double check with him on that, the day was a bit hectic. However, the chicken had actually taken on a desaturated sort of color from the marinade by the time we got it in the oven.<br />
Now, I'm not saying it would be a good idea to marinate it for two days or anything! Heavens no! Just don't make the mistake of going half-way on this. I promise you, it's worth the wait.<br />
<br />
Oh... Aaaaand with that, it's almost one in the morning, I'm rambling, and I have cycling early...today. I'll continue this later ;)<br />
<br />
I'll talk about the perfect sauce and post some pictures with the next blog!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-91463967009751168082012-09-08T15:02:00.000-07:002012-09-08T15:02:21.580-07:00pleinairI'm doin' it wrong! hahah. We have yet to see. Here's the first classes' results:<br />
<br />
This first is the result of about two and a half hours of frustration. I do have to say I am rather happy with that little bit of haze I got in at the base of the far mountains, though.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1C1WXDh0inxpxnPc1PYjR0LqCB6luNB13w0rjAIRC4OR8Qerv_AtFCDFvqXb_dK_bFFM-5q_3znrl0ZlSPy5fUVRaf647-EA6EhtjwkQxDpijICE7SId0tiu8TdvJ7R8yohL0E2xaDs9/s1600/day1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1C1WXDh0inxpxnPc1PYjR0LqCB6luNB13w0rjAIRC4OR8Qerv_AtFCDFvqXb_dK_bFFM-5q_3znrl0ZlSPy5fUVRaf647-EA6EhtjwkQxDpijICE7SId0tiu8TdvJ7R8yohL0E2xaDs9/s320/day1-1.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This second I like a bit better, though it is nothing at all as intended. In fact, it is only the background layer. Had I spent any more than an hour (and maybe a half) on it, I would have worked in the trees in front that framed those clouds so dramatically. As it is, that cloud isn't half bad :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp6JSN4LbQfI2Khxnd7wFhHHDGm1imswoQxdgsv0CWdC4NXSxCnOlNsdWu9bMjHwxJJja1iqvLDG7xIrD_YyvYS-D4Z_Skgi5Akqm2cn4HX0Eo25qAj7R3POf6y0lHn4NtBeD6NqyVrC4/s1600/day1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp6JSN4LbQfI2Khxnd7wFhHHDGm1imswoQxdgsv0CWdC4NXSxCnOlNsdWu9bMjHwxJJja1iqvLDG7xIrD_YyvYS-D4Z_Skgi5Akqm2cn4HX0Eo25qAj7R3POf6y0lHn4NtBeD6NqyVrC4/s320/day1-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Also, I'm trying to get my pleinair kit together. Anyone ever done this before to have any input? Chair, no chair, easel, tripod, supplies, etc??? any suggestions would be most welcome!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-61358291787342437362012-09-05T16:50:00.003-07:002012-09-05T16:50:29.661-07:00back in businessBack from New Jersey, survived the first week of classes, and thinking I might get enough of a routine down to do some art even outside of class :D<br />
<br />
For today, here's my first assignment for my digital painting class!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DRJ4CRvt0qgnvhrFZjpOotndmKv47csajlRUnupo4zA7LAqFlBrDq2EHE7G_CnUrJoEUp0t_LtNAcFiIzlBMRzLgSOa_uxW35wpU1N5BiRFzErpcJw5FvP4w82EX0d3PaDcoODOeMURS/s1600/bwportrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DRJ4CRvt0qgnvhrFZjpOotndmKv47csajlRUnupo4zA7LAqFlBrDq2EHE7G_CnUrJoEUp0t_LtNAcFiIzlBMRzLgSOa_uxW35wpU1N5BiRFzErpcJw5FvP4w82EX0d3PaDcoODOeMURS/s320/bwportrait.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
I used<u> <a href="http://elenakalis.deviantart.com/art/Dark-Water-278489784?q=gallery%3Aelenakalis%2F262840&qo=32" target="_blank">this photo</a> </u>for reference. I love this lady's work!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-59039474169153548862012-08-15T20:04:00.000-07:002012-08-15T20:04:26.109-07:00Happiness and Sunshine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY583m0TDe8L7bhV7scxpCrkMpZH_PGa9XygdlZX_nEseDHB_tNJ6PazI_3jXEjFw3v66M6uY6BQCT7nrQYvQfFCxt2e1qSVs0ph-EYo5h9MS7cEeCMDCZMSNIvUXEcf-hpRzbpZJDEgq8/s1600/IMG_2692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY583m0TDe8L7bhV7scxpCrkMpZH_PGa9XygdlZX_nEseDHB_tNJ6PazI_3jXEjFw3v66M6uY6BQCT7nrQYvQfFCxt2e1qSVs0ph-EYo5h9MS7cEeCMDCZMSNIvUXEcf-hpRzbpZJDEgq8/s400/IMG_2692.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So, playing around with styles.<br />
And cats.<br />
And potential starter comic ideas.<br />
This might or might not actually be a life goal of mine now.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-36037706975219692842012-08-14T20:09:00.001-07:002012-08-14T20:14:04.948-07:00Of BirthdaysLast week my was my mom's birthday! I made her a cake!<br />
<br />
I've never really decorated a cake before!<br />
<br />
Yay!<br />
<br />
Here's how it turned out looking. I promise it tasted better than it looked...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPfqBZt5cXYVC-GwNVocKFRyX0eqBfC17UBNV1xeh0G8JFTBS1v3exdVHyCPGCcOs25x-zMCr0eiZWvdZYuhEYkkzvp6gQo2SaIJ6lqkZTOIc9YDkrIU0IjSWbCgy51sBHohuBRaiGW4B/s1600/IMG_2685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPfqBZt5cXYVC-GwNVocKFRyX0eqBfC17UBNV1xeh0G8JFTBS1v3exdVHyCPGCcOs25x-zMCr0eiZWvdZYuhEYkkzvp6gQo2SaIJ6lqkZTOIc9YDkrIU0IjSWbCgy51sBHohuBRaiGW4B/s320/IMG_2685.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So, the stuff on top is just a basic cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla concoction. For the drippy bit I heated it up a touch (though the new microwave is a nutcase and heated it a bit more than I wanted/expected/holycrapthisisburningmyfingertipsoff)<br />
The red part is just raspberry jam I thinned with some lemon juice and melted a bit before pouring it on and spreading it out.<br />
It's filled with more of the white frosting and some more of the jam mixture.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSzrGsiYic9_Cu3khze-9IojGSyGyLIYK7BROdDLCn5wz7_euRXW4V3FU_USqFtxfyZMTe1BwJWkXmdzzjbn-mg6do8tgKrdofb3XjlfTv97DKV9HNzNxPy2CRWw4bASfw3a-PdvAut4D/s1600/IMG_2688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSzrGsiYic9_Cu3khze-9IojGSyGyLIYK7BROdDLCn5wz7_euRXW4V3FU_USqFtxfyZMTe1BwJWkXmdzzjbn-mg6do8tgKrdofb3XjlfTv97DKV9HNzNxPy2CRWw4bASfw3a-PdvAut4D/s320/IMG_2688.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The chocolate frosting is, once again, powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter, (but with cocoa, unlike the white part) and vanilla, approximately in that proportional order, too, actually. Oh yeah, there was a dash of milk in there somewhere to thin it down a bit. I'd never really (successfully) made frosting before and the internet was down so I couldn't look it up, so I have a particular friend (you know who you are <3 ) to thank for my limited knowledge on the subject.<br />
<br />
I think last time I tried making frosting with you, it actually ended up as cookies, didn't it?<br />
<br />
The cake itself is just a basic cake mix (though I got the extra rich chocolate kind, so not quite as basic as it could be.) I was worried about it supporting the shape and keeping together on top of a filling (Oh, I should have got a pic of the inside. Oh well.) So, I figured that if I kept out one egg (egg is a rising agent and I wanted the cake to be a bit denser, not so fluffy, so it would theoretically be stronger.) I also cut back on the water slightly and made the difference up with extra oil to make the cake stay a bit moister.<br />
<br />
It seems to have worked all right :)<br />
<br />
Just don't ask about the calorie count. That would defeat the purpose of cake.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Oh, yeah, also, if you haven't figured it out, I did actually make it in safe, just far from on time. My biggest grievance is that I was stuck in an airport on the <i>other</i> end of the flight from the thunderstorm. I love thunderstorms. I wanted to see it : /Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-73011088324252460782012-08-10T08:34:00.001-07:002012-08-10T12:29:46.037-07:00Tubing!Yesterday some friends and I went up the canyon to ride inner tubes down the river.<br />
I have to say, I feel a little miffed. The worst I got was a scraped elbow from falling as I fought the current to get out of the river. After some of the 'battle wounds' everyone else was getting, I was hoping I'd have something showy to post a picture of... but all I managed to do was scrape up my elbow on a rock as I was trying to get out of the water.<br />
Honestly, they picked a terrible place to pull us out. A nice wide spot in the river, yes, but the banks were so grown over we couldn't see the vans waiting for us until we were practically past. The river pinched off directly after this deep slow part, and mot of us were stuck fighting the current back up to the pick up, on loose rock and hauling our tubes behind us. They threw me a rope, but that just made me want to move faster, and I ended up slipping and falling under the water with my tube over top of me. I got a good face full of water...<br />
and you know what? That river tasted better than my tap water XD<br />
<br />
<br />
And today I'm flying.<br />
Well... I will be. Eventually. My flight's been delayed two hours and counting.<br />
I'm missing all the fun weather in Jersey. So sad...<br />
<br />
EDIT: Still in the airport, distracting myself with stumbleupon. Fun stuff.<br />
I just had a major herp-a-derp moment...<br />
<a href="http://zoomyummy.com/about/" target="_blank">These lovely ladies</a>, who run a much more beautiful and effective food blog than I, posted <a href="http://zoomyummy.com/2010/12/13/burning-the-haze-my-most-favorite-photoshop-trick/" target="_blank">a little tidbit</a> on cleaning up photos in Photoshop. I am in awe at their awesomeness and at the fact that I've never explored the program enough to figure this out for myself.<br />
In about twenty seconds I took this poor photo that you all saw a few weeks ago:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4k4bEZqud4wphx7XU6U-JVt5kEB1HPToFKYtKPmD8YeQgtJCYuMnrOKS4_o4uh79jtHId9TPZsR_9uTCwuMUGfG5m0tufaObbPIZ8Kw9nbuiPKK1Gg38NVL6iXMoxqjC38ANT4bwrxiQ/s1600/honeyspicedshrimp11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4k4bEZqud4wphx7XU6U-JVt5kEB1HPToFKYtKPmD8YeQgtJCYuMnrOKS4_o4uh79jtHId9TPZsR_9uTCwuMUGfG5m0tufaObbPIZ8Kw9nbuiPKK1Gg38NVL6iXMoxqjC38ANT4bwrxiQ/s320/honeyspicedshrimp11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
and did this to it:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqF91p2B3se3QevZ05V-eQRhPN_zsNoIVrOjAT_w1smYESZDCK27Y2RyQB3Y5Phdwd0TU-J8je38mpW3f_e0b3IKKHs3K55lcplz_wEZMhWZrosDggD_C18t_AIFeS9O1DpgmLEWIhHGpP/s1600/honeyspicedshrimp12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqF91p2B3se3QevZ05V-eQRhPN_zsNoIVrOjAT_w1smYESZDCK27Y2RyQB3Y5Phdwd0TU-J8je38mpW3f_e0b3IKKHs3K55lcplz_wEZMhWZrosDggD_C18t_AIFeS9O1DpgmLEWIhHGpP/s320/honeyspicedshrimp12.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
It might not seem like a big deal you anyone else, but it's practically revolutionary to me :)<br />
<br />
I feel kinda silly now. I'll go finish my geek-out in private...<br />
<br />
<br />
EDIT AGAIN...<br />
They let us get on the plane!<br />
And then told us that it would be at least another hour and some before we took off and told us we could get back off the plane and wander around for a bit if we wanted.<br />
Now I'm back on the plane. Maybe we'll get to go soon? I want to be airborne!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-26902732935542168112012-08-08T20:28:00.000-07:002012-08-08T20:30:54.861-07:00Diversions :)So, while letting a layer on the current project dry, I picked up a scrap piece of illustration board that's been sitting on my desk for months now and started doodling.<br />
Part of the reason I settled on this blog name is because of how much I love doodling trees. Only part, I assure you.<br />
But this made me particularly happy today :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCvatzssAoapCrNn8RJ0D_q2jW8UsOK4cXMe28PXb54Vg3Y2rc4c_ShmvRD4IHZBfLfdgmeHZUXBFaz5YW2SuVgF_ZuPilvc9hxkc68dVqqn2SDgK1_8CzR587Sz1d3cjIUi3vT8phbPU/s1600/driptreesmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCvatzssAoapCrNn8RJ0D_q2jW8UsOK4cXMe28PXb54Vg3Y2rc4c_ShmvRD4IHZBfLfdgmeHZUXBFaz5YW2SuVgF_ZuPilvc9hxkc68dVqqn2SDgK1_8CzR587Sz1d3cjIUi3vT8phbPU/s400/driptreesmall.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-11587429493593400152012-08-07T12:44:00.001-07:002012-08-07T12:45:34.264-07:00A bit of encouragement...Art is a hard field to break into. Not only is it highly competitive, filled with unbelievably talented people, picky employers and clients, critics of all sorts (unfortunately this includes a great many bandwagon people who are negative and harsh not because it helps anyone, or because they actually have any grounds for what they say, but because they believe if you have to be a critic you have to harshly criticize) and a negative stigma, but artists tend to be the most self-critical of all. Without a lot of support and external motivation, most prospective artists end up tearing themselves down emotionally long before they have a chance to grow.<br />
I found this comic a while ago, and it really catches the gist of what artistic hopefuls face emotionally every day. And, if they're truly blessed, they have friends or family or both who can pick them up after a rough day, brush them off, and say (i apologize for this, but the quote is perfect): "To hell with [them] then"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://harkavagrant.com/mothersdaycomic.png" target="_blank">Mother's Day Comic</a> </span></u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Also, between finishing up projects here, getting ready for the upcoming semester, and getting ready for a trip, I'm not likely to be able to post any of my own art for a bit. See you all on the other side!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-19417189040922727552012-08-03T22:55:00.000-07:002012-08-03T23:55:19.670-07:00These always turn into something different...All I was going to do was a quick speed-paint of a face, and some really nice graphic white silhouette hair. Something like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Cd79xQerkyARlyLJxuPmKMz2179LthmOWBl3rbdikPQKJFJ51qp5-q9TZPm2wxO2Bal4LJn2iDdr7HDFdccvfWkXHGRAewmUH5GBCWaEt7RkF7QhGkhZTBlo-xV45Hrvzs6ZEtDlalGI/s1600/white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Cd79xQerkyARlyLJxuPmKMz2179LthmOWBl3rbdikPQKJFJ51qp5-q9TZPm2wxO2Bal4LJn2iDdr7HDFdccvfWkXHGRAewmUH5GBCWaEt7RkF7QhGkhZTBlo-xV45Hrvzs6ZEtDlalGI/s400/white.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
...more or less. First off, I was really silly and decided I didn't want to find reference for the face. So that took a while, and next time I look at it I'll probably see a million errors. Oh well.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Secondly, though, as soon as I'd finished drawing that hair... I thought 'Oh, I wonder what it would look like with color!'</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Darnit. And I was going to just watch a movie and go to bed. Oops.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are my top two options. I'd really appreciate some input, which you guys like best, either way. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXqregVbYSBoIIBfB_-YryMWWhIAmvE4iDRechiuUUFKMfInxXSzXPHifHv7J68KIOj2ezJdd0ezrWMvX0WvdkOFT2bpVCtunLHcs3XyQtL7qkhtDRjoi19gRdsbHRKR1BTWuWuKE67st/s1600/skin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXqregVbYSBoIIBfB_-YryMWWhIAmvE4iDRechiuUUFKMfInxXSzXPHifHv7J68KIOj2ezJdd0ezrWMvX0WvdkOFT2bpVCtunLHcs3XyQtL7qkhtDRjoi19gRdsbHRKR1BTWuWuKE67st/s200/skin.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00kY8QeO8KpfYsLubGC-OS9k0X0zqAesAjAzw55G06opBdUb9Zd1mCMtG8ek_xSTEn9MA9ynapx7olNLHION3z0mQSgWDV7O2vRrvEXCKu-ptpCc7433WS0n2C7SIBrhSAyqb9fkm8awy/s1600/greyskin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00kY8QeO8KpfYsLubGC-OS9k0X0zqAesAjAzw55G06opBdUb9Zd1mCMtG8ek_xSTEn9MA9ynapx7olNLHION3z0mQSgWDV7O2vRrvEXCKu-ptpCc7433WS0n2C7SIBrhSAyqb9fkm8awy/s200/greyskin.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Oh, also today, I saw MIB:3 and was pleasantly surprised. It was pretty fun, if a bit predictable. Definitely worth a two-dollar ticket. Why in the world don't they have dollar theatres everywhere? I love this place.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-74059178618147209222012-08-03T13:26:00.001-07:002012-08-03T22:56:38.714-07:00Ponies! (ohdearthere'snosavingmenow)Actually, I haven't watched much of the show. What I <i>have</i> done is watch several terrific artists who <i>do</i>.<br />
As I mentioned in my last post, one of the artists I particularly admire, <a href="http://cheeko-001.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">Cheeko</a>, did a rendition of all the Avengers as Ponies from MLP:FIM. She's graciously given me permission to post my colors and line-work online. She even said she liked the purple in Hulk's mane and tail :D<br />
Here's my finished Thor and Hulk.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42cdIbRko4RwEagVae-gNHHPiWRTmpsK-4eSAZUN2F_rkTZ_fylk6BBvgCE9W34w4Y4116O5hiwezXceezcIZnkxX-w1sn_wcU2uGCupDZ5i8_SBnrQLcPBCEUEhfvdzuFRKcQnwqMg1b/s1600/hulk+thor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42cdIbRko4RwEagVae-gNHHPiWRTmpsK-4eSAZUN2F_rkTZ_fylk6BBvgCE9W34w4Y4116O5hiwezXceezcIZnkxX-w1sn_wcU2uGCupDZ5i8_SBnrQLcPBCEUEhfvdzuFRKcQnwqMg1b/s320/hulk+thor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Loki, you're next XD</span>
</div>
<br />
Also, any of you who like art, do art, or like MLP, I would love some input on the lines and colors! I'm really trying to improve here and this style is particularly difficult for me. Anything you see that I could improve on would help!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515536633620174853.post-25591245316950397212012-07-31T22:00:00.001-07:002012-08-03T13:23:50.902-07:00Some fun :DSo... You know that really odd situation we have set up for ourselves these days where you have these friends who you really like and respect but have never actually met in real life? One of my friends of that particular sort is <a href="http://cheeko-001.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">Cheeko</a>. I've been following her for some time and have had some fun conversations back and forth. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(A side note being that she is really popular online and probably doesn't even register I'm the same person from conversation to conversation... but oh well. I guess that just makes me a creepy stalker XD ) </span>A few weeks ago she posted her rendition of<u> <a href="http://cheeko-001.deviantart.com/art/Avenger-Ponies-Full-Cast-315655467" target="_blank">the cast of the Avengers as Ponies</a>.</u> I commented to her about how they were really awesome and would probably get really popular really fast, but she brushed off the comment with a laugh and moved on with her life and art. So what did I do? I took that as a personal challenge.<br />
I am a fan of a website called <u>'<a href="http://iwastesomuchtime.com/" target="_blank">I Waste So Much Time</a>'</u>. Many of you have probably heard of it. I really do waste so much time on it. It's my go-to site on migraine days.<br />
So, to try to boost the viewership of Cheeko's piece, I decided that every other day or so until they accepted it, I would submit Cheeko's piece to be featured on the site. It took about four days. (immadork)<br />
I don't know if I can really accept credit, but I like to think so.<br />
<br />
So...yeah. To further prove that I have no life, I had decided earlier that I wanted to finish inking and coloring the ones she hasn't finished.<br />
<br />
Actually, I really wanted to do it because I want to practice the coloring style she used. I really struggle with clean inking and coloring, especially digitally. Most learning artists will agree (at least most I've ever met) that it is nice, when you're trying to learn something, to take out the steps that you're not actually focusing on. In this case, I took out the design and drawing steps by borrowing Cheeko's base and 'just' inking over it.<br />
<br />
Here's a little preview of how it's going :D (I'm kind of struggling, but I know I'll have learned a ton from this exercise in the end)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKFTIb6JkEljGiKvadpOCZR7JNg9K-okqIxInWvfe2gQFf5HKgdgx0coup_xGPwlSH2W4mZP28Ql_Z-ZoSElt_ZIoIZGpuTF5UTzaczF8O9E0C1M6sgTOsTh0xm_dJ_yx8IlYU1-XIZsr/s1600/desktop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKFTIb6JkEljGiKvadpOCZR7JNg9K-okqIxInWvfe2gQFf5HKgdgx0coup_xGPwlSH2W4mZP28Ql_Z-ZoSElt_ZIoIZGpuTF5UTzaczF8O9E0C1M6sgTOsTh0xm_dJ_yx8IlYU1-XIZsr/s400/desktop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Oh, yeah, also, before I post anything finished, I'm going to ask her if she doesn't mind me posting them here. So teasers is all you may get :) )</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565960887391565649noreply@blogger.com0