bloowabbit

Wednesday, 21 March 2018

Teeny tiny art...pt 2

Pt 2 of personalising the dollhouse kit 'Ada's Studio'...and filling it with bloowabbit art.

The tiny art I made for the mini studio turned out better than I'd hoped although I needed to draw and re-draw them to get the scale right within the frames. I like the vividness of the studio hung with vibrantly coloured art.

I was so pleased with the canvas on the easel and it's how I imagine translating February's doodles into full-size paint-on-canvas. I made a tiny black A4 sketchbook which is what I tend to use, complete with some little sketches. A maulstick sits beside it and a paint rag hangs over the top of the easel. Much of this detail mightn't be obvious when the parts are glued in situ...but I'll know they're there.

The Greco-Roman statue would have been so out of place (as would green plants which I'm really bad at looking after) so I painted it in colours that I frequently use.

On the floor are tiny copies of art I drew when I was small - 2 images my parents kept over the years. Apparently I was asked what the amorphous drawing was of and 3 year old me replied 'It's a Snud'. The red drawing was of 'Tankgirl' after my sister suggested I draw what I saw out the window. I began to draw a concrete tank near the hen house but 7 year old me soon got bored and instead doodled with the red biro. Those two drawings are now lost but are part of my personal art history.

To finish the studio I wanted to do something with the exterior walls. A quick learning curve of YT tutorials and looking at exaggerated letter fonts before writing my bloowabbit name graffiti-style. There'll be a follow-up blog about making that.

And here are the images of Ada's studio transformed into blowabbit's studio...

I loved most of the kit, especially the paint splattered floor and the industrial feel of the room. There were plants, vases and ornaments which I chose not to use. I've had great fun completing this project and I'm hoping to upload a short video.
Meanwhile...there's a Robotime bookshop I've my eye on...

Teeny tiny art - pt 1

Robotime website

All rights reserved. The artworks/illustrations or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the artist except for specific permission granted with a free downloadable.

Wednesday, 14 March 2018

Teeny tiny art....pt 1.

Back in November, during the Black Friday sales, I bought myself a DIY Dollhouse kit - 'Ada's Studio'. I've assembled some smaller scenes inside tins before but have been wanting to try a larger kit for a while.

When I opened it I saw that the box contains images of Old Masters, modern art and a Greco-Roman sculpture. (Perhaps Ada's an art forger?) My version of the studio will display tiny examples of bloowabbit art.

I cut out the printed art that came with the kit, measured it and began to draw copies of art I'd already done. I picked pieces I liked and also drew new images. I did think about printing miniature versions of my work but part of the fun with this project was to create actual tiny art.

I flicked through the instruction leaflet to find the step-by-steps on how to assemble the easel - this was what had caught my eye in the kit. Making it was straightforward. It reminded me of days in the life room at college and even the drawer on this tiny replica works.

I 'stretched' the little canvas but had to insert a piece of card under the fabric as the frame outline was visible (no ¼ beading included). After painting the surface white (priming) I drew an image with a 0.05 black fine liner similar to the doodles from last month's #februdoodle.

Using a permanent marker I changed the colour of the brown frames to black.

One of the best things was setting the scene, adding paint marks, drips and graffiti to the table. I changed some things along the way and added sticks of charcoal.

Instead of bags of erasers I created bags of pigment and size. I love that wonky table.

Discovered there were no batteries included so the light/LED had to wait until I bought some. Maybe this was why the kit was reduced for Black Friday. I find this happens from seller to seller - sometimes the glue is missing.

I've had to split this blog into 2 parts as the battery on my iphone, which is my camera, stopped working...new battery on the way. As soon as it arrives I'll take the rest of the photos and post pt 2.

Wednesday, 7 March 2018

The ones that got away...

During the art challenge I'd set myself in February ( #februdoodle@bloowabbit ) I didn't only draw a single doodle per day. Occasionally I drew two or even three which meant that I sometimes had to choose which doodle to upload.

These are the doodles that got away...

I like the single eye, it's similar to the day 7 doodle although it was drawn a week later - perhaps because I liked the image it reappeared. The 'block painting' and eye was drawn on top of a doodle that wasn't going anywhere. Others are overdone, doodles taken too far. Some are bridges between one style and another, and some are just strange - like the Minotaur or the small bug-eyed creature. I am frequently surprised by what comes out of my doodling.

There's an Inuit story I like (and frequently mention). A bone carver was producing some strange carvings and in understanding why he was doing so his fellow carvers remarked that he'd been finding some strange bones, implying that the form grew from the bone. The carver's hands merely freed what was inside. Sometimes doodling feels like this. I never know what's going to appear.

Once again, thanks to everyone who followed the challenge and left me likes and words of encouragement. Next week the blog will show how I personalised a DIY dollhouse studio with mini examples of my art and processes. Tweezers, glue and indigo air...

Wednesday, 28 February 2018

Past the finish line...

Yup, February is the month to do a challenge. Four perfect weeks to write four blogs (unless it's a leap year). It was a challenge mostly for myself but perhaps next year I'll have a few folk to doodle along with me.

It all started because I needed to use up my collection of Sharpies which I hadn't touched for a year or so. And yes, I did buy more permanent markers - couldn't resist them, the colours were just too nice. A fold-out pack of 36 permanent markers by BIC with dependable pointed tips (fine) across the set and the fumes aren't quite so strong.

Each marker has a grip and they are individually named with such quirky titles as: Tiki Hut Tan, Rambunctious Red and Fandango Pink. The range of colours were better than I could find in the Sharpies so I think BIC might be my new fav cheapy permanent markers.

Next seven pieces:

day 22

day 23

day 24

day 25

day 26

day 27

day 26

I'm very satisfied with what's come out of this challenge. I feel I've developed a few different styles of using markers and am curious to see how that translates into paint. This past year I've been wanting to use paint more - I trained as a painter and identify as such, although markers (permanent, acrylic or Indian ink) are a quick method of getting an idea onto paper.

So that's February over, #februdoodle @bloowabbit was good fun and I greatly appreciate all the 'likes' and comments left on my fb, Instagram and twitter pages. It's always interesting to read what friends think of my doodling.

Off to buy a new sketchbook...

Sharpie fumes overload blog

A change develops in my doodling style blog

One week into februdoodle blog

Februdoodle blog
Hashtag and Instagram blog
February the 1st blog

Wednesday, 21 February 2018

Sharpie fumes overload...

Trying to keep my mind open and clear from preset ideas in order to doodle as unconsciously as possible. Over the past weeks I've developed different styles of doodling and am finding that I'm attracted to certain colours of markers so there is some level of selection. Am finding repetition is inevitable when completing a daily challenge without prompts.

I reckon that a challenge with Sharpies would be better completed in the Summertime. The fumes from the markers can be strong, sometimes quite powerful and an open window beside my table would help. But the weather is too cold. I'm now committed to the challenge using the Sharpies so I tend to draw at different times throughout each day to give myself breathing space.

Some of the pens are drying out (I've had them a while) and I'm tempted to buy another pack just to finish #februdoodle @bloowabbit. Packs in supermarkets seem to have the same range of colours as I've got already but if I came across some different packs I might add them to my stash. And perhaps having some different colours to choose from might help with the repetition.

Next seven februdoodles:

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

What is evolving from the februdoodling is a plan to complete more work in a sketchbook - practising facial shapes, features and emotions. New sketchbook and drawing in it every day during March, although not done as a daily challenge.

A change develops in my doodling style blog

One week into februdoodle blog

Februdoodle blog
Hashtag and Instagram blog
February the 1st blog