Style Blog

Recently I started a sort of style/general coolness blog with my best friend Sarah. She is much better at blogging than me so it actually gets updated pretty regularly.  It is called Battle Sisters and you should go read it because it has neat things like embroidery projects and thrift shopping and records and cool skulls.

I Talk in Tongues

This opens on Monday.  I will be there, and so will all the other artists. Also there will be food and a small amount of specially brewed beer. So if you live in Wellington please some along!

Tattooing

 

Recently I made the decision that actually, what i want to be doing, is tattooing. Getting an apprenticeship is a battle, but i'm trying to be hopeful. I've been working on some more tattoo-y paintings, for a little portfolio to send out. This is one of them. So far they are all very nautical. Mostly because I like drawing ropes.  I have a few places in mind to send them out, once everything is organised. Does anyone know any great tattoo artists in NewZealand or Australia? (that is another big decision i've made, possibly moving away. Melbourne is winning in my mind, so far, but i would move for a dream job)

Lucky Rabbit's foot.

I went and stayed with my parent's for a little while recently, i had some time off work so travelled down to Dunedin, which was very cold but nice and relaxing. I sat by the fire and took baths and did some drawing. I painted this on some not very nice paper, which is a lot toothier than i usually use. It made for some nice textures but it was a bit of a struggle to get any sort of smoothness.

This is going in a group show here in Wellington on the 23rd of July. I will post some more details later, but it is with a really nice bunch of artists, and in a great artist run space. I am really looking forward to it.

Also it is Friday the 13th again! I feel like there have been a lot of those recently. I've been watching too much Charmed so am tempted to dress up and cast fake magic spells with my cat.

The least you could do

 

Something a little different... I don't actually think smoking is cool or anything, but it is kind of fun to draw. Let's say it is a candy cigarette, and she is maybe cooking marshmallows on the lighter.

This is for saleas prints in my etsy store right now.

New Postcards

Step-by-step

 

Step-by-step of painting “If it kills me”
1.  Draw a picture! HB to sketch and H for final lines. Sometimes i plan things but this time i didn’t. Coffee is very important with this stage.
2. Flesh tone wash.
3. Fleshing out the flesh tone (haha, i sure am funny!) buliding up shadows with more opaque washes of the same colour.
4. Adding some pink! just a wash on cheeks and lips and anywhere else that takes my fancy.
5. Starting on the hair - just a bulk brown wash with a bit of texture.
6. Little hair tendrils, eyebrows and eyelashes. Basically any important little details that are the same colour as the hair.
7. Greens! also i have added more tone to her skin with various other colours. Bit of brown wash and some darker flesh.
8. Almost done! pinks are evened out, freckles are added, more eyelashes and little details.

I hope this is helpful to someone / anyone. A few people have been asking, but i think my painting process is pretty basic. Draw a picture and put some paint on it.
If anyone has any specific questions feel free to ask! I like to try even if i can’t answer very well.
x