I'm back!

Yeah, I know, long time no blog. I've had such a busy summer, it's crazy! I've decided that I want to be a doctor, so most of my free time is now spent working on my application which has to be all finished and sent off in October. I've also had an entrance exam to sit and another one in two weeks to revise for (boring!). And fitting that around volunteering for my local Mencap's summer scheme and a trip to Paris with my mum, it's all been a little bit hectic. So immense apologies for my absence, and lack of drawing too. I thought that given that I haven't picked up a pencil in a few months, except for the occasional doodle, I'd ease myself back in with something a bit simpler than the (still unfinished) Favourite Place drawing.
Here's a rough sketch of some beach huts which I'm going to work on to get me back to where I was before my busy summer. I've spent the last week in Cornwall with my man and his family and saw lots of beachy seaside themed things there, so that's where the idea came from.

It's obviously just a very rough sketch at the moment, so will post again when there's more progress.
Until then x

Favourite place - WIP 6

It's been a while! I didn't realise I hadn't posted for almost a month, ooops!
Another work in progress picture, with only a little bit added. I decided to start filling in the roof of the conservatory, beginning with the edges. I have the tiling detail to add in as my next step, so watch out for my next post for that. 

Slow and steady, but hopefully worth the wait x

Favourite place - WIP 5

A little more done...
I've filled in the dark parts of the upstairs windows, only partly dark because the blinds are halfway down in my reference picture. I put in a little detail on the curtains in the conservatory door and slightly shaded the patio

Next I think I'll sort out the rest of the window detailing and then maybe the roof.
Until next time x

Favourite place - WIP 4

I know, I know, it's been a while! But some progress at last (hurray!). I could make all the excuses under the sun about my laziness but I'll just make up for it by getting on with this picture a little more quickly.
So since the last post I have added in the dark windows in the conservatory and above the door, and filled in the details of the lamps inside (although I think the right lamp could maybe do with a tweak) and need to detail the curtains next. I have also shaded in the grassy area at the front and drawn in the plants that will one day grow into a hedge. The plant pot near the door has also benefitted from a bit more definition. Next step will be the upstairs windows, and perhaps the conservatory roof.
I want to get this done soonish so I can show it to my parents (aww aren't I sweet), but give my record we'll see how that goes!
Back soon x

Favourite place - Work in progress 3

Extremely slow progress on this one! As well as thyroiditis and a mountain of revision to get through, I've also had a pretty busy two weeks travelling to York, London and Manchester and back to currently sunny Leicestershire where I am now. Unfortunately I also don't have desk here, and drawing is a bit more difficult without it (and trying not to get pencil on my bedsheets is tricky - my Mum wouldn't be happy!). However term starts at uni next week and it'll be time to get stuck into even more revision and organise myself to fit some more drawing into my life!

What I've done since my last post: 

I've filled in some detail on the top two windows and drawn in the burglar alarm between them. The doors to the conservatory (most of the bottom floor) I have made darker like the door on the left, leaving the curtains to detail later on. I plan to complete the detailing on the door on the left next and then the conservatory, and leave the brickwork until last - I reckon that will be the hardest and most time consuming part.
Until next time x

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Sunday! I'm particularly excited about the prospect of chocolate for breakfast, on possibly the one day of the year where it's socially acceptable. It also happens to be my Nan's birthday today, so I'll be spending the day with her and the rest of my family who I haven't seen since Christmas. Happy birthday Nan!

A little bit of progress on the drawing, I've managed to do most of the basic outline, except the top windows, and have made the gate, fence and door a little darker, which has added a bit of depth to the picture. The rest is still a bit rough, and I think the brickwork will take me forever, but I'm getting there slowly but surely.
I'm off to scoff my face with easter eggs. 

x

Day 4: Favourite place - Work in progress 1

So work has begun on Day 4's favourite place. Below is what I've done so far - just a bit of an outline at the moment really. The explanation will come one it's finished, so you'll have to hang on for that! Only using a 2H pencil at the moment to make sure I've got everything in the right place and in the right proportions, so apologies that it hasn't shown up too well in the photo.
Also about my lack of posting recently: unfortunately I've got thyroiditis (I didn't make it up, honest), which means I can't do a lot, or at least not without feeling awful afterwards! Drawing and revision have had to take a back seat while I get better, but I'm doing as much of both as I'm able to. Hoping I'll be better (and can post some more progress) soon.

x

Being ill is no fun!

I've had a crazy busy week, and I'm ill at the moment - which couldn't have happened at a worse time(!) - so haven't been able to get started on my next drawing just yet. When I can remove myself from my duvet I'll get started, but I'm not sure if it'll be a day or a week!
If you've happened to have read my earlier post on the lovely new sketchbook that my parents bought me, I've taken a picture of it. I love the design on the front and the bindings that hold the pages together. I believe the paper is handmade, which adds to the old feel of it. Thanks mum and dad! 
Hoping to be back to full health and drawing again soon. 

Interest... whaaat?

Sent my Day 3 drawing to +Cadbury UK yesterday and they only went and shared it(!). Quite exciting, considering getting my page views past 50 for the last month seemed like an impossible task haha! It was lovely seeing that other people liked it, even though I draw for my own amusement, it always nice to have a (positive!) second opinion. Not the biggest breakthrough in the history of blogging I know, but exciting for me nonetheless!
Also I think I've decided on what to draw for Day 4's favourite place, and I'm going to get started on that this afternoon after uni. I'm getting a new pencil today as well - excitement central right here (I wish!).
Have a good day, and might pop back later when I've started the next piece.

Day 3: Favourite Food

I've been a bit quicker finishing this one, so here it is - chocolate! Perhaps a little typical, but nothing beats a bar of Dairy Milk!
A few new things to get the hang of for me for this drawing. Lots of shading and attention to detail where the wrapper bends and folds, and I've found that using a cotton bud helps to blend the pencil on the paper and make it look a little less pencilly. Also made good use of my new super skinny mechanical eraser to keep the white bits looking whiter after I'd smudged them accidentally with my hand and for the ripples around the writing. 

I'm trying to figure out how to make my scanner make it look more like it does in real life, and my camera/lighting never makes for a good picture. It'll do for the moment though.
Next up for Day 4 is my favourite place, so I'll post my progress as soon as I get started. Off to bed for me now, didn't realise how late I was finishing this off (oops).
Night all.

New layout?

Just looking over my blog and thinking perhaps it looks a little dull, I'll see if I can make a better title - maybe put in a drawing or something like that to jazz it up. Plain text isn't too exciting!

Day 3

Day 3's favourite food is drawing in progress at the moment, coming on a lot quicker than the last one (phew!). Although you'll have to wait and see what it is, no previews for this one! I have a feeling a lot of people will agree with my choice...

I'd say it's around two thirds done, and I don't think my pencil sharpener has ever had such heavy use! 

Anyway, I'll do a little more before bed, and get it posted asap

Night night 

Day 2: Favourite animal (finished!)

I finally finished it! So here it is, my favourite animal - the cat. I've never been able to have one given that my dad is allergic, and it's not possible to have one in a student house, but I'll have one one day! It took me quite a while to draw and to try and get the detail on the fur right, much longer than I expected! 

Day 2: Getting there!

A very busy few weeks has meant little time for drawing unfortunately, but I've spent the afternoon working on Day 2's task (not really day 2 anymore!), and it's not too far from being done. Here's my progress thus far:

New sketchbook!

Excitement of the week for me meant a new sketchbook, a rather random present from my parents for good exam results (woop!). So my next drawing (after the kitten) will be in that. If I remember I'll post a picture of it because it's really lovely! 
Still going with Day 2's drawing I'm afraid - to add to the lack of time for drawing I have a lab report in this week, and reckon I'll get set another very soon too; then it'll be time to start revision. Ah the workload of a biology undergrad! 
Despite that I'm hoping to post my finished drawing very soon (fingers crossed), but should probably have picked an animal without fur - that's the most time consuming bit. Then I can crack on with the rest of the challenge asap, although the original target of 30 days is looking considerably less likely! 

Day 2 in progress

Day 2's task seems to be taking a little longer then planned. With uni and exam results going on this week I've found it quite hard to sit down and spend the time I'd like to drawing. 
However I've made a start, and hopefully can finish it by the end of the week. Unfortunately the light isn't too good on my desk in the evenings so the picture's not too bright, but it'll do!

Miaow

Day 1: Yourself

After much frustration trying to draw myself as I am now, I decided I'd use one of my favourite pictures of me as a child. Not exactly sure how old I am in this but I'm dressed up for a sunny summer sports day, with sunglasses nearly as big as my face! My shorts were lovely red gingham(!) but it's quite hard to tell on the picture as I found them really hard to draw.

Day 0

So I've decided to set myself a challenge. The 30 Day Drawing Challenge to be specific. It might go awfully, it might not. We'll see! 
I'm not sure it will be done in 30 days, but the plan is to keep it as close to that as possible and hope I can fit in some time everyday between uni work to complete it, and (maybe) improve my drawing skills in the process. Wish me luck!


Day 1: Myself
Day 2: Favourite animal
Day 3: Favourite food
Day 4: Favourite place
Day 5: Best friend
Day 6: Favourite book character
Day 7: Favourite word
Day 8: Favourite animated character
Day 9: Favourite TV show
Day 10: Favourite sweet
Day 11: Turning point in your life
Day 12: Most recent accomplishment
Day 13: Comic
Day 14: Favourite fairytale
Day 15: Family picture
Day 16: Inspiration
Day 17: Favourite plant
Day 18: Just a doodle
Day 19: Something new
Day 20: Something orange
Day 21: Something you want
Day 22: Something you miss
Day 23: Something you need
Day 24: A couple
Day 25: Scenery
Day 26: Something you don't like
Day 27: Someone you love
Day 28: Anything you'd like
Day 29: A place you want to go
Day 30: A congrats banner for finishing the challenge