jennifer appel illustration

IF: Forward

2012-01-29T19:40:00.001-05:00

Saturday night cinema

2012-01-29T15:47:00.001-05:00

Johan Hill stars as Peter Brand in Moneyball

Continuing on my movie theme, I watched Moneyball last night. I feel so behind on this year's Oscar selection. This is a sketch from one of my favourite scenes, when Peter Brand has to explain who he is and consequently gets his own taste at being scouted.

This is a strong year for our Mr Pitt. He also starred in Tree of Life, which I saw earlier this year and posted about, which is also up for a few Oscars.

What did you think of the film? And now, what should I see next?

The Leopard

2012-01-28T16:49:00.000-05:00

Battle scene from The Leopard

Mass scene from The Leopard

The Movie Club movie for this January has been Luchino Visconti's The Leopard. From 1963, starring Burt Lancaster as Prince Don Fabrizio Salina, this movie explores Sicilian life during the Risorgimento - the democratic revolution (1860 and beyond). In particular we follow one family - their fall from nobility, greed, moral decadence, all the good stuff.

It's a lengthy film. I watched the English version. The sets are very lavish and the colourization adds to the effect. You feel like you are watching paintings. There are some goods lines of dialogue as well.

IF: Twirl

2012-01-22T19:58:00.002-05:00

Twirling inside of us are those bits of DNA.

Lunch menu 11

2012-01-22T19:56:00.003-05:00

On the menu this week : Sun burgers.
Let there be sun!

Lunch menu 10

2012-01-15T19:03:00.000-05:00

Cabbage, rice noodle salad with a garlic ginger dressing - this is my lunch for the week.

IF: Prepare

2012-01-15T14:46:00.003-05:00

The file pile before.

And the file pile after.

Always at the beginning of the year I prepare my paperwork (which I should have been doing all along). Not my favourite activity, but at least it gave me an opportunity to sketch. And it does feel good once done.

IF: Grounded

2012-01-08T20:01:00.002-05:00

Fortunately, we haven't had snow fall like this yet this year. Although, winter has only just begun!

Lunch menu 9

2012-01-08T19:58:00.001-05:00

Garden Paté on bread with endive and tomato and miso soup on the side. This pâté packs a ginger and garlic punch. Any cold germs in my system: you have been warned!

This recipe comes from Ani's Raw Food Kitchen by Ani Phyo.

Lunch menu 8

2012-01-02T20:20:00.000-05:00

Back to work and back to making my lunch for the week. In honour of seeing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo last week, I made Swedish meatballs. I must confess, I made it in the shape of a meatloaf instead of rolling 50 little balls of meat - I needed time to draw one of the ingredients!

Have a good week!

IF: Highlight

2011-12-31T15:20:00.000-05:00

A highlight from December (and 2011) - seeing this group in concert. From this sketch, how many of you can guess the group?

New Year wishes

2011-12-31T09:49:00.001-05:00

I wish everyone a very happy 2012! I can't believe it is almost here.

(Yes, this is the cork from last New Year's champagne - I'm still drinking my morning coffee as I write this. I think I'll save the champagne for later ;) )

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

2011-12-30T08:35:00.001-05:00

oh but my downcoat is warm and snuggly. Not exactly fashionista, however. But at -16 degrees Celcius, I'll take all the down feathers I can get.

And for inside, I'm feeling the chill as well. Turning this up doesn't make much difference in this drafty apartment. Wish I could replace them with programmable ones.

Montreal Who's Who

2011-12-29T09:20:00.001-05:00

The sidewalk snow sweeper. Kamikaze by nature. Likes going full speed, does not believe in stopping. Makes a diet on recycling boxes, bikes, fences and small animals that might come into it's path.

Should you find one coming in your direction, get out of it's way. Probably by jumping into nearest snowbank.

Vitamin C

2011-12-27T21:17:00.001-05:00

Remember fruit? Time to get some balance back in life, or at least a few vitamins.

Boxing Day

2011-12-26T13:58:00.000-05:00

The Christmas parties are done, the gifts given and unwrapped and a good dent in the Christmas cake has been made. Time for a week of rest, recovery, relaxation and turkey leftovers.

What will you all be doing?

Holiday time

2011-12-21T20:18:00.000-05:00

Wishing everyone a very happy holiday! Lots of rest and relaxation and drawing and eating and drawing and coffee and drawing and family and drawing and more eating and holiday tv specials and and and....

For 2012...

2011-12-19T20:50:00.000-05:00

Besides world peace and joy, my wish for 2012 is for Baristas of the world to understand the difference between an Allongé and an Americano. (Click to view bigger.)

One small step to making this world better.

Lunch menu 7

2011-12-18T20:07:00.002-05:00

It's a week before Christmas and I am lacking lunch-making motivation.

This week's lunch: French green lentil salad - great because it only needs one pot to make and wash. Served with bread and cream cheese, apple and Greek yogurt.

IF: Sink

2011-12-17T13:20:00.000-05:00

This was something I sketched back in the summer. I love it when I can find new homes for old drawings.

A pretty accurate representation of my kitchen sink. It usually takes me a day or two to put away the clean dishes.

Lunch menu 6

2011-12-11T20:40:00.001-05:00

This week's lunch: Braised chicken with artichoke hearts and tomatoes. This is one of those recipes I make when it is cold outside, so each year I tend to forget about it. I got this recipe from Shape magazine - I have had good success with their recipes.

Tonight I roasted chestnuts for the first time this year. So creamy and good. I got a good batch - no spoiled ones so far.

Shiny happy

2011-12-07T20:50:00.001-05:00

I found these happy guys hanging out in my sketchbook. I wonder why they are so happy. I'm pretty shiny happy to have concert tickets on Friday to go see The National.

Are you shiny happy about anything?

Lunch menu 5

2011-12-04T19:29:00.001-05:00

This week for lunch I am having Spring pasta laziness. A bit of pasta, add in a bag of frozen veggies, some artichoke hearts, some feta cheese, olive oil and some olives (except this time I left them out).

Hoping you all have many a good lunch this week.

IF: Brigade

2011-12-03T19:40:00.001-05:00

Actually, we don't have any snow here yet (although it is forecast to come very, very soon). But brigades of holiday shoppers are out. I guess I will have to join them soon.

Oh Christmas Tree?

2011-12-03T10:43:00.001-05:00

I saw some nice looking Norfolk Pines on my walk home last night. They were just the right size to make a little Christmas tree and it would not need to be chucked out come January. But I hear they can be a bit hard to look after - anyone out there have one? What do you think?

Lunch menu 4

2011-11-27T19:39:00.001-05:00

Taco pie this week. Quick and easy and spicy. Maybe that will chase away my cold.

IF: Round

2011-11-26T13:19:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving: check!
Halloween: check!
US Thanksgiving: check!

No denying it, Christmas is comin' round again. Time to get out those decorations. Deck those halls. Here we go again! Hang onto your hat, attachez vos touques!

Work in progress

2011-11-24T21:04:00.001-05:00

A small "project" that I have been working on this evening...

Lunch menu 3

2011-11-20T19:35:00.001-05:00

This week's lunch menu: Spinach and potato curry. Lots of turmeric, coriander and lemon. Served with rice and yogurt. The recipe comes from The Ayurvedic cookbook by Andrea Morningstar, which has lots of good things in it.

What I wore

2011-11-19T13:44:00.001-05:00

Probably the earliest Christmas party ever. New jeans, black metallic sweater, black tank top, ballet flats and sparkly bracelets. I'm not good at this outfit thing - would much rather draw it that wear it.

Lunch this week 2

2011-11-13T20:47:00.001-05:00

For lunch this week: Onion and cumin quiche. Gotta break a few eggs to make quiche. But then, you have to slice even more onions. My eyes are still zinging.

Lunch project

2011-11-12T19:31:00.001-05:00

The first Creative Mornings Portland talk was by illustrator and creative extraordinaire Kate Bingaman Burt about constructing projects based on automated directives. In simple terms, it's a way of finding inspiration using a simple list of constraints to work within. For example, Kate draws every one of her purchases. Certainly helps fill a blank page and pay down a credit card bill when every purchase is documented!

So, floating on the inspiration of Kate's talk, I am going to give this a go...

On Sunday evening, I prepare my lunches for the week. I usually chose a recipe that serves four and that is what I take for the week. Repetitive? Yep. Morning friendly? Even better!

Fortunately, I have a decent list of recipes that I can accept eating four times in a row so I don't have to repeat too often. Problem is, I don't keep them in one place and tend to forget them.

So here are the rules for my project:

Prepare my lunch for the week.
Draw an aspect of it - ingredient, finished product, just draw.
Pen to paper - keep it quick.
Scan and post.
Keep drawing and recipe filed together.

Last week's lunch menu: meatloaf and oven roasted veggies.

You can view Kate Bingaman Burt's Creative Mornings talk here.

Napping in the catnip

2011-11-11T22:00:00.001-05:00

May your weekend include lots of catnaps - with or without the catnip.

(The colour palette I used is actually called headache - I suppose that is the result of too much of the nip. So nip that cat responsibly!)

I dream of counter space...

2011-11-05T19:23:00.000-04:00

so I could have a cute little machine like this one. Although, my stove top espresso maker continues to serve me very well.

Actually, today I was playing with paint and textures. This was one of the experiments.

You'll find me under the bow...

2011-10-31T18:39:00.000-04:00

This year for Halloween at work we all wore our best Halloween hat. Okay, mine is not exactly a hat, but it did cover most of my head.

I've been rather wrapped up in projects of late, which explains why it's been rather quiet on the blog front.

Happy Hallow's Eve!

IF: Fuel

2011-10-22T15:45:00.003-04:00

On the weekends, when I have more time, this is my favourite fuel in the morning. A bowl of this with some chopped apple, a drizzle of cream and to top, a bit of brown sugar, maple syrup or agave. Yum! Not to mention, a good cup of this along side!

2012 Calendar

2011-10-20T20:51:00.001-04:00

I have been wanting to do some larger size prints for my shop for a while. I have also wanted to do a calendar for a while. So I introduce to you my 2012 calendar!

New project, new shop

2011-10-19T19:11:00.001-04:00

I have designs on Envelop - print on demand home textiles. Please go on over and have a look. I will be adding more designs soon.

Bloom where you're planted

2011-10-16T20:24:00.001-04:00

I think Penelope Dullaghan's mother was onto something when she wrote this (most mothers are very bright, you know). When I read Penelope's post the other day, I had to paint it into my sketchbook. A good thought to keep note of.

Watercolour often doesn't work on Moleskin sketchbook paper, it mottles along the surface and doesn't really grab onto the paper. But in this case I like the effect. Does look rather bloomy, doesn't it?

Please go read Penelope's original post here.

IF: Hibernate

2011-10-02T20:06:00.001-04:00

This is a first sketch of these Zinnias that I took from my balcony at the end of the season. They didn't have a chance to go into hibernation. Now that it is getting cooler, I am seriously considering hibernation myself.

Ugly moments

2011-09-20T20:50:00.000-04:00

Some wise person once said to me that every project goes through its ugly stage. The ugly stage is that period of half developed adolescence when elements are uncoordinated and not quite in proportion to the rest. Pimply, squeaking to be heard, only a mother could love. Eventually, most projects grow out of that stage. I wish I could remember who it was that told me this, because this has come in handy more than once.

This week

2011-09-11T15:58:00.003-04:00

This week, I enjoyed the last of the summer sun, washed windows, made lemon date squares and chocolate sauce, cooked beautiful eggplants before I could sketch them and visited the beautiful blog of Eva Hjelte.

Not so alive now

2011-09-11T14:26:00.001-04:00

I am trying to get brave enough to attempt drawing these. Remember back in June the drawing I did of my Zinnias? Well, here they are again. Not so alive now. I love how they aged – very acrobatic, don't you think? How very talented of them. Hope I can age so well.

A Christmas (cactus) toast

2011-09-07T21:48:00.000-04:00

I don't know much about plants - I tend to use the "grow or you're out" method for caring for them. But one tip I have found for Christmas cactus is, during the month of September, add a tablespoon or two of castor oil to the water you give to your cactus. Then water with this concoction as often as you normally would. Apparently the oil will help the roots to grow and by Christmas your plant will bloom better.

To be honest, I'm not sure about the flowering, but I have noticed that my plant does grow bigger. If you try this on your plant, let me know what results you get.

This week

2011-09-06T20:38:00.001-04:00

This week in Buon Appetito, I go slightly nuts as I draw countless ingredients (I'm still going Jamie!!)

Happy feet

2011-09-05T16:44:00.000-04:00

Freshly washed floors and a pedicure (the second colour I'm saving for my fingernails) is a good recipe for happy feet! Hoping your holiday Monday was filled with good things too.

Rue Saint-Pierre

2011-08-30T18:37:00.000-04:00

Another sketch from Saturday. I drew this sitting at the same spot but turned about 90 degrees.

This week

2011-08-29T19:45:00.000-04:00

I take a still life moment, while the hurricane/tropical storm rained, with a coffee of course.

Perspective practice

2011-08-28T09:54:00.001-04:00

Doing some perspective practice in Old Montreal yesterday before we get the rains from Hurricane Irene today. I sketched while sitting by a fountain – dogs stopping by to have a dip. The horse-drawn carriages were out in full force for the tourists. I must say, Old Mtl was smelling a bit "horse-y" yesterday.

You can see Pointe-à-Callière museum at the end of the street.

Butter people

2011-08-23T18:43:00.000-04:00

The Illuminated Crowd, by Raymond Mason is a sculpture that stands at the foot of the Laurentian Bank Tower in downtown Montreal. I call them the Butter People because it is a soft buttery yellow colour (and leads me to think about the Butter Dome from my University of Alberta days). This is my third time sketching it – my proportions are still off and I am missing a few characters at the end. Maybe the fourth time I'll get them all in! Still, this is a nice spot for a quiet, late afternoon sketch on a hot day.

This week

2011-08-22T18:52:00.001-04:00

This week in Buon Appetito, I make a new friend.

Windsor Station

2011-08-21T14:22:00.001-04:00

Windsor Station used to be Montreal's train station. Now it is mostly a pass-through to the relocated train station, to two metro stations (Bonaventure and Lucien-L'Allier) as well as the Bell Centre.

Sketched on the steps across the street, I'm not sure why I decided to attempt to sketch such a building – it goes on forever! (And don't you hate it when you realize there is a spelling mistake only once you have finished inking and painting!)

Cornered

2011-08-18T21:19:00.001-04:00

This week I have been sketching various corners of my house as a way to get used to my new watercolour sketchbook. Here are two of my corners.

This week

2011-08-15T20:21:00.001-04:00

This week in Buon Appetito, I pay hommage to the banana marshmallow.

Mile End

2011-08-13T17:30:00.001-04:00

Two sketches today in Mile End - probably my favourite part of Montreal. On the right, a corner of the fire department which is located on the corner of St Laurent and Laurier. This building also houses a Fire fighter's museum, which I have not yet visited. I'll have to go back and sketch more of this building – it is quite an interesting, castle-like place that deserves a much bigger part of the page.

To the left, Fairmount Bagel, an institution in Montreal eating. To maintain bagel-equality, I promise I will sketch St-Viateur Bagel another day. The two are the main Montreal bagel headquarters.

I just switched to the Moleskin watercolour sketchbook – I need to get used to the horizontal format. Today's drawings are a bit squished together.

Sketch that movie (IF: Imperfect)

2011-08-08T20:31:00.001-04:00

Last night I caught a bit of Lost in Translation, so I decided to play "sketch that movie" for a couple of scenes. Have you seen the film? Do you remember these scenes? I apologize for giving Bill Murray a claw instead of a hand in the bottom sketch.

Catching up

2011-08-07T14:05:00.000-04:00

I'm not ignoring you, I've just had my head in the dryer. Playing a bit of catch up this week before starting my next drawing course, Buon Appetito. I wonder what I'll be concocting in that one!

Now back to my folding...

Mission Santa Cruz

2011-08-02T20:18:00.001-04:00

When it comes to festive decorations, this church goes all the way. The Portugais church Mission Santa Cruz in Plateau Montreal (corner Clark and Rachel) was getting some more flowers strung up on Saturday - I suspect it was for a wedding. There were men down below, plus one or two in the clock tower (who watched me sketch) all speaking portuguese while finishing the decorating. Just the sight of this church makes me happy.

Le Mont Royal

2011-07-30T19:56:00.003-04:00

The Montreal Mountain.* At the base of the east side of Mount Royal is the monument to Sir George-Étienne Cartier – something I have wanted to sketch for quite some time. It is one of the iconic pieces of Montreal. On the left of the spread, you can see the mountain in the background and another icon of Montreal – the Mount Royal Cross, which deserves a post of its own. The mountain, for any newcomer to Montreal, serves as a reference point when you try to find your way around since it is almost always visible on the island.

Click the image to read the notes.

* As a Western Canadian girl, having grown up at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, yes I am very much aware that this ain't no mountain. But native Montreallers are a bit sensitive when it comes to the under-development of their poor mountain. It is best to play along.

Pain in the heel

2011-07-27T18:40:00.000-04:00

Besides the unfortunate cropping of my toe, I've had a bit of plantar fasciitis of late. Which gives me a tight, painful feeling in the bottom of my heel if I walk too much - which is like all the time. Maybe a new pair of shoes might be the prescription - although, not a bad one...

First and last

2011-07-26T19:02:00.000-04:00

My first and last sketches from Saturday in Old Montreal. My perspective was rather off on that first one. I like the movement of the last. (And, yes, I would have liked to jump in the fountain too!)

Click the image to see larger.

Lavender and Mint

2011-07-25T19:03:00.000-04:00

Despite my best efforts of neglect, my little balcony herbe garden continues to grow. There is something about this quick sketch that appeals to me.

On another topic, I have signed up to do Jamie Shelman's drawing course Bon Apetito – cooking and art. So if you would like to eat, draw and be merry along with me, check it out! Starts August 9th.

Marché Bonsecours

2011-07-24T09:41:00.000-04:00

Part of my sketches from yesterday. Bonsecours Market in Old Montreal. This one was fun to do - I had a nice, shady tree to sit under and the music from Cirque du Soleil's Totem show (their site is off to my left) came wafting over.

IF: Gesture 2

2011-07-19T21:48:00.001-04:00

I sketched these this past weekend, not really thinking much about them. They do fit nicely with this week's Illustration Friday theme. I was trying to sketch quickly as people walk by (30 seconds maximum) yet still portray a bit of personality in each.

Won't you be my neighbour?

2011-07-19T19:28:00.002-04:00

I drew this deer last night - then realized afterwards that I made it to ressemble Mr Rogers.

Did you know that Red Deer antlers grow at a rate of one inch per day?

Rivers and Tides

2011-07-18T19:12:00.000-04:00

While on my flight to Calgary, I finally took the time to watch the Rivers and Tides, a documentary about the artist Andy Goldsworthy. What amazing natural sculptures he does! I recommend this movie to all. This man can make sculptures out of anything. Gives me the urge to go on a nature hike!

IF: Gesture

2011-07-16T20:45:00.000-04:00

Abby's I-am-happy gesture is by sticking out her paws and flexing her toes. And if she is really happy, her nose will start to run.

Withdrawal symptoms

2011-07-13T18:48:00.000-04:00

How's your barista shorthand? Can you tell what my usual order is by looking at these cups? (Click the image to zoom in).

When on vacation with my mom, our custom is a daily fix of our drug of choice (yes, my coffee addiction is genetic!). A whole week's worth. But now the withdrawal is starting - although I must say, I make a pretty good cup myself!

Summer frizz

2011-07-12T20:31:00.000-04:00

Montreal has reached the dog days of summer: hot and humid. My flat iron is working overtime - trying to keep my hair in a somewhat controlled mess.

I think my brain was a little frizzed when I drew this last night - my proportions seem more wonky than usual. I guess it flows along with the humidex.

May all your fans turn in the right direction!

In transit

2011-07-11T18:25:00.000-04:00

Some of my sketches while going to and from my vacation. I left Montreal on Canada Day (July 1st) and so I watched some of the daytime festivities from the plane. The bottom left image of the Virgin store is from the departures level of the Calgary airport.

IF: Stay

2011-07-09T17:10:00.002-04:00

Just came home yesterday from a week's stay in Calgary. I guess it is time to unpack - never one of my favourite activities. I often live out of my suitcase at home for longer than my actual vacation!

EDM 260: Draw a filled suitcase

Starter sketches

2011-07-06T19:27:00.000-04:00

This is what I draw when I have a blank page staring back at me and no inspiration. (Yes, I know, big surprise.) Very often, just getting the pen started leads to drawing something else.

What do you draw when you need to get started?

IF: Remedy

2011-07-04T10:18:00.000-04:00

This is my kitchen tap, which drips. Lately, it has gotten to the point where I need to do something about it. Usually this is not a hard thing to replace, but this tap seems to require more elbow grease than my elbow is able to give. So after the first period, the score stands: Tap 1, Jen 0.

And if anyone knows how to get a calcified, stuck tap loose so I can change the washer, let me know. I need the remedy!

Repotting

2011-07-02T09:47:00.000-04:00

Did some repotting lately - including my Christmas cactus, which was flopping out of his pot. These are some cuttings that I took at the same time.

As I was putting my newly potted plants back, I did succeed to knock over another, so I now need to repot some more. Grrr.

My list runneth over

2011-06-29T18:22:00.001-04:00

It's beginning to look a lot like summer vacation around here. My lists have lists! (I'm starting to understand why in the summer there are Christmas reruns on tv.) A few of you have sent me comments and notes which I have not yet had the chance to reply to. I will get caught up soon – your notes are appreciated, I do love hearing from you!

May all your vacation-planning-lists stay short and checked off!

My orchid

2011-06-27T20:08:00.001-04:00

As you might remember from this post, my orchid plant had not flowered for three years, then in January it finally decided to give it a go. Well, not only has it flowered once, it is now working on a second shoot of flowers, which should open very soon.

Hope that doesn't mean that I'll have to wait six years before it decides to do it again!

IF: A midsummer night + July calendar

2011-06-25T13:52:00.000-04:00

Patio lanterns, relaxed summer nights, a midsummer's night.

July's desktop calendar for you to download and enjoy - available via my Flickr site.

Enjoy!

Movie going

2011-06-25T09:38:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was la fête St-Jean-Baptist in Quebec and a day off for most. I usually wind up going to the movies on this day - and this year was also the case. In fact, since it was pouring rain, most people decided to go to the movies as well. I saw Terrence Malik's Tree of Life - the theatre was completely full.

I was warned before going that this was more art film than Hollywood drama - I suspect most people there did not get the same warning. Only a few left, however, but it was still amusing to hear the comments at the end when the lights came up.

I did enjoy the film - I liked that you are left to explore the storyline on your own. It's a bit long and I found the space-odyssey bits somewhat distracting (but I give Malik credit for trying something different).

Have you seen it? What did you think?

Pizza night

2011-06-23T21:17:00.000-04:00

Wine (cheap, I know), pizza (from Motta - onion and black olive) and rice pudding for dessert. Miam! Miam! What did you have for dinner?

Morrice Hall

2011-06-23T08:50:00.000-04:00

Sketching Wednesday on McGill Campus, trying to enjoy the sun since the rest of the week is forecasted as rain. Much more comfortable sketching under the shade of a tree in the quad compared to the hot steps of Place des Arts the day before.

IF: Launch

2011-06-20T10:57:00.001-04:00

Last week I went to the launch of the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal. It covers the mains themes in Gaultier's work: The Odyssey of Jean Paul Gaultier, the boudoir, skin deep, punk cancan, urban jungle and the metropolis. This piece above hangs in the entry to the exhibit: a photographic painting by Pierre et Gilles (1990). It was great to see his work up close. Many of the pieces have been featured in films and in music.

sketchin in the hood

2011-06-19T19:09:00.000-04:00

Some practice sketching outside in my neighbourhood this afternoon.

Zinnias

2011-06-18T21:27:00.000-04:00

Sunny today, so I spent the afternoon soaking up some vitamin D on the balcony while sketching my flowers. Here is another photo of them.

3 views

2011-06-14T21:14:00.000-04:00

As much as I like drawing objects, lately I have been trying to broaden my horizons a bit and draw more scenes. I have been using a viewfinder to play around with framing my image - which is essentially a piece of cardboard with a square cut out of the centre to make a frame. Above are three of my latest quick studies.

IF: Swept

2011-06-11T16:07:00.000-04:00

A small collection for this week's theme for Illustration Friday.

Collecting

2011-06-10T06:00:00.001-04:00

Today I add another ring to the ol' collection.

It tastes awful

2011-06-06T22:38:00.000-04:00

I seem to have gotten sick - not quite sure why or how, but now I am on the couch with my bottle of Buckley's.

Do you in the rest of the world have Buckley's? Their slogan is: "It tastes awful, but it works", which is basically true. Imagine taking a Christmas tree and putting it through a blender to make a smoothie - that's kind of how it tastes.

But it works.

IF: Shadows

2011-06-04T15:35:00.000-04:00

For this week's Illustration Friday. I'm reading Ivan Brunetti's book on cartooning - I'm on week 4, which is about 4-panel strips.

June calendar

2011-06-02T21:04:00.000-04:00

We're almost to the halfway point, folks. Midsommer is upon us. Enjoy!

You can download June's desktop calendar via my Flickr.

The noses know.

2011-05-31T20:53:00.001-04:00

If these noses could speak, they would be saying, "Atchoooo". Allergy season has hit this week. My brain is like a bowl of jello - illustrations are slow to come out (but now weirdly strawberry flavoured).

How is allergy season for you?

Grocery list block

2011-05-29T09:50:00.000-04:00

Chore day. Groceries, laundry, ... . Have no inspiration what to eat this week.

On my bookshelf

2011-05-26T20:53:00.000-04:00

These are two of my favourite books on drawing. Both by Sarah Simblet. When I first saw Sketchbook for the Artist in the bookstore, I was floored. Her drawings and sketches are incredible. This book takes you through 90 different themes in drawing plus an overview of different materials and techniques. I kept going back to the bookstore to look at this book. Eventually I did buy it and I think for the first six months, I looked at it daily. I still go back to it for inspiration and advice on drawing.

The second book of Sarah Simblet is Botany for the Artist. Again, her drawings in this book are so wonderful to study. This is a solid crash course in botany and plant structures in order to understand the basic shapes that make up plants.

Sarah also has authored Anatomy for the artist. I don't have this one, but have looked through it in the bookstore. It is just as solid a reference as her other books.

Lately I have been looking through them again. Always good to go back and get a refresher. I'd be interested to hear what illustration books you go back to.

Feet of Frankenstein

2011-05-24T21:04:00.000-04:00

A quick sketch of my tired but happy feet. I can say that they do look better than this - even if they did walk a lot this afternoon.

Other things I can tell you about my feet:

- they are size 6.5 US (about a 36), and my left foot is slightly bigger than the right

- rarely seen in heels, they prefer Birkenstocks

- my little toes have been sprained countless times by me walking into door frames because I have terrible aim

- they prefer to walk.

IF: Soaked

2011-05-23T20:11:00.000-04:00

Actually, this Victoria Day long weekend we lucked out here and didn't get soaked, despite what the weather forecasts were predicting. Although a bit cloudy, it stayed warm and everyone got to go out and enjoy some fresh air for a change.

Bountiful

2011-05-21T21:09:00.000-04:00

Beautiful day today. I had ambitions to go out and draw somewhere - but the balcony was much more inviting. Before I did that, I went to the market. Everyone seemed to be there, making the most of the one sunny day this long weekend. There were musicians, hot dogs smoking away, all the garden flowers are in full bloom. Here is a drawing I did, once home and on my terrace, of the things I picked up:

- mixed green and yellow beans
- a bunch of mixed coloured bell peppers
- fiddleheads (haven't had these in ages)
- strawberries
- blueberries
- 2 pots of lemon thyme (my favourite with pasta)
- 1 pot of Moroccan mint
- 1 pot of lavender (which always dies, but I still love the smell)
- 1 samosa (eaten at the market)

Hope everyone else had a lovely Saturday.

(click image to see a larger version)

More figures

2011-05-18T21:28:00.000-04:00

More figure practise. These ones are drawn using my Lamy pen - which I mentioned in this previous post, I am slow to embrace. In my sketchbook, this pen does not have the same soft glide as my cheapy pen. I have to draw slower and make more deliberate lines, which is not necessarily bad. For these sketches, I was doing a 90 second practise, so I had to learn to be efficient with how I dissected each figure.

I wonder what each of these beings is thinking. What do you think? Send me your speech/thought bubbles in the comments.

Wouldn't mind...

2011-05-17T21:08:00.000-04:00

Wouldn't mind a few of these. If only it was so easy.

IF: Safari

2011-05-14T19:40:00.000-04:00

My Lamy Safari pen, that is. I picked this up a few weeks ago. (This drawing was done with another pen, while I was holding the Safari.) I was curious about drawing with it. But to be honest, I haven't really embraced it yet. I've noticed that I have to draw with more pressure to get the same line weight. Maybe it is the combination of the extra fine nib and the colour of the ink - which give the line a more weaker appearance to the line.

Do any of you draw with a Lamy? What do you think about them?

Saturday

2011-05-14T15:23:00.000-04:00

Raining again (quelle surprise). Good day for a couch and a movie. This is the view from the couch. The tree in front of my house is a late bloomer - he is always the last on the block to grow leaves. I feel a bit embarrassed for him. All the other trees are full and green, and he is still thin and a bit gangly and bare. Oh well. With this monsoon of a week coming, I'm sure he'll sprout. Or float. One or the other.

Figures

2011-05-13T18:40:00.000-04:00

Doing some figure drawing practise this week. Because I am lazy, and have a maximum drawing attention span of about 20 minutes, I've been using a figure drawing site - Posemaniacs. There are lots of features, and you can set the interval speed. The ones above were a 90 second interval.

My friend Denis is quite good at figure drawing. He has posted some of his old figure sketches here.