Jack Union Monster Hunter

A very talented friend of mine has a twitter feed where he writes about Jack Union; Victorian Monster Hunter. He recently asked if 29 people could volunteer to create an image to an assigned tweet from his latest story. I decided (despite not having a go at drawing for a long time) to volunteer. Thankfully I was given one which I managed to get some ideas down for straight away.

I just made today's deadline. Out of stupidity I completely missed the size requirements when I first started so after re reading I had to start a fresh. I think I could have done better and unfortunately I couldn't afford to buy some new graphic markers so I decided to put it in photoshop afterwards and try to achieve the graphic marker effect that way. I think I managed quite well considering I am rusty at both drawing and photoshop and over all I'm happy with how it came out (though I wish I'd spent more time on the face).

The pictures may even go up at the MCM in London at the end of October which is really exciting!
I would highly recommend signing up to his tweets at: https://twitter.com/JackUnion1885 or if your not into twitter you can also sign up over at facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/jackunion1885

He also has a book coming out in the next 6 months! I can't wait to buy a copy.

Right, I'll stop stalling now and actually post my attempts for his project.

My assigned tweet was:

"The water level is to my waist when I hear it wading past, possibly the last still alive. I raise my pistol and give it a fair choice... "

 This is my second one and the one used I just wish I'd had more time to work on the face. I think If I were to do it again I'd make the water a bit more apparent. Try to add more of a 'glow' to the lamp and maybe try and put a hint of something in the background... a wall or debris like I did with my original (but that got cut off when I cropped it).

This is my first attempt which was originally a landscape image which I then had to crop. Then added into photoshop. The fish were meant to glow, not sure why I decided they should but I just went with it. I also added some fire flies in a jar and around to try and put some light into the underground setting. Unfortunately it didn't work well as a horizontal image as you miss the things I did around the edge. I'm also not overly impressed with the photoshoping I did over the top. I would have been happy with a normal scan had I been able to find my art pencil crayons rather than my crayola basic 12 pack lol. So in a way I'm glad I had to restart. I prefer the second attempt (above).

Minkeys mid monkeys go on Holiday

I introduce you to Sally and Pippy. Two of my mid minkey monkeys. I had a little trouble with them at first because I was asked to make them smaller than my 'big' monkeys and bigger than my 'small' monkeys. I ended up making the body separate which I've not done before. I also had a drama with one of the socks wanting to fall to bits, but I rescued it and here they are!

Unfortunately a few of the labels I have proved unreliable so I will need a new supplier for the next batch As you may be able to tell from the pictures of Sally (The grey and pink monkey) the label started to fray a little. Thankfully Pip's held it together.

Credit for the pictures go to Sarah Gadd (My mum) and Phil Austin (Her partner) If you'd like to see more photos from Sarah, check out her Flickr account HERE and Phil's can be found HERE. In mu opinion they are both very talented and worth a look! Thank you for the pictures!

For those wondering the Minkey's went to Rhodes, Greece.

Content coming soon...

I hope to have some new things to post soon. These last few weeks (maybe months :S) I have been with out inspiration or inclination to make anything. This seems to have spread to the rest of my life as well. I haven't felt like reading, gaming, crafting etc.

I actually have too complete 2 mini/mid monkeys before the end of the month so I'm hoping this will give me the kick in the butt that I need to start making things again. I do have one idea buzzing around but I'm worried it's above my 'skill' level and will end up incomplete. I also need to buy some more materials for it which involve a trip to hobbycraft and as much as I love the store I seem to have an issue with over spending in there. I have never been able to come out spending less than £25! So I'm trying to put that off until I have a little more money and a firmer idea of where the project will go so I do not waste money on materials that will only get left to collect dust.

I'm going to try and force my self to start the monkeys this weekend in the hope it kick starts me. It's a method I sometimes take on with reading. I force myself to try and get into another book and before I know it a weeks gone by and I've read 3 or 4.

I've also just noticed that my Mum is now following me *waves* yes the 2 monkeys mentioned are yours. I'll have them ready in time.

Monkeys... and a token bunny

I make sock monkeys. People seem to love them! I didn't think they would be that popular, I just thought it was me and my weird sense of taste. 

The ones below were made as prizes for competition winners on a forum I'm part of. I also had a go at my first bunny. I didn't like the nose template I found so I decided to have a go my self. It was actually an accident but turned out okay, looks a little cat like, but I was happy with my first attempt.

I really want to try owls and dragons next, but I still have a few monkeys on order.

So with out further waffling... of which I am usually guilty of, I give you Minkeys Monkeys.

Absence

My recent absence has been due to many things, life in general and sadly having to have our Abby Cat put down. She was unfortunately very poorly and in a lot of pain, in the last few days she stopped eating. It was a heartbreaking decision to make but the best one for her. She was in pain and it would have been cruel to try and prolong her life for our own needs. She is very missed in the house, her presence was far too noticeable that we have taken on another cat.

Frank is a BSH nearly all black, I was reluctant to take on another black cat so soon, but he has such a different personality to Abby it doesn't hurt as much. He was very under weight, he had flees and worms, poor bugger has had a rough start to life. It felt right getting another cat and re homing one in need is something I prefer to do. But the other half also wanted a kitten or as he says "A new cat to match the old cat" so we have also brought a little silver tabby lad called George... Or not so little now as it's 3 months on since I wrote this originally but I forgot to publish it. Opps.

Full names Frank West and George A Catero... yes someone in our house is a Zombie fan... Sorry did I say fan I meant fanatic.

I will at some point get round to updating this. I will have some new monkey pictures up, a review for Alice: Madness Returns (If I finish it lol) and a few other bit's and pieces.

Abby

These pictures are of my beautiful cat Abby, who is like a baby to me. Unfortunately she hasn't been well recently. We have a vets appointment on Thursday but I fear they are just going to tell us old age has finally crept up on her. We aren't sure of her exact age because she's had so many homes (4 or 5 if you include us) We've had her for the last 5 years and how some one could give her away is beyond me. She's intelligent (when it suits her) affectionate and knows the signal for noses rubs. Before she went deaf if you said Abby kisses, she'd rub her face in yours :D.

She's my cutie, and yes some people may think "It's a cat" but she's my cat and I love my little angel :) 

(Did I mention previously that I am a bit of a mad cat lady... because I am!)

Keira Knightley Digital portrait

So I did this for a college project where we were asked to try something different to what we usually do. I usually did digital manipulations. This took me a very long time (around 10 - 12 hours total) and I'm most proud of her hand on her hip, Not so keen on her hair.

The amount of layers I had was insane, I ended up having to use folders to distinguish which layers did what. My main tools in photo-shop were the path tool, paint bucket, smudge and blur.

Unfortunately again I lost all the originals when the old computer was fried... Which is a shame because a lot of detail on the top etc was lost when I JPEG'd it. I'm hoping I might still have it on my external hard drive, but I need a new power unit for it, so haven't had a chance to find out.

Over all I was relatively happy with how it came out, it has a kind of vector feel too it. Though I would never be able to do something like this in illustrator! lol

I also have this up over at my deviant art account (Scarlet Faith)