Another chalk pastel this week! I like using this sketchier style, and I felt like I got to experiment more with colour this week. I dream of being good enough at working in colour that I can communicate convincing light schemes for different times of day, and go abstract and do Matisse-inspired rainbow faced people.
Continuing with my recent chalk pastel experiments, and returning to my favourite subject for chalk pastel drawings: fluffy creatures. A red panda 🙂 The base colour of the paper was unexpectedly overpowering and I struggled to get the colours of the log strong enough to counteract it. Next time! I'm please with how the arm … Continue reading Red Panda in Chalk Pastel
The photo of the drawing warped the colours a bit but hopefully you get the idea? I didn't capture Natalia's likeness, but it's been a long time since I tried to draw a person in chalk pastel and I'm pleased with how the skin tones worked out.
(goodreads) I got this book from the library and my feelings are so-so about it. It wasn't as engaging as the Massie biography of Catherine the Great, in part because Louise, as the sixth daughter of Queen Victoria, had a lot less power and influence than Catherine the Great. It was interesting as an insight … Continue reading Book Review: The Mystery of Princess Louise by Lucinda Hawksley
(Goodreads) OH MY GOD What a fantastic book! My heart! The ending! I mean, logically I should have been expecting everything to end terribly because that way people are definitely going to buy the third book, and you get to leap into high stakes, high drama stuff from the get-go with the final book of … Continue reading Book Review: Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare
This week's theme is 'Book Covers You'd Live In,' which has made me aware that most of my books don't have landscapes on the cover! Lots of people, probably reflecting my tendency to pick up and love books based on their characters. Also that period in YA book marketing where all the covers had female … Continue reading Top 5 Wednesday: Book Covers You’d Live In
(goodreads link) So I've been re-united with my book collection after a year abroad and I've been rereading all my old favourites. Among these is Graceling by Kristin Cashore, a YA Fantasy novel set in a land where certain people are 'graced' by being extremely talented at something, like baking, hand-to-hand fighting, or even predicting the future. … Continue reading Book Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore
I saw this clock tower from a train window and then imagined all the architecture around it. I don't usually draw buildings so it was a nice experiment. What do you think?
This is a sneaky sketch I did when I was on the train the other day. I hope the girl in question didn't mind modelling!
This week the Goodreads group's Top 5 is about your favourite children's books. My list is in no particular order, so here goes: 1. The Grumpalump by Sara Hayes This book is aimed at toddlers, whilst the rest of the books on the list I read in primary school. I just couldn't leave it … Continue reading Top 5 Wednesday: Children’s Books
Jo Muses 