Second Challenge - inciting an urge to cuddle

Piece for Muse #2 completed - I'M SO PLEASED WITH IT!!!!

Challenge no. 2 for my 2015 'Muse Me Challenge came from an awesome Nerdfighter, who requested a 'Cuddly Cthulhu'. I was really keen to give it a try, but was also worried I wouldn't be able to manage something that was creepy (as befits a lovecraftian character) yet also that demands snuggles. I think I managed it - woohoo!

  

For those at all interested in the process and some of the techniques I used to get to the final piece, read on!  

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I started with searching for descriptions of Chtulhu in Lovecraft's work. It has been quite some time since I've read anything by H.P. Lovecraft, so I had to refresh my memory on the particulars. Cthulhu first appears in 1928 short story "The Call of Cthulhu" and is described as

 "A monster of vaguely anthropoid outline, but with an octopus-like head whose face was a mass of feelers, a scaly, rubbery-looking body, prodigious claws on hind and fore feet, and long, narrow wings behind."

Cthulhu is also described as being able to change the shape of its body at will, extending and retracting limbs and tentacles as it sees fit. This only cemented my decision that the finished piece needed to incite an urge to hug Chtulhu, while feeling a bit uncertain about why one is having such an urge. Afterall, this being is meant to have the power to make blood run up walls, too.

I then started image searching other interpretations of Chtulhu. Unsurprisingly, there are heaps of awesome works out there by fans! Talk about INTIMIDATING! Here are a few of my faves that inspired me.

 

            

The 'scary' are good and creepy - I certainly would not want to find myself hugging one of them. The cute ones are....well..cute. Very sweet and definitely 'awwea' and *squee!* inciting, but I didn't find anything that invoked both *squee!* and *wait, what? NO!*

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Initial Drawing - Pen & Ink

I went through several sketches that were less than satisfactory - Chtulhu with a kitten, Cthulhu as a pony, blah blah. I finally decided on Cthulhu as a baby. This is my copy in my sketchbook and I used my trusty Micron Pigma pens. 

  

 Here's my second sketch, which is the base of the watercolour painting that became the finished product.

The pencil lines are darker than I would have liked, but that's something I get to keep working at. I tend to have a heavier hand because I don't currently have a permanent workspace, which leads me to have to sketch wherever I can find space. I'm testing different pencil hardnesses to see if that will help with future outlines.

Most of the way through the watercolour phase.

I started with a light mustardd yellow wash on Cthulhu, then coloured over with several shades of olive greens to create the scales, skin texture, and other blemishes.

The skin wasn't coming out quite as textured as I was really wanting, so I broke out the salt and gave it a try. Presto - instant scaly skin. See if you can notice the change in the next photo.    

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Like what you see? Like the idea of free stuff AND bragging rights for inspiring the arts?

If you'd like to participate in my 2015 'Muse Me Challenge to help me fill my new sketchbook and stretch my creativity skills, you can go HERE for more info on the challenge and how to submit an inspiration. PLUS, as a thank you for being my Muse you'll get your own copy of whatever you helped inspire - FREE! Who doesn't like free stuff?!?!  My goal is one new inspiration ever two weeks, and there are still spaces left!

See you in two weeks with my next inspired piece! 

First challenge; having a focus, AND BUDGET SUPPLIES THAT DON'T SUCK!

TA DA! First piece of art done, dusted, and mailed off to the Muse who inspired me! 

Challenge no. 1 came by way of an amazing person named Sarah, who submitted the phrase "Focus is so much more important than Speed" for my 2015 'Muse Me Challenge. I'm very proud of the result of my first challenge - not only did I manage this within the two week deadline I've set for each piece, I even managed to jump out of my black and white inked comfort zone and try a new medium! Final piece is at the end of the post for those looking for a TL;DR.

For those at all interested in the process and some of the techniques I used to get to the final piece, read on!



Partially through my initial sketch piece. I got this far and decided that it was looking good, but it needed some drama. It also became pretty obvious that the holiday panto I worked on leading up to Christmas and New Year was seriously influencing my style. (We did a bellydance pantomime revision of Jack and the Beanstalk, which included sending Jackie and her pet cow to outer space. It was all very retro sci-fi inspired, and that clearly came through in my crazy alien plants, lava lamp-esque water, and asymmetrical bricks.

So I grabbed the pens again, and started shading. And...managed to get a bitten by a little zentangle bug, too.

ONce I got to this point I was quite satisfied with the drawing. It was exotic enough to satisfy my requirement of being 'out of the box' with the submitted inspiration, but still (imho) pleasing and fun to look at. Edgy, but not off the edge and falling to doom.

I couldn't rid the feeling that it really needed some bright, funky retro space inspired colours to really be worhty of my current Muse, though. So I gave in and bought a pack of (mind you extremely cheap, probably would never EVER have been suggested by a proper art teacher) watercolour pencils and an affordable brush pack (again, I'm sure any art teacher would cringe at the sight of them) and proceeded to either full on own this new piece, or royally muck it up in the process.

Luckily, I didn't fail too much.

This took several episodes of Merlin and rather a lot of encouragement from D that it was looking awesome before I decided I could put the pencils, water, and brushes away.

I got to play with watercolour pencils for the first time, which was actually a lot of fun and also a bit nerve wrecking as I was constantly worried I'd muck up the piece beyond salvage. Luckily, I didn't, and I learned that wetting the pencil tip, scribbling onto the area you want to colour, and then smoothing with a slightly damp, square ended brush makes for awesome night sky rendering! I managed to get a bit of movement and depth just with that!

And here it is, all matted, quoted, and signed just before putting it into its posting package! 

      

Like what you see? Like the idea of free stuff AND bragging rights for inspiring the arts?

If you'd like to participate in my 2015 'Muse Me Challenge to help me fill my new sketchbook and stretch my creativity skills, you can go HERE for more info on the challenge and how to submit an inspiration. PLUS, as a thank you for being my Muse you'll get your own copy of whatever you helped inspire - FREE! Who doesn't like free stuff?!?!  My goal is one new inspiration ever two weeks, and there are still spaces left!

See you in two weeks with my next inspired piece! 

'Muse me!

2014 wound up being a big and crazy year for me. In spite of all the stress, bad luck, trials, and other such 'character building' experiences, I did rediscover a joy of drawing and doodling I'd completely forgotten about. Doodling, drawing, and arting around in general really helped me keep some grounding in the crazy.

My goal for this year is to make the time to art a little every day, including creating more finished/polished pieces outside of the typical sketchbook works. More centrally, however, I want to work on my imagination and creative improvisation with my drawing.

So, I propose this challenge:

I'm asking those of you with creative thought, a penchant for patronising the arts, or who give in to the impish glee of challenging someone to push their boundaries, to send me a suggestion for a doodle. In return, I will make a doodle using your suggestion for inspiration and you will receive a copy for your own muse-ings (you see what I did there? ;) ) and bragging rights.

Suggestions can include:
- a phrase you find inspiring,
-  a collection of words (or even just one word)
- an abstract thought or idea you think might make a cool drawing,
- etc.

Warning: The point of this exercise is for me to work at thinking outside the box, so be ready for something likely unexpected!


To participate, just comment below or email me at thevbunny (at) gmail (dot) com.


A peak at last year's sketchbook: