Tag Archives: quick sketch

How long has it been?


Posted by Skye

When I was in Manila I was hoping to start sketching again, and on reflection I really don’t know why I didn’t. I had all the time in the world in those wonderful six months of non-working bliss :) I do know however, that I sat for about 1 hour with my shiny new sketchbook in front of me the other night trying to pluck up the courage to make that first mark on paper.

After I’d found the courage I needed, I started with the eye on the left. You can tell that’s where I started because I got it wrong! Haha. But with the absence of an eraser, I persisted in trying to cover up the mistake. I’m quite pleased with the outcome. It’s not great. It sort of reminds me of the animals I was drawing when I was in the 7th grade, but it’s a starting point.

Once I feel comfortable with using the pencil again to draw cats (which for some reason I always found easier), I’ll move onto the felt-tip pen (which I always preferred using because I love the results) and other more “difficult” subject matter.


Childish reflections


Posted by Skye

When I’m sick, I always catch myself thinking that the severity of my “symptom” is not as bad now that I’m older, but lately I’ve decided that my symptoms might be just as bad – I’ve just had plenty of years to get used to them when they pop up. Why do I mention this today? Because I’ve been sick!

And in the process of being sick and reflecting on my experiences as a child, I’ve been thinking about those cool things I used to do in infant (grades k-2) and primary (grades 3-6) school around arts and crafts. Things such a lino printing, screen printing, potato stamps… finger painting…

And then of course, the activity that inspired the 60 minute sketch… coloured paper, black oil pastels and a stick!

I decided venture down the path to find the colours in my life by reflecting on the things I used to find really enjoyable when I was younger and applying them in the digital space. So for the above image was created in Photoshop (and using my trusty webcam), with a mix of brushes, filters, and colour filters.

I feel like I’m a teenager just discovering Photoshop for the first time, but how excellent is that feeling?


Self distracted


Posted by Skye

I’m so distracted right now – there are a million things going through my mind. Most importantly, we found out where Vincent’s next posting is – Malaysia. It’s really exciting, because Malaysia was one of our preferences, but now starts the search for jobs (for me) and the decision as to whether or not I should try and find work in Malaysia or try and find a contract back in Sydney. Aside from that, there are a million other things to be done between now and Christmas, after Christmas, and trying to  decide when to return to Sydney for a holiday.

So I am 99% sure that this was completed within the 60 minute time limit. The reason it’s titled “self distracted” is the fact that I was also surfing the net, looking up visa information, going through job databases, booking plane tickets, cooking dinner, (intermission overnight to sleep) and trying to phone my sister this morning.

To me the final product looks like I’m waking up with a strong espresso. Kind of sleepy, a little incoherent, and somewhat jittery.

Self Distracted

90% completed in Photoshop, with the cat figure completed in Illustrator.


A quickie baby


Posted by Skye

I’m almost at the end of my last assignment for the semester (and I sigh when I say that because the next semester starts next week – darn, no break) and am about to tear my hair out with frustration over my apparent writers block.

So to try and recharge the batteries, here is a quick Photoshop treated photo that I took from our apartment in Manila. The camera I used was the one in my mobile phone – LG KC910. I actually really like taking dusk and night shots with this camera, because I find that it treats light differently to point and shoot (which is an Olympus of some model I can’t remember right now).

Sunset in Manila