A hippocamp, or hippocampus (you might have seen a few when learning about greek mythology) is part fish, part horse. I know as a kid I thought the name was stupid, and I still think it sounds stupid -  but – its what they are called most commonly. I prefer the term waterhorse, but there was a movie made about a lochness-monster-like-cute-thing they called a waterhorse, so in a way that’s been taken.  We also all know what a sea horse is – so – for now its a hippocamp off record as well.

I could not paint this weekend. This makes me feel better tho, AND it has a panda!

This here be a baby hippogriff (hippogryph) and parent – park gryphon, part horse.
Also, I need to go into work this weekend (sigh)  I had wanted the weekend to finish painting Panda….so there will be no daily sketches for Saturday and Sunday. I really, really hope I can make time to paint.
So, here’s hoping.
I’m off to bed to get a good start on work tomorrow. Have a lovely day, all!

Scan as promised! And thank you for your well wishes, I am much better. It helped to leave work early and get a solid 12 HOURS of SLEEP! Yikes! I konked out!

Started a wyvern today at work. I was feeling sick all day, so they let me go home early. Came home, when directly to bed. Just woke up.
Not going to scan what I have, just going to show you tomorrow. Its not finished yet anyway.

Take care guys, have a lovely night!

Poor Kitteh

Another page for the fantasy coloring book, a Chimera! This is also a sign for Capricorn, or as I lovingly call such creatures, Sea Goats! As usual, feel free to print out and share with the kids.
Whats a Chimera, they might ask? Well this is a good time to learn! Here’s a quick synopsis:
A chimera is a mythical creature that is usually composed of two or more animals. There are many chimeras, ones made of lions, snakes and goats, others with three heads. However, this one also the symbol for Capricorn, a part goat, part fish creature of wisdom and hard work.

LOVE the choreography – and that is a difficult song to keep so peppy to. Flippy fringe, long legs, and an energetic routine prove to be blissful on the eyes!

So, my first attempt today at the coloring book page for kids was weak compared to what I had envisioned. I am posting it here anyway. Below it though, is the preferred page, finished, and with a fat baby Phoenix which is way cuter. SO, again, first image is the “no good but still sharing it because it has some merit of its own”, below it is the “real” image that I encourage those with kids to print out to color and test it on their little ones. Let me know what they think!

Letter to Tom Waits I have not sent to him, I’m just writing it here:

Dear Tom Waits:

Your voice has a kind of beauty that bones do: smooth, rough, beautiful, honest. Its like someone is taking a pick-ax and ripping the caked dust from my memories leaving me raw but refreshed. Your lyrics and stories awaken me to a moment, my breath, and the delicate nature of life. Listening to you has made me a better live-r of life, friend, and lover.
Your music have woven itself into the fabric of my thoughts.
You…are…amazing.

Yours truly,
Krisztianna

PS. Your gorgeous. I’m going to draw you soon.

I thought I could finish this Panda Painting this weekend – I’m almost done but tis time for bed. I still need to be ready and able for work tomorrow. I’d like to share what Panda looks like so far. Maybe next weekend will be the magical day I finish my first of 13 paintings for this great project. I’m really glad I moved to acrylics. Even though I miss the effects of watercolor, the relationship of the brush with the paper, and all the tricks I know for neat water-dop effects, acrylic is definitely friendlier for the “paint as much as quick as I can” project. Also, the colors are turning out really rich, which is always a pleasure for me to work with.

GRIFFINS! GRYPHONS! However you spell it, they are here!
Enjoy.

New Imogen Heap

Pure Magic.
Thank you Aaron for the link!
Enjoy this wonderful musician, all – new album coming out soon, you can listen to it now!

I started this yesterday, and was about to scan my unfinished work, when I decided I wanted to surprise you guys with a finished sketch. So, tonight be ready for GRYPHONS because I am finishing it today!!! Maybe over the weekend, unless all I do is paint, I can do two more fantasy pages.

Any recommendations for fantasy animals you wish you had to color in when you were a 2-6 year old kid?

Lets see if my nieces like dragons!

So, the short version: Weekdays too crazy to paint my book due to work. Weekends are my painting days now. Feeling unproductive, frustrated, and stagnant artistically during the week, so: During week will try to turn some daily sketches into coloring book pages for my nieces. Would like to publish a coloring book from these. This is the first.
Will send to siblings, have them tell me what their kids said, or drooled. Ages 2-6.

Had work on the brain. At least I drew something today.

Sometimes, I draw and I have no idea why.

Drawing some peeps at the airport. This was a lot of fun!

Beginnings of an idea for a nursery wall piece. The owl is wise and watchful, to look out for and protect the new baby.

Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian artist who just won Ukraine’s version of “America’s Got Talent.” She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and “sand painting” skills to interpret Germany’s invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII.
Donnie, thanks so much for this link!

Well greetings patient readers. This is to let you know, I have been sketching, and working, and getting ready for another weekend trip – so scans won’t be happening for a few more days. It will yet again, be another one of those FLURRY posts, where one day will have 10 posts. Hopefully, it will be soon.

Hopefully, I will be back at one post a day soon when I find a way of controlling my sleep patterns. That will be cool. I heard of some people that get 3-4 hours of sleep a night…they call them moms. I wonder how they do it….if i try it I cannot function, but yet they find a way…

So, until later, here’s a cute photo. Remember this one? OH SO CUTE!

Sorry guys – it was an intense day at work, no daily sketch today. I am going home to sleep.

me so tired

I have a facination with fennec foxes. They look like pure magic.