I would like to introduce you to a new character we were discussing. For now, all I will tell you is that she is called “The Artist”. And remember that “Kraken” sketch I did for my coloring book? I loved it so much, she gets a little pet inspired by that. Except this bejeweled octopus can float in the the air and kick it on her little octopus pauldron.

Mr. Strand, thank you for this fantastic link. I love me my cephalopods, but this one has grabbed and run across the sea floor with my heart. Please, enjoy. May Wednesday prove be to easier than Tuesday was.

Veined Octopus, Amphioctopus marginatus, showing sophisticated tool use behaviour. Footage shot by Dr Julian Finn of Museum Victoria.

Finn, J.K., T. Tregenza and M.D. Norman. (2009) Defensive tool use in a coconut-carrying octopus, Current Biology, Volume 19, Issue 23, R1069-R1070, 15 December 2009

It appears that Nautilla and Squidheart are friends – or at least this is when they first meet. I like drawing them.

Continuing on the stationary theme!

I enjoy the tactile experience of writing a letter by hand, with a pretty pen, on pretty paper, trying to formulate a complete thought before writing it down..the whole process is something that takes effort, time, and I enjoy all of it very much. My favorite part, other than sending it to a friend, is choosing the paper and the envelope. So I went on a search for stationary. I was extremely disappointed. It seems, that to get any kind of stationary that is remotely logical, like a nice sheet of paper at a good size, more than one sheet per envelope, and a distinct style or look that is refreshing and some reflection of my mood without overwhelming the page, one needs to go to the specialty stationary store 50 miles from where I live. Everything else is cremes, monograms, one sheet of paper per envelope…etc.

It made me wonder…have I changed, have my standards for stationary changed really so much that I cannot find anything I like anywhere unless I go to a specialty shop? Or is it that people don’t write letters anymore..at all. I know there’s less of it, obviously….but then wouldn’t that make the occasion of picking up a nice pen and fancy paper even MORE special? Wouldn’t it be an even bigger deal?

There’s PLENTY of thank you cards with what you want to write filled in FOR you….so..they must be selling well if there are so many of them.

Its just odd.

So, anyway, I’ve got a few ideas for stationary that I want to make for myself. I might be sketching them out this week. And here’s two ideas on one page.

Shes got horns and hooves now!

SO I’ve finally done the first sketch for a character I’ve been mulling about in my head. I guess her and squidface are friends. But there’s a story developing around this one. Several scenes have already presented themselves to me – we’ll see what happens. Be expecting more sketches with this character. I should do one with her and squidface.

From Daily Sketches

From Daily Sketches

Ok. Thats it. I am making desktop icons. I’ll have a chibi water series, a chibi fantasy series, and chibi alaska. So, I’m pretty sure that for a while I’ll be drawing little guys like this.

Fairy fawn

My first sketch for my daily sketch project.