Bears In A Book

Inside the pages of a hollowed-out book...

Two bears wander through a forest by moonlight...

Alexander & Plantagenet, created with paint and a lot of cutting out and sticking!

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Teddy Bear Paintings

It's been a good few months since I last posted! So, I thought I'd share something very recent. Here are two small paintings, drawn on scraps of paper from an old wine listings book, with a little glitter to create a starry night for these two bears to walk through...

 Plantagenet & Alexander

Alexander

As always, you can click to enlarge the pictures!  

Hope you like them!

Birthday Bunnies

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These little guys, employees of the Birthday Bunny Brigade, were drawn and painted for a birthday card; note that I have absolutely no idea how to draw nor paint a cupcake (or any cake, for that matter! Which is why I went for a cupcake, because it's small and easier more manageable for bunnies to be bringing to someone on their birthday. Obviously.) but I tried!

It doesn't look very appetizing, does it. Though apparently the rabbits think it is.

Cardboard Bunnies

I've been a little busy with studying recently, and so haven't had much time to do anything arty, except for this:

Two bunnies on cardboard, drawn with pastels!

Sigh, I should really make it my New Year's Resolution to update this blog more often!

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Fennec Foxes

The other day, I came across what are quite possibly the strangest, cutest foxes in the world, Fennec Foxes! They are tiny little nocturnal foxes which dwell in the Sahara, and have a pretty amazing pair of ears!

Overloaded with the cuteness, naturally I had to try and draw them:

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First attempt, using charcoal and pencil.

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Second attempt, using charcoal, pencil, and a bit of white chalk.

Apparently some people actually keep them as pets - arggh, *want want want*!

'Lady With A Mink' Painting

I've never really done much (or, any) painting, but for a project I had to, and so the whole thing became quite a learning curve in working out... how do I actually paint! I decided to base it loosely on the idea of daemons from Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials', and the paintings he drew inspiration from himself:

'Lady With An Ermine' by Leonardo da Vinci

Firstly, some close-ups, because I was most happy with the details of the mink fur and the hand:

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And the whole piece:

I wasn't entirely pleased with it, but for a first attempt at a large painting with no real know-how about how to paint at all, it was definitely an experience and I know at least that I've learned from it! :)

'Mrs Lovett' Corset

As an art project I was told to design something and show the development of it through sketches and sources before reaching the final result. I chose to base a corset design on Mrs Lovett from Tim Burton's film adaptation of the musical 'Sweeney Todd', and hoped to convey her character and journey through the film.... in the form of fabric!
This idea was, as you can probably imagine, a little bit ambitious, but here is how it ended up:
(All photos can be enlarged, just click them!)

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To quote my rambling explanation:

"I tried to convey her journey from poverty and loneliness in an insect/rat infested old pie shop, to her great aspirations of love and wealth, and... ultimately her fiery end. The bottom of the corset uses only inky colours (the colour scheme of the film) with raggedy ends, torn fabric, rats tails, and bedraggled hair (based on her appearance in the beginning).

In contrast, the top of the corset is a bright flourish of colour (red spiral-y hair, fancy ribbons, a few wisps of blue/white which are supposed to represent the sky in her "By The Sea" dream sequence). The flourish represents the wealth she comes into while teamed up with Sweeney: the red colours conveying both her love for him and the bloody, corrupt plot she's part of.

'Meat entrails' hang down from it, depicting the darkness behind her lovely new facade....

Pinned to this is a cameo brooch, which during Victorian times usually depicted idealised women, but here features a cockroach:

... As a reminder that she can't truly escape to this new life, because of the corruption and lies it's built upon. If you look closely, I tried to fray the ribbons in the flourish-y bit, as well, to show how it will all unravel pretty soon!

Lastly, the red netting which runs up the centre and jags out at the top is supposed to represent the fire she dies in.

/ Long ramble!

The corset was made using any scraps of material I could find, painted string, wool, ribbon, wire and netting. It took a long time!

x-posted to my LJ;  HERE 

You can also find it at my DeviantArt:  HERE 

Hope you like it! Do comment/critique/let me know what you think!

Owl Three

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Another little owl pastel drawing. :3