Color Palette Challenge

It's been almost a year since I came to a conclusion that the way I use colours suck hard and I should do something about it. It was one of the best decisions of my twenties, really (the next best decision was getting to know human anatomy better).

The Color Palette Challenge I use is the one by FallenZephyr that I found on DeviantArt. But any kind of palettes' collection would work. It's more about using colours and colour combinations that you would not think of on your own.

Here are few of the first ones I did:

(you can almost feel the struggle coming off of them)

Here are some of the new ones:

I love the progress. It's so encouraging!!!!

All the Color Palette Challenges I did are posted and tagged on my tumblr blog here.

A.

30 things on 30th birthday

I'm 29.
One more year and I will feel even more old than I feel now (hello there, after-birthday blues).
But maybe a brand new list will make me feel better in a year's time! We'll see!

30 THINGS ON MY 3Oth BIRTHDAY

1. Create new blog design
2. Start Adelaida's digital shop
3. Be a part of a fanzine
4. Finish one comic project
5. Upgrade portfolio
6. Write 20 snail mails
7. Make crepes for Love
8. Make a mousepad for myself
9. Re-make old cat bag
10. Clean up Uni works
11. Make a mobile
12. Draw my sisters
13. Get a next tattoo
14. See 5 new places
15. Go to the sea
16. Make a felt brooch/keychain
17. Plant a flower
18. Learn to swim freestyle
19. Paint sneakers
20. Dragon Age allnighter!
21. Bake a cake
22. Make an animation
23. Help someone
24. Remember a star constellation
25. Read 5 books
26. Go abroad
27. Buy an apartment
28. Get a big letter A decoration
29. Paint with oils
30. 24h PJs day!

Nothing complicated this year, as you can see :) I'm slowly getting back to my previous form. Wish me luck though!

A.

Daily Sketch III - Day #1-10

If you haven't already seen it on my Facebook profile, nor Facebook fanpage, nor Instagram, Twitter or Tumblr - then I have to announce I have started Daily Sketch again. It's my 3rd edition and I'm full of willpower to make this one longer than the previous ones :)

Here are my first ten days:

They all are quite small (two last ones are the biggest - postcard sized). I start making them every morning before I go to work then finish as soon as I get back home. It's about 0,5h for each.

A.

28 things on my 28th birthday

 *Gosh, I'm old...*

Because last year the list did not go as "used" as I hoped it would, some things will stay on it once again. And this time I DO HOPE that I will get down to them asap just to not put them on a list next year ;)

This year it is more about making me a better artist and using my skills to the full than just doing stuff I wish I would/could/might do/have done. I am starting a new job + working only half-time at my previous job and it really is a big step forward for me. I hope that in a year's time my ideal of creating in my home-office everyday will be closer to fulfilment than it is now.

1. Do charity work.
2. Illustrate 1 old fairy tale.
3. Publish 2 of my books on the Internet.
4. Make a 2014 calendar.
5. Resume  Daily Sketch.
6. Re-make 2 of my old artworks.
7. Study light and colour.
8. Paint on canvas again.
9. Learn how to make GIFs from my drawings.
10. Make a new avatar.
11. Get my blogs up and running again.
12. Plan posts for blogs and actually make them.
13. Introduce 3 new ideas to my Etsy shop.
14. Search for an artists' agency and maybe even find one.
15. Win a contest.
16. Plant flowers and watch them grow.
17. Go on a long bicycle ride.
18. Go swimming every week.
19. Finish reading everything I've started.
20. Read "The Witcher".
21. Read 10 new books.
22. Try out 10 new recipes.
23. Learn 3 new things.
24. Try 3 new things.
25. Visit 3 new places.
26. Practice yoga everyday.
27. Answer quickly.
28. Work harder.

As I am controlling my anger pretty well and doing something good everyday is quite obvious too - I've decided to push it a step further and really show my support to some charity organization; which will be a local animal shelter. I've been sending them monthly donations for some time now and I think it's time to do something more. So I've got a year to figure out what it would be and do it the best I can!

Let's get down to work!

A.

27 things on my 27th birthday - summary

First of all, I have to start with stating that this year has been crazily hectic. I have never ever had soooo many things to do during one single year. I feel like I have not created anything purely for myself for ages. It's a good thing to have so many commissions and custom orders but it also overwhelming at times (especially when I get ill, can't work for few days and everything is piling up in a very scary speed).

And now let's see how much I have not done this year even though I've been working everyday ;)    


1. Do something nice every day. DONE! I loved the feeling :)
2. Illustrate 1 old fairy tale. I've chosen few tales and I'm soooo excited about this project but since it's rather time-consuming I will have to give it another shot next year. But I will definitely do it!
3. Publish 2 of my books on the Internet. Same as above ^
4. Create and wear my T-shirt design. Nope.
5. Sew and decorate 2 pillow cases. I have not even use the sewing machine once this year...
6. Get prints in my Etsy shop. Done. Must get more though!
7. Make a set of pendants to sell. Done, but not in my shop yet :)
8. Introduce 3 new ideas to my shop. I've got moleskine notebooks and few things waiting for my time to create listings for them, so I guess it's not really done.
9. Draw at least 1 cat comic a month. Started well and then I have abandoned both my blogs (shame on me).
10. Create a short animation. Nope.
11. Make a 2013 calendar. Started! Will make it a 2014 calendar :)
12. Learn basics of Finnish on my own. Nope.
13. Go to a language school and study hard. If I had a time machine that would be possible...
14. Finish reading 'The Witcher'. Started but not finished.
15. Win a contest. Done! I + my Love have created a garden design and won an iPad :)
16. Wear more skirts and dresses. Nope.
17. Make 5 recipes from my pasta cook book. Done! Yummy!
18. Go on a long car trip. Went but I wasn't driving so it doesn't count.
19. Fly on a plane. Nope.
20. Create a Book Of Adventures. Nope, and that's a big shame. Will do it this year.
21. Try 3 new things. Done! Blue hair, eating sushi (it's kind of OK), travelling by ferry.
22. Learn 2 new things. Done! Learnt to make colourful muffins and bake delicious tart.
23. Visit 3 new places. Done! Solina, Hel and Sopot (with it's water taxi on a super fast motor boat!)
24. Make my life more Zen. Kind of done. Can do better. Will do better!
25. Practice yoga. I need to practice it more.
26. Control anger. That went astoundingly well! I've got angry like 2 times this year, and both times were mainly because I was hungry ;)
27. Work hard. Worked my butt off!!

I kind of feel I could have done it better but, all in all, it was a good year. 

Sum up:
DONE - 13/27
NOPE - 14/27

A.

1. Do something nice every day.
2. Illustrate 1 old fairy tale.
3. Publish 2 of my books on the Internet.
4. Create and wear my T-shirt design.
5. Sew and decorate 2 pillow cases.
6. Get prints in my Etsy shop.
7. Make a set of pendants to sell.
8. Introduce 3 new ideas to my shop.
9. Draw at least 1 cat comic a month.
10. Create a short animation.
11. Make a 2013 calendar.
12. Learn basics of Finnish on my own.
13. Go to a language school and study hard.
14. Finish reading 'The Witcher'.
15. Win a contest.
16. Wear more skirts and dresses.
17. Make 5 recipes from my pasta cook book.
18. Go on a long car trip.
19. Fly on a plane.
20. Create a Book Of Adventures.
21. Try 3 new things.
22. Learn 2 new things.
23. Visit 3 new places.
24. Make my life more Zen.
25. Practice yoga.
26. Control anger.
27. Work hard. - See more at: http://aleksandra-chabros.blogspot.com/2012/08/27-things-on-my-27th-birthday.html#sthash.1MswIGmW.dpuf

1. Do something nice every day.
2. Illustrate 1 old fairy tale.
3. Publish 2 of my books on the Internet.
4. Create and wear my T-shirt design.
5. Sew and decorate 2 pillow cases.
6. Get prints in my Etsy shop.
7. Make a set of pendants to sell.
8. Introduce 3 new ideas to my shop.
9. Draw at least 1 cat comic a month.
10. Create a short animation.
11. Make a 2013 calendar.
12. Learn basics of Finnish on my own.
13. Go to a language school and study hard.
14. Finish reading 'The Witcher'.
15. Win a contest.
16. Wear more skirts and dresses.
17. Make 5 recipes from my pasta cook book.
18. Go on a long car trip.
19. Fly on a plane.
20. Create a Book Of Adventures.
21. Try 3 new things.
22. Learn 2 new things.
23. Visit 3 new places.
24. Make my life more Zen.
25. Practice yoga.
26. Control anger.
27. Work hard. - See more at: http://aleksandra-chabros.blogspot.com/2012/08/27-things-on-my-27th-birthday.html#sthash.1MswIGmW.dpuf

1. Do something nice every day.
2. Illustrate 1 old fairy tale.
3. Publish 2 of my books on the Internet.
4. Create and wear my T-shirt design.
5. Sew and decorate 2 pillow cases.
6. Get prints in my Etsy shop.
7. Make a set of pendants to sell.
8. Introduce 3 new ideas to my shop.
9. Draw at least 1 cat comic a month.
10. Create a short animation.
11. Make a 2013 calendar.
12. Learn basics of Finnish on my own.
13. Go to a language school and study hard.
14. Finish reading 'The Witcher'.
15. Win a contest.
16. Wear more skirts and dresses.
17. Make 5 recipes from my pasta cook book.
18. Go on a long car trip.
19. Fly on a plane.
20. Create a Book Of Adventures.
21. Try 3 new things.
22. Learn 2 new things.
23. Visit 3 new places.
24. Make my life more Zen.
25. Practice yoga.
26. Control anger.
27. Work hard. - See more at: http://aleksandra-chabros.blogspot.com/2012/08/27-things-on-my-27th-birthday.html#sthash.1MswIGmW.dpuf

Personal Thursday #7

I have almost forgotten to show you those cuties! :)

Here you can see sketches for them -- click
And they are available, as a set, in my Etsy shop.

I have so many small pieces of watercolour paper like those ^ that I could draw little sweetnesses every day!

Hmm... I could say 'challenge accepted' but I must get ready for the holiday season. Will accept this challenge in December :D

A.

27 things on my 27th birthday

When I see this list I start to think when I will find time for all this, but a whole year is a lot of time. And it's good to push oneself harder to do more and do it better.

Here's a list for this year. Deadline - 12th August 2013.

1. Do something nice every day.
2. Illustrate 1 old fairy tale.
3. Publish 2 of my books on the Internet.
4. Create and wear my T-shirt design.
5. Sew and decorate 2 pillow cases.
6. Get prints in my Etsy shop.
7. Make a set of pendants to sell.
8. Introduce 3 new ideas to my shop.
9. Draw at least 1 cat comic a month.
10. Create a short animation.
11. Make a 2013 calendar.
12. Learn basics of Finnish on my own.
13. Go to a language school and study hard.
14. Finish reading 'The Witcher'.
15. Win a contest.
16. Wear more skirts and dresses.
17. Make 5 recipes from my pasta cook book.
18. Go on a long car trip.
19. Fly on a plane.
20. Create a Book Of Adventures.
21. Try 3 new things.
22. Learn 2 new things.
23. Visit 3 new places.
24. Make my life more Zen.
25. Practice yoga.
26. Control anger.
27. Work hard.

Lately I've noticed that I'm getting more and more mean and angry. Don't know if I'm just surrounded by wrong people or in a bad moment of my life or just getting old and turning into a vicious crazy cat lady - either way it's not very good. Just bad, actually. So I've decided to go through a project of doing something good to someone every single day. I've read somewhere about it and it seems to be a great change from a normal day to day life. I don't want to be an angry weirdo! That's why two points from my list are dedicated to this attitude change.

Another problem I'd like to solve is my always-lurking-somewhere-behind-me self insecurity. There are those days when I feel completely out of place and without any set purpose, like a little ant waiting only for some shoe to squash it. Not really a nice feeling, I must admit. So I've decided to create a Book Of Adventures to comfort me during those bad moments - it will be filled with all those good things that happened to me which show that I'm not just an ant. That I've made and I'm still making my mark on this planet, and this mark is not just a wet squash spot ;) It's a bit like in 'Up' movie but with art achievements included.

The rest of the points will keep me rollin' all year long, busy with my personal growth. Can't wait to start ^__^

Here's the last year's list, if you'd like to see how it went.

A.

26 things on my 26th birthday - conclusion

I'm officially 26 for almost a week now, so let's see how I've managed to complete my list. I already have some ideas for the new one, like making the tasks more 'sit down and do it' so I can do at least some of them without so much preparation.

Here it goes:

1. Get driving licence. At last. DONE!
2. Write and illustrate my own book. I've got lots of sketches but none of the stories and pictures I've made can be named a Book.
3. Make my web site. Changed my blog's layout to make it look more pro. That should count for something ;)
4. Create a T-shirt design (and get that Tee to wear!). Partly done; there will be no problem with it next year since I work at a silkscreen print production.
5. Learn to sew. No progress whatsoever.
6. Sew something for me to wear. Not even a handkerchief.
7. Sew something for the house to have. Not even a pillowcase.
8. Make an inspiration board (because it's not so inspiring right now..). DONE!
9. Learn Italian (go through the whole beginning course I've got). Nope.
10. Learn Finnish (same thing) Nope.
11. Get a new pretty tattoo :) Got a feather tattoo on my right side.
12. Keep my weight. Got it.
13. Get more girly. Longer hair will have to do it.
14. Make Daily Sketch vol. 2 for at least a month. DONE!
15. Read all books by Trudi Canavan. DONE!
16. And 'Witcher' books. Almost done.
17. And all 'Moomins' books :3 Almost done.
18. And finish reading all those books I've started and stopped reading for some unknown reason. Not done. But I at least haven't started reading new ones!
19. Find a representative in UK and/or US. Not done.
20. Win a contest. Tried!
21. Buy something valuable for my Love. DONE! :)  
22. Get more into zen. Partly done. But it's worth doing better than that.
23. Practice yoga. A bit done.
24. Take my Etsy shop to a next level. Partly done.
25. Visit two places I have never been to before. DONE! Been to Prague and explored my city's closer surroundings.
26. Get out to my own place. I guess I'm waiting for my Love to move on with him.

To sum up:
Done - 9/26
Partly done - 9/26
Undone - 8/26

So it's only 30,77% of a total failure ;)

I'll post a new list soon. Maybe one of the points will be to lower the failure percentage to 25% ;)

A.

Challenge

I have decided to copy Faerywitch's challenge idea, since it's just a marvelous idea! You can see it in the original post here.

The GOAL is to create one illustration for each of those points. I have not tackled most of those topics like EVER, so it will be something new.

 Palettes:
1. Monochrome - DONE!
2. Limited - DONE!
3. Complementary
4. Primary
5. Secondary
6. Tertiary
7. Split complementary
8. Analogous
9. Multicolour
10. Warm
11. Cold

Composition:
12. Pyramidal - DONE!
13. Spiral
14. Big group of people
15. Architecture
16. One point perspective
17. Two points perspective

I dare say I'm most frightened of the architecture and perspective topics - it's always a drama for me to draw straight lines ;) After a minute of thinking - all 'composition' topics are kind of painful for me :P So I'll start wit them!

I will be updating this post after each finished point.

A.

26 things on my 26th birthday - half year gone, half to go

Let's see how I'm doing my list :)

1. Get driving licence. At last. DONE!
2. Write and illustrate my own book. In progress, but I don't see it coming to life too quick :P
3. Make my web site. Yeah, right...
4. Create a T-shirt design (and get that Tee to wear!). CREATED! But I don't have it on my back, yet.
5. Learn to sew. I still have time :P
6. Sew something for me to wear. For this too!
7. Sew something for the house to have. And for this!
8. Make an inspiration board (because it's not so inspiring right now..). DONE! It's pretty blue and looks cute :)
9. Learn Italian (go through the whole beginning course I've got). Yeah, right...
10. Learn Finnish (same thing) Yeah... ;]
11. Get a new pretty tattoo :) Designing. I always have hard time deciding.
12. Keep my weight. It's OK for now :)
13. Get more girly. I've got longer hair! :D But skirts and dresses still sit in my closet.
14. Make Daily Sketch vol. 2 for at least a month. DONE! But I would like to do more of it.
15. Read all books by Trudi Canavan. Almost done! 2 to go.
16. And 'Witcher' books. Two done, five to go :)  
17. And all 'Moomins' books :3 Waiting.
18. And finish reading all those books I've started and stopped reading for some unknown reason. Waiting too.
19. Find a representative in UK and/or US. That's SO waiting :P
20. Win a contest. I'm trying, really!
21. Buy something valuable for my Love. Done! :)  
22. Get more into zen. I can see a slight progress.
23. Practice yoga. I can do better!
24. Take my Etsy shop to a next level. Not really convinced if that's a 'next level'. Must try harder.
25. Visit two places I have never been to before. Yet to come - I'm waiting for warmer days.
26. Get out to my own place. I don't see any progress here.

Summary:
Done - 7
In progress - 8
Totally not done - 11

I think it looks quite good :)

A.

DS II 36

And this one reminds me of Utena the movie. Oh, how I love those characters and settings (I have this feeling I'll watch it again soon  *___*  very soon).

A.

26 things on 26th birthday

The idea has been copied from Hanna :)

Although 4 months have passed since my 25th birthday, I think I will still manage to make those 26 things. Or at least try to. It's a good thing to always have a goal. And I think it's so much easier if the goal (the big one) or goals (all those little ones) are written down and hanging in front of you every day. So you won't forget and try, try, try, always try to reach them :)

Here's my 26:

1. Get driving licence. At last.
2. Write and illustrate my own book.
3. Make my web site.
4. Create a T-shirt design (and get that Tee to wear!).
5. Learn to sew.
6. Sew something for me to wear.
7. Sew something for the house to have.
8. Make an inspiration board (because it's not so inspiring right now..).
9. Learn Italian (go through the whole beginning course I've got).
10. Learn Finnish (same thing)
11. Get a new pretty tattoo :)
12. Keep my weight.
13. Get more girly.
14. Make Daily Sketch vol. 2 for at least a month.
15. Read all books by Trudi Canavan.
16. And 'Witcher' books.
17. And all 'Moomins' books :3
18. And finish reading all those books I've started and stopped reading for some unknown reason.
19. Find a representative in UK and/or US.
20. Win a contest.
21. Buy something valuable for my Love.
22. Get more into zen.
23. Practice yoga.
24. Take my Etsy shop to a next level.
25. Visit two places I have never been to before.
26. Get out to my own place.

Will check how I'm doing in four months time, in April, when I'll be in the middle of my 26-things-on-26th-birthday journey :)

A.

Spring comes together with changes

I don't remember if I have already announced it on Twitter but let's do it properly - I've got a proper job! :) This is one of my New Year's Resolutions and is very important for me.

It's not only about the money. I feel that I need to have a constant income so I can slowly upgrade my artistic style. Lately, I've been feeling so not-in-my-own-skin when it comes to illustrating. So I need time and a lot of, probably lame, tries on a new way of creating without a never fading worry about the money.

Going further, I want to start something more complicated in my illustrations. I would like them to be more sophisticated and "beautiful", not just "nice". I don't know if I can explain it properly but I fave this feeling inside and hopefully it will show me which path is the best. In this try-out period I won't be searching for commissions or other art jobs as much as I usually do; I would like to concentrate only on my personal upgrade. It's a very bad feeling I've got right now, I just want to work on getting rid of it ;)

About my job - I will be working in a coffee shop (Wayne's Coffee, a Swedish shop) :D Gosh, I love coffee! And now I will be making it all day long. And drinking as much as I want (but not too much - it could get really unhealthy ;P). I have, of course, made a goal to achieve there too! I will be practising Latte Art! Right now I'm not that keen on it but I will have plenty of time and plenty of coffees to practise on :) When I get better I'll take photos of what I create and post them here. Hope my Latte Art will look superb!

And now few spring photos: crocuses in a park.

 A.

New Year gifts from me to me

Not much time has passed since my last gift I gave to myself. But I felt it was time for something new to try. For this year I have planned for myself to learn how to sew. And learn it well. There are many styles, techniques and projects that inspire me - two of them are cute and cosy vintage-looking stuff and simple designs with Scandinavian feel into them. Or to make it even more simple - I like ribbons and embroidery :)

Here are two new gifts:

Few things from the 'Scandinavian needlecraft':

And a couple of ideas from 'Home-made vintage':

Tomorrow I'll take my mum's sewing machine to a doctor to check if she's all right and as soon as I'll get her back I'll start creating! >o< Can't wait for that!

A.

Resolutions - Illustration Friday

I've made a list of resolutions for this year, have you? :)

One of the ideas to always remember is to keep balance throughout the year. In work, in love, in relationships, in everything - sometimes it's hard but it's always worth trying *nods*

A.

It's resolutions time, isn't it?

It's already 3rd January so it's high time to write down all the resolutions that will accompany me during this year. But first, let's check how the previous resolutions and their achieving came out:

• Finish school on time with a satisfying grade -This point got totally messed up. I'm still waiting for my last big exam. Failure.
• Get my watercolour pieces to a higher level (composition, colours and lines are the main point to focus on). - I think I did it. Earlier I have never spent so much time on any work. I've just sit down and started painting/drawing.
• Work on details more. - Got it :)
• Spend more time on each work; think what exactly I want to achieve. - I'm still mastering this point. But it's getting better every time I make something.
• Start writing children's stories - STARTED! And that would be it...
• And show the 3rd one somewhere for people to read. - Failure.
• Never miss a chance of showing my works - Not missed any I have been aware of.
• Become professional. - Made illustration for 2 books and a stationery collection, I think you can call me a better professional than in 2009 ;)
• Learn something new and innovative (about what I don't know right now and what will suddenly appear) - I've learnt basics of 3D (but it's not actually my hobby horse). Started making cell phone cases - never thought of it before and now it's something I really enjoy :)
• Get driving licence. - Failure
• Find a proper job (so I can illustrate without any financial-connected stress). - I have not been trying to find it actually..
• Visit some place I have never been before - Visited Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot for the first time.

Accomplished 7 out of 12. It's not an amazing result but I feel very pleased with this past year :) It was a good year.


Resolutions for year 2011:

•  Stop lying and making excuses - just get down to work.
• Visit one foreign place and one place in Poland I have never been before.
• Self-publish a book - by which I mean write it, illustrate and create a final product that will be a neat e-book.
• Learn Finnish.
• Learn to cook tasty things for my Love :)
• Keep my shape - go to yoga and make exercises at least 4 times a week.

And once again points from the previous year, they should be accomplished after all...

• Finish school goddamnit!
• Get driving licence.
• Find a job. Etsy is not enough!
• Really, really, really try writing something for children (everyone say I'm good at it so why I'm still holding this opportunity back)

 10 points to do this year. Will see what will come out of it :)

However, this year I feel more organized and I can see that some of my goals are much more clear. Last 3 months I've been trying new ways of keeping tracks of things to do and properly managing my time. Right now I'm sticking to Google Calendar and monthly goals that are to be achieved. There's still a lazy ass inside of me but somehow it usually stays hidden :)

Come on 2011, I'm ready for you! :)

A.

Painting earrings with my cat

From time to time I buy some wooden bases for earrings or bracelets or many other things that can be painted and worn/used. However, for some time I have been buying them but not actually making anything more. Now I have a big bag full of this stuff and a promise to myself to paint them all :) It's even one of my goals for February - paint them all to move forward.

When I paint jewellery I don't usually have detailed sketches. It's just the overall idea that looks like the one on the photo. I like to leave a free space for my creativity just in case I'd like to add or remove something during the process of making.

 Sometimes my cat is a pain in the ass ;] She likes to accompany me when I do anything and everything at my desk. Usually it's not a problem but she already had her paws in paint few times! Even in oil paints! :/

 She likes to stare into the water jar. Wonder what she sees in there :)

Here you can see the sketches of my ideas and the final paintings on the earrings.

 Varnish drying. I used a new kind of varnish this time and I'm in the process of wondering which is better :)

 Final photos made for my Etsy shop - Secret Drawer.

A.

New Year's Resolutions

Last year I said that resolutions are stupid and it's better to DO things rather just talk about doing them. But this year a lot of things will happen and my life will change dramatically - I finish my university and I have no idea, at the moment, what will happen then. So this time it's better to have plans to which I can stick if times get worse.

1. Finish school on time with a satisfying grade (only best grades satisfy me ;P)
2. Get my watercolour pieces to a higher level (composition, colours and lines are the main point to focus on).
3. Work on details more.
4. Spend more time on each work; think what exactly I want to achieve.
5. Start writing children's stories.
6. And show the 3rd one somewhere for people to read.
7. Never miss a chance of showing my works.
8. Become professional.
9. Learn something new and innovative (about what I don't know right now and what will suddenly appear).
10. Get driving licence.
11. Find a proper job (so I can illustrate without any financial-connected stress).
12. Visit some place I have never been before.

Let's go and make those resolutions come true!

A.

Terra World

On Saturday I went with my Love and his friends to Warsaw on a Fair or Exchange or Market (or whatever it's called in English) of everything connected with having your own terrarium :) There were snakes and bugs there, fancy plants and rocks, lizards, butterflies and a lot of terra-equipment. I took photos and here you can see some of them.

Love's friends wanted to buy chameleons - 2 for each of them.

Let's start :3

A bit of snakes. Believe me - there were so many of them everywhere!

Pastel lizard ;P

Bugs :3

Hiding lizard :D

Little crabs ^^ Cuties!

Another pastel lizard :)

Hairy spider :)

Fat frog ;P

Bug on a banana :3

Snails. They were huge!

Mantis :) (I think...)

That's quite sad - food for snakes and other reptiles.

And this is Miłosz :D One of Love's friends' bought him. He's tiny and very mobile.

And this is what I liked the most! :D

Isn't he cute? *^__^*

Photos at home - Miłosz is climbing up the plant. While later he was as green as those leaves :)

This is a female that friend bought. Unfortunately, she wasn't healthy enough :/ Now there's only one chameleon left...

In two months time I'm supposed to call the hedgehogs' owner and check if little hedgehogs are ready to be taken away from their mum - and then I will have my wery own hedgehog :D I just can't wait!! >o<

A.

Three goodies

Only good news today! :D

Another Creature came to me on Monday. It didn't tell me what it's name was but it said that it wants to go to my friend, Monster Princess, and stay with her. So on the next day I took the Creature to my school and when my friend came it at once said it's name, Elmo, and that it's a boy.

This is him, Elmo boy :)

*blushes*

He is a shy Creature. At least that's what Monster Princess says. They look good together, though.



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More good news: as I've decided some time ago - I will not make any more still-lives at school. It's been already two classes when I drew what I wanted and what surely is not a still-life and has nothing of apples, ribbons and white cloths in itself.

The idea of a High-Five Enthusiast struck me some time ago, when I was drawing something for a contest (if I remember it right). Firstly, he was supposed to be a bit 3D with his arms reaching out from a paper on which he would be drawn. It would be a good contest work - a bit different from any other. But he ended up as my inspiration on drawing classes and he looks just as I've imagined him.


When I was drawing a High-Five Enthusiast she came to me - a Lady with a white mask and an embroidered dress. Week later I drew her, it was still so clear in my mind, I remembered how everything looked. Those two works are not very 'MINE', I'm not used to do surreal drawings but well, when they come, I can not possibly resist. I even should not try to *nods*


I already know who wants to be drawn on the next classes - he has big and tangled antlers, a deer-like head and there is a shining glass sphere in front of him. Can't wait to make him alive on my drawing!


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And now it's time for the biggest announcement: I've finished my portrait! :D My mum says it looks like me so I think the basic condition of a self-portrait was met. I am ready to work on it a bit in the future, only if I'll be enormously bored and have absolutely nothing else to do, but as for now I'm very very happy with the result ^^ My grandma will be pleased too, I'm sure! (It was made for my grandparents)


A.