Finished (read: abandoned) my first draft of Magic Fashion Frenchies #1 and have sent it off to my proofreader!
This novella took so long to write that while I was working on it, I came up with three other ideas for the characters, so I guess this will be my first series!
How long did it take me to write? Well, its working title was My Frenchie Valentine.
Fun to contrast the white shirts with the dark suits.
Pleased with these ones!
Dat top-right face yeah buooooyyyy!
So for AAAGES I’ve been trying to render these dragons from my supernovel, which have bodies like pelicans but heads like gazelles/antelopes/elands/whatever.
Now I have 2 of these dragons as main characters in my Greatest Nosferatu Love Story of All Time novel. So I really gotta buckle down, you know?
Here are many attempts.
Master Study of “Madame Chardin” by Jean Siméon Chardin
1-hour digital piece in Krita, using a single brush. Following ConceptArt.org’s rules, which include no tracing, no color picking from the original, and you must work at least one hour.
So in case you haven’t stumbled upon her YouTube channel workouts, Jenny Ford is hands-down the best step aerobics instructor out there. With other instructors I have a hard time following along, but her cuing is impeccable–when you get the hang of it you don’t even need to watch her!
I thought getting 5 of her workouts in one go for under $10 was a steal, so I got them today at her website!
If you’re even halfway of interested in step I recommend her. She has great free “learn the steps” vids at her channel, and the first vid in this package you buy is meant for complete novice steppers (and is available on YouTube to try out).
She also has a zombie step workout. Just sayin’.
My new favorite pens
If you miss the now-discontinued TUL Marker Pens, I may have found you a replacement.
SO GLAD I FOUND THESE!
I’m an author who writes by hand A LOT. I can fill 100 pages of a Leuchtturm Notebook (Leuchtturm Master Ruled Notebook A4 Plus, Black) in a month. So I need a long-lasting, smooth-writing pen that can keep up with the speed of my story-brain.
In the past, I relied upon my beloved TUL MARKER PENS, but when OfficeMax suddenly Disapparated them off shelves a few years back, I was lost. I couldn’t go back to mere ballpoint pens or even gel pens; the marker tips had a way of making my handwriting look *fantastic*.
So I went on a hunt.
I previously bought and reviewed the following: Pilot Razor Point Marker Stick Pens, Ultra Fine Point, Black Ink, Dozen Box (11001) (nib wore down too fast), BIC Z4+ Roller Pens, Fine Point, 2 Pens (Z4CP21) (no soft marker tip, a little pricey, but nice for art), and Pilot Extra Fine Point Permanent Markers, Black Ink, Dozen Box (44102) (perfect for slick surfaces and baggies, but terrible bleedthrough on paper).
I was a little hesitant when I bought a box of these–“razor point” “extra fine”? My writing’s never looked good in needle-sharp lines. But the reviews were strong and I felt like I was running out of marker-tipped options.
To my utter delight, I found these pens to be the perfect replacement for the TULs. The nibs outlast the ink. They’re smooth on the Leuchtturm paper. There’s no bleedthrough interfering with my using both sides of the paper. And while they’re not waterproof (sometimes I spill my water bottle, what can I say?), after I daubed up the excess water, the writing was still legible which is all I ask for.
But the factor that makes these pens a match in office supply heaven for me is there is a LOT of ink in these things. I received my first box at the beginning of 2017. It’s the end of July, 2017. I *might* have just used up all 12 of them (though I’m not sure not sure because I bought two more boxes and sourced a couple out of there). Again, I’m writing some 200 pages, front and back, every two months, so that’s a LOT OF mileage.
Could a few things be improved? Sure. I think the barrel could feel more comfortable. And I miss the bright yellow tip available in the Pilot Razor Point Marker Stick Pens–not just stylish, but helpful in finding a pen in the dark of one’s purse.
But this price point and durability render those arguments moot. If you, too, are missing the feel of the TUL Marker Pens, grab a box of these. I think you’ll find what you’ve been missing.
(Originally reviewed at Amazon)
Lineart by Robyn Hennoch. From the coloring book “Inkspirations for Cat Lovers“.
Scanner valiantly tried to eat the colors on this, but Krita and I worked together and adjusted it pretty closely to match reality.
I went into this one without a plan. I’m kinda “meh” on some aspects of it (but I looove the golden sky)!
