Sneak(er) Preview.

Click for a larger image.

Today I decided it was time to do a little bit of promotion for my printable colouring book 'My Happy Flower'.  I'm im in the process of finishing a very short 'sneak preview' video and for the the M.Mosquito You Tube channel.

I took the sneaker image and couldn't resist doing some good old fashioned colouring in of my own, so that I could film it and include it in the video. The book is based around a little story in which a flower grows in a shoe which has been forgotten by its owner.

I broke out the Prismacolour pencils (ahh they are so soft and lovely to use) and got shading.  There is something so relaxing about shading, even when it is done at 2am when the kids are asleep.  I got a bit carried away, but it was a lot of fun.

Maybe I went a bit overboard with the dark tones, it turned out looking a bit heavy, like one of those tacky concrete flower planters you find in some people's gardens with mold growing on it (no offense to  anyone who has one in their garden, they are very stylish...no really :P)

Watch this space, the video will be ready soon (when my computer starts behaving itself again and lets me finish it)

Anyway you can grab a printable copy of the colouring book to use as many times as you like from here.  I reckon its a bit of a bargain, really, for only $5.50 (I mean, what can you get for 5 bucks these days?) But then that's just my opinion :P

Bye for now
MM

I've gone and changed everything!

For no reason in particular I decided to give my blog a bit of a face lift.  As if it wasn't bright enough before, I decided to go with a big pencil drawing theme with lots of chirpy colours...what do you think?  Too much?  I had lots of fun making it though.  Maybe I will get sick of it and change it again soon, but for now I am happy with it.  There are other drawing blogs which have a very sophisticated and professional look to them.  Don't get me wrong, they look very slick, but no matter how hard I try I always end up leaning towards the cute colourful image...what do they call it these days....Kawaii?  Kitche? (did I spell those correctly?) Anyway I love all that stuff.  I suppose I will never be a 'serious' artist, whatever that is. 

I remember when I was at high school and my friends used to say to me 'Oh you're good at art, but you're not a proper artist...you don't draw things like portraits and stuff', well ok so I'm not into that sort of drawing, but hey it has never really worried me that much.  The cute stuff keeps me happy.  Maybe one day I can achieve the serious artist image.  Hmmm what will  I draw next?  More big pencils...Hooray! :)))

PS:  Sorry if you are reading this and I have already changed the theme, and you are thinking 'what is she on about'??  Anyway it was sort of pencils everywhere all falling down with lots of happy colours and a big pencil as the banner...still doesn't make sense?  Ok don't worry its not important LOL :)

Bye for now
MM

How To Grow a Flower - Ink Drawing

This is the latest of my drawings for my YouTube channel.  I have only just found the time (or the free hands) to type about it, that is why I posted the video all by itself first...its difficult to type when I am feeding a baby...well it is possible but it would take me too long using only one hand :).  My computer is now a Mac, which is really exciting but I feel like I am learning how to use a computer all over again and things seem to take forever.  I just got used to windows movie maker for editing my drawing videos, even though it is so simple and sort of old fashioned, I could punch out a quick video frequently without having to really think too hard...now I am  using Apple IMovie, and its a bit tricky to learn but Im getting the hang of it.  It has some really cool transitions and other features (hence the cheesy ripple effect and funny sound effect at the start with the big pencil...I couldn't help myself :D)

 

Anyway I thought since people seemed to enjoy my 'Flowers are Fun' video (which was my first ever drawing video), I would do another version.  I think I like this one better, with all the bits sprouting from the outside of the flower...or is it spaghetti?  Who knows?  But I really enjoyed drawing this one.  This is a great activity for loosening up before you do another drawing.  I would like to  scan this one and do something else with it in the future, though.  A commenter on YouTube suggested making a collection of these black and white drawings and making them into a colouring book for children.  I think adults would also enjoy colouring these in as well.

 

Some people called this a 'Zentangle', which seems to be a growing drawing trend at the moment.  I have no idea where this word came from,  but I have always drawn these just for fun.  You can call it that if you desperately want to hehe :)

Anyway until next time, take it easy :)

From MM

Let's Get Writing!

An example of one of the printable writing papers.  

Even with the convenience of emails, you would be surprised at how many people still like to use the old fashioned writing paper.  I have had many requests for different types of writing paper in my shop, so I designed a couple of new ones, and people are quite specific about what they want to write on when they request something special.  One of my customers used my writing paper to print off and write in her daily journal.  Other people like to use them the traditional way and send them in the snail mail.  It's kind of nice to think that someone is using my writing paper to write a personal note to a freind or loved one....ohhhhh :))

The example in the picture features a picture taken from my colouring in book.

You can see the whole range of writing papers here.  Stay tuned for more, I'm planning to do lots of these...maybe some more with envelopes too :)

Daughter's Delightful Doodle

click drawing to see a larger image

I thought I would share this doodle with you, made by my almost 5 year old daughter.  One of the first things she usually does as soon as she gets up in the morning is grab a piece of paper out of the big recyclable paper box, finds her felt pens, and starts drawing.  It is amazing how quickly her control of a pen has improved with all that drawing.  She just loves it!

The thing that caught my eye about this one is the snake!  Where is the snake, you ask?  Well he is that really cool spirally creature right in the middle of the drawing.  Instead of just drawing a boring old snake with a few wiggles, her version of a snake has a really amazing repetitive coil thing going on.  I think she has caught the curly drawing habit from her mummy hehe.  I wonder if she saw one of my drawings, or if it is already in her genes?  Whatever the case I thought it was a pretty impressive snake :)  But then of course I am biased :P

Strange Object - Ink Drawing

A still image taken from the video.

Today I had a look at my YouTube Channel and noticed that I had 78 subscribers!  I know that's not a lot compared to other channels, but I thought it was pretty nice.  Then I realised that I only had three videos, and thought I better hurry up and make a new one before they all forget my channel even exists.  Hope you all like it!  I have been pretty impressed with some of the descriptions people came
up with too...like this one from 'LordFlashearrt': 

I think it's finished. It's beautiful!
It's an accurate representation of a half plant/half mollusk tide pool dwelling algae hunter of Fertrigor IX, sadly now extinct having been collected for hair accessories for the females of the court of the ruling Zetrigon King!
Or as my daughter says it's a crown and people's hair and a monster!
How did LordFlashearrt know that was exactly the creature I was trying to represent?   AMAZING!! Hehe.

What do YOU think it is?

Regards,
MM.