Rainy Dashain blogging

So, I'm reconsidering my blog and blogging in general.  Initially, I wanted a blog that would showcase my art, with very little chat.  But... more and more I want to chat.  Chat into the empty vacuum that is the world wide web.  I will still post my art, but with more words.

I have to admit I always thought 'bloggers' were a bit sad, but now I'm converted (or sad). Speaking out to everyone (and no one) is quite exhilarating.  The urge to write may also have something to do with the boredom caused by the non-stop raining in Bhaktapur, Nepal.  It hasn't stopped since yesterday afternoon, just after I witnessed the sacrificing of many goats and buffalos - as part of the celebration of the Hindu festival, Dashain.  It shook me a bit, I have to be honest, but I figured that as a meat-eater I shouldn't shy away from the slaughter of animals. Even if it did take an inordinately long time for the goat to stop moving post decapitation.

Anyway, the rain continues to fall.

Is this now a travel blog?

So, It's been too long since I updated my blog and although I don't have any artwork, I do have words.  I don't want my illustration blog to be overshadowed by a 'finding myself' travel blog but I do feel the urge to express myself through the written word.  Currently I'm settled, temporarily, in Nepal.  I'm a volunteer. I'm teaching English.  It is exhausting.  I love it.  My paintbrush has been replaced with chalk, my canvas replaced with a blackboard, and my head is filled with sentence structures, pronunciation and grammar.  Cursed grammar!

My trusty stash of emergency art stuff - in case the notion to express myself artistically became too overwhelming - was snatched from me by some unknown somebody in Vietnam little over a month ago, along with the usual travellers junk: ipod, tablet and... passport.  That's an entirely different story which I have no energy to recount at present so, in conclusion: I don't have any way to create or upload art to my blog because all my stuff got knicked! 

Anyway, I shall return with my art work soon... I hope.

Digital Shade

Mateus

Some playing around with the burn and dodge tool in Photoshop to add more depth to my pencil sketch.

Colour

Alice

Ben

Ben

I've decided I'm going to focus more on portraits.  This was done in ink, then coloured in photoshop.

Mateus

Mateus

Pencil sketch with a little more attention to detail.  I think I get bored after about an hour of drawing.  I could add darker tones, but, i quite like it like this.

Monkey Beetle

Monkey Beetle

So, I don't normally draw animals/plants/insects BUT I was very much enchanted by the monkey beetle - which - sleeps inside an enclosed daisy at night to keep warm.  Sweet!