Chinchillas

Run Run Rudolph!

I think I've finally conquered my anxiety when flying. Audio books and sketching worked perfectly this time. . . . . . #deer #roedeer #sketchbook #sketch #pen #travelling #animalart #biro #wildlife

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Dec 18, 2017 at 1:51pm PST

Monday face. So, I've decided to take on a drawing challenge. Not gonna fool myself into thinking I'm gonna be doing a drawing a day. Not at the moment at least. But I hope that at the end of it I'll become quicker at sketching and be able to take some pressure off the drawing process. And have fun hopefully! So, what's this challenge all about? Well, following a promo list I've found online, I'm supposed to produce 100 drawings of unusual animals. So today we have the fluffy and pissed (American) Harpy Eagle, which occupies position number 80 on the list. . . . . #100animals100days #harpyeagle #eagles #birdsofprey #birdsofinstagram #sketchbook #strathmore #tonedpaper #drawing #art #artistsoninstagram #animalart

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Nov 13, 2017 at 2:28pm PST

Inktober 2017

So, my Inktbober this year was a bit meagre due to reasons which were out of my control. 

I've been sick for quite a long time and October was the month I started taking lots of extra shifts at work. Working 40+ hours in retail with an on-going health issue just exhausted me. Plus, I had massive expectations for the outcomes. I really wanted to produce finished artwork I could possibly use for my portfolio, but that was impossible with the time I had left from work. The first two illustrations took me about two days each, and left me behind from day 2. 

I was going to bed really late because I really wanted to finish my drawings, only to wake up wasted in the morning, rush into work and wear myself out. 

I wasn't even content with mere doodles so I just stopped all together. At the time I didn't think it was the best decision, and hated myself for not fulfilling my goals, but there's no point thinking about it anymore. If anything, this gave me an opportunity to make some life changes and take some important decisions.

I apologise for the quality of the scanning. I was using diluted ink which clearly didn't agree with the paper I was drawing on, so that's why it's all wrinkled and uneven. If anybody's got any suggestions on how to properly scan and edit black and white drawings please, do leave a message. I'm desperate for some suggestions.

So, who's ready for bedtime? . . . . . #fox #bedtime #bed #sleepy #animals #whatdoesthefoxsay #goodnight #sketchbook #sketch #instart #instartist #ink #pentelbrushpen #foxesofinstagram

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Sep 20, 2017 at 3:23pm PDT

Few life drawing sketches done at the #nationalmuseumofscotland . They have an amazing natural history section and I've spent hours drawing there. Sadly I couldn't stay longer, but I can honestly say I had a great time. The amount of animals in that room is insane, and this is just a little taste of what you can find there. Funny how I ended up getting lions and stags in the same page, as they are pretty common animals in Scottish heraldry. . . . #lifedrawing #naturalhistory #stag #deer #lion #scotland #edinburgh #taxidermy #sketchbook #sketch #travelsketch #instart #pentelbrushpen #gouache

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Sep 19, 2017 at 5:07pm PDT

Tiger skull and Mr. Cactus. . . . . . #tiger #skull #sketchbook #tonedpaper #drawing #instart #cactus #animalart #animalanatomy #animalkingdom #ink #study #bigcats

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Aug 4, 2017 at 5:41pm PDT

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Aug 2, 2017 at 3:17pm PDT

Chilled drawing afternoon in Greenwich park. @drawingrobin says I get too distracted by dogs. She's right. . . . . . #corgi #corgibutt #dogsofinstagram #dog #greenwich #grenwichpark #london #sketch #sketchbook #sunnyday #tombowdualbrushpens #markersketch #instartist #instart

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Jun 19, 2017 at 3:09pm PDT

What do you do on the hottest day in London? Go to Greenwich park of course! But not exactly for sunbathing...

I want more time to draw. Trying to squeeze some studies for some portfolio update. . . . . . #wolf #angrywolf #digitalart #photoshop #wildlife #wildanimals #animals #wacomcintiq #canines #instart #instartist

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Jun 10, 2017 at 4:02pm PDT

Follow the robin! @drawingrobin She's an amazing artist and the best drawing companion you could wish for! Go and check her profile! . . . . . #drawingrobin #robinbird #animalsart #instadraw #digitalart #photoshop #friends #birdsofinstagram #illustration

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on May 8, 2017 at 3:51pm PDT

Little doodle I made for a friend's birthday card . . . . . #otter #significantotter #illustration #illustrator #ink #pentelbrushpen #instaart #instadraw #animalsart #birthdaycard #birthday

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Apr 23, 2017 at 1:47pm PDT

I did this few weeks ago and forgot to post it here. Had another go (or battle if you prefer) with gouache. The paint won. Still kind of happy with the overall result as I was going for some sort of subject study anyway. Ps: Commissions are open! You could get a drawing like this for 30£. . . . . #borzoi #borzoiofinstagram #hounddog #dogofinstagram #instadraw #illustration #gouache #dog #illustrator #commissionsopen

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Mar 24, 2017 at 4:45pm PDT

Toffee

Toffee, my little bugger. He was my really unconventional pet chipmunk. Cute, fluffy and...well, not particularly smart, but I loved him nevertheless. . . . . . #chipmunk #pet #illustration #brushpen #ink #petsofinstagram #drawing #instaart

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Mar 15, 2017 at 4:01pm PDT

Efficiency. Toffee's cleaning routine was impeccable. He would start from his little head and quickly get to the tip of his tail within seconds. . . . . . . #chipmunk #pet #instaart #ink #illustration #petsofinstagram #brushpen #pentelbrushpen #drawing #petstories

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Mar 15, 2017 at 4:09pm PDT

I didn't exactly have a nice weekend. Lately I keep thinking I've just made so many wrong decisions in the past. I can't bring myself to plan anything for the future, cause every time I do, things go wrong. And the present is just working. Finding the strengths I need to get out of this limbo is draining and surprisingly overwhelming. I don't think I've ever felt like this before, and I wouldn't even know how to talk about it properly. So, I just tried to put it down on paper, cause apparently it's supposed to help. It did distract me for a while and I guess I feel like I haven't completely wasted the day. For some reasons, these feelings always come back during the weekend. I'm generally fine during the week, as work occupies the majority of my time. Well, sorry for the depressing post. Again, I felt that writing it down would help a little bit. I just need to find more time for drawing so that I can just shut down for a while. . . . . #dog #whippet #dark #illustration #thoughts

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Mar 13, 2017 at 5:08am PDT

I hardly ever talk about my "bad days", especially here on the web. For once I've tried to transform those feeling into something creative, and I've found it extremely hard. I was quite sad in realising drawing is not a therapy for me any longer, it doesn't relax me as it used to. I still do feel better when I do it, and maybe I should keep making more of these experiments, at least for myself.

And did quite few bird drawings. . . . . . #illustration #vulture #birdsofinstagram #birdsofprey #naturalhistory #london #specimen #instart

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Feb 2, 2017 at 3:32pm PST

Productive drawing session at the @natural_history_museum with @littlerobininwild. . . . . . . #sketchbook #naturalhistorymuseum #london #africancivet #redpanda #kiwibird #birds #mammals #strathmore #ink #instartist

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Jan 24, 2017 at 3:02pm PST

Raise your paw if you'd rather ibernate than going to work tomorrow. #polarbear #sketchbook #sketch #bearslife

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Jan 5, 2017 at 5:38pm PST

New year's resolution: draw every day. I really need to do this for myself. Also, I was testing the toned paper sketchbook my brother got me for Christmas. I absolutely love it! #bigcat #cougar #strathmore #sketchbook #2017goals

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Jan 1, 2017 at 3:21pm PST