Run Run Rudolph!

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

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

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.

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

Sketching session at the pub with @littlerobininwild. #sketchbook #raven #crow #ink #pub #greenwich #london

A post shared by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Nov 7, 2016 at 1:59pm PST

Inktober 2016

Challenge accepted and completed! This is officially the first Inktober I've completed, and I'm absolutely thrilled about it. I've got mixed feelings about the outcomes (some I like, some I hate...you know, usual stuff), but I definitely feel like this has been a very productive month.

I'm not going to lie, it has been hard. I was going to work most of the days and I would feel exhausted by the time I'd get home. Nevertheless, the challenge pushed me to stay up and just draw. 

The most important aspect of the challenge I needed to control, was the anxiety over the outcome. I was publishing them as I produced them, but there have been days when I was feeling horrible about what i was drawing. It's an awful spiral lots of artists, novices and masters, get stuck into, and really, I'm not the only one who went through it at the time. To summarise it, I'd produce something I'm not happy with, and then I'll just leave it. During the Inktober though, I forced myself to start a new sketch if I was not satisfied with the previous one. Maybe the final outcome it's not something I'm proud of, but it's finished, and that's the very aim of the challenge.

I love ink, and it's not exactly a new medium for me, but I've learnt few tricks and techniques for specific brushes and products. I've tried using coloured ink to paint (first two drawings), and that was interesting. I almost feel like I've completely neglected digital art, and can't wait to go back to it, but nothing can beat the feeling of traditional tools. I've almost completed two sketchbooks, which means I actually have an excuse to buy some more. 

Some thoughts

So, Inktober is approaching, and since I am doing extra hours at work, I have started to scribble down some ideas for drawings. I really want to try to complete the challenge this year. I haven't been feeling well lately, and that is affecting my will to draw. I feel I need a brand new start, so with a great deal of motivation and a little bit of endurance I hope to complete the challenge. Here's a doodle that might or might not become a possible day 1.

Irish Wolfhound sketch

I got bored at work and I had no customers for ages. I should try and make the most out of this dead moments. #marwarihorse #sketchbook #sketch #horse #moleskine #ink #ballpointpen #instaartist

A photo posted by Eleonora Di Massimo (@gentlebree) on Apr 11, 2016 at 3:57pm PDT

Tiger Studies

Some sketches I decided to colour. The second page is drawn from picture I took at London Zoo. I'd love to be able to sketch there but the amount of people and children running around makes it impossible, especially for animals such as tigers.

Roe Deer Speedpaint

Decided to record the process of the drawing and try Open Broadcast Service recorder. Didn't work out as expected as i couldn't change the frames per second setting. It's still quite a good software for streaming on website such as Picarto, and would definitely recommend it for that.

Natural History Museum Sketches

Some sketches I did during a visit to my favourite museum in London, The Natural History Museum.

Sketches, Sketches and even more sketches

As mentioned before, I've been quite busy working on my graduation film, meaning I could not spend much time drawing from myself.  In those little few breaks though, I've come to experiment a little bit more with mediums and styles, which is definitely something I loved doing. I picked up watercolours and I'm slowly learning how to use them.

Goodbye 2014

I'm going to say goodbye to the old year with the last drawings i produced in 2014.
I decided to experiment with a different style in the first picture, going for a sort of Sergio Toppi style, a famous Italian graphic novel artist/illustrator.
Also trying to make my sketches a little bit interesting by adding few background elements with Pentel brushes.