Experimental Fridays first experiment...

Today's post is the product of my first ever Experimental Friday, wherein I eschew my usual mediums and try something completely new.  This was my first attempt to use Derwent "Inktense" ink pencils.

If you're interested in reading more about how that went (and my review of the aforementioned pencils), you can pop over to my "artistic process" blog Robriel's Atelier.

Or you can just go "Awww" and get on with what will hopefully be an epically enjoyable weekend.

Oliver the Magius

I credit my daughter for this one, or rather her rat pets Oliver and Winston who provided the inspiration for today's piece. Rats get a bad rap in the world. They're actually rather intelligent and endearing little creatures who are far braver than their size would suggest. I find that rather heroic, so I have re-cast one of Ree's rats in a more heroic light.

Inspired by Mrs. Auvoirdupois

There is a blog that I recently stumbled upon which has an advice column called "Mrs. Auvoirdupois Explains It All".  The blog is the creation of one Hanne Blank, but the advice column is "authored" by an absolutely divine character named "Mrs. Auvoirdupois."  I love it like cake and for many of the same reasons: impeccable taste, incomparable ingredients, savory, delicious with a balanced richness and flavor that lingers for a good while afterwards provoking fond reminiscences. Oh yes, it is wonderful!

I highly recommend you check it out sometime, and that you return to it often after that.

In the meantime, however, I was inspired by that column to illustrate what I think"Mrs. Auvoirdupois" might look like. I've been sort of obsessed with her and I've been working on this piece for several days now.

Pee Ess - If any of you know Hanne Blank or know how to reach her, I would LOVE to send her a link to this illustraton along with an appropriately gushy fanboy letter. 

Eeesh, in very deed.

You ever have those days when you try half a dozen things and nothing seems inclined to turn out, creatively?
Yes, well...I'm having one of those days today. But that's ok. Apparently even sea lions have days like this. Luckily for me, when I'm having an off day and fall down an entire beach in front of the whole harem of sea lions (and yes, that's what they're called, I looked it up!) my day doesn't run the risk of ending up inside an Orca.

Coinín bán! White rabbit! Rabbit rabbit!

I have a lot of British friends, as it turns out, and one of the things that they've taught me is that it's good luck to say "White rabbit!" on the first day of a new month. Since my family is more on the Irish side of that configuration than the British, I've learned that "coinín bán" is the Irish equivalent. Some folks say that you have to say "rabbit, rabbit" on the first day of the month to get all of the luck directed at you. 


I've also drawn a white rabbit for today's drawing. 

I figure this way I've got all my bases covered. Bring on the lucky!!