Watercolor practice, camera.

Started with watercolor again because I finally got time^^ and inspiration. 

I decided to use my Canon XSi as model. Spent about 1 1/2 hour on the painting. Since this is kind of a simplified version of the real thing, there might as well be mistakes. But I don't care since I was not trying to do a realistic style painting. 

The watercolor splashes are done in photoshop. Yay, I learned how to use custom made brushes, and was glad that it also works on photoshop elements 4:D I'm definitely going to try to use more brushes now on for my artworks and photos.

- Mimi

Summer Break

Finished my last exam on friday, which means the end of this semester:D Summer break, I welcome you!

You may be thinking that I must be lazing around, sleeping late and do non-school related stuff currently, but...

sorry to dissapoint you. My neck is hurting after returning the books I lent for examT.T Why must they make books that weight so much >.< It' not hurting very much now, but I hope that it's not something serious. Hope it will get over soon so I can start with my drawing ''project''. 

I'm thinking of using this summer to improve my creativity. It have been lacking on the art-front because of internships, but now that I have almost 3 months with freetime I have to seize the chance!

Yes, that is what I have been doing since friday:P Draw, draw, and draw...

Surprisingly, I felt that my drawings have become worse because of the long hiatusT.T 

I need to work on some of the ''basics'' again, like face symmetry, anatomy, hands. Argh, it feels like I almost have to start completely at the scratch again! I didn't think it was possible to ''lose'' drawing skills, because you can't like lose the ability to ride a bicycle once you manage it o.0 Practice makes perfect, I guess it applies to wether you have learned it or not, because there are always something you can improve on.

When my neck stops hurting I'm going to draw more and I'm thinking of learning to use SAI for coloring:)

What are you going to do this summer break^^? 

- Mimi

Paperblanks Embellished Manuscripts Notebook

Bought me a new notebook a few days ago, this one is a lined notebook from Paperblanks=D
They have alot of nice notebooks, love their unique cover designs. Doesn't look like an ordinary notebook, almost makes me afraid to write in it with my crappy handwritingx(

I'm going to use this to write down my inspirations, thoughts and feelings. I hope I may finish this one, because I tend to get halfway through and then get bored or worse; get a new notebook.

There's also a little pocket inside, at the back.

- Mimi

Warm memories

Shot this in summer, back in China from my grandparents garden. Decided to upload this now because it brings back the good memories from the vacation AND the memories of the nice, hot weather. It have been snowing more here lately, and the air is becoming more chillingT.T I don't tolerate coldness very well...

- Mimi xoxo

Oh, Lola!

This might be a little late post, but I'm posting it anywayxD

I got this Oh, Lola perfume by Marc Jacobs from mum for Christmas. 

It also came with a mini bottle and lotion.

I decided to use this pretty bottle to practice my watercolour with and here's the finished drawing:

Tools used:

- W&N Cotman watercolours

- Brush #4

- Paper 300 g/m

Moleskine Daily Diary for 2012

I have always been fond in writing diary to keep track of the daily.
But recently, after starting to blog, I haven't written anything for hand.
Because 1) it's easier to update and write quickly on a blog, 2) you may add pictures and customize own blog template. This would be a hassle with a diary, but I have decided to keep a little, simple diary for my personal thoughts and other stuff which I don't want to post in this blog...and what better is it to start with a freshly new diary for a fresh new year^^



I ordered a limited Snoopy/Peanuts edition of the Moleskine Daily Diary Journal and got it yesterday=D
I have always loved the cute Peanuts characters by Schulz and I also had some ''school diaries'' and figurines from this serie^^ I'm glad I got this version, because it looks awesomer than the regular one... It consists of 400 pages, one for each day. The inside pages are lined so no excuse for crooked handwriting-.-
Looking forward to write in it! (pics taken from my personal blog)

The cover!

And it also came with a little address book^^ 

Do you keep a diary?

- Mimi xoxo

I'm Back!

Realised that it have been awhile since my last post. It's a shame to confess that I have been neglecting this blog in favour for my personal blog-.-
But since I have Christmas break now, I may try to update this blog a little more with art-relevant stuff^^

I changed the blog layout too:)

And...I'm writing this with the Blogger-app on my iPod Touch! I really recommend this app^^ It's free and easy to use! Makes blogging ascessible almost everywhere. So go go go get it!

Mimi^^~

Winsor & Newton Watercolour 45 Half Pans

I got a new watercolour set yesterday^^ Bought it from art-shoponline and I'm pleased with the quick delivery and of course the product! 

This is my first ''proper'' watercolour and I can't wait for trying them out! I bought this because I wanted to have more colours to choose from...and yes, I'm too lazy to actually mix colours myself because I thinks it's such a hassle to choose the right colours and right amount to get the colour I want-.-

The pans are small and cute^^ And the lid are detachable which makes it easy to wash and mix colours on. Smart!

Cleaning my Room and My Own Drawing Place!

I cleaned my writing desk in my room...and I finally made it into my own drawing ''corner'' office=D
I did know that the shelf had enough space for turning it into a drawing desk, but I didn't really wanted to bother with it because it usually ends up getting filled with papers, books and clothes, etc...(yes, I'm that kind of person, throwing all sorts of things on my desk, to lazy to put it properly away-.-) The other reason is because my dad's old stereo player occupied half of the desk. I thought that he didn't wanted to throw it away.He brought it all the way from Japan! But I guess I was wrong, because he said it was ok to get rid of it...


So now I have my own, private space for my creativity and school works^^ Hopefully, I will try to keep it neat>.< Here's how it looks like:

The only thing that seems lacking is a desk light, although I get most of the light from the sun coming from the window! I also want to hang up the clips that I bought from China-.- but I don't think mum will allow me to nail the wall...

Wacom Intuos 4 wireless w/ Lightroom 3!

I finally got my tablet yesterday after much waiting! I waited for almost 3 weeks for the tablet-.-
The tablet is much bigger than my Bamboo fun-tablet but it doesn't matter^^ 

I tested it out yesterday and at first I was disappointed because the pressure sensitivity didn't work with Paint Tool SAI=( After trying to solve it by erasing the tablet preference files and yet it didn't work, I almost considered returning the tablet because I bought it primarily for use with SAI, my favourite painting software...Fortunately, I managed to fix the pressure sensitivity issue in the end=D I was so happy^^
The pressure sensitivity works nicely with SAI now^^ 


Maybe I'll make a short review later...

New Inspirational Art book and scrapbook stuff

After a busy week I went shopping with my sister yesterday^^
I bought mostly ''art'' related things>.< Can't never get enough art tools, right;) Some pics and description of what I bought:


I bought some glue and pattern scissors because I need them for scrapbooking. It's time to put those photoes onto my scrap book, after abandoning the book for almost 1 year o.O 
I'm not good with those things, because I feel it takes time and concentration to make a good scrapbook..gluing those pictures actually takes time!  

And as you may see in the image, I also bought another black pen:P But it's a brush pen! I was surprised when I found it, and bought it because I wanted to try it out. Going to write a short review about it later:)


And I finally got the the book that I ordered one week ago: An Illustrated Life! 
I love inspiring artbooks, and I have heard good reviews about this book so I'm excited to begin reading it^^ (Yes, shame on me, I haven't read it yet, just looked quickly through-.-)

Do you have any favourite, inspiring artbooks=)?

Domo kun shot!

Took this shot of my Domo-kun cellphone accesorie:P Also on Deviantart: http://Mangavampiria.deviantart.com/art/Don-t-You-Dare-259168029

Wacom Intuos4 Wifi

After almost one week of waiting, I finally got permission from my parents to buy my a tablet! I ordered it today from the web, and can't wait for getting it^^ 

Broken Wacom Bamboo Pen?!

Bad news=( I think my Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet/pen isn't working anymore. I wanted to draw some of my drawings in SAI today, and guess what, the pen just wouldn't cooperate>.< Instead it marked other elements that I had on my desktop o.O But when I set the pen to mouse mode, it worked fine.
Guess I have to buy a new one=(

For now, I'm considering one of these two:

The bamboo fun pen and touch
Pros:
- It's cheap.
- I don't draw much digitally because it sometimes takes too much time, and then this migh be an ok tablet to use for a hobbyist as me.

Cons:
- The quality of the product?
 To be honest, I was quite disappointed at my Bamboo Fun tablet because it had problems such as driver problems, pen don't respond, breaks easily if dropped, etc.

Wacom Intuous 4 Wireless medium or Large
Pros:
- A more better tablet than the Bamboo series?
- Includes Lightroom 3 =)
- Wireless
- Better pressure sensitivity

Cons:
- More expensive than Bamboo
 Well, I don't mind the price much as long it functions as it should! If we are talking about driver problems and all that, then I may serious reconsider...but for now I'm holding a hand on this tablet..keke..more because I'm tempted to get the Lightroom 3 =P
- The colour, I want a white tablet like my Bamboo Fun...

William the Rabbit

The rabbit's name is William^^ A friend gave it to my sister. It's so cute and fluffy! Unfortunately, William left us 17.7.11 =(
This picture is dedicated to all the nice memories we had together.

Moleskine Sketch Book Large

I received my pictures taken in China in printed form today=D and.......tadah! 

I finally bought my first ever Moleskine! I bought the Moleskine Sketch Book Large for 200 Norwegian Kroner. I think it's quite expensive for a sketch book, it's the most expensive sketch book that I have ever owned >.< But I had to get one because of all the raves about it from artists around the world and seeing the awesome drawings from their sketch book*.* I guess I'm being too easily affected by the masses-.-,


I haven't opened it yet, but I think I will give it a short review later^^ 

My Art-supply Shopping List:

I want:

- Moleskine Sketch Book

- Pilot V Sign Pen

Hi again!

Wow, it's been awhile since my last post=O 


From now on, I'm deciding to update this blog more often because it's going to be a photography blog! An excuse for taking more pictures, yeeyxD I spent some time on this blog today, by adding two new pages! My english isn't as good as when I graduated from High school, so it took some time to finish the About Me pageT.T At least, I managed to finish it^^


The vacation is also over=( I had a nice time in China, and I got to take some nice pictures which I will post later on when I have edited them=P I miss uploading drawings and photoes to my Deviantart-.- Haven't drew anything at all, the two months I spent in Chinao.0 The sketch book I bought is still empty and alone, I left it in China. I guess I had too much shopping time>.< 
Speaking of China, I was lucky to find stores which sell art tools in my city. I got to buy some art supplies which I will post later^^ 


The vacation surely erased away all my stress, because after coming home I have noticed that I have more ''energy'' and I'm more optimistic than beforexD My creativity is also coming back^^! I want to just draw something or take some pictures! 


Kekeke, I read about the Project sketchbook yesterday, and finally I found out what these cool, sketchbooks with light yellow pages and black cover is called=D It's name is Moleskine! 
I want one for my casual ideas that sometimes just pops out of nowhere=P
I went today, excitingly to one of the big bookstores near my school. I giggled happily inside myself when I saw that they had many different Moleskine notebooks, but...but...they didn't have the one I was looking for T.T 
They didn't have the light blue one, the sketchbook, but they had the watercolour one=( I almost decided to buy the watercolour, but changed my mind at last minute. I'm going to another bookstore tomorrow, to see if I have better luck there.

Fixed the Template!

Wow, I didn't know that blogspot had such awesome template settings=O I have always used premade templates that others have made, because I didn't like the blogger templates. 
However, after seeing that many bloggers used blogspots template and created neat, simple and nice templates, I wanted to try it out:P


Surprisingly, there is actually alot you can fix on, without being an html-pro! And the best thing is that it's something I have created, hahaxP 
This is going to be my template for now^^ I just have to make a header image, quickly!

New blog adress and design

This template is too dark for my liking, so this is going to be an only temporarily template until I can find a better one >.< I have to make a header too...