Ready, Set, *Achoo!* Uh, Draw?

Raven
©2013
Medium: Ink
Size: 7x10 inches

So on Tuesday I asked my Facebook page to write the name of any animal, and the for the first three suggestions I would do an ink drawing for the next day. The reaction happened immediately and I got "Platypus," "Raven," and "Slow Loris." (you get what you ask for) 

I was really excited to start so I did quite a bit of sketching on the three subjects. I got called away for a few hours to help with a short film (details coming soon in another blog). When I came back I continued sketching and hoped to finish at least one that night. However, apparently my body hates me and refuses to work with my plans. I felt a slight tickle in my throat and got a bit woozy. 

WTH! I just got through with Endocarditis, really?!?! A COLD!?!? Anyways, I drank some Emergen-C, downed some Nyquil and went straight to bed. 

The next morning I woke up with the feeling of gravel in my throat and my head was fuzzy and heavy... So I went back to sleep and did very little the rest of the day. 

Anyhow! Due to this set back, I'm a day late in posting the drawings, please forgive me! I've been going at a snail's pace with the drawings. I even have to sketch out some pencil lines first (which I *hate* doing) before I can put ink to paper. I got a couple Raven drawings done, which I posted above and one below. However, I'm just going to post the sketches of the platypus and slow loris since my head remains fuzzy and refuses to see reference photos properly.

Raven 2
©2013
Medium: Ink
Size: ~5x7 inches

Slow Loris Sketch- WIP

 I had quite a few more problems with the Slow Loris than the other two. I'm not sure if other artists find it tricky as well or if I'm just suffering from my cold. Anyway, the sketch above was my "I'm going to figure out this animal if it kills me!" I even drew the T-cross guidance lines on the face. I probably spent way too long on this sketch, but at least it was informative of what the slow loris' face actually looks like and how I can improve. *shrug*

It's now my personal mission in life to draw this darn animal! After it's done, I'll either draw a million of them or never draw them again...?

Platypus sketches (on the same page)

The platypus isn't nearly as difficult for me as the slow loris was. I just have to figure out what kind of environment I want it in, the pose, etc. 

When I sketch/draw new animals I usually google diagrams of them so I can see where they're body parts are and what certain parts are used for (this was especially helpful when I was drawing out the giant squid a while back). Anyways, I learned about the platypus that they have little earholes almost directly next to their eyes! So the long extension of the platypus eye you see I drew in the picture is not a representation of girly platypus eyelashes, it's the ear!

I hate breaking promises, so I hope this satisfies some of you. And either way, I'll work my hardest to deliver the other two by tomorrow!

Ok, now back to the drawing board. (literally)

All above drawings/ sketches are copyrighted ©2013 to Claire Nobles 

Spirited Away in a Day of Painting

I decided for some silly reason to challenge myself today while I'm really sick... The challenge was for me to create a painting start to finish in one day. Somehow, the idea poured out of my pencil onto my watercolor paper and became exactly as I envisioned it start to finish. The piece was a challenge because of my cold, but I think that added to the spontaneity and charm of the piece. *cough*


I would like to start doing the One Day Method for all my paintings in the future... But sometimes, there's just no time. I know if I had stopped part way through then it would have probably taken a few weeks for me to get back to it... We'll see how it goes, it's a new year.


The piece is named "Spirited Away" for the Enchanted Visions Project. If you haven't checked out their site, do it now!! I was trying to think of a name for the piece, when I remembered the EV title that I thought I would never be able to imagine a painting for, it fit perfectly. I couldn't possibly change it.


I have been greatly inspired by the works of Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and this piece is about as close as I can get to her breathtaking works. I received her art book of the Minor Arcana for my birthday, and have been pouring over her brushstrokes, imagination and style. I hoped to create something half as beautiful as her pieces.


The result is very lovely, if I can say that about my own work. I am far too exhausted and needing sleep to scan the finished product right now, but I will try very hard to get to it tomorrow so you all can see the finished piece! I'm going to need a lot of hot tea and rest now....

Horses coming out of my pencil!!!

©Claire Nobles, 2011

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I won't be able to upload new paintings for a while even if I finish them. But I can show sketches!! This sketch is a commission that has a deadline, so everything else has taken a backseat until this project is underway.

The request is a fairy on a horse. It's being painted for the client's very dear friend as a gift, so there are a few specific requests.

I was online for over an hour today googling and sketching "rearing horses." The first few attempts to create the drawings were hilarious! I had a bunch of overweight fatty horses! The one above has gotten better from the first few, but he still looks a tad pudgy... I'll have to fix it. I'm used to drawing dainty whimsical unicorns, so it was funny to see that horses are really the opposite of dainty and much more powerful creatures (in a non-magical way). 

©Claire Nobles, 2011

The sketch above is a slightly more detailed version of the maiden. (sidenote: doesn't she look so awkward without a horse or at least a chair under her??) I decided to make her an elf instead because the wings of the fairy were getting in the way and not aesthetically pleasing and mostly because I realized "Why would a fairy ride a horse if she could just fly?"

Hopefully the client wasn't dead-set on a fairy.... She described her friend as a tough horse-riding girl who would never be caught riding sidesaddle in a pretty dress. I think an elf will go for her personality better. Just think of Arwen from Lord of the Rings.... She was bad-ass on her horse! 

Anyways, the elf is dressed in a riding corset, pants and hecka awesome riding boots. So she's pretty hardcore.

Also, since I'm on a horse kick, I will be attempting to get done another horse maiden, Epona. I blogged about this a while ago and just hadn't gotten around to sketching it out. That painting is for a friend who just asked really politely if I would paint Epona, and I couldn't turn her down. There's no deadline, but I'd like to do it simultaneously with my other horse painting. And now that I'm thinking about it I *should* add another unicorn into the mix... But I'm probably too lazy.....

Side-note, I told my watercolor classmate, Splotchy who owns a horse that I was going to draw a horse rider and she is practically asking every class about my progress. She said she'd give horse anatomy pointers too, so I'm in good hands... or hooves...? If I fail, blame Splotchy.

Sock Politics....

Dirty Sock Troll - Sketch

Um, yes, it has been confirmed that it is *trolls* who steal your socks... Though they may get help from various other critters such as pixies and gnomes... I believe it has been an ongoing political conspiracy amongst the faerie realm for hundreds of years...

I caught this baby troll just yesterday and managed to get a rough sketch --didn't have my iPhone with me...

If I can get a chance to throw some color on this sketch, maybe we have a chance to put the sock thieves to rest!

Troll Sketch- Grunt!

Troll Sketch - Untitled ©Claire Nobles, 2011

I have no idea where this is coming from… Probably my mind punishing me for painting pretty fairies for so long… Needed a creature that burps more.

And the sad thing is I have commissions and planned pretty paintings to be working on, and my muse is stuck on TROLLS!?!

I can’t refuse my muse because then I can’t paint… So let’s hope this is temporary.

*belches loudly* –’scuse me!

Maybe not.