Starting 2016 with my sketchbook

Here's an update on some pieces and characters I'm working on. All from my sketchbook:

Afternoon tea

Playground fun

Red Panda

Stork

Grumpy cat

Some dinosaur friends. Starting with:

Triceratops

Diplodocus

T-Rex 

Stegosaurus

Sloth - who me? 

Pangolin - I do love pangolins! 

That's all for now. I'm working on some new pieces and also some new designs for my shop.

Thanks for looking at my blog,

Teri

Guinea Pigs and Sketchbooks

I may have mentioned before that I draw quite a lot while watching television in the evenings. I do find it a useful exercise as I have to observe and draw quickly. 

I have a lovely brush pen which is fun to use for this and it makes me work more loosely.

I watched a film about James Brown called Get On Up and it was very good. This is one of the sketches I did while watching:

I also started work on this and also finished it. So here are some progress pictures:

Working with a limited palette:

Another sketch I want to use for something:

Chickpea has had a very short temper recently:

I'm working on some new designs for my Etsy shop and fairs. I have two definites and another possible one or two before Christmas - check my Facebook page for information:

https://www.facebook.com/tsillustrator

I am very much enjoying drawing guinea pigs at the moment:

I have a lot to do and with a commission and working with a school too that should keep me busy!

Thanks for reading my blog,

Teri

Summer Holidays and a Competition

It's the summer holidays and Chickpea is off school and keeping me very busy. We've been painting and drawing and currently Chickpea is enjoying making some of the crafts from the Usbourne 365 Things to Make book:

Inspired by Indian elephant photos we let loose with the gel pens decorating this! 

What you can't see is Chickpea has drawn a happy face on one side and a sad lion face on the other!

This is a giraffe!

Then I invented my own and made an owl:

It is tricky trying to balance work while also being primary carer during holidays and the summer holiday is so long! It means I end up doing a lot of preparation work and also experimenting. Here's what's been happening in my sketchbook - also details about a competition are right at the end of this post:

I got a new pen. It's a Pentel Brush pen with permanent ink (I have tried to see how permenant it is yet - it's on my list) and replaceable cartridges. Lots of fun and so the first part of my sketchbook is covered in mark making and sketches to see how it works and how I can use it:

I did go back to a story I've half written and drew this with the new pen:

Some quick expressions

Another story idea

Showing my age with this song:

Working on my next big piece:

I've been drawing some dragons too:

Chickpea was busking in our lounge (and demanding money!)

Part of another idea

I started with this piece and...

Added a friend (or is that fiend?)

I love pangolins

While watching James Bond:

For @Daily_Doodle a bear on a chair:

John Cleese's cat:

Amusing myself:

More sketching

A germ of an idea in this one:

New dipper pen nibs and handle meant I had to do more experimenting:

Thanks for getting this far!

Here's the link for a competition, to win a print from my Etsy shop, which is over on my Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/tsillustrator/posts/980184745366776

Competition closes Sunday 30th August 2015!

Good luck and thanks for reading my blog,

Teri

Books and Crocodiles

Another busy week! My postcards and Christmas cards are selling which I'm pleased with.

I've been busy with my sketchbook the last week. Here's a few things that you might find in there: 

I managed a couple of sketches for @Daily__Doodle 

My Pet Crocodile:

This piece is turning into a larger, full colour illustration. Thanks for all the likes and comments on Facebook and Twitter.

My Pet Octopus:

The hazards of owning a pet octopus!

A couple of character sketches from the pet crocodile piece:

I've also been sketching some elements for a book I'm working on:

For those who asked - see I really was drawing broccoli! 

Then there's these little monsters. They seem to keep cropping up in my sketchbook a lot. I will have to think of something to do with them!

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my blog. 

You can find me on Twitter: @TeriSmyth and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tsillustrator

Also if you do want to have a look at my shop here's the link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PlayfulStories

Have a great week! 

Teri