Everlasting gif

Everlasting Love - progress gif

Finally got ‘round to making that progress gif of my painting ‘Everlasting Love’ of Steve and Bucky.

:-)

Golden blondie

Golden Blond

It has been weeks without achieving much painting. I'm just too tired. I can't actually remember how it feels to not be tired. I feel like I'm on constant autopilot, carrying out tasks that have already been pre-programmed into my brain... but anything that requires actual creative thinking is beyond me at the moment. So instead, here's a little study I made for a character painting session a few weeks back. We didn't have a lot of time, so for now I've left his shirt unfinished. The Christmas break can't come soon enough.

Still got the bug

Percy - wip

Although my sore throat and cough have now gone, my fascination with Doctor Percy Trevelyan has not. So here's another portrait of the good doctor in the making.

A Facebook page for my art

Helloooo everybody!
I have finally got around to making a facebook page for my paintings. Here you will find examples of my art and other art related things.

If you use Facebook and like what you see then please do 'like' my page.
And do pass on the details if you know someone who might be interested in what I do.

Visit Frustration Inkorporated on Facebook.

A Tumblr For My Art

Hi all,

I have started a new tumblr page  - Frustration Ink. Art - for my art only as a companion to this blog. 

It will feature mainly finished pieces and some tutorials. 

Lots of art will appear there soon.

Visit Frustration Ink. Art

Enjoy :-)

The doctor is in

Doctor Percy Trevelyan

Although my love for Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes reigns supreme I must admit that my heart has been temporarily stolen by Nicholas Clay as Doctor Percy Trevelyan from the Sherlock episode 'The Resident Patient'. I found him particularly adorable in the beginning while he was still a struggling physician, wrapped up in a blanket in his cold flat - before he got his hair slicked back and started wearing fancy suits. Although he looks ace in fancy suits too :-)

The Other Doctor

Percy - wip

Having spent the last few days under the weather with a sore throat and horrid cough I turned to one of my many detective box sets for comfort. This time it was Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett an the episode called 'The Resident Patient' in which Holmes and Watson are contacted by a doctor by the name of Percy Trevelyan, played by Nicholas Clay. Well, I kinda liked his face. So I kinda had to paint it. Work in progress.

A mighty beard

Orlando

The awesome Orlando and his awesome beard :-)

Shadow in the night

Freyn y Cysgod

Finally found the time and energy to finish this this nightly outing of wood elf Freyndyal. As always his face is based on the delightful Colin Morgan.

Staring into infinity...

Freyn - wip

My first chance to sit down and paint since last weekend. No wonder I've been getting the shakes ;-)

They call me a little grown up...

Sketch of Bradley

... See, I'm upset because I've always been stuck
But I don't know what it is I'm without
Guess I'm in love with always feeling down

Electric Guest - This Head I Hold

This head that I hold...

... it's so tired.

Aichel - wip

I decided to start again with his hair, 'cause I didn't like it, also still working on skin detailing... and I've barely started on the necklaces and the cloak. Ho hum.
I have been utterly exhausted for weeks now - work stuff - and I have decided to give the 29 Faces a miss this time round as a result. It really annoys me. But I'm just so tired.
Zzzzzzz.

Divenire

Eirian - wip

Woefully behind on the 29 faces. Here is a wip of face number three. Another one of Eirian. I was listening to some of Ludovico Einaudi's beautiful piano compositions while painting this - one of them is called Divenire - meaning 'to become'. Seemed appropriate somehow since in this portrait Eirian has begun reverting to his dark elf roots.
You can listen to Divenire HERE. It's amazing.

Howie do you do?

Howie

We think you've changed!
We know best!
You suck!

We think you've changed!
We know best!
You suck!

We think we know you!


Style icon Howard Stark selfie. Inspired by Bo Burnham's finale of his show 'What'.

This really struck a chord with me and almost had me in tears... because no one should get to tell you who you are or how you should live your life.
Yes, I'm a girl who likes to dress like a boy... what?

He may be artificial...

But that doesn't stop me from fancying the pants of him ;-)

L. Bishop

Managed to finish this one in between watching 'Hard Target' and the X-files episode 'Millenium' because... LANCE HENRIKSEN.
What an awesome guy - fantastic actor, charisma and looks to boot and a voice that's the vocal equivalent of a full body massage :-)

Watched 'Aliens'...

... fell in love.

Artificial person in progress

'Know what?' my brother said. 'You should paint Bishop from Aliens' he said. 'It'll be fun' he said.
Yeah... thanks a ton bro'... Here we blinkin' go again... Obsession is go, go GO!

Wip of my favourite android... I mean, artificial person ;-)

Eirian - Battle of the sleeves

Just for the fun of it... Here's a little compilation of my previews that I was saving as the painting of Eirian progressed. As you can see it took me a little while to decided on the clothing ;-)

For better resolution watch it on my VIMEO channel ;-)

The king of sleeves

Eirian - the Grass King

It's been a while since my last post. Still struggling with artist's block. I've often found that I get 'blocked' when I'm procrastinating. I love painting faces, 'cause faces are fun... and they allow me to ignore clothing - which I suck at. I also tend to avoid jewelry 'cause I find metallic surfaces difficult to render. But it ain't gonna get better unless you have a bash at it. And so I decided to focus on this painting of my elf king Eirian - face inspired as per usual by handsome Bradley James/King Arthur from Merlin - and deal with some textiles and accessories. And it's taken a little while... but it's been fun. It's so easy to get stuck in your comfort zone... and then you forget how awesome it is to tackle new challenges, even when they frustrate the crap out of you. 

The bling is inspired by the beautiful jewelry I recently purchased from Raven Eve. Visit her store here - Raven Eve Jewelry

Check it out, it's amazing.

Meanwhile in Finland...

Isaac - wip

... I'm sure someone is having a much better time than me... So I tried this to see if it would help with my artist block... it didn't... I'm bored with it already, so it might remain a wip indefinitely. I'm going to go and eat some dried figs now.

Caustics

Caustics - Brian Jones

Last week I was invited to join a portrait painting group on Deviant Art. Awesome stuff. This week they set a monochromatic challenge. So here's my attempt at monochromatic utilising my favourite colour, blue - featuring the lovely Brian Jones.

Cold in the heat...

Deklan - wip

The weather has been hot lately. Really hot. Proper summer hot. I don't like it. I'm not a summer person.
I'm still struggling with my 'artist's block'... and an infuriating summer cold.
My reaction so far has been to keep chipping away at my paintings, even if I still end up discarding what I've been doing now and again. Here is another wip of Deklan. I've added some more detailing to the face... still experimenting with the apparel hence the cropped version posted here.
I'm gonna go blow my nose now and eat another lozenge.

The Angry Elf Post

Cysgod - wip

Cysgod - wip (Don't know why he's grinnin', 'cause I certainly ain't)

Eirian - wip

Eirian -wip

I really cannot express how much I hate having 'artist's block'... or whatever you want to call it. It's just so stressful...  and down right unpleasant... I get all knotted up inside thinking what if it doesn't go away?... what if I can't paint anything ever again? Yes, I know it may sound a bit over-dramatic... but fellow artists out there... you know what I mean.
Anyway... just to prove that I have I have attempted something in the two weeks since my last post... here are the four elves that survived my aggravated deleting of paintings that didn't work out. Usually elves relax me... but right now nothing seems to do the trick. None of these are finished... In spite of daily attempts they just 'hang' there and do nothing.
Right now frustration really is incorporated... in every blinkin' painting.
In the words of Charlie Brown - 'Aaaaaaargh!'

Shadow

Freyn y Cysgod

Done. And for some reason it looks like he's wearing a kimono. Also, is now a good time to mention that I can't stand the colour orange? I don't know what came over me.

Let your hair down

Freyn - wip

As I'm immersed in Merlin at the moment it seemed logical - Spock would be so proud of me - to do another painting of Freyn seeing as his looks are based on Colin Morgan. And because I find elves relaxing... was having a bit of a frustrating time today... so I needed relaxing.
In this particular rendition Freyn has let his hair down. It started out with his usual up-do, but then I changed my mind.

Turn your head and cough, please...

Gaius

There we go. Finished it. I've also almost finished watching season one of Merlin... and for every episode I watch my adoration for him grows :-)
You can examine me any time Mr Physician ;-)

The eyebrow of doom...

Gaius - wip

Hello Merlin fans... sorry it took me a while to catch up. Yes, I've started watching Merlin. And as is my way... it is neither the super lovely Colin Morgan playing Merlin nor the dashingly handsome Bradley James playing Arthur... or indeed the always awesome and charismatic Anthony Head in the role of King Uther (I love that name... Uuuutheeer!)... who has got all my 'bat senses tingling' as it were. Nope... It's the court physician, Gaius, played by 'shame on you he's old enough to be your grand father' Richard Wilson. But by Jove how I can't help but love the old potion brewing, scruffy looking, ex-sorcerer and his 'eyebrow of doom!'

Blowing a gale...

Aichel - wip

Sooo... I'm still not done with this one. I'm slowly getting into the skin detailing... I've got a bit stuck on the hair though. It's becoming somewhat windswept... which is ok... I'm just not sure if i like the overall look of it. And I'm experimenting with a stubbly beard thing. It's a bit all over the place.
I blame Merlin... It's got me distracted.

Labour of love...

Aichel - wip

Aichel is one of those funny characters who plays such a huge role in the story although he isn't actually in it. But everything that happens was set in motion by him, and all because of those he loved and those who loved him. He was the man with the plan, and even though he knew the plan would have to involve him dying he never strayed from it, much to the annoyance of those he left behind. Partially because they deeply mourned his loss and partially because he wasn't really one for leaving clear instructions.
I've only attempted painting him once before and he just didn't look right. Mainly because I couldn't quite see him. But then James McAvoy popped up on Tumblr the other day and the fog seems to have started to lift.
But I'm tired now and must go sleep.
Work in progress... just add it to the pile ;-)

Decisions, decisions...

Deklan Jasra - wip

Note to self... decide on an outfit before you begin.
Spent most of this evening just deciding what clothes I wanted him to wear. I'm still not sure. I think he's beginning to look like a pirate.
Work in progress.

It gets everywhere, dammit!

Deklan Jasra - wip

Another super quick sketch from last night.

In his capacity as hyperspace scout for hire Deklan spends a lot of time exploring and plotting new hyperspace routes. An extremely dangerous, but also extremely well-paid, occupation. Most of his clients are mining companies who have made fortunes by digging out the riches beneath the barren surfaces of desert planets. As a result most of Deklan's new assignments starts with him standing somewhere under a scorching sun, squinting and thinking 'Oh. great... more sand.'

Spring Greens

Eirian - wip

A super quick sketch of elf king Eirian tonight. Just too tired for anything. And my stupid ear has been screaming like a banshee for days now and it's really beginning to annoy. I'm gonna go sleep, 'cause I feel as rough as the sketch.

Oh brother, where art thou...

Deklan Jasra - wip

A slight left turn at the traffic lights tonight as I decided to attempt one of the characters from my sci-fi story.

So here's Deklan Jasra. Hyperscpace scout, telepathic and single parent to his little sister.
Deklan is rather special to me because he's my first older brother. Every story I write seems to have an older brother looking after a younger sister. I have a fantastic little brother and I love being his older sister and looking out for him while he was still shorter than me ;-) But I guess being the older sibling has created a subconscious longing to have someone older to look out for me.
What can I say, I've always made up and drawn my own fictional friends ;-)

He looks the way he does because when I was watching some of the extras from the Phantom Menace - which quite frankly was the only good thing about that blinking film, my inner Star Wars nerd wept at the horror of episode 1, 2 and 3, let's pretend they don't exist, but I digress - and they shot a temporary version of the submersible scene with stand-in actors for reference purposes. And the guy who was standing in for Obiwan just mesmerized me. It was the actor Mark Warren who some may know from the series 'Hustle'. He's done lots of things. Having been lacking a facial reference for my hyperspace scout he just seemed like the ideal choice.

Work in progress.

Enjoy :-)

The Grass King

King Eirian - wip

Sooo... I just fancied something different tonight, and since I managed to fit in a bit of writing over the last few days I thought I'd do a quick sketch of one of the characters I'm writing about.
Elf king Eirian - the Grass King - Lord of Euraid Meysydd.
This is his more informal look since he's about to go off and do a spot of fighting.
His looks are inspired by Bradley James, brought about after one of my fellow singers who is huge Merlin fan said I should do Colin Morgan as an elf and then added 'Arthur would make a good elf too'. So there... so if you ever come across this Mr James... You have a wonderfully inspirational face, thank you!

Ring-a-ding-ding

Everlasting love

... worst pun ever, I know... sorry ;-)
Well, this took a long long time. I just kept getting distracted. And tired.
Also, I guess this one felt kinda personal... I mean, more than usual. Yes, my rich internal life had a field day.... 'cause when captain Rogers asked, sergeant Barnes said 'yes'. :-)
But hey, it's done now. Onwards!

Squeeeze

Captain Rogers+Sergeant Barnes - wip

So, I've had to travel home to a family do, followed by a lovely long visit from my parents. No time for any painting for almost two weeks. Then I had a weird reaction to something and my eyelids swelled up. Slowly getting back into it again... I feel so rusty. Anyhooo... here's a little wip of some post ws cuddles. :-)

Cold hand warm heart...

James Buchanan Barnes

Well, this took longer than expected. Not because it took long as such... but my energy levels have just appallingly low recently... I'd sit down in the evening to paint and before an hour had passed I'd be nodding off in front of the screen. Very peculiar... not to mention annoying. But hey, it's done now.
Another outing for Bucky Barnes. Looking a little pensive, but getting comfortable in his own skin at last. Not to mention his shirt ;-)

Up all night to get Bucky...

Bucky - wip

But not tonight. My eyes feel dry as sandpaper. Bed time. I'll finish this one later.

Hold it right there!

Al

So, finally got around to finishing this one of my lawman from my western, Marshal Alexander Breed. Once again he's out and about at night time. Hopefully he'll get paid overtime for that.
Here he is having one of those 'What did you just say there, sonny?' moments, followed rapidly by a 'I wouldn't do that if I were you' moment.
I love moon light... and Anthony Zerbe's face. I love your face, Mr. Zerbe, sir! There, I said it, I feel better now :-)

Buckles, Straps and Toggles

So, a few people asked about the buckles, asking how I painted them... To be honest, I'm never quite sure how I do anyhting... it just sort of happens. But I do save wip jpgs as I go along. So here's a little buckle progress compilation. And  little gif I gone done made. Hope that helps a bit.

All the faces

And so the 29 faces challenge has come to and end for me. It's been super fun and very educational... until September then.

Strap me to your chest...

Lee Thomas - Tandem skydive instructor and all round nice guy

... and I'll follow you anywhere.

And lets face it... when you're strapped to a guy who's about to jump out of an airplane you don't have much of a choice.
So I went for my first ever tandem skydive last weekend at Go Skydive and it was awesome! So awesome in fact that I have already planned my imminent return.
As a result the 29th face for the 29 faces challenge is that of my skydive instructor Lee.
For those who don't know... the plane you go up in does not have seats. You all sit on the floor in one long conga line. During the twenty minute ascent to 15000 feet I had plenty of time to admire the minimalist interior.

Says I - 'It's the first time I've ever been in a plane held together by gaffer tape.'
Says he - 'Why do you think we're wearing a parachute.'

:-)

Happy go Bucky...

Happy Bucky

So I decided to continue with the face of Bucky I started the other evening.
The story of the Winter Soldier is really rather heart breaking... lots of anger and angst and 'how dare they do all that horrible stuff to poor Bucky'.
So I think he deserves to come out the other end and be happy again. So there.
To put it in the words of the trolls from Frozen, which I watched the other day 'he's just a bit of a fixer upper - his isolation is confirmation of his desperation for healing hugs!'
Well, both films have a winter them, don't they ;-)

I try to stay awake and remember my name...

Bucky Barnes

Done at last. It took some tinkering... which I'm not overly fond off. I find that when I tinker for too long my strokes cramp up and everything feels really uptight. But sometimes you just have to keep trying to get it the way you want it. One small advantage for me here is that I am very stubborn by nature.
But here he is... and here is where I leave it for now.
For those who haven't watched 'Captain America - The First Avenger' or 'The Winter Soldier' - SPOILER ALERT - ... When sergeant James Buchanan Barnes fell of the train he actually survived. In the fall his left arm came off.  He was then found by Hydra and brainwashed and turned into a very efficient assassin with a metal arm known as the Winter Soldier.

There must have been a moment, before all memories of his old life were stripped away, the last flicker of Bucky, before the metal arm was attached and the winter soldier took over. How long did he try to resist? how hard did he try remain who he was?

'Trying to make a move just to stay in the game,
I try to stay awake and remember my name,
but everybody's changing and I don't feel the same'
(Keane - Everybody's Changing)

Status report, sergeant...

Bucky Barnes - wip

 So, I've been locked in mortal combat with this torso all day. At least there is a teeny, tiny bit of progress. The main one being that I didn't tear my big anatomy book to pieces in sheer aggravation. Lucky for me that I live with quite possible the most understanding person in the known universe.
Says I - 'I've got to go and battle this torso.'
Says he - 'I'll kill some pirates then.'
About an hour later his pirate is drunk and I'm painting like a drunk... Everyone's happy ;-)
And so the battle continues...