Corporal Radar O'Reilly

.....Of the 4077th M*A*S*H.

Drawn with B, 3B and 7B pencils.

I got bored yesterday, so I decided to do a pencil drawing. Tonal pencils have an amazing ability to be incredibly versatile. For this they are my favourite media.

This is Walter 'Radar' O'Reilly, Company clerk in the TV Series M*A*S*H. It's an old show, dating from the 70s, but set in the Korean war. Howeever, it relates to society today, still, with the ongoing conflict in the East, showing how hard it is in those situations. My mum introduced it to me in about January, and I have become hooked. Every night between 7 and 8, I watch the next two episodes.

I choose Radar, a) because he's one of the funniest characters there, but also b) because it shows the brutality that the draft took them to. Radar was drafted when he was 19, and is much younger at heart than everyone else in the show. He still sleeps with his teddy bear.

Also, it was an interesting picture.

I love drawing creases in clothes, as I find them very characterful. For example, here, Radar is smaller than everybody else, so his clothes (standard army issue) are too large for him.

Would it surprise you if I said that his corporal stripes were one of the hardest things to draw? That and his smile, the latter of which still hasn't worked.... If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

This was also my first encounter with a scanner... I think it turned out ok...

Now, I will leave you with a very short clip from the TV series. Enjoy!



DIY: 5 Minute Thank You

Sometimes, you don't have that much time, and you need to make a card. Fast. This doesn't have to be a Thank You Card, the greeting and colours are interchangeable. I just needed a card to give to my biology teacher, who I would have seen in approximately 3 hours, and I had to leave for school in 10 minutes. 5 minutes to make, 5 minutes to scribble something down in  the back....

This is what I came up with.

Supplies: Card of choice in 2 colours; Co-ordinating ribbon and button; Peel-off  Lines; Greeting.

Equipment: Glue, Tape, Scissors

~Start by making a card blank from your base colour (this should be the one that co-ordinates with the button and ribbon). I choose for mine to be an A6 card (an A5 piece of card in half horizontally).

~Across the centre of the card, parrallel to the fold, position a line peel-off.

~ Cut a smaller card strip from the alternative card. Make sure there is room for your greeting and your button.

~Cut an inch section off of the ribbon and fold it vertically. Cut an inverted triangle towards the fold to create the pennant shape when opened.

~ Using the tape, adhere to the back of the alternate card, positioned to one side.

~Flip the card so that the rough ribbon is at the back, and attach the button above it. On its other side, place your greeting.

~Glue the alternate card to the centre of the card blank, along the horizontal line.

And, Tada! I know it seems like a lot of steps, but it's very simple, and quite effective. If you ever make a card like this following my instructions, please comment and link to tell me.

Toodle Pip!

In the Garden....

The weather today has been better than it has been for a long time i.e. it hasn't rained yet. There was a brief interlude of sunshine, but that didn't last long.... But, I decided to take my camera and take a few photos of the plants in our garden. There aren't many, but those that are there are beautiful. There are some Roses and some Fuchsias, and a few others I cannot name.

I'm quite proud of  these pictures, I don't have any special equipment, just a digital camera that I won in a raffle about 5 years ago. It just proves that fancy equipment is not necessary to take decent photographs.



Slate

Finally! Another Art Coursework post! This one refers to the section I spent studying a selection of slate rocks from by garden path...

Tonal Pencils

Slate

Clay

Above are the collections that I created from the slate: A Tonal pencil drawing, then the slate itself, and finally a collection of clay pieces that I shaped into the rocks.

Slate is interesting and difficult to draw because it is a layered rock. The splitting of these layers is easier than trying to break it up perpendicular to the layers because the molecular forces between the layers is weaker. Random Physics thrown in there.... either way, the effect was hard to replicate, as was the texture, in both the clay and the pencil drawing.

I like the pencil drawing. It was the most detailed one that I'd done up until that point, and it took me several hours. The shapes of the pieces themselves were intriguing, and rather complex, something I hadn't really planned for when choosing to study them.

The clay was more tolerable than usual. I detest clay, as it never does what I ask it to, usually. But, as These were smaller objects that I was trying to work with, I think it was easier - which is probably a fluke.

Painting them was fun as well... Instead of using glazes as we usually do in school, I used acrylics to create the dappled grey effect. This was more realistic, I found.

Overall, I'm very pleased with them. They could have been better, ut isn't that always the case?

What I learnt from this was to be realistic when choosing a subject to draw - the slate was difficult. It also depends on what  drawing style you want to use - photorealistic is harder to create than line or crosshatching. I also learnt to tolerate clay. For now.



Craft Review: Weeks 25 & 26: Sunday 10th July - Saturday 23rd July

I seem to be forever apologising here.... But, yet again, I skipped last weeks review and have to bunch it together here.

On the upside, all exams are now finished, I am on leave, the weather is picking up and I have practically nothing to do.

Lots of crafting opportunities.

Week 25, my main craft venture was to make Thank You cards for my favourite teachers. I have always done this, and I felt it necessary to thank and say goodbye to those I have liked the most (so, my french teacher I've pretty much ignored for the past month as I really hated her).

I made Four Cards.

One for my Biology teacher, who is a lovely person, I just hate biology. She's been very supportive, and I think I will miss her most.

One for my Art Teacher, also very supportive, and very kind generally. She's been very helpful the past two years also.

This one is for my English Teacher/Form Tutor. She's a very interesting person, and as crazy as a box of frogs.... instantly likable.

Another thing all three of the above have in common is that they each inspired a character in my story...

Lastly, my Geography Teacher, who was a family friend. She eventually got used to me knowing all of the answers...

This week I added 16 rows to my Ravenclaw scarf. I figured out that that means I have 156 rows left. I should finish before Christmas......

I also cut out from the pattern and sewed the side seams for a skirt... Looking at it now, I realise it looks slightly 1940's schoolgirl-ish. I think it's cool.

Hopefully I'll have a more productive week this week, in my first full week of freedom....

Friends

Because I don't tell them often enough how awesome they are.

Drew, you are hilariously funny, and one of the hardest working people I’ve ever seen. Your fandoms mean a lot to you, but without them, you just wouldn’t be you. You may be short but you make up for it in heart, and though sometimes you can be worrying, it’s only because I don’t understand. You seem to have so much fun with everything in life, the universe and everything and everything you do is brilliant. You are amazing, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Her Tumblr

Georgie, you are so pretty you don’t understand, your skills with make-up are beyond belief, and your music is amazing. You are clever, and you get great grades. Your choices are your own, and I should not judge. No-one should, so don’t you let anybody. Because that’s another thing: you know your mind and aren’t afraid to speak it. So sing it loud (because you could do that), and don’t take no for an answer.

GeorgieGrapeVlogs

MyBrittonFamily

Her Tumblr

 

Robyn your musical talents are also sky high, and your fandoms as well make you, you. You’re Ravenclaw by nature, and you are so kind and gentle it’s astounding. Yes, sometimes you may have the odd evil quip, but that does not detract, it only means you have an answer for everything, which is no way bad. You are one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, you are funny, and you have brilliant choices in 50’s dresses.

Her Tumblr

Becky, you are weird and random and completely hilarious. Your facial expressions are quite honestly some of the most expressive, quite possibly, in the entire world. You are extraordinarily talented with your art and drawings, which never fail to amaze. You are creative and inventive, clever and laid back. Even when you’re in a panic, it doesn’t seem like it. You have a near constant smile, one which cannot fail to brighten someone else’s day.

Her Tumblr

Johanna. The creative, random, intelligent, stubborn, crazy, smiley, indescribable Johanna. You’re supportive to everyone, you don’t care what others think, you are slightly mental, but I think elf ears would suit you, most definitely more than others. You are most certainly and unequivocally a Ravenclaw, Penguins will always be your animal and blue suits you (it rhymes...). Johanna, never change, and don’t let anyone stand in your way.

Craft Review: Week 24: Sunday 3rd June - Saturday 9th June

This week, I did a lot of revision for my remaining exams. In less than a week and a half, I'll be free of them and school for summer.

But, to break up the time, I did some sewing; a change from my painting. And I am very pleased with the results.

This one's been in the pipelines for a while. I found some beautiful white netting with silver sparkles and knew it had to be used for this. The centre is also one of my favourite colours, so I'm really pleased. This is a ruffled flower brooch, I think originally taken from the book '20 Fabric Flowers'.

Here is another of my Felt Hearts. I love the ribbon on this, I got it around a present and it was a real wrench to use it. And, actually, to give away. This is going to my Art Teacher, it's the sort of quaint little colours and thing that she would like...

I'm actually unsure why i made this one. I don't know anybody who likes that kind of pink, nor anyone I could randomly give it to... I think it was just to use up the fabric because I don't like it.
Ah, dear.... Still. It's pretty, I guess...

Finally, I started some sketching for a Crafty-Ravenclaw Crest. I figured that my blog is just boring and needs a little something to brighten it up...

Toodle pip!

Craft Review: Week 23: Sunday 29th May - Saturday 2nd June (and a Thank You)

Tada! We're back, but with a different format...

I'm not going to do structured days anymore... I'm just going to gather together everything from the week and show them.

I'm also not going to be as strict on my Resolution as I was before; as long as I get one crafty project done a week, I think I'll be happy. This is thanks to Deer Little Fawn, and her wonderful comments in my Wednesday Recap. Please, go and check out her blog, her paintings are gorgeous, and she's a lovely person.

So, without further ado, here is what I did Last week.

Hana, as seen in a previous post. She is definitely one of my favourite characters, and indeed, my favourite painting of my characters that I have done so far.

And this.... may look familiar. I did the stitching a few months back. I've spent ages on this, and I think I've finally reached a point where it's acceptable. Beneath this, there are layers and layers and layers of watercolour washes, pencil lines, other swirls.... If anyone has any ideas as to what could make it look a bit better, I'm willing and open for suggestions. Just add a comment below.

It has struck me how recently I've only been painting, rather than drawing or knitting or sewing.... I'd like to change that (hopefully). In just over a fortnight, my Exams will be finished, and I will be free! But, until then, I need something to keep me sane as I revise.. watch this space!



Hana

As promised, here is Hana.
I was getting bored with regular, plain people, and she's such a crazy character, I figured her painting should reflect that. Note yellow half-jumper (I don't know its technical term...) Blue spotted shirt, and coloured under layers to her hair...

Hana is a descendant of Merlin, and skilled with magic, along with her cousin, Ian. They are the two in charge of the group, as second in command(s). She is argumentative and serious, but also kind and bubbly. She's weird, basically...

Painting her was fun, because she is different from the rest. all of the others have just been wearing plain clothes, but Hana's add to her personality. It made  me feel very free, painting the small dots onto her shirt sleeves and collar, something childish. Perhaps we all need that hint of childishness every once in a while...

Her under layers of her hair caused me some strife. Following with the childish theme, I was too impatient to wait for them to dry, so all of the colours began to bleed into each other... It was good when I was able to paint the black of her hair on, as it covers the worst of it... In that way, black is very forgiving, but in another circumstance, that would've been  seen as a bad thing....

Hana was fun. I think she's one of my favourite characters, overall.

"Kate gazed at the older girl. Her essence oozed control but her demeanour was calm.  Kate noted how some of the under layers of her hair were tinged pink, blue and green, hinting to a more daring nature."