Job get!

It's been a while since my last update and I figured I should update this blog again. Especially since I got a job this month, whoo!

It's not the perfect job and actually a job of which I said "I never want to do this"... but it's money so I can't be picky at the moment heh. I am in a customer support role, giving technical support to Dutch/Belgian clients about their smartphones (a specific brand but I'm not even sure I'm allowed to mention it). I know nothing about smartphones myself and it's not easy for me to deal with angry customers (I'm a shy person), but hopefully I will get used to it!

I received two weeks of training and have just finished two weeks of actually working on the phone lines, so four weeks in total. It's going okay, but I still need to learn a lot! They gave me phone to practice on though, so basically I get a free smartphone! Which sadly I have to hand back after my three month probation period. =P

Apart from this job, I seem to be getting quite a few requests for freelance work, ranging from translation to illustration and design work. I'm doing a 25 hour translation job this week (so next to my 37.5 hour full time job), starting on about 15 illustrations for a book someone wants to make, possibly starting an illustration/design project for my sister's job and then still two smaller illustration commissions. I don't know how I'm going to get it all done, but I just can't say no to people haha!


Also I walked back home through the park this week when getting back from work. And even though it was a rainy day, I enjoyed seeing all the lovely flowers and plants. Some parts of the park are nice and clean, while other parts look like a jungle. I love it.  =)

Settling in the UK

It's been a while since my last post, so I figured it's time to make another one!

It's been a bit over a month since I moved to the UK, and I think I'm kinda settling in now. Not that much has changed over the last few weeks though. I am still looking for a job (but might be getting news back about a customer service role soon) and I do a bit of freelance stuff in between (drawings/graphic design/translations).

I have actually sent out my portfolio to a few UK publishers, but so far I haven't heard back from any of them. I also applied for a few graphic design jobs, but again no one got back to me about them. I guess no one wants me to work for them. =P

As for the freelance stuff though, I recently got to create a logo and image (for postcards, business cards and website banners) for someone who is starting up a yoga website. It was something completely different for me compared to my other work, but I really enjoyed doing it!


I have also decided I want to cook more varied. Since my boyfriend eats a lot of chicken (as it's the only halal meat the supermarket has apart from lamb), we have been eating a lot of Indian and Chinese curries with rice/noodles. And I'm getting a bit tired of it haha.

So I have decided I want to try at least one new recipe each month. And yesterday that recipe was paella! It's perfect because we can use his chicken in it, yet it doesn't taste the same as a curry. And the food turned out pretty nice (made way too much though)! =)

Paella with garlic bread and white wine. Mmmm!

My flat!

Since I promised my family I would put up some new pictures of my flat, here they are!
I think they have waited long enough haha.

My lovely desk which I'm very happy with!
Just need a proper desk chair now heh.

A cute little plant my cousin gave me before I moved. =)

My bookcase, which also holds all my art supplies behind the doors.

Part of our books, mostly my children's books.
And my cool book ends!

A hanger which holds a photo and some cards.
And my boyfriend's guitar is peeking at the bottom.

The roses my boyfriend got me when I moved in, now placed in the kitchen
(though they are kinda dying right now, aww).

Our tv and one of the sofas. And our big DVD collection
(the videogames are hidden behind the doors).

The awesome/beautiful blind in our living room, next to the tv.
I love it! =D

The dining table, with a view on the park (well, a big bush in the park).

The bedroom with my new wardrobe (just for me!) and cabinets and shelf, yay!

If you look at the first pictures of the flat (which I posted a while back in January), you can probably see that the place has improved quite a bit already.
Now if only I can start putting nice pictures on the wall, then this place will end up looking even more pretty! =D

Also I love being next to a park. It's great to cycle through to get to town. And last night when I couldn't sleep, I ended up listening to the foxes who were letting out their cries in the park. =)

Daily-Draw February 29

Last day! It's over! =D

I didn't get to make anything good or special for today due to lack of time and ideas, but I'm happy I managed to make something for every day, whoo!

Not sure I'll do this challenge again any time soon, but it was nice to be drawing/doodling again! =)

Daily-Draw February 28

One more day left! Here, have a random gentleman!

Daily-Draw February 27

Just another quick drawing I have done. The month is almost over!

Daily-Draw February 26

I've had a long and busy day today, with a big family reunion which I helped out at and which lasted all day. And of course there was way too much food involved!
This is how I felt after/during it.

Sorry for the crappy picture, I drew it with pen on a tiny piece of paper and then took a picture of it with my not-so-great webcam.

Daily-Draw February 25

Yes I know, I'm late. =(
Though if I were in the UK already I'd still be in time! =P

But yes, the reason I'm late is because I have been spending today preparing for a big family reunion tomorrow for about 70 people. I made two tiramisu cakes and helped my sister with her dessert. And tonight I helped set up the room where the thing is going to be held and I helped with some other preparations.

So here is just a very quick and not so great doodle of what my tiramisu cakes sort of look like.

Daily-Draw February 24

In a retro mood, so here is a retro-inspired drawing. =P

Daily-Draw February 23

And we're still going! Took me a while to know what to draw, but then I randomly picked the word 'ferocious' from my list and this is what I ended up drawing for that.

Daily-Draw February 22

One week left!
I did the same as yesterday. Found a paint texture online and then drew whatever I saw in the paint. A bit different and experimental I guess, but I enjoy doing this.
Maybe once I've moved I can start making my own paint textures! =)

Daily-Draw February 21

I did something different today. I looked up some paint textures online and then looked at what I could do with it. This is what I ended up with and I have to say I'm quite happy with the result. =)

Daily-Draw February 20

A simple one today. My aunt is lending me her sewing machine, so my mind is currently all about sewing, even though I still have to start!
I did a heart because that's what the colour red reminds me of, plus because I love learning new things. =)


If anyone has any sewing tips or tricks or simple things for me to make ('cause I'm a beginner with absolutely no sewing experience), feel free to let me know! =D

A blog-chain award

There is a blog award going around which people give to each other. I was given this one by An!

These are the rules:
1. Add the award to your blog.
2. Thank the blogger(s) who gave it to you.
3. Mention 7 random things about yourself.
4. List the rules.
5. Award to 15 bloggers.
6. Inform each of the 15 by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 things about me:
1 - Apart from art, one of the other things I like spending time on is videogames.
2 - I have always said that if I can't have a job as an artist, I wouldn't mind working with animals. Working in a zoo/petting farm would be amazing as I love animals!
3 - My room is always a mess, much to the annoyance of my mom (sorry!).
4 - Sparkling water is my favourite drink. I will always carry a bottle with me.
5 - I make lists for everything: things I need to do, things I need to buy, ... I like to have things planned out!
6 - I still sleep with a teddy bear in bed since it's so nice and soft. =)
7 - I love theme parks, but rarely get to go. If I could visit one every month, I would!

Alright, now I have to give this award to other people. Sadly I don't follow 15 blogs, and the few I do seem to have already gotten this award. So the only other person I can give it to is:

http://villananami.blogspot.com/

Daily-Draw February 19

10 more days to go!
Almost finished, I can see the finish line!

Daily-Draw February 18

Just a quick doodle today as I'll be going to the cinema tonight!
I have spent all day looking at webcoding and similar things, so this is how I feel at the moment!

Daily-Draw February 17

Phew! Been gone all day and only got back not too long ago. Spent my day visiting a friend, which was nice!

I did manage to make a sketch on the train though, so I've quickly scanned it in so I'm still in time for my daily drawing! Maybe at some point I'll turn this into a proper drawing, who knows!
(I also seem to have a thing for sleeping people/children.)

Daily-Draw February 16

I'm posting a work in progress today. I'm helping someone to create the DVD cover for their student film. The original sketch was made by Nick Claes, but he had to cancel so now I am continuing where they left it. I redrew the sketch in my own style, while making a few changes and adding some extra things. If she likes the sketch, I can start finishing it up soon. =)

Daily-Draw February 15

Another quickie today!

I found out Desperate Housewives is back on tv tonight (why didn't they tell me sooner?!) so I'm looking forward to that! One of my favourite shows, whoo! So I drew this, 'cause I love that feeling of snuggling up on the sofa with a blanket, eating a yummy snack and watching a show you like. =D

Daily-Draw February 14

I've been a bit busy today going shopping and going for new glasses (well new glass inserts for my glass frame) and then exercising at the chiropractor, so now I feel tiiiiired. Because I don't have the energy to do a proper drawing, I just did this quick doodle. Hopefully I can do something a bit better again tomorrow, sorry!

Daily-Draw February 13

We're almost halfway! I'm amazed I've been able to keep it up this far haha. Let's see if I can reach the finish line!

Found a texture that just begged me to have something drawn in it!

Daily-Draw February 12

Almost running out of time today!
But I managed to make something, whoo!

Though I'm having problems saving this as a jpg or png in Photoshop. The colours go all weird when I try to upload it online, even though it looks fine on my computer. The image I'm posting here is a screenshot I took of the drawing, so not ideal for my image quality. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong in saving my image? =(

Daily-Draw February 11

No inspiration today, so I just made a doodle of myself trying to think of something to draw. Except I normally don't sit at a desk. =P

Daily-Draw February 10

For today's drawing I started with a simple digital cloud practice (after listening to 'Feeling Good' by Muse I felt like drawing a blue sky).

Then I remembered how I used to draw digital"realistic" images all the time years ago. I would spend days on just one drawing, drawing individual hairs and spots, all on a simple online drawing program that wouldn't let you save your progress (all you could do was submit the finished image). So I'd have my computer on for dayssss, drawing during my spare time after school heh.

I decided to do a realistic drawing again, though I did it a lot more roughly than I would have back in the day. The time limit has something to do with that too. =P
I drew a snow leopard as they are some of my favourite animals. I love how majestic they look!

Daily-Draw February 9

This is for those people who have over-active brains at night, when you should be sleeping. I know I'm one of them. Random thoughts going through your mind, thinking about anything and everything, seemingly all at once!

Daily-Draw February 8

No doodle or experiment today.
I finally finished a commissioned drawing for a website which is to be used as a T-shirt design and on stickers. Had been working on this for a while already, drawing motorbikes is not easy!
I made three different versions so the guy can pick whichever one he likes best (he likes all three, whoo).

Daily-Draw February 7

Drew this one at night. Sometimes it feels like life is crushing you down and you have to try and survive, to keep moving on.

Daily-Draw February 6

I will already apologise, as today's entry is really just kinda bleh. But I didn't really feel like thinking of anything to draw today. Just grabbed some scrapped paper that I was about to throw away (and still will) and started drawing.

The first one had some colour on it from where I tested my paints. Just started drawing in that corner, and somehow I ended up turning this into some kind of Venus portrayal (like the Venus from Botticelli). My scanner didn't do the colours/lines any justice (made it all look worse), but I didn't feel like trying to fix it.


Then I also doodled this on another piece of scrap paper and gave it some highlights/shading in Photoshop. Don't ask me what's going on cause I don't know heh. Just a random doodle.

Daily-Draw February 5

Something quick today because I couldn't think of anything to draw.
I decided to fiddle a bit with the brush settings in Photoshop to see what I could do with it. A Chinese-like drawing is the result.

Daily-Draw February 4

A quick doodle today. I drew a robin, since we have quite a few of those in our snowy garden, pecking away at the food we've placed there for them. Such cute and lovely birds!

Daily-Draw February 3

And here is number 3! I currently seem to have a thing for long vertical canvasses haha. I just find it fun to work with I think, plus it helps to portray the fall in this one.

The Fall of Icarus

Daily-Draw February 2

So here is the second drawing for the second day of the month. So far, so good. =P

I drew this last night while listening to some (sad) music. Also had Radiohead's "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" playing, which influenced this a bit I guess, having the character fade out into the darkness.

I drew this with a white chalk pencil (I think) on black A3 paper. One of the only art things I still have around in my room heh.

Daily-Draw February 1

So I'm on a forum somewhere and someone decided to start a thread in which we all post one drawing for every day in February (he got the idea from another forum). So every day you post a new drawing. This can be anything, a finished drawing, work in progress, a simple doodle.

I decided to join, but I'm not sure I'll be able to draw something every day. We'll see though!
Since I have already packed away most of my art supplies, I think most of these will be digital doodles heh. Unless I decide to unpack my stuff, but I might be too lazy for that. =P

Anyway here's my first doodle!
Decided to go for something wintery since it's so cold here and there's snow everywhere.
A boy is standing in a deep pit or ditch and I guess the girl is afraid to go down there herself. Yeah, I don't know why I drew this. =P

Feeling restless

It's 3:35 am and I'm still awake, despite the fact I was feeling tired all day and was looking forward to some sleep. However I can't fall asleep. My mind is currently over-active, thinking of a million things at once.

I don't know if it's the prospect of having to look for a "real" job, but today I kept thinking of things I could be doing, new things I could be learning and creating. I kept looking up tutorials for all kinds of things, looking up supplies and what I would need, even workshops I could possibly attend. Not for one thing, but for multiple things (jewellery, sewing...). It's like my brain is telling me: "You don't need a real job, you are born to create things!". Too bad my brain doesn't understand yet that I can't make a living that way. =P

But yeah, I've been looking at tutorials today and I can't stop thinking about creating new things. Which is bad for a few reasons:

• I don't have the money to start doing something new
• I already have lots of other things I should be doing
  
• I never really push through with an idea anyway, so it'll just be a waste of time/money
• something tells me I would probably fail at doing those things anyway (since I'd rush into it, not taking my time to properly learn)
• anything new I do makes me feel bad because that's time I'm not spending drawing... when drawing is supposed to be the thing I love but I've not done it in so long
• and many more reasons!

Sorry for the late night rant, I just needed an outlet! Also the next comic I found kinda fits in with all this. A bit, maybe.