Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Hiya everyone! Sorry it's been more than a month. Things just kept piling up, really. Work rush, Christmas shopping and all the usual things just kept me utterly busy. Plus the PSP is working again so there was some major tinkering there. To be honest, I'm slowly rethinking my previous stance on the PSP vs Nintendo thing... but only to the point of balance. Slowly, though.

Also just came back from Adelaide. Had to pop back midway to get some work done and then head back to meet up with family and grandmother. Very nice, I have to say, seeing as asides from paying for a dinner treat or two, I didn't really have to do anything at all. Reading Dawkin's God Delusion, playing PSP and DS games, watching Foxtel in a surprisingly cold Adelaide climate... bliss. Definitely worth it to meet them all too, as it's been a while since I saw the rest of my family. I collected my ton of anime figurines from mum as well.

Mum's had a little health concern for us, though, what with her internal lump. Just had surgery and we hear it's all clear and benign. Hopefully it remains all clear and recovery is quick.

Anyway, at least one person noted my absence and demanded an update (in return for ONE measely photo?) and I guess I needed to get back on the horse. The first pic is something I was mulling over throughout my trip and finally tried to put to paper. That tree is supposed to be a willow, by the way. I used the airbrush style of painting and let me tell you... that took me at least 4 hours. My fingers were sore from the pressure used to colour some of those bits. I'm not doing that again anytime soon. I have to say it didn't turn out TOO bad.

Speaking of hard to do... the 2nd pic took me hours as well to draw (because I used my tablet) and colour. This was mainly because I wanted it to look like one of the figurines mum sent over. Japanese craftmanship has me in awe, although I wonder if that robe is removable. I've read about some other figurines that have different 'layers'. Thanks, mum. It's a lovely figurine.

The last 2 were sort of warm-up pics. The first is a tribute to Kiwi in Le Gardenie by the Malaysian artist Ben. Brilliant artist, and definitely something to aspire to. The last pic is just something I mucked up to prove that I could draw with just a pen (that means no erasing). Not too good as I was still stretching after a long period of no drawing.

Alright, I've got to see what else needs to be done pre-New Years. Hopefully I'll have time during my break to do more sketches (asides from studying for tests immediately after the break).

Enjoy the heat, Australians. It's going to get worse.