So I don't forget

Today I drew a lady in a swimsuit.

Have fun with pests

 

Maybe I am just your good old stink bug - if you put me under the plastic cup one on one with myself, I am pretty sure I'll will lose my shit and probably intoxicate myself to death with my own defense mechanisms.
My body is that plastic cup though. That's how lately I've been feeling.

And yes, to make that picture above, I cut into a Virgin Mary holding a baby Jeezie postcard to put a stink bug in her hands to hold it.
And yes, looking at this beautiful creation of mine now I am sort of jealous of this god damn bug.

Anyway, time for the cute communist propaganda aesthetic of the week award! (yes see I can be consistent with my interests)

"There's no God!" (Gagarin_trollface.jpg)

Have a beautiful Monday night.

tuesday tuesday

 

I felt like putting up this re-worked oldie in crazy saturation (had to work that phone pic quality...). Hope you like this feel.

These days have been crazy for us all... Wishing all my darling friends to stay safe and happy.

Many of you already do know, but I'm really into making stuff recently. I've made that frame thing, a number of bookmarks, bracelets, weird accessories and currently working on a box for jewelery - will post the results and a longer story here right after I finish that one. Hope everyone's enjoying their day!

In the meantime, here's the latest bookmark design perfectly matching with my dress (front and back, didn't fold it because thinking of doing a digital copy first). But again, if you follow my twitter/instagram, it's not a surprise. Cheers!

Paris, tigers and tails

 

Although only the lazy doesn't bloom these days, birds are screaming every morning like it's the last one,

it still feels like a long, long winter. So many things happened and so many things are not going to happen, it's a bit overwhelming, but that's alright.

As some of you my friends may know, I've been to France recently. You see how far can I go to run away from obligations? Apparently, until about Paris. Not bad, huh?

Saw some incredibly great places and took a lot of cute pictures there.

 There is not much I can say about Paris, apart from "shiiiit maaan whaat" and "holy crap", but that's neither appropriate nor informative, so I'll just pass. I'm usually not the one freaking out about architecture (plants and underground are more of my thing), but I guess some places just don't consult with anything before dominating your mind as you encounter them.

Ah, the good times. I love trees so much, and now they are killing me. How is that even fair? 

No one said life would be though.

Gentle people! Let's go out with flowers in our hair for a reasonably-priced drink, anyone up to such a deal? No? You can come without any flowers then, whatever. (where's your spirit?)

Here, a song.

And a picture from me. 

I posted the second background layer a while back - it's a collage I made with the help of inherited from my brilliant grandfather postcards from 80s, zodiac-themed jewel of soviet union design (never disappointing if your goal is to be creepy)

Turned quite infernal when in b/w!

 

I can do more of these though, if you think it looks good? Not sure, because I'm just kind of blinded with all these feelings towards all these horses and tigers. Damn, I'm really into this stuff.

Presenting you this babe and vanishing.

Lots of love to you all!
Stay healthy and kind.

wow, a thing and that... another thing

 Wow these days some weird shit it going on with me, sorry for my bitching, I don't mean any of it, really. x
 Listening to The Beach Boys and watching Daria whole weekend long, it's some kind of wild party going on here. 
And woah, yeah, I did almost finish this picture, and made a video of my face to celebrate it. I just fell it could be fun, but it turned out just awkward. People who do that for money, damn, you really deserve each single peso you get.
Here's the vid.

Aaand the video is gone due to overload of dislikes hahhaa love you guys <3

ANYWAY
I may or may not do some more, depends on how I estimate my makeup on particular days and of course if you are going to hate me more than usual or not. <3
(If you are not sure I obviously prefer you not to, ok. It can be hard to guess but it's true.)

Anyway here are the pics, made em on my phone - no scanner hobo, but I've got life, ha.

 

Now meow meow,
sorry for all the shit I am not doing AGAIN I am SORREH.
Seriously though, maybe I need some help, maybe I don't...

Hope you all are safe and good. xxxxxxxxx

Belgrade, walls and campfire

 

This is a tiny little scenery picture I drew in the train back from Belgrade. It's kind of similar to the previous one, but I think these two (also that one) are kind of sketches before the big one already starting to appear in my head. Not quite sure but maybe I will come up with some more of this kind. It is also so small, just like one regular postcard. Does anyone want apocalyptic postcards? Ha-ha. Ha.

So yes, this weekend was my first time in Belgrade. I decided to go there really spontaneously maybe on Tuesday last week, on Thursday already got the ticket and departure was on Friday morning. I am not that kind of a person who can randomly decide to take 10 hour long train with no clear purpose to the city they don't know anything about, but I did and it felt quite nice. 

Something is going on, but I'm not sure what exactly. 

Really really loved the city, although didn't have a chance to see it properly, but what I have seen in that short time gave me a very pleasant feeling. Oddly enough, so many things reminded me of home. In a good way. 

The weather was constantly bitching out, wind&rain&snow were infernal; but atmosphere was very much special, different from anywhere I've ever been to. It was full of surprises and needs more attention and careful observation that I would love to give when I'm be back there someday.

 

Just some more photos. 

And just two more.

And before I go, just leaving here two songs that please me very much these days. Hope you are having safe and happy January. x

Hi.

Did I draw anything? No.
Do I have something interesting to say? No.

Taaahlaaah, why does it always rain on me----? I always thought it's quite of a stupid name for a song, funnily that's precisely how we think, isn't it?

 Wow, never mind, I'll try once again tomorrow.
A cute song. (happily instrumental, almost)

 Alright, it's hard, it's hard hard hard not to whine, I'm doing my best. Kind of best.
Wow, this is a very useless entry.
Wow, I said "wow" three times not counting the one "wow" I just mentioned. Five. Excitement.
Okay, Monday, come at me.
Shouldn't forget to return books to the library!

It's getting pretty rough, Ukraine. But it's too late to wish you being safe. Be strong.
Much thoughts to those battling in Kiyv right now. x

Creativity and beards

Well hello there. 

This year is almost not this year anymore. Great news, right? News even better. I am not ready to print out the stickers I promised to humanity (in such a loud voice ridiculous amount of times). But there's one preview of three I posted a while ago on Instagram (comicsonic, you're welcome) and one basically giving you the idea:

Good. Now I shut up about them till they're ready. Nice.

Now, going to fill another request I got some days ago. Write about being creative, and shit. Sorry, not shit. Anyway, what is it? It's hard to avoid stating the obvious concerning this question. If you still asked me about it - means you want to hear the obvious exactly from me, this is quite flattering! Good, how you formed your request instantly reminds me of these great minutes on YouTube:

You're welcome once again.

Now, well, time for me to get all boring and wordy? There is one thing that I wanted to clarify concerning creativity widely applied to our poor exhausted minds and about proudly wearing this mythical and mystical title.

Creative = productive.

Certain amount of creativity can be applied to every task we are engaged in. Right, we don't need to elaborate on this. But we're not talking about the brave carpenters searching for some ground-breaking ways to polish their wood  in... open space, with... water and two monkeys... whatever, what I feel we ought to address is just who we are, a bunch of useless teen(or not so teen)agers who like to be all arty and special and you got what I mean if you're honest enough.  And this is pretty damn easy.

Look, listen, absorb, process, think, do. Always think while you're doing, but more importantly, just do.

Not applied to anything, your imagination is worth nothing. Stop doodling, start drawing. If you're doodling,
make it look nothing like a doodle. Whatever you do should not be accidental. Even the accidents.

Imagination, in case you think it lets you down, is also a skill. A skill to be working on: the more you experience, the more you learn, as you solve more problems you will simply see improvements. On the other hand, you need something to make your wild monsters alive. And you don't want any limitations, while insufficient skills (of whatever you're doing) is the first border you are going to hit. Or maybe even the last one. Get up and learn, we are never good enough.

You know, I read one short story some time back - unfortunately pretty sure it's not available in English (для русскочитающих - Л. Улицкая, "Цю-юрихь"), and it is really not in any way related to this topic, but with good old striking contrasting method it made me see how lazily we approach our lives, most of us - me included, obviously. 

Take this "talent" thing, I bet you've heard people throwing this word all around as if the more you pour it on the ground, more red your tomatoes will grow. No babe, they will not. 

Especially people referring to their lack of "talent" when refusing to give something a try. Well, according to your definition, being talented at something means to perform on average or even above-average level with little or almost no effort made. Isn't it a desirable thing? Why yes, and this is also signifying approach that potentially disables you from becoming any better than "average with no effort". Because growing up always knowing you can rely on your so-called abilities, or inborn sense, spoils you pretty bad. And no one is going to care you were such a "promising" child, you're just not used to push yourself to achieve more that you naturally can, because why would you when it kinda worked for ages? 

Similarly less and less of effort do we tend to put in our relationship with other people, making easy and comfortable connections always there to be cut off when pleased. (Not sure I want to keep on with this topic, let's stop before I said something stupid.)

Your own laziness is your only limit. That's all I have to say on this.

Further on your cute questions;

what do I listen to/watch/what is inspiring me.

On the last one - people do. 

For some idea of what I prefer to stare at, just take a quick look at some of my pinterest pins (I was doing this solely for the educational purpose, gotta be back to the place, new things just don't stick to me)

http://www.pinterest.com/mnnrieh/pins/

Like most of us, I listen to lotz of shit, whatever makes me feel better when I feel good and worse when I feel bad. 

Sorry if I sound grumpy. But I am grumpy, so this is quite fair I guess.

Hopefully I answered your question. Do comment though, I don't know how to get back at you anyway.

To any one reading these lines, 

please stay safe and warm during your holidays. Kisses!

faces and I'm too anxious

Little small tiny and quick portrait for today. 

No name, no particular point, just playing with the cuteness of simplicity.  

(needs a bit of editing that is never to be done, most boring thing ever)

Aaaand a video full of sounds and images that I absolutely love. 

 Too much of talent for one piece!

Now something unrelated.
It's crazy how much it is about faces.
You just pick the face you like to look at. For some subtle and gentle time when the desire to see it grows inside you, nothing more frightening can be possibly imagined. But it overcomes that little huge earthquake a single gaze does to your world, overcomes all the motion of blood rushing right to your own face to blur your eyes, scream in your ears and press your insides against something so big it just can't fit in a human being without driving it insane. But it does, and then you become your eyes. A walking sensor. Without looking, you pick up every move, every direction, every expression of the desired face. Now you want to be in front of it. You find yourself in places you wouldn't normally be doing things you wouldn't normally do. All of your gestures are crying for help, all of your sounds are flouncing in the air, directed towards just one point in space, as if some magical magnetic forces were sucking them up, turning into millions of regrets, why did I say that, why, no, seriously, what's wrong with me?
Oh but later you are going to remember that time as the best your faces used to have. Or you won't. Give it some time anyway.
You want that face to look at you, to see you. Then to see only you. Inevitably.
You will do things and say things and do things again, just to see that face responding to what you are up to, you will make it laugh to see it's only you who makes it laugh, and you will hurt it to make sure you are the one who can do it. And the tears you will see are yours, you made them, you own them, you've made such a long way to this point. This is kind of hunger; it's addiction, full dependence. The best and the worst to ever happen and to disappear one day, just as nonchalantly walking out of the door as it once walked in and messed everything up. Leaving just painful relief.

Iiiiiiii don't know.

How do people ever feel brave enough to try to put this shit in words?
Anyway, anyone, talk to me anytime.
Love you ALL (like seriously ALL okay.)

red red red

That mood, you know, when you only want to listen to those songs you know by heart.
Now sleep sleep sleep.

(горбатого могила)

This happened yesterday night when I decided to do some scenery drawing. Yes, this is a scenery. CAN'T YOU SEE (ha-ha-ha get it get it?)

 Hilarious. So original.

Anyway rejoice, I am back with things. So very typical things. Sorry for the mess in the upper left corner (you didn't notice but now you do), it's all because I am shit and I don't have a scanner. Meh, who cares? Don't trust the machines. 

Right, here's my pick for all of the months of my life. 

This is my soundtrack of my life, in case you ever wondered. So healing.

Love you all, people!

How are you doing there?

The stuff post

Sometimes people ask me about the materials I use - what do I draw with, how much of stuff do I have, you know. Things. So I've decided to make a blog post about it, because... because yeah! Let's just start.

I feel like the first thing that I have to mention is something that is just becoming such an inseparable part of myself that I literally feel anxious if I forget to put it in my bag before going out. No need for long introductions, meet the pilot g-tec-c4 (0.4mm) black ink pen! Coming together with a bottle of indian black Daler Rowney drawing ink. These are my musts, and I just cannot be myself without them.

Well, to be honest, lately I feel like it's about right time to step into a new level - I started to see the 0.1mm pen in my erotic dreams, but I just can't find the appropriate one... The existing ones claimed to be 0.1 or even 0.05mm are no better than my good old 0.4 pilot, so I am still sticking with that. But if, all of a sudden, you feel like you want to make me the happiest ink pen freak in the world - you know what to search for, right? And I told you the trick - THE THINNER THE BETTER.
There, said it all.

The next thing is something that brings me huge amount of fun, and is least depressing of all the things I'm used to work with - a charcoal pencil! Mine is Koh-i-Noor Hardmuth one, and it comes from "Gioconda" art set.

 

 Why is it cool? So many reasons for that, bro! First, it's a charcoal, which is always extremely fun to play with - when I'm sketching with a charcoal, I always feel much freer and more just like playing around and enjoying the thing, than when I sketch with a pencil. Definitely. And it is in a pencil form - which significantly reduces the amount of black that covers your hands, face, clothes, paper, mum etc - you know what charcoal means. And you can blend/shade it awesomely - no need to worry about small mistakes. Actually, no need to worry about any mistakes at all - just cover it all black!

Now, done with the blacks - let's go to some colours, shall we?

First of all, of course, colored ink.

These six from Winsor&Newton, come in adorable boxes, and bottles with same pretty illustrations. I've only got six of them, as I don't feel a great need to buy any more colors - I rarely use even these. But they are great, and it's very interesting to try them out on different paper types. Here you also can see my beloved baby W&N brush - I need to say that this is my absolute favorite one. Being a compact brush, it has two separable parts: a cap (5.5cm) and a brush body (6.5cm), so you can make it a 10.5cm brush (which is my most comfortable length) or fold when putting in a case. It's metal, as you can see - probably steel, although quite light, also it's thin - what else should I say? Just perfection!

This piece (it's unfinished and I think I've never uploaded a photo of it) is an example of how you can mix some of the ink colors above.

I think it's brilliant green, blue, viridian + some out of the box. This is not the best thing you can do with it, okay. Maybe the best I can do though... Let's move on to my another favies!

Winsor&Newton, again. And I know - it says "calligraphy ink"! "For fountain and dip pen", I can read it, yeah. But damn, I don't care, these two colors are just fantastic!!!

Especially the blue one - it's called "blue black", but it is only black taken on an extreme concentration, the more water you add - the more magical the color gets, and the texture is just fabulous. This kind of ink especially does not tend to forgive you mistakes, so you should be extra careful - once you've touched the paper, it's there forever and ever. Even the thinnest layers make the difference. But as I have no life, these two are my best colors for the moment. The crimson one is also very cool, for example, I've made this one using crimson calligraphy ink + two (black'n'red) ink pens.

It's a pure pleasure to work with these, I swear - just try playing with the concentration and layers, and you'll see what I mean. Magic.

The last picture is mainly my stationery, stuff that I have at home, watercolour kit and some watercolor pencils. Pretty much everything that I have...Looks messy, but that is what my room is about. +some additional ink, some additional pencils, some additional... glue... and screwdrivers... Just in case.

Though I would like to mention these Derwent watercolour pencils: I started to use them recently after wanting them for long long time, (uh, uh, so expensive, uh) decided to buy it and never regret getting 10 of them at once - they are great. The blend together greatly, and I am much more confident about using them, particularly when I have to use them in areas close to already applied ink... They don't require much water, and their texture, when dry, seems quite pleasant to me. So if you are a little bit clumsy around the liquid stuff - try them out! I think such are pretty enjoyable.

I guess it's everything that I have to say on this, but if this is an interesting topic at least for one of you who reads this sentence, I will keep writing about materials and stuff, because there is always plenty of coolness around. Well, bye then!

Expectations & Trying too hard

Here, I am uploading a piece I've been doing for quite some time, and finally kind of... finished. Better to say, I thought: "well, looks like you can't  do anything about this anymore, so... we gotta move on, darling, we gotta live our life no matter what... juts let it go, babe".

So I let go.

Here's the story: my mother asked me for these. No, she actually asked me for some nice flowers, and I turned it into... this. From trying too hard - this is my problem number one. I do try hard, which sometimes is cool, but sometimes just leads to chaos eventually. This one was passed the sign "stahp" and became just a perfect example of what too much is.
Obviously, my mother wasn't pleased - apparently she hated the green and it was too far away from what she was expecting (I assume some kind of provence-fashion would satisfy her more than this circus), and the first feedback that I got wasn't a positive one. Even though I liked what I was doing, her reaction got me down, I didn't want to be careful anymore, and it all just went downhill.

It's a shame you can't see it in good quality - I simply cannot afford it technically at the moment, so these are just the phone photos.
I am not saying I hate this piece (neither I'm in love with it though), some parts of it do please me, and it gave me some quite useful things - to be persistent, to care less, *to keep the in-progress pictures to myself*, to keep the balance, to plan things out... Not to expect too much, I guess. To know where to stop.
Anyway, a failure can't be concerned as a complete failure if you learned your lesson, right?
Good.