What is Wensdi? - How to get a cracking headache...

Good day everyone! It's cold and raining outside, but I'm happy and glad to be alive! 

Last night I was play fighting with my fiance when suddenly we both collided with each other... my teeth into his skull. My face, teeth and head still hurt today, and he has a lovely little purple bump on his head. It hurt so much I started to panic that we may have concussions and that if we fell asleep we would end up in coma's. We didn't! This is huge cause to celebrate!

After my near coma experience I am looking at things in a new way, gone are the days of endless dilly-dallying, and the excuse of, "I'll do it tomorrow"! 

This post today is one I've been meaning to do all week, but I allowed myself too much time to over indulge in procrastination, but not today! 

I did some work for my mother (mumma) a few weeks ago, she wanted a piece of artwork to send to her beloved "Real Housewives of Vancouver" housewife Mary Zilba. Mumma was in contact with Mary Zilba on twitter, and was able to find out what Mary's favourite flower was so I could use it in the proposed artwork. Her favourite flower is the Lily. 

And so, I set off making possibly one of my most favorite illustrations yet. This elegant lovely is very delicate and took many hours but each one I enjoyed greatly. 

I then sent Mary the artwork, the postal service had taken longer than had been quoted, which built up the hugest waves of anticipation, I was dying to know what she thought and the waiting was stomach churning. Then last Thursday the delivery arrived! Mary tweeted the loveliest responses and shared a photo of the work. Fantastic :) These responses made my day, heck they made my month! 

This is my most preferred type of illustration work to do for commission. If anyone else loves this work and would like a piece of this lovely action then please contact me at wdougherty@live.co.uk. For a commission the price ranges between £90 for smaller less intricate pieces to £250 for larger more detailed pieces. The piece for Mary was an A3 black and white pen and pencil illustration priced somewhere in the middle of that range.

Even with throbbing teeth and a headache I'm smiling as I write this post, I don't think there's a feeling that feels quite as good as knowing someone loves something you created for them. 

Now I must go and start my plan for killing procrastination and nurturing creation and awesomness!

Enjoy :D

What is Wensdi? - Today I had a delivery....

A smooth, white, shiny box. It was a long and wide box, but quite flat...Excited yet? 

I was!

Inside are my new beautiful business cards!!  They are very lovely and actually have the relevant information on! My last design as you can see below was a bit clunky and inelegant.

My new cards, like my old ones, were printed by moo.com and I must say I am very happy with the product! These new cards have several different designs on which means I can quickly show different pieces of my work, ha! How brilliant is that?

Right, now that's done I guess I better start doing some business! Otherwise, as lovely as they are, that's all they'd be, lovely pretty little cards. 

Let's Go! :D

What is Wensdi? - Saturday. My gosh four days in a row, something has changed.

I think its because I'm really enjoying this piece and I like seeing it progress. I imagine other people would have an interest in seeing the process too.

Also stopping and taking pictures gives me a chance to see what needs changing so I can go a head an fix it before I commit too much ink and time to it. 

For example, I have changed the hand but now I have noticed that the fingers on the hands need to be slightly more slender, and the neck needs to be changed as its not in the correct place.

So in the next update I probably would have made these changes.

I'm already starting to get a little bit crazy from doing all the hair detail. There is still so much to do! It's going to look soooo good!

What is Wensdi? - Friday, work in progress continued!

Today started off in a not so pleasant way. Having only been up five minutes, not even had my first coffee of the day, I read an email that got me so angry and annoyed. I had a little bit of a huge tantrum.

I sat sulking for about ten minutes, drank my coffee and looked over at this piece of artwork and my tantrum subsided. I'm so excited to see this piece done that I'm not going to let any silly people distract me.

And so, I've been working on this for the last few hours, I stopped because me legs went numb from sitting in the same position without moving for so long. I used the opportunity to update the work in progress. 

 Look at how pretty she is starting to look!

What is Wensdi? - Thursday Work in progress continued.

Ah some more pencil detail added to the work. Who guessed there would be a frog in the mouth? I'm really enjoying this piece at the moment and cant wait to get to the chest area where this lovely lady has a collection of frogs and lily pad flowers adorning her lovely little body.

I have a friend who loves my artwork, I'm not too sure she will love this, as she has a bit of a fear of frogs. 

What is Wensdi? - Thursday, A work in progress.

Currently working on an A2 drawing, can you see where it's going? I'm currently "umming" and "ahhing" over whether to put flowers in or not.

What is Wensdi? - Monday, I got a piece done today in 2 hours!

Yeah it's a lot more basic and doesn't have nearly half the detail that I add to my work, but I like it a lot. I really enjoy drawing stockings.

:D Just wish I had an A3 scanner now so I could get a really good digital copy of all my lovely works.

What is Wensdi? - Friday, and another piece is finished! :O

Can you believe it? Another piece finished, it's like when you're inspired you get stuff done... 

So what do ya'll think? Come on share your thoughts :D 

Enjoy.

What is Wensdi? - Monday finished piece :D Please share :D

Ha! Proper chuffed with myself got it finished by 6pm! Doesn't she look lovely?As with anything, it looks even better in real life! I do however think that there is something missing from the bottom, something dark that would help the orchids pop. I don't know what I could put there to change that just now, and since I usually ruin my work by over doing it and not knowing when to stop. I'm forcing myself to leave it be, because it is rather lovely as it is.

What is Wensdi? - Monday! Work in progress continuation!

It's starting to shape up nicely don't you think? :D

I will be spending the rest of the day finishing her off, I have challenged myself to be finished before 6 tonight, so I guess I better crack on! 

What is Wensdi? - Thursday! Work in progress!!

As you can imagine, I got sick and tired of the piece of work I previously showed in progress. This doesn't mean it will remain unfinished, but until I can summon the strength to complete it, I am going to work on other pieces instead.

Pieces such as this beauty! I am especially excited by her as I have been working on this face shape and style in my sketchbooks and have developed it and this is the first piece I have started with this look to it. I can't wait to finish her I reckon I could be done by tomorrow afternoon! I'll take more in work in progress pics so you can all revel in its development.

Isn't she beautiful? 

What is Wensdi? - The answer to that would seem to be, clearly a masochist...

I am currently working on some large scale pieces, to really push myself with the pattern detail and I think it's going to kill me! I wish I had a decent enough camera to take better pictures because I have already completed an A2 piece which I would love to share.

I have however got a few pictures of the piece I'm currently working on it's A1 and will be pretty epic if I don't die attempting to complete it.

Here's a full pic of it, see that grey mass there? 

Scroll down you will see that it's a collection of little loops.... Can you see the faint outline of a circle? That's going to be filled in with this texture.

I'm relatively sure it will look epically awesome when complete. However, I have come to the conclusion that I must be a masochist because why would anyone go through this much pain for anything. 

If anyone wants to send cakes or falafel burritos to help keep me motivated that would be marvelous!

:D

What is Wensdi? - Another Monday, no cats - PROMISE!

So, I'm working on redesigning my website and blog to make them a bit more fun and "Wensdi" and a bit less severely boring and clinical looking. Therefore, I have spent today working out a look and feel I want it to have, and have come up with a banner design. I did the initial design by hand.

This is the artwork in its basic unedited scan. I'm very good at drawing aren't I?

This is the artwork after some quick editing and playing around with the idea of adding colour to cheeks, I am undecided as to whether I like it or not.

This is the artwork after I using the Live trace tool on Illustrator, usually live trace destroys all the detail I have put into the illustrations but this time I think it looks quite nice! 

I have just decided I quite like the pink cheeks and will continue to play around and see what I come up with. I really would love to know what anyone thinks about this design so let me know your thoughts.

What is Wensdi ? - Sunday.

Hello all!

Keep your eyes peeled tomorrow for more cats in jumpers I will be uploading quite a few. I don't have the time to be uploading one every day or every other day anymore as I have decided that I actually need to get a life and so will therefore be concentrating on drawing other animals in jumpers hahaha! 

I am of course joking, like I said previously I aim to fill a sketchbook and I will, but It will be a weekly update rather than a daily, as I do have real artwork and illustrations to be working on which will also be uploaded along with works in progress. Maybe if you're all nice I might do a detailed work in progress so you can see how my Illustrations develop. 

:D Happy Sunday all and see you tomorrow!

What is Wensdi? - Friday... Another cat in a jumper day!!! Oh, how unexpected...

I had planned to select an awesome and obviously genius poem I wrote as a teenager to assist the cat, but upon reading them and dying several times from cringe. I have decided that they should stay hidden away in the diary of teenage horror. Seriously, SO SO SOOOO BAD! 

Sadly, that means that you only get to see this rather splendid cat all alone and unaccompanied by the awful wittering's of a 17 year old me, which actually you should be seriously thankful for!

Enjoy! :D

What is Wensdi? - Tuesdays, two'sday!

It's a good thing I don't design pattern for a living, other wise you would be subjected to the most outrageously brilliant patterns, such as this!

My god it's so beautifully tacky, could you imagine a full circle skirt in this pattern. I think that's the stuff those special dreams, that have you thinking for days on end, are made of!

I think I could quite easily spend all day playing with this cat, making it into gaudy ass patterns. I will try not to, but I only have so much will power and self control.

Enjoy

What is Wensdi? - Monday, by Jove she actually came back like she said she would!

As promised I have returnethed... AND WITH CATS IN JUMPERS!!!

Well Cat in Jumper, I'm not going to over load you with these, they are a delicacy that need to be enjoyed in the right way!

Oh my, indeed! Is this not the most amazing sight to behold?

This is just a sketch from my sketchbook, I have aspirations to fill the whole of this A6 sketchbook with cats in jumpers. 

Why, I hear you ask? Because I can, because I bloody well want to and WHO DOESN'T LOVE A CAT IN A JUMPER?

You see, I love cats, but I am allergic to them, and this is one of the saddest things to ever happen to a human born to the planet earth, trust me! So to vent my frustrations I sit and draw cats in jumpers and only occasionally watch videos on youtube.

Ha! So Yeah come back for more cats in jumpers and other doodles and witterings.

Enjoy.

What is Wensdi? - Omg she's back, she came back, Sunday.

Oh poor 'What is Wensdi?' blog how I have neglected you so.

I am so very sorry. 

But never fear, I have returneth to use you again! 

I mean not that I only come to you when I want to use you for something... ah man this is all coming out wrong.

I love you 'What is Wensdi' Blog I really do! 

I haven't stopped thinking about you in the time we've had apart, really!!

Look, I've said sorry what more do you want with me? I'm here now, can we please just move on? Hey you know I forgive you...

Yes, you heard me right I forgive you. It's not like you tried to stay in touch with me!! But I'm not going to hold a grudge I'm going to let it go and hope you can find the strength to be as brave as me and forgive me.

Wow I'm super manipulative! 

Anywaaay!

I really am going to start posting more regularly again, because I have soooo many awesome wonderful things I want to draw and share with you all. I can't wait to show you the cats in jumpers!

You will choke your brains out at how amazing they are!

So keep checking in, there will be such wonderfulerifus delights soon, like probably by tomorrow night even!

What is Wensdi? - Wednesday... oh are you going to post?

Yeah so I've neglected the blog for a while, but its only because I've been drawing lots and lots and lots, promise!!! 

So, what have you all been up to? I'm currently having a huge brain splat about life and the meaning of it. It's very distracting and panic inducing. I blame the giant bee in my dream that attacked me until I screamed myself awake this morning. Do any of you have annoying reoccurring dreams that do your head in?

I had an interview today, a journalism student who is working on a group project to make a newspaper, decided he wanted to write about the Harris Museum Open Exhibition, so I was contacted and interviewed.

As much as I am a complete attention whore, I really can't talk very well in front of camera's especially when I'm being told to look off to the left,  - No I want to look you in the eye when I talk!!! Anyway, there was a lot of giggling on my part, poor guy he was very patient with me. I just hope he gets something decent out of it. I thought he would be interviewing several Artists, but it turns out it was just little old me in the end perhaps I should have been more serious? Nah I'm me and me is slightly giggly, giddy and silly.

It also turns out that the two pieces I have up in the gallery have been reserved, so someone is interested, let's hope they're interested enough to pay! That would be the absolute icing on the cake with custard, ice cream and chocolate sprinkles!

That's all your getting today folks, I can't wait to show you all the stuff I've been working on.. well yeah I can wait, because I am waiting but yeah!

Enjoy.

What is Wensdi? - Its a Saturday.

Welly, welly, welly, well I have not yet got anything to show you all today however I will be taking a trip out with the fantabulous Andrew @ http://plaskettanimations.blogspot.co.uk  to do some drawing, I will come home and show you all immediately! Then I will bake cakes. Until then here is a photo of the peep board I designed for the Preston Guild Festival a few months back.

Enjoy