Cate Anevski

Flowery Eyes, With a Look of Surprise

This is another image done entirely in Painter. I'm still relying on outlines in this one, which I'm trying to avoid, but I'm allowing it since I'm using sketchy lines instead of my usual tight OCD inking technique.

I went to Border's today to look for books on Painter, and I was thoroughly disappointed. They all basically showed you how to use the bells and whistles that generally annoy me. It's like Photoshop filters; they're fun to a certain extent, but if you begin to rely on them, you're in trouble. I want to know how to mimic oil paintings in Painter, but I can't get the brushes to cooperate. This was supposed to look like oils, but I think it looks more like marker. It was still a lot of fun to create, though.

Strawberry Panda Hat

It's a strawberry panda hat plant. The only catch is that it comes with a head already in it. Just a couple of minor bugs to be worked out.

I did this entirely in Painter; no traditional sketching involved. I'm trying to lessen my dependence on outlines. I started another girl who has no outlines, but she doesn't have a nose, and I don't know how to give her one. She also doesn't have eyes, but that doesn't bother me as much for some reason.

Painter seems a bit tricky. This image has 10 layers, and it's pretty simple. If I start trying larger images, does that mean I'm going to have hundreds of layers? I feel like I'm just not doing something right, but I'm not sure what needs to be done. More grouping, maybe? Anyone out there in blogland have tutorials they'd like to suggest? I'm all ears.

This piece will be included in the next Pikaland package, which looks like it will be a lot of fun. It's like the Sampler, but it's exclusive to illustrators. Not to say I don't enjoy all forms of art and craft, but illustration has definitely captured my heart. Also, this piece was inspired by this month's Fauna Folk illustration prompt. I was only supposed to use three words, but I wound up using panda, delicious, hat, grow, and plant. It was also inspired by Katamari.

Forgotten

Do you know how hard it is to find static images now that digital television is taking over? The answer is very.

Hazmat

It's a dude in a hazmat suit. Need I say more? Yes, well okay. Here's the original from my sketchbook, just for fun:

Hazmat is one word, not two. Who knew?

Orange

This is my contribution to the print set that will be available with the Crammed Organisms book coming soon! There will be nine other artists involved, and all the art will be plush related.

P.S.: If you live in St. Louis and you haven't seen the show up at Starclipper yet, go. You're in for a real treat.

Inks

Just some funny little guys. I think they're character sketches for new plushies. I particularly want to make this one:

He just looks like such an unhappy camper, but I think he'd be fun. Of course, I'd have to make his dark cloud as well.

I wanted the black to be completely opaque, but it just didn't work out. I'm using FW acrylic artists ink, and I just don't think it's thick enough. Anyone know of something better to use? India Ink?

Kieran says he likes the texture of the uneven black, but since it's not what I intended, it's hard for me to see it that way.

Fiber Madness!

I'm not very far yet, but here is my latest knitting project. It's a capelet. Can't you tell? I made it from this beautiful yarn from Misfit Knits. She traded me for a couple of prints.

Isn't it incredible? It even has peacock feathers spun right in. It's so decadent!

More Yarn

Yep, it's more yarn.

I've been such a bad blogger lately. I'm really trying to keep up, but I'm just barely keeping my head above water. The big move I referenced is to Portland, OR. I didn't get into school, but I decided to go anyways. Kieran will be coming, too, and he'll be studying audio production at PSU. We're both pretty excited.

We'll be moving in August, which means that it's close enough that we need to make some definite plans, but far enough away that definite plans can be a bit tricky. It's a rather exhausting place to be in at the moment, but it'll be over soon. I'd like to say that the new artsy-er environment will lend itself to a more actively artsy Cate, but I'm sure it will take me a little time to settle in. However, I'll be taking my camera everywhere with me (including on the trip out), so that should provide some blog content.

Handspun!

It's an overspun handspun yarn done up on my lovely new Mother Marion kick spindle. (Pictures of that later.) I think I'll dye this to see what fun effects I can do with the yarn. From there, who knows?

Woodsy Pals!

Some new wooden figures that I made for the St. Vincent de Paul Spring Fling this past Saturday. Will this be the sign of more posts to come? Only time can tell.

I have been working on a lot of new things lately, mainly stuffed animals and handspun yarn. None of my attempts at the yarn have been worthy of photography, and my stuffed animals have run off to Cranky Yellow for the Crammed Organisms show. (You have to watch those things like a hawk, or they'll disappear on you.) I'd like to get back into the swing of things, but the upcoming move seems to have taken all my brainpower for now.

Yum!

4 c. milk
1 c. short-grain brown rice
1 c. water
pinch of salt

2 egg yolks
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1. Put the rice and water in a large-ish saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for fifteen minutes.

2. Add the milk & salt, and simmer for 1 hour & 25 minutes, stirring frequently. (You don't have to stand there and stir it all the time, but don't get caught up in Spirited Away and forget for more than ten minutes, or you'll have a serious milk skin issue on your hands.)

3. Mix together the remaining five ingredients. Add them to the mixture and stir constantly for four minutes.

4. Portion out the result and refrigerate.

5. Top with that delicious strawberry that you couldn't resist at the grocery store. (No kidding, it was saying my name...)

6. Share with your sweetie.

Tada! You've just enjoyed rice pudding!

Kieran Took Me Out to Lunch Again

We asked the waitress who does that song. She didn't know, but I thought I'd commemorate the event with a viking ship.

I've also been toiling away at my various Web sites. Feedback is always appreciated.

Radio Beastie? Check.

Just a Little Bit Done...

...but it's not bad for a tired sick girl. I got more done, but there's nothing to show for it yet.

Chesterfield Arts

The opening last night was really wonderful! I got so much positive feedback on my work, which is always inspiring. I owe a big thank you to the women who put the show together at Chesterfield Arts (and to any men who were behind the scenes that I did not meet).

I'm sick today, so even though I'm supposed to be meeting the newest (and only) baby in my family, I'm stuck at home with a sore throat and no voice. Hopefully, that will force me to get some work done and I'll have another post for you today, but I may just veg out watching The Last Unicorn for the 100th time.