Earl Grey, hot. :)

Elf!

I do have a sketchbook for sketching out art ideas, but I don't keep a regular journal or diary. I keep saying I am going to get better about blogging, but I never seem to find the time, or when I do, I find I can't think of anything to say! I have made some notes for a future blog post, though....just gotta make the time to write it!

No, I haven't, at least, not that I recall :)

Game of Thrones by George RR Martin.

Kenneth Branagh - he's extremely nice, and very appreciative of his fans.

Thank you, Gina! We should meet up for a coffee sometime!

"Tender Morsels" by Margo Lanagan - HIGHLY recommended.

An actress or a singer. Or an artist. Or all three. :D

Whoa...no fair. :P I think I'd have to say "Lost", though...at least for now. "Fringe" is a close second. What I really wish is that they hadn't cancelled "Earth 2" back in the day - I LOVED that show - Clancy Brown as Danziger was utterly nommable.

My favourite part is when the drawing finally starts coming together - so somewhere after the initial sketch, and before the painting or the finish (if it's just to be a pencil drawing)...when the details start to emerge and it starts to develop into what will be a finished drawing. I think of it as the time when the drawing finishes telling me what it wants to be. :)

I'd estimate it at about a 5 - 10 days depending on the size of the canvas and the level of detail. Sometimes it takes longer because I'm not a fast painter - especially with traditional media where I agonize over every brush stroke since I don't have an 'undo' option! :)

I quite like Mistress of the Key. I really like the mood of the piece and it's one of a very very few where I feel like it actually translated to paper exactly the way I envisioned it before I began drawing it.

Oh, that would be nice, wouldn't it! I'll have a word with the lady who makes them to see if it's possible.

In November, I did a solo show at our local Wild Birds Unlimited. That's the best promotion I've done so far locally.

Although our area is generally seen to be very arts-friendly, I've not had a lot of success with promoting myself within the traditional venues so far. I once joined a local artists group and entered art for their group show. On opening night, I went to the reception to see that my art ("Faery Bride & Groom" & "Queen Rose"), along with other art that leaned toward the fantasy genre, had been placed in the farthest corner of the room, almost hidden by the catering. At a local gallery I inquired about submitting some of my art, but when I said I did primarily fantasy/mythic art, the manager's demeanour changed instantly and I was told that they really weren't interested in "that sort of thing". So, I've been a bit frustrated in my efforts to promote myself in the traditional venues locally. I haven't given up, but have decided to focus on building up my portfolio for the time being, and continue networking with the genre-friendly contacts I've made so far.

I look through my collection of art books, check out what my peers are up to on their web sites, meditate, look out of the window, study random patterns in the floor tiles, listen to music....that sort of thing. :)

Pick up a pencil and draw. Doodle, scribble, make weird looking lines or blobs. Just do it. Sometimes you'll look at the mess and see a potential masterpiece, sometimes, it's just a mess. But we all start somewhere, you know? Look for nice how-to books - there are tonnes of them out there, and you'll find some that will really be helpful, and others that just aren't quite what you need, but the more you look into them, the better. You don't have to go to art school or take art classes on the side - it certainly doesn't hurt, of course, but it isn't imperative. If you do take classes, try to take classes that give you a good grounding in the basics of anatomy, lighting, colour theory, perspective, etc. without placing expectations on your creative output (if an instructor tells you not to do fairies, or unicorns, or blonde beefcakes in skimpy loincloths because it's not 'real art' - run away).

There is no wine!!! hehe :) Anthony Quinn, FTW!!!

I'd really, really love to. At this point in time, if I come, it will most likely be as a punter and not as a vendor, because other than Stellarcon here in NC, I've not had much exposure to cons, and would love to just get a feel for what it's all about.

I think it's quite fun! It's a neat way for anyone to ask questions, and I've enjoyed the questions I've got so far!