Girl Parts : Sadie Chapter 1 (NSFW - barely)

Girl Parts is a comic that has gone through too many changes to count at this point. I finally found a style and way to tell the story I was happy with a few months ago, but I believe I will leave this story alone now. It's very close to me, which is probably why I'm having so much trouble getting it just right. 

However, I love this style and these characters so they will both pop up again in another form. Since I already completed Sadie's opening chapter, I wanted to share it. Sadie is my Obsessive-Compulsive character after my own heart. I'm pretty proud of this section because I tried something new and had fun. Comic creation is slowly rising to the surface in me again, like a lovely bruise. But lovelier...

I put a NSFW warning on this because boobs, but it was more for your job's sake really, there's nothin' going on here. Except quiet storytelling. Enjoy!

Rainy Days with the pups

Finding creative ways so they can both look out the window.

#MoodyFace

I started a series of daily doodles over on Instagram, calling them #moodyfaces. It was a simple way of documenting my feelings every day as well as ensuring I drew a little something too. I've fallen out of the habit of doing it recently but I managed to keep it up for a month or so. Here's a random hanful:

#MeetTheArtist on Instagram

The shiny Amanda De Oliveira Spitzner of Exploding Comics challenged me to make one of these #meettheartist sheets over on Instagram. 

I gladly accepted. 

If you're Instagram-inclined, follow me over at @whereismyraptor

Evening Scribbles

Amid tattoo planning at my boyfriend's one night, I took time for some doodlebraining. 

(brilliant film)

Sneaky Peek at Girl Parts (wheh)

While rummaging around my old laptop yesterday for part of an old Casket Case script, I found one for Girl Parts that I don't even remember writing! Reading it, I was pretty engrossed and wanted to get working on it immediately. This comic has been hard going for years. It's one that I really want to share but it's also very personal. We all know how those projects go and how difficult they are to, somewhat, perfect before sharing with the world. Or even getting started. 

This new style I've been trying out seems to lend itself really well to my character designs, so I decided to give the whole comic a go in that style. I'm going to allow myself to not be perfect and just get the bloody thing out! Reading Wet Moon also gave me a great boost for getting started on this. I loved every little thing about that first volume. I really wanted to create again.

After finding that script yesterday, I pencilled four pages and got some inked too. I'm working directly into an A5 notebook with this - really trying to stress a relaxed vibe with this for myself. I've added a little sneaky peek down below too. I'm interested how others see this style and layout working. Leave me a comment if you're so inclined :)

More soon! <3

Dr Sketchy's Midweek Session with Vixyn Von Trix

This early June session was a) my first session since March 2014, I think, and b) my first evening out alone in a very long time. Going to Sketchy's, often alone, used to be a monthly thing for me but good habits have slipped away in the past year. But I'm now set on getting my ass out to Sketchy's for at least one of the sessions each month.

This was also the first life drawing I've done in over a year. I'm so glad my skill didn't just melt out of my hands with all the note-taking, essay writing and exams I've done in the last year.

I'll stop blabbing now and show you some pretty pictures. Vixyn Von Trix was marvellous, holding a 20 minute standing pose like a true pro! And she looked spectacular in her 20s flapper get up. This was a midweek session, so it was done in the round. 

10 minute

10 minute

20 minute

20 minute

1 minute

RedBubble

So, I'm all set up on RedBubble for all your sticker and accessory related needs.

The stuff I have up is in the new style I've been playing around with. Very cute and becoming more on point politically and culturally.

Bodily autonomy, internet dating and intimate discomfort... certainly images for the modern lady.

Long time, old chap!

Well, this is awkward.

To break it, here's a doodle of me shamefully eating cookies.

We all good now?
Excellent.


So while I've been away for the last - oof -year, I've been colleging it up. Yes, I learned that verb there. I was attending Trinity through the access programme, and I might just be going on to do a full degree course later this year. I got me some lovely first class honours and all!

But.... my art has suffered. I haven't had much time or the wherewithal to work on the comics of even enjoy a good doodle! Shocking behaviour, all together!

Earlier this month I attended Sketchy's - for the first time in OVER A YEAR. That pattern will certainly be a-changing!

Basically, my art has slowly been slotting itself back into my life lately, as messy as my life has been itself. What that means is more blogging and more images to share with y'all.

I've started working on both Casket Case and Girl Parts again, and am set up on RedBubble for your purchasing pleasure - yay, stickers!

More to come soon. Like, literally in ten minutes.

Sarah

The Comic That Wasn't...Might Be

This idea has never fully gone away and I think it just has to happen. It probably won't be for awhile but I was inspired to draw the characters again.

Here's a little peek at one from the story collection, Sadie: Cloaked in Chemicals. This quote is from Jonathan Davis and it was the perfect match for her story. 

It started when I woke up, all I wanted to do is jump out of the window. I didn't want to eat anymore, because I was afraid that I might poison myself somehow.

Captain Maggot!

I was playing around with my tablet this morning and ended up with this. 

It's based on this photo of Captain Maggot, a member of Emilie Autumn's Bloody Crumpets and all round spiffy lady.

Digital Drawing

I got a Wacom Intuos tablet for my birthday a few days ago and I'm loving playing around with it.

Me, an hour into using it....

After another hour, I was smitten! 

It's a dream to use. Lovely response from the pen and I can create things that would usually take hours in Illustrator and wouldn't come out looking half as natural.

These were done with Manga Studio. SO glad I can finally use MS properly :)

Comic Sketchbook - Digital Download

Another book on the fine sunny day (I miss the sun!).
This is a collection of some of my comic work over the past few years. There's a lot of trial and error in these pages but there's some work I'm really proud of. It's a collection-portfolio-sketchbook hybrid. Free to download, or a donation if you're feeling kind.

Click the image below for the PDF download.

The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls - Digital Book

Finally, I've put together a digital copy of the Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls short comic, plus some extra goodies.

Pay what you like: If you care to make a donation, you can do so by clicking on the PayPal button.
You can download the PDF by clicking on the image below.

Enjoy!

Scarlet Witch/Wicked Witch

I don't think I uploaded a good image of this before so I am now...This text wasn't really needed. 

Ksenia Solo portraits

I've been watching a lot of Lost Girl this week and just had to draw Kenzi. I'm a little in love with this character.

20 minute pencil portrait

Accidental Gilles Vranckx-esque portrait

Thank you, Tank me.

This was me last Halloween (ish) for the Dublin Roller Derby fancy dress party.

I made a me drawing after that party.. I like it but I also kinda don't. Mostly coz it doesn't look like me and the style went a bit weird. It's a love-hate thing. Maybe I'll just have to do another Tankie selfie...

Derby Girl Painting

This painting was my first acrylic in awhile, and first on canvas in even longer. There are mistakes. I wish I'd noticed them while the paint was still wet but I can always work over it again later and make it all pretty - but still bruised. 

Daily Outfit : April 9

....yeah, I'm a little behind on posts. 

This is the beginning of an idea I had for an illustrated fashion blog. This may or may not still happen, or just happen on here sporadically. 

This is my non-photographed outfit of the day (OOTD), jewellery included. 

Commission : 99 Pair o' Shoes

Last year I got a commission from an American musician, Shawn Coyle (Sierra Echo Charlie), to create a series of illustrations that would go with one of his songs, '99 Pair o' Shoes'. They were for one of his shoes, where they would be played as a slide show video while he played. This was a really fun project to work on and he gave me a lot of creative freedom. 

These are some of the final illustrations.