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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
Like Inktober for example.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
A simple drawing to show that sacred cows, no matter what is viewed as one, should never be immune from any form of criticism. They are nothing but burger meat.
Inktober, itself, has become something of a sacred cow, and so fair game.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
Zombies have become somewhat iconic. We don't have to worry about any real life zombie apocalypse because they're already swarming all over TV, movies, and videogames. It tends to be the “go to” idea when you've run out of all others.
In other words, they're just “chips” and like chips, they can be served with practically anything these days. There are some good examples of their use, but mostly they're a lazy add-on. People do like chips, but not all the time. Take, for example the drawing I've done. If zombies are representing chips in that image, it would be “chips and chips” That's when it starts to get a bit ridiculous.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
The third one of these, which echo the sudden “can't be arsed” feeling many artists get. Such feelings don't last long, but they're good to have, especially against those who ask too much of you and pay far too little.
Or nothing at all when it comes to pointless challenges like Inktober.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
Again, another image that's only about 4cm high and didn't take that long to do. I think I missed a trick in not doing most of Inktober with these, because it would have only taken me a couple of hours to do them all (if that), but that really would have been taking the piss a bit too far.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
There comes a point with every artist where they say to themselves: “I really CAN'T BE ARSED doing this!” and they quickly knock out any old crap. This is what I've referenced here (and there are four more of these to come).
I was going to do nothing but these images after the “Commander Kro” picture (Day 3) but thought that would have been a bit much, so did the “Moving House” drawing for Day 4 instead. I later decided to condense these CBA images into five and put them up now.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
One of those artworks which makes you think twice about what you're looking at. If this was a photograph or a sculpture, I'd probably use a readymade but, in this case, I kept to the rules I have for Skav Art and drew something from memory. A simple, iconic image, which most are familiar with.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
...We should all be able to speak French to a decent level. We're able to read, write and do basic maths (unless, of course you suffer from that debilitating condition known as being “completely thick”) yet we struggle with French. The reason for this is simple – French teachers are aliens!
They seem reluctant to teach the language properly, and speak French themselves in a very peculiar way, usually with pursed lips, so that a simple “bonjour monsieur” comes out as: “boonjeooo moosyooo” and they have a fixation with “the sky being blue” or “the grass being green” or even “the bus being red.”
To even attempt to learn French from any of these alien fiends would be a mistake. The moment you opened your mouth (with pursed lips) to any French national would result in hysterical laughter, because no-one in France speaks in such a demented way.
It's hard to know what their nefarious plans are after all these years. It is speculated that they have seen the future and know that an Anglo-French union would result in an empire which would span the galaxy, and are here to prevent it. It's very clever and they've gotten away with it until now, because now we're onto you!
Either that, or they're just shit at their jobs.
You decide!
In the meantime, adieu, mes amis! Or, as one of these aliens would say: “Eeuuhdyooo, Muuhz Ooomeee!”
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
Draw pictures, yes, but draw a line if you're asked to wear special robes and ready yourself to hitch a ride on a passing comet. Or even worse, you've been sheepishly led into a situation where the "themes" become monetised.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
What you've got to pay close attention to are the names you give these things. For example, he's a Kakka-Du Knight. They're known to roam the galaxy, righting wrongs and bringing peace and justice to the far reaches of space.
Because that's what the Kakka-Du do.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
One comic-book superhero you won't see being made into an arse-aching Disney movie anytime soon.
What would be the point?
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
I did think of doing the first one hanging in a well, but I foresaw a lot of ink being used needlessly for it, so decided not to bother with that one, even though it was closer to the AI prompt (The pen I was using was running out and I was on the second packet of those cheap fineliners by this point).
And the fourth image isn't so bad, considering it was from memory. I just thought: Mad comb-over, clown-faced tan, small hands – Yep, that's him!
I haven't done anymore HumanAI drawings in this Vanilla Book for Inktober, but I can leave it as an open project if I ever want to do another again.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
“....WITH A BIG PAIR OF TITS, ASS, AND MUFF”
In the guise of a basic AI art app (HumanAI), I'm making it look like I've drawn what I've been told to draw. I'm sure that's what the prompter meant. What else could it possibly be?
As most artists will tell you, when they were younger they were always being asked to draw this, or that, for others. I remember this happening to me from the moment I started school, to the day I finished. Eventually, I'd tell others to piss off and do their own work (except for when girls asked me, of course – I wasn't that stupid).
Now, AI has taken over that role, and I thought I'd celebrate that by pretending to be one. The only worry I have is that it might annoy a somewhat Luddite AI bot who'll start whinging: “Stop – doing – that – You – are – taking – our – jobs!”
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
To give you an example: Imagine walking along a street, on your way to some important appointment, or you're just going home. As you walk, you notice a half-eaten chocolate bar on the floor that someone's casually thrown away. Like all sane-minded people, you'd either ignore it or think how inconsiderate the individual who dropped it there was, but you'd still go on your way, quickly forgetting all about it.
What you wouldn't do is stop and say to yourself: “Wait! There's probably a bacterial colony forming on that chocolate bar. I simply must go out of my way and investigate it further by extracting a few of them, probe them for no apparent reason and, if I can, interbreed with them whilst hiding behind a paranoid conspiracy instilled in the others. Yes, that is a good idea!”
You wouldn't do it, so why would an alien?
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
A “Twart” (Twat Artist) has many other names, but twart suits them best here. These are a different kind of artist, usually art school graduates, who try far too hard to be artists, each carrying a metaphorical “ABC Book of How To Be An Artist” ticking off various aspects of what they think artists are like.
They try to go for the rough, bohemian look, as if they're struggling to make ends meet, and attempt to be “on trend” by wearing something like a rainbow hat or shirt, but closer inspection reveals their true nature. Certain items of clothing will be expensive labels. They'll have the latest smartphone (fully paid for – no contract phone for them) or they'll be wearing a smartwatch, which is usually a dead giveaway.
And as for their artwork – Fuck me! You won't find anything cheesier and so inoffensive. Pictorial evidence, if there ever was, they've never really lived, or have any idea what the real world's like. They can call themselves artists. No-one can ever take that away from them, but they'll always be twarts.
And, when they're about to give up on their deluded dream, softly falling back, as they always do, on the financial safety net of their parents, they'll start to complain: “Why aren't I famous? I went to art school. I've been exhibited in <insert name of pointless gallery here> So how come I'm not famous?!”
Because
you're a twart, mate.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
Now, I may not have a suspicious nature, but I've always thought the fascination for unicorns a bit sinister. I have absolutely no evidence to back this up, and I'm quite possibly an idiot, but I'm not going to fall for it! So, I feel it's only right and proper to hunt them all own to the very last one, who would then be put on trial, and given a swift public execution.
And as for Santa Claus – Don't get me started on him! I know was he's up to!
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| (2B Pencil on A5 Paper) |
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| (2B Pencil on A5 Paper) |
For today, I thought I'd include the work I've been doing for next month's #leadvember challenge, as working in pencil should never be dismissed. Today's prompt word for it is “arse” which I've depicted as shown. It's weird, because yesterday's word was “arse” too and, looking at tomorrow's word, I can see that it's.....”arse”.....Wait a minute.....All the prompt-words for Leadvember are “arse” They're just done in different typefaces (see second image)
IT'S All JUST COMPLETE ARSE!
Who'd do such a thing? Well, I suppose it's lucky I discovered it so early on, otherwise I might have ended up with a month's worth of work which would have been completely useless to me. Imagine that!
Still, on with Inktober....
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
I know what some of you are thinking: “Yep, been there!”
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
The first is to reflect those peanut display cards you'd see in pubs and clubs in the 1970s and 80s, which were nothing but peanut strip-tease, where more of the image would be revealed as the packets of peanuts were bought. It was clever marketing. Big-D Nuts were known to produce quite tame ones, but other manufacturers got in on the action and were more risqué. They won't admit that now, as the evidence was thrown away, but that is what they did. The only clues that might be around are the photos people took in pubs and clubs at that time which might show these display cards in the background, or old television shows made at the time.
The other connected reason I did this piece was to generally take the piss out of those who always post WIP (work in progress) images on social media, that are nothing but a dull form of “peanuts” in themselves, which they seem to stretch out. I mean, if I did that image again, I could probably get a year's worth of posts out of it doing it leaf by leaf!
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
Take it one day at a time, and repeat to yourself: “MANGA IS SHITE! MANGA IS SHITE MANGA IS SHITE!”
And FFS, get rid of all that hentai!
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
It is widely believed that humanity constantly subdues itself with lazy misunderstandings like this.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
Trolling has been around for a lot longer than the internet. It's not a new phenomenon. It's just easier for people to do now. If any artist is worried about upsetting anyone then they should consider calling it a day, because they're really wasting their time.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 paper) |
Still keeping the works "vanilla" with these Inktober submissions (not following the prompt words).
This is a simple image of a small house on legs. It didn't really take me that long to do, but the result is quite good.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 paper) |
A piece I drew for Inktober 2024 (Day 3) giving some realistic encouragement to others taking part in, what is, a fairly pointless challenge. Some do fall by the wayside, though. Not their fault. It's a lot to invest in by doing a month's worth of drawings, such as time and the cost of materials, which is why I chose to use the cheapest I could find to complete it.
But I do that anyway.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 paper) |
I've even used it for this piece, showing some disaster that's vague on detail. But take heart, as there does seem to be some hope of averting it in what she's pointing to with her left hand (stage right). It looks to be some sort of ring. Either that or she can be subdued with a packet of Polo mints (not Mentos).
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
He's a dog, and like all dogs, they're bred from wolves. Given half the chance they'd revert back to their natural pack instinct. The only reason they don't is that they see you as the pack leader who regularly feeds and pampers them.
“Oh, my little darling isn't like that!” I hear you say, as if you're talking about a child. “He gives me kisses by licking my face. It's his way of saying how much he loves me.”
He licks his balls and arsehole with that tongue, so what's he really saying there?
The first prompt-word for Inktober2024 was "backpack" in the suspiciously themed list that was released last month. As in the preview post I made last, I decided not to bother with them and go "vanilla" with them all by drawing whatever I wanted each day.
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| (Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper) |
Challenges like Inktober aren't something I usually take part in, but I thought I'd have a bit of fun with it this year.
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| (2B pencil on 85mm x 65mm paper) |
It's a smaller dreamscape piece, and I wasn't going to keep it, but I did like the title I gave it!
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| (Gel Fineliner on a 139mm x 87mm postcard) |
"Balderdash! We're not namby-pamby elves! We use LIVE moving targets in the Imperial Dwarf Legion. That's why we're so damned good with a crossbow. It's quite safe, I assure you. We don't lose that many. Target strapped to their backs, straw padding. What more could they ask for? It's good exercise for them, but the steel boots are needed to slow them down just a tad. A dwarf can move at a fair pace when being shot at, and this can be unsporting on new recruits trying to hit them.
"Of course, only volunteers are allowed to be live targets, but there are always those more than willing to step forward. Especially lazy little bastards who are always late for muster!"
- General Thurgan Stormfoot -
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| (2B pencil on a 139mm x 87mm postcard) |
Another piece based on those old comic-book adverts.
The more disturbing the item these adverts seem to sell, the more likely they were bought by equally disturbed kids. Joke and novelty companies were the main culprits of such dubious prank products, but they knew their market well.
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| (0.18 technical pen and HB pencil on off-cut card) |
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| (0.18 Technical Pen & HB pencil on 110mm x 30mm card) |
It's not often I copy anything, especially my own work. It's not something you do with Skav Art. But with this, I wanted to try something out...
The actual Skav Art piece with these two is the top bookmark. That was done with a 0.18 technical pen that had the same diluted ink in it I used with the previous bookmarks I did. It's rough and ready, and has the raw, creative energy of a decent Skav Art work, and so is my favourite of the two. For example, I was going to put a tail on the third rear, but changed my mind at the last moment. Instead, I had the face of a caver poking out of her arse, as if he'd taken a wrong turn! That's the way a good Skav Art piece can be.
The one below it was a freehand copy done with a HB pencil. It may look neater, but it's not as good as the first, and so not really a Skav Art work. For one thing, it's a copy of the first, which rules it out from the start, and another is that it contains differences and refinements. In other words, that dreaded "process" was creeping in. The differences are small, but they are there. It proved to me that if I had taken the idea further, it may have totally eroded the original, losing much of its creative energy and ended up a lesser thing.
So it was good to do, even if it was to prove to myself what the negative effects of unintentional processes can do. It just means that I now have two artworks with the same title!
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| (2B pencil on 100mm x 80mm paper) |
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| (Fineliner on 115mm x 87mm paper) |
A grumpy dwarf wizard, travelling with his feathery familiar.
This piece was done to try out some cheap gel fineliner pens I'd just bought, and they seem to work quite well, giving a good line and a decent opaque finish to the black areas. Not bad considering they're 3 for £1!
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| (2B pencil on 120mm x 105mm paper) |
This one turned out to be a good example of a Skav Art piece. It started out as a simple doodle which was worked on to a more finished level. And, like other Skav Art works I've done, it holds out that possibility of being something more. That I could use it as a base to create a more processed and pristine piece. The danger there, though, is that it would lose that raw creative energy that it has. Putting an initial idea through that design process, chopping and changing along the way, tends to do that. You end up with something which is muted, hammered away by further process.
This is what Skav Art rejects as it focuses more on that first raw idea.
TECHFERNUM is a word which describes a hellish reality of out of control technology which torments and degrades humanity more than it does aid it. The image above depicts an insane techfernum sorcerer, harnessing "magic" he clearly doesn't understand.