Alamnor

Yesterday I helped my thaiboxing instructor clean up the new gym (which is just across the street from where I live, by the way), I practiced some, and afterwards it was so warm outside I could walk home without changing to warmer clothes.

When I woke up today, Falun was draped in a beautiful (albeit unseasonal) white cloak of snow. Something is wrong with the weather. Some people may think that because Sweden is located so far north, there's always snow here. But that's not true! Snow in may is very uncommon here as well. And there are no polar bears here either!

Anyhow, this long winter gives credibility to the old Norse sagas about a long winter called fimbulvinter which will precede Ragnarök, the end of the world. It is said that the wolves will hunt well and that the winter will last for several years.

But enough about that! I'm currently working on an experiment of mine. I'm trying to learn how to ink properly. The first pic turned out better than expected, but there are still a lot of things I need to get better at. The flexibility of the brush surprised me a few times, giving broader lines than intended. Also, the amount of ink and the pressure I can apply to change the whole look of the line is something I need to get more experience with.

Okay, so I decided I'd go to bed around 10 P.M. Now it's five hours later and I'm still wide awake! Why? Well, last night I got kind of an epiphany. I got a very detailed picture of Sally Acorn in my mind and I just couldn't let it go until I had put the idea on paper. Unfortunately I had some Japanese homework to do so it wasn't until the evening that I could get around to it.

I started with a simple outline of the sketch and figured that'd be it for tonight. That was not to be. Instead I started adding a few details like the ears and the eyes. Then it just grew and grew. It's kind of like Pringles: once you pop, you can't stop. One feature which made me rather frustrated was the outstretched hand which never seemed to be in the right angle or the right size, etc. I ended up redrawing it five times to get it right.

I usually end up spending a lot of time on Sally's hair since it's so wavy and fun to draw. I followed that tradition this time too, getting a look that would fit right in with J. Axer's work in the Archie Sonic comic. I'm not saying I'm at Axer's level, just that the hair's got that same feeling to it. And this is definitely a drawing which deserves inking. Only problem is, I have never used real ink and I'm afraid I'll ruin the picture. And I still haven't got my drawing pad for the computer back. I'll ink it someday, though. In the meantime I'll probably submit it as it is.

Now I have to sleep! I've got classes in the morning and my arms are shaking from exhaustion.

G'night, whoever might have read this!

Yeah, so I have received a few requests from the past weeks, resulting in two serious pics and a satirical one. I have once more received a request from the aforementioned person and I will dedicate some time to that one.

On another note, my Japanese studies are progressing slowly and with just a few weeks left this semester,  wonder if I will be able to hand everything in on time. It would not be the first time I rushed to meet a deadline. Last time I did it was last semester. I don't like it, but truth be told I just don't feel like I have enough free time.

And yesterday my shoulders and knees were shot to smithereens during thaiboxing practice. 25 minutes jumping ropes, 25 minutes kneeing a punching bag, 25 minutes grappling and kneeing an opponent took it out of me. And it was still easy compared to how it usually is!