It’s Monday, every student’s favorite day of the week. I expect an Occupy Movement-style protest from my kids over homework one of these days, but they’ve been having trouble organizing (executive dysfunction at work, I guess).
Sketch a day
Sketch a Day, Day 42
Today’s sketch is of my other sister-in-law, Allison. She is the baker of the house, providing us with tasty treats and delicious breads on a pretty constant basis. Hurray for Alby! Also, she got us a lovely weekend trip to a bed and breakfast for our anniversary this coming weekend, so she is the bestest of sisters-in-law.
Sketch a Day, Day 41
Spent a good chunk of the day today with my wife’s family for her mother’s birthday. Admittedly, I spend a good part of every day surrounded by my wife’s family, as her two sisters live with us. The middle sister and I have a rather playful antagonistic relationship. Mostly it involves me sneaking up behind her and pretending to assassinate her (we’ve both play way too much Assassin’s Creed, but I digress) or getting into slap fights. Hence, today’s sketch.
Sketch a Day, Day 40
Giant nerdiness ahead!
A few years ago, a coworker and I ran a Star Wars RPG club after school. The two of us split the eight or nine students into two groups and ran a parallel campaign, planning things out so that eventually everyone met back up at the end of the school year for the Epic Showdown with the Big Bad Guys. It was a lot of fun, though I’ve always enjoyed being a player in games rather than running them. To that end, I created a character of my own who joined the party and fought alongside our Jedi heroes.
Because this was an extended universe RPG, we took some liberties with things like Jedi powers and the races that were available. I ended up choosing a race called the Miraluka for my character. The Miraluka are a species that is born with no eyes, but senses things naturally through the Force. This seemed like a perfect species for a Force-sensitive martial arts character, which is exactly what I created. Over the course of a couple of years’ worth of games, my character became a Jedi Knight (eventually even Master), took control of an ancient clan of Force-sensitive ninjas, and basically gained the ability to wrap the Force around his hand and punch people hard enough that they exploded. It was, as you might well imagine, kind of awesome.
Anyway, I was feeling a bit of nostalgia for that today, so I decided to draw my old character. The session of Star Wars RPG I ran last year featured new characters (who were also chaotic neutral at best, demonic evil at worst), so he didn’t get to do more than make a quick cameo appearance in the game. This year, there hasn’t been a demand for the game, so we haven’t had a chance to play. I’m kind of hoping some students get the urge to play again, ’cause I wouldn’t mind dusting off the character and having him punch holes in things again.
Sketch a Day, Day 39
Today’s sketch includes two things I’m fond of: the return of my chibi art style (not really all that different from my usual style, just more…compressed, I guess) and an appearance by the cutest, dumbest cat in the world, Ninja Steve. Ninja Steve (and her sister, Cecilia) is a rescue cat my wife and I picked up four years ago. The two cats were barely six weeks old and suffering from a number of fungal infections (they were feral cats that had been humanely trapped so they could be put up for adoption), but they were tremendously cute and we got the pair of them. Today, they’re not really all that big; Ninja Steve tops out at around 7 pounds, while Cecilia is a svelte 5. And they have very distinct personalities: Cecilia is definitely the Alpha of the two, does not like to be picked up, but needs constant attention and love. She’s also the more playful of the two. Ninja Steve, on the other hand, loves nothing more than to lay across my shoulder. Or on the back of the couch. Or on a pillow. Or in a sunbeam. Honestly, that cat only ever really moves with any sort of speed when we put food in their bowl. Ninja Steve is pretty chill, except when that bowl is empty. Then, there’s no consoling her.
Anyway, both cats have a tendency to sit up on their back legs and…well, I guess it’s beg for attention. They look kinda like meerkats when they do it. And Ninja Steve will often make little chirping noises (pretty much constantly whenever she wants attention). So, this is a pretty common sight around the house.
As always, feel free to send in a suggestion for the next sketch!
Sketch a Day, Day 38
Since we returned from Winter Break, the heater in my classroom has not worked. As I’m writing, it’s the first time since yesterday morning that it’s felt warm in my room, ’cause they finally just fixed the heating unit. Seriously, 55F is no temperature for a classroom.
Anyway, today’s sketch is me. Freezing. In my classroom. I’m a little upset with myself that I screwed up the shading/shadow on this one so bad; next time, I start with the base dark color for the clothes and then add shading in a darker tone. As it stands, it looks like I added weird highlights in all the wrong places. Ah well, we live and we learn.
Sketch a Day, Day 37
It’s back to work today, I guess. Getting up this morning was entirely too difficult, and it’s days like this that make me miss drinking caffeine. Additionally, the heat in my classroom doesn’t seem to want to work so well, so it’s a tad bit chilly.
Today’s sketch idea comes courtesy of reader Amanda. Hope this is something like what she had in mind.
Sketch a Day, Day 36
Today is, sadly, the last day of my Winter Break. I can feel work looming over me, threatening to crush me with its weight of responsibility and, y’know, work. But, I’m an adult. I know work cannot be avoided. That doesn’t mean I want to go quietly into that good night. Or to work, for that matter.
Also, have I mentioned I’ll take suggestions for things to draw for the sketch? ‘Cause I will. Take suggestions, that is.
Sketch a Day, Day 35
Welcome to the special New Year’s Edition of Sketch a Day! As of this posting (around 1:15 in the afternoon, EST), I’m the only one awake and up & about in our house. I was also the designated driver for festivities last night, so I had less to sleep off than the rest of the crew.
We had a nice if slightly rushed New Year’s party at a friend’s house; due to family problems, we weren’t sure if the party was going to happen or not until very nearly the last minute. We pulled it off, though, and didn’t get home until sometime around 3:30, at which point we collapsed into bed.
2011 was a pretty decent year for me. I’m starting to feel more like an adult, for better or worse. I’m certainly more responsible than I used to be. I have no idea what 2012 will bring, but I do know the light is a little too bright this morning, and my sketched self feels the same way.
Sketches From Memory 