Teacup Full of Whimsy

Oh hi there.
I have a problem for you to solve! There is a reward for you at the end if you do :P

I've been working on Julie's ninja-pirate-assassin dude again, he's coming along pretty well although I still have hella problems with lighting. Anyway.
I've been thinking about what to put on his mask. Like this: (the image is quite dark for me, is it dark for you?)



What thinks you? Any of those? None? Something else? Five question marks in a row makes Hannah something something?????

Tell me what you think and then you may have ( delicious chocolate-chip cookie sandwiches.Collapse )

So ugh here I am again, mostly because I'm slowly working my way through everything that isn't work. Which is, you know, not healthy, on account of how I have 12 pages of comic to ink and colour (four of them, I still have to draw) in two weeks. I forsee a lot of late nights, and writing this isn't helping at all. Also I have a poster and brochure to design, a 2,500 word essay to write and two watercolour spreads to illustrate. So yeah, how's that art thing working for you, Hannah?

I've spent so much money on art supplies as well... easily over $100 in one day. Most of those things, I didn't need. Actually, a lot of it was paper, which is far too expensive for something that pretty much grows on trees. But, mmmmmmm, paper <3
At least I have lots of nice projects lined up for the mid-year break, I'm really looking forward to them. Now I just have to hope I actually end up doing them.

And OH GOD the other day I got mistaken for a Wellington High student. By someone who works for WHS. I was walking to the bus stop and the guy asked me, wasn't I supposed to be in class? And I was like, uh... no?? And he was all, aren't you a High student (hahah, high student), so I told him I go to Massey, and he said: Oh, sorry. It's just you looked young enough, and the way you were looking at me, I thought you might be suspicious.
... I looked at him what? How? I mean, I know my default expression is generally looking-at-you-in-a-funny-way, but dang. I didn't think it was that bad.
Also I'm sorry for being small and easily mistaken for a high-schooler, MY BAD >:(
(on a side note WHY did I just write "night-schooler" instead?)

( Cut because of large amount of design-y things I likeCollapse )

Also: Crochet Discworld! Possibly the coolest thing.

Maaaaaaan, it's been nearly two months since I last posted. I'm doing that thing again.
Although that said it's not like much has happened, so whatever.

Luminary continues to amuse me. We often get tourists in fresh from various cruise ships, and you can tell the ones who aren't used to New Zealand's quaint, capricious ways. I think it can take a while to understand Wellington and its eccentricities (and by eccentricities I mostly mean major failings when compared to the rest of the world). When the floor vibrated in Luminary the other day (as it is wont to do of occasion, for no discernible reason), I was asked by a suddenly worried-looking woman if it was an underground train. I was like, love, this is Wellington. We barely have overground trains.

I also got asked by a woman to try on a hat today. It's not uncommon, it's usually someone buying a present, but this time she looks at me for a while, shakes her head and mutters, 'No... No, that probably wouldn't fit me then, would it?'
But, but, but. There are mirrors. For the looking into while you try things on. To see if it fits you. Why get the shop assistant to do it instead? I don't even. And similar.
Don't get me wrong, I love my job and, despite much repining to the contrary, I like working in retail. But sometimes... people happen. They happen in ways that make me cry a little inside.

Um, that's all you get. I hope you enjoyed our brief encounter.

Felt like taking some more foody photos, so you get some pictures of my Christmas breakfast, which was lovely. ( Find the penguins.Collapse )

It was a really beautiful day on Christmas too, which was a great contrast to today, when I must say it rained like a bitch. Wind speeds of 160kph, I believe; it was almost too dangerous to go outside for most of the day. I hope you choke on it, Wellington.
Of course, this also meant that there was barely anyone in town, so I wrote most of this entry at work to alleviate the numbing tediousness.

For Christmas dinner my mother and I went to the Harvey's house, which was interesting. Haven't seen most of them for a year. Actually it was alright, mostly because Sam seems to have grown out of being an adolescent boy, but then he left to go pick up a friend from the airport and then I really was left surrounded by people either over twice my age, or half it. Which is how all good parties should be, I know (–∆–) Made up for it by drinking five glasses of wine in quick succession and spending the rest of the time being slightly more talkative than I usually am.



Was finally able to install all the software I wanted onto my new computer today, which means I might be at the end of my computer problems, at least for the moment and no I haven't joined Facebook yet hush now.
I also need to rave about Photoshop CS5 for a while because MY GOD the brushes are coooooool. And the lines are so smooth and precise. And, and, and, I think we will get along very well.


The pressure sensitivity is greatly improved.
And now you can forge my signature, free of charge don't do it.

Also sponsored by Adobe is this neat little segue: Anyone want a copy of Photoshop CS2? I think my CD might have one or two more installations on it, and I don't think I'll need it any more.

I think there was something else I had to say but it prolly wasn't so important now that I've forgotten it.

Uggghhh I forgot how tiring working in retail is... It's amazing how just standing up can take it out of you. Or maybe it's just me, cos I'm hideously unfit. Maybe it's just me, cos being friendly takes more effort than it does for the average person :\ Either way I'm totally exhausted and can't wait until this week is over.
I think I've spent so much time hunched over a computer that I can't stand up straight any more. I always catch myself slouching, I really need to fix my posture.
Well, I've got three more days in a row of working 9.00-6.00 so I'd better get used to it. On the plus side, that's lots of money for me :)

I have noticed this weird thing that girls do while shopping: if we see something we like, we have to touch it. It's not just picking it up to look at it, I always see women just stroke a necklace... Or they'll ask to see something in the cabinet (interesting that 'see' here means 'hold') and then give it back without trying it on. They'll just hold it. I've starting noticing myself do it too. I wonder why this is?

What else has happened? I've had a group of Japanese women try to haggle me down by fifty cents. It was a nice try, but when something costs $40.50 I really don't think the 50 part is something you need to worry about.


In other news, my new computer's finally arrived, but I can't get it to connect to the internet. So far my ISP's tech support has been no help, so I guess I'm gonna have to call up Apple... I'm sure it's not supposed to be this complicated, jeez.

So I've finally started drawing again... Got started on the picture Julie wanted, although admittedly I'm not quite sure what it was she wanted. So I've drawn her an urban ninja pirate. Guy. Asian. Batman.

( have a really ugly scanCollapse )

He's up on a tall building, there's city and stuff in the background, no really there is. It needs something more, 'cause compositionally speaking, it's pretty weak, but I'm not sure what to do. Maybe he should be holding something... Suggestions?

Anyway.
I have a nice canvas I want to paint it on but I'm starting to think it would just be easier to paint it digitally (it would be easier). But, but, but, paints /artistic agony
I impressed myself with how quickly I was able to sketch it out, although it still pains me somewhat to look at it. So now I need someone to tell me I can still draw hinthintyhint.

Was slightly surprised I still know what a guy looks like, what with being surrounded by ladies all the time. I mean, really, I only have female friends (there're a couple of guys at Massey that I don't really count cos we don't talk outside of Massey), my courses are 80% female and I work in an accessories shop for women.
I think... something needs to change. Either my social life or sexuality, it's a tough choice you know.

It's nice to be earning money, though. Well, I say earning, it's not really earning if you're just the medium through which it passes from one store to another.

In the meantime, the list of artworks I need/want to make is growing longer and longer and I never seem to either have time or be in the mood to draw. I'm hoping this will change once I have a computer.
It's cruel when the only times I feel inspired are when I'm not in a position to start sketching >:( Especially when it's for work I promised people, like, two years ago. BAD FRIEND /jubeevoice


Aaaand on the cooking front, those matcha/azuki cupcakes really don't look so good when the red sauce seeps into the green icing and makes delicious brown goo. I think the flavour's mellowed out, too, although mum thinks they've gotten stronger, so who knows ,':|
(Does that one look like it's got a raised eyebrow? I need a raised eyebrow emote. MAKE ME ONE NOW. You may win a prize.)

( Listen closely, children.Collapse )

I've been thinking I should write something for a while but now that I'm here I have nothing exciting to say. So you get drivel, yes drivel instead. Hahahaaaaar, suckerssss.

Well, having a job is nice. Working at Luminary is good fun so far, except that because it's mostly sole charge, I can't leave the store for long periods. Which means my actual lunch break is ten minutes long and the rest of the half hour I have to spend lurking behind a curtain in the back, surreptitiously munching. And then I leap out and surprise customers into giving me all their money. Or maybe that's not what I'm supposed to do.
Why yes actually I am secretly a friendly, motivated, helpful and above all smiley person, thank you for not making comments to the otherwise  ಠ˄ಠ

Also the music is not so much fun to sit through for nine hours, on account of how the playlist is only about 100 songs long and consists mostly of Bic Runga, Dido and Michael Bublé. Given that the playlist is titled 'Chill', perhaps I should have seen it coming. I'm sure they're talented artists and lovely people, although that thought isn't protection enough against the agony of hearing Sand In My Shoes for the fifth time in two hours. That said, someone seems to have slipped in Beyonce's Naughty Girl, which perplexes me greatly.


I went to the European Masters exhibition at Te Papa, which was nice. I think I may have worried some people with my glazed expression and barely restrained urge to stroke the paintings. Degaaaaaaaaaas ©©
I was a bit disappointed that there weren't more... famous paintings there though. I know - or at least have heard of - most of the artists but I was kinda sad that most of their prominent works weren't there, on account of how they're in other collections. Another reason why I need to do my Grand Tour, yes thank you Kevin McCloud you smug bastard with your adventuring, intellectual, Italian-speaking ways.