Bought some fun new pens (called “Pilot FriXion Ball” gel pens, in brown, .5 mm and .7mm respectively, plus a new sketchbook, because those were on sale at the art store). So I decided to sketch with them using brown pencils to embellish, as necessary.

“Brown Studies” is not what the name really means, which I think is a Victorian code phrase for pornographic literature. I could look that up (because the internet seems to hold all knowledge, especially of those kinds of things), but won’t because I’m lazy, and just want to post these up here.

The usual from me, but maybe more variety, and possibly even a hint of coolness, because I drew some things from the recent issue of “EXCLAIM” magazine. Other things are from off the street, vaguely, or out of my roiling, fevered head.

Happily, the rains stopped yesterday, enough to allow me to sit on the balcony and get a modicum of sun. Interesting people were out in the streets, but I’m worried that they seemed more hip than the usual residents, and I wondered if this neighbourhood was further gentrifying.

The amount of English I heard spoken in the streets was a worry for me too, because I treasure my exile in this area.

Digital drawing of a cat, from the cover of this week’s Montreal Mirror.

I’m afraid I’m going for the simple SEO on the title here. If you’re not aware, that means “Search Engine Optimisation,” and is where people put words in that they think will be used in Google-type searches, to win more views for their article.

Still, cats are pretty popular on the internet (as if you hadn’t guessed!), so this post might get more than the usual number of views. It’s Mr. Boggedy, my senior cat of the three here (or, at least the largest). This is thanks to it being a sunny day the other day. Cats and I like to sit out on the balcony, and I’m with my sketching stuff.

A couple of quick digital paintings I did on my little computer (an Asus EEE subnotebook) while chatting with a friend. This is good, because it means I’m generally getting more relaxed with it! Still so much to learn. Check this page, for instance.

I should post most of my useful digital painting training links, but everyone’s path through this is so individual. I’m jealous of a lot of the deluxe online (and in person) courses out there, but they cost a mint to attend (and I don’t have one at the moment).

As the artist promised, Sherwin Tjia has sent me this sketch of a cat. The postman folded it, of course, but I am flattening it out.

He had a pill today, and so hated me fiercely for about 5 minutes. But soon was back to his old gentle self. It was sunny, so we even sat out on the balcony today. Thank goodness for spring.

I’ve got a new, slightly intimidating photoshop. Took a while to paint this, and it’s not exactly according to the tutorials I was watching, but interesting enough. For more Nora the cat, go here.

Keanu (Feel the Heat?)

A California Woman

Little Watercolour People

Plus the usual cat.