Madeleine von Post Artwork Portfolio

My wacom and me

2011-12-09T20:04:00.000-08:00

So I decided to move on from the Christmas card and work a bit on the blog header. I think I've had the text "temporary blog/portfolio for my artwork and illustrations" just a BIT too long for it to be considered temporary. So now it's not! It's winter now, and winter means I feel no guilt at all sitting inside drawing/drinking glögg all day since it's pitch black outside from 2pm anyway. Even if I get some mad notion and venture outside it would only be a quick half-run to the shops and back, to fill up the Ben n Jerry-supplies. SO. Hopefully this means I get some more drawing done. More probably I will get fat, slightly depressed and too tired to draw from all the ice cream and lack of oxygen, but I live in a world called denial. It's nice there. They got ice cream. And rainbows.

Anyhow. I know you can see the header, but here's some details, for those interested. Now, next project... will... beeeee...... hmmm.... I think machines or monsters. I also have a new webpage design floating around in the back of my abstract mind that will require some animation. And I promised my brother to help out with an animation for his game. Why aren't the days longer?

And then came Winter

2011-12-05T17:44:00.000-08:00

It's strange. I come home around 10 after a long day at work, the weather is some sort of dirty slush of water and pollution with a dash of ice. Though it isn't anything like last years nightmarish ice age, it's cold enough to just not want to go outside. Ever. It's dark. So. Very. Dark. At this time, any normal person would enjoy finally being within the warm walls of their home, cook dinner and then let their brains slowly dissolve to some pointless tv-series. I've seen it. A hint of drool in the corner of their open mouth, staring blankly in front of them with glossy eyes, taking comfort in the knowledge that there is absolutely no point whatsoever in even trying to think. It's colours and sounds and maybe a primitive form of interest in pretend people's pretend lives. But no, no. Not me. You know I feel deprived of this relaxation. I think, there might be something wrong with me. Well I know that, there's a lot wrong with me. But THIS? Can I not do THIS? As far as I'm concerned it seems like the very essence of being human, the ability to be lazy and, literally, do NOTHING.

No. I can't do nothing. Especially when I've worked late and come home even more tired than usual. I'm like... well I want to use the work stressed here, but that's not right. It's kind of a similar feeling, except I don't feel bad or have any anxiety or anything. I'm just full of ideas. It's like the cogs in my head went "click" and for the first time during the entire day the machinery actually works. No, the only thing my brain wants to do is draw. Or make things. Produce. And not stop. No matter the time. I could keep going through the entire night. But I stopped now. And I'm going to bed. A little bit angry.

Did this little thing. Just a sketch. Think I'm making it into some sort of Christmas card if I can be arsed to finish it. Not happy with her face so I might redo that entirely. The trees in the background were fun, and quick! First time drawing snow in the dark, enjoyed it a lot actually. Oh well. Learning learning.

Did some more on it. Now I really can't be bothered to do more... NEXT! Hmm... what is next?

The two days with my throat

2011-11-25T20:14:00.000-08:00

For the past two days I've been reminded I have a throat, and vocal chords. It's not something you'd normally think about. How often do you think about your throat? Like "oh yeah here's my throat, and it feels nice and.. yeah it doesn't feel really". I can honestly say I never do. No, the only time you think that your throat feels nice is after a horrible session of man-flu. Then the feeling of NOT feeling your throat is so unbelievably comfortable as opposed to the feeling of it being an open flesh wound sprinkled with sulfuric acid. I'm not quite there yet. The point when it's over I mean. That means I still wake up in the middle of the night for a severe, life threatening couching session. Yes I make suffocation noises, thinking for a solid 10 minutes that I won't ever be able to breathe and that life is nearing it's end. No light in the end of the tunnel though. None of that good "near to death" stuff. No colours. No what goes through my brain is more like "oh god oh god oh dear god I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die right here in my bed, this is so sad, I have such ugly PJs on, I deserve a better end, oh the humiliation, my dear god the pain the pain the pain".

So. I think I hit bottom yesterday morning. So tomorrow WILL be better. Yes.

Here's what I've been up to whilst waiting for my throat to feel good again. It's a WIP of course. Hopefully I'll have time to finish it this weekend. Aiming for a late 1600-style... And who is this strapping young lad? Ha! You tell me! Clue no1 -tis' the Love of my LIFE.

The World is Chaos

2011-08-09T15:43:00.000-07:00

...What the hell is going on? Is the zombie apocalypse here yet? Man, and I booked a trip to London this weekend, don't I have timing.

Oh well. Did some drawing, "maybe" for an invitation to a smaller dinner party later this year. It's still not decided if it happens or not, but I figured the drawing is kinda done. I could keep going but I'd rather move on to something else now.

Fishkids finished?

2011-06-21T13:52:00.000-07:00

Managed some drawing on those rare evening hours with no urgent have-to's. Doodled some more on the fish kids. Dunno, its not exactly what I wanted. I DO need to practice more on colours and lights but... you know. Every bit of drawing is practice I suppose. Next up I'll go all in making a digital painting imitating a classical oil portrait. At least that's the plan. Should get back on to doing the dreams again.... so many shoulds. OH WELL. Now, wash dog and then GoT. The fourth book. For the third time.

I changed the design of her legs, still not pleased with the arm and her pose but then my original drawing was very, VERY quick. Next time I'll work more with the poses before I start.

The Fish and the Kids

2011-06-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, against all odds I FINALLY managed to get some me-time. Me-time meaning time for me, ice cream and my wacom. Result is yet another unfinished speedy thing. Though I have spent too long on it already I will actually try to finish this one, I kinda like them, the fish kids. I blame my lazy pace on lack of practice. To tell you the truth I have been quite busy the last couple weeks. I'm loving the new job and the weekends seem to disappear in a hazy cloud of rum. And, lets not forget my little date with the darling dentist. That was a less pleasant experience. One might even say it was the worst experience ever.

The Roaring New Year

2011-03-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

Forgot to upload the invitation to our 1920's themed New Year's eve party. Didn't quite turn out how I wanted to but it did the trick. I think it was the lack of reference for the girl and the fact that I couldn't decide what kind of art deco I wanted. I kinda went for an early 1918 on the dress and hair and then a more 1940-ish style on the font/emblem. I need more focus and limitations when I do stuff. I tend to want to do everything and it ends up... bleeeuuurgh.

The quick ones

2011-03-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

Another speed drawing, motif from a recent dream. Yes, in the dream I went out on a purple field of light bulb flowers. I picked some, they glowed quite nicely. The dream ended with me in a cobalt-blue suit and a team of prisoners rescuing a princess from a horrible wedding with the help of her flying horse. And then there was fireworks...

...I'm slowly going mad, aren't I. Oh well.

Work in Progress

2011-01-29T15:12:00.000-08:00

Worth mentioning, I know the design of the "fountain" is hideous but seriously, I have no control over my dreams whatsoever! Don't judge me.

Herding Cats

2011-01-28T10:27:00.000-08:00

A little Thursday night practice. I need some serious training in environments/lighting and thought I'd start creating a series of drawings based on my dreams. My not so normal, epic-movie, sci-fi, monster-robot and zombie dreams. I'll also try not to spend more than a day doing it so to get up to speed. Next one up I do think I need some more time on. It's... different. Let's just say I am to do some thorough investigation in the anatomy of weasel heads, jumping whales, porcelain and military uniforms.

Milo and..... Hate?

2011-01-21T15:38:00.000-08:00

To be continued...

Character Sketches

2011-01-21T15:34:00.000-08:00

Drawings

2011-01-21T15:30:00.000-08:00