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A Doodle A Day…

Deep in the Forest

Keeps the dentist away? LOL No, that’s not how it goes. No, this post isn’t for one doodle, it’s for a lot of doodles! I’ve been dealing with a broken tooth causing severe nerve pain over the right side of my face, and a lack of my normal 8×10 wood panels to paint on. So what’s an artist to do? Doodle. Familiarizing myself more with my iPad and Adobe Fresco, and just having fun-while also trying not to think about the pain. I finally found a dentist, about 40 minutes away, that takes Delta Dental. So, that’s something, but I don’t see them until the 18th, and since I’m a new patient they probably won’t even do anything that day. But hey, this whole experience has ramped up my creative process, so that is something!

Mushhead

So I keep doodling. I have a surplus of 9×12 wood panels, thanks to repeatedly being sent the wrong size (Arteza please, I love your product so much, but I need those 8×10’s!) but 9×12’s sell slower probably because of the price, but 9×12 uses more paint. They also take 6 scans because though my scanner bed is 9×12, it doesn’t scan the whole glass, so I have to move the painting around to get all the sides, and then photomerge them all in Photoshop. It’s just extra work I’d rather not have to deal with, you know? I’m thankful I made the decision to buy an iPad during times like this, and grateful for Adobe and the ease of using their products like Fresco. I taught myself how to use Photoshop over 20 years ago, so jumping into the Fresco app was super easy.

DJ Meows-A-Lot II

So doodle I do. I am currently addicted to looking at “What day is today” to see what holidays are happening/coming up. It is a nice bit of inspiration for what to paint, since somehow I found myself painting very seasonally, very holiday-oriented themes. Could I paint Halloween every day, all day, every year? Probably, but I think I might lose some people if I did. Honestly I think I’d get bored on the same thing repeatedly.

Attempted Murder

One thing I’m trying is text on designs for t-shirts. It is NOT my forte. Like, at all. I don’t get along with fonts or text. I have access to a library of fonts, thanks to Adobe subs, but I just don’t have the eye for it. I’m not sure if it’s because personally I would never wear a shirt with text on it, or a t-shirt other than to sleep in. I don’t like the look, and maybe that’s partially why I am not great at it? I was watching this video Teepublic suggested not too long ago by a designer Michael Essek, and his thing is text, funny text on art tees. Yeah I learned nothing from it, but I really wanted to.

Not Today

When I make little doodles for a day, like National Lazy Day, I give up with fonts and just write it with my janky lefthanded handwriting. ha! Though, to be fair I did use the same font I used for the crows on this one saying, “Not Today.” I hate it. I don’t know if other people like it, or if they’ll buy it, or if it would just be better without the text. What do you think? I super appreciate any feedback, btw. I think that’s all the doodles I’ll share today, will make another post tomorrow with more that I’ve recently worked on. Don’t forget, click the photos to go the my Teepublic shop if you’re interested in a print or shirt with my art! Thanks <3

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Telling Ghost Stories

Two kitties telling ghost stories by the campfire! It’s more fun with creepy guitar noises and dressing up as a ghost!

Do you have any ghost stories, any experiences? Do you believe in ghosts? I’ve had quiet a few experiences over the years, things that I can’t explain. One of the earliest memories was in a big old house we lived in in Inglewood, California. My brother and I shared a room (even though we had guest rooms…) and one day our two Doberman Pinschers, Max and Chief, started fighting. My mom and stepdad sent us up to our room to stay out of the way. We both sat on my brother’s bed which was next to the wall with a window. With our legs dangling between the bed and the wall, we sat there watching out the window to the yard below, as my mom, stepdad, and a couple of my mom’s workers tried to separate the dogs with water from a hose.

The Eternal Dance, Ⓒ Ryan Conners

Suddenly I felt hands on my legs and they were pulling, like trying to pull me under the bed. I started panicking and crying, my brother sat next to me looking at me like I’m losing my mind. I scream out that someone is pulling my legs, and scream for my mom. All the adults come running into the house, upstairs to our room, because I’m screaming bloody murder, holding on to the bed. My stepdad grabs me and pulls me off the bed, asking what is going on. I tell him and there’s confusion like, what? What do you mean? They look under the bed, nothing. Look in the closet, and then start looking around the house for someone. They didn’t find anyone. My legs had marks all over that they couldn’t explain. To this day, I refuse to have my bed alongside a wall.

Ghost, Ⓒ Ryan Conners
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Happy World Photography Day!

I wonder what kitty was going to photograph today? What are you going to photograph!?

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Happy Pet Appreciation Week!

Rosebud in the VW

Rosebud Hugs

Happy Pet Appreciation week to our pets! Here I’m sharing photos of my Rosebud and his sister Willow. Rosebud went from a tiny floofy kitten, to a giant floofer. Like, really, he’s massive. But he was SO tiny! Look at him, life imitating art, playing in a Barbie VW.

Willow & Dorian

WIllow and Stevie

Willow went from a tiny floofy kitten, to a petit kitty who loves to hang out while I’m painting! She’s also an art critic, along with her Mother Stephen. =P

I hope everyone has a wonderful week, and let your pets know you extra appreciate them!

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Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone who celebrates had a very Merry Christmas!

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Happy Caturday! Black Cat and Spotted Chicken

© Ryan Conners

My newest painting for today! Digital week is over so I thought I’d start back painting with a funky chicken and cat. If you’ve followed my blog for some time, you know I used to have backyard chickens. They were wonderful. Not only because of the fresh eggs, but we raised them from chicks and they were the sweetest and funniest creatures. Puddy cat loved to hang out in the yard while we tended to the chickens.

On a different note, today is also World Goth Day. It’s a running joke in my close circle of friends and family that I’m goth, only because we’ve all been asked so many times by random people if I’m goth. I’m not. Also, I re-did the first version of my Black Cat Lady digital art piece, took away the blue hair, kept the orangey background from the second version, and put the black button up blouse back on her. So that version is also available in my Society6 Shop now. I figured she’s kind of apropos for today. =)

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Monday & Tuesday New Digital Illustrations

One of my favorite photos of my Puddy cat before he passed was “Sleeping Puddy, Paper Cranes.” I have painted versions of it a couple times and decided to do a digital version. This time it’s Wally Bear going on an adventure!

I drew out these cafetière images on the iPad last year and never did anything with them, so I decided to add more colors for a print. As a coffee-lover, I’d actually hang this in my own kitchen. =)

Of course, I can’t not do a cat with coffee, so here’s a ginger kitty drawn after my Rosebud, with some glasses and coffee!

I have a few other illustrations in the works for this week of “not painting” with traditional paints. It’s actually been rather difficult because I have ideas for paintings, but for now those just get scribbled into a sketchbook for later. Are there any themes you’d like to see me draw for this digital week? Let me know in the comments below!

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May the 4th!

I’ve taken quite a few pictures of my son’s Star Wars figures over the years, and maybe painted a Darth kitty or two. But my favorite photo set is of Minnie burning on the pyre after the news of Disney buying Lucas Film.

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Happy Easter!

Rabbits' Tea Time8605772253_341e0a94a7_b13825621754_6bd21a2af2_b

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Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day!

_MG_7620-3

“The Little Witch”

-Painted with Golden acrylics.
-Approx. 8″ x 7 1/4″ x 1″ Piece of pine (left over from shelves I put up)
-Topped with two coats of gloss varnish.
-Signed, titled, and dated on the back by me!

Sitting on the moon with her cute little pumpkin!

blackcatapp

Me with our semi-feral kitty, Lily! She will cuddle at night, but try to take a picture with her…aka anything that may require holding her, is off limits!