a little place to call my own (art and fashion blog)

Today just a quick post, as I'm only going to share my fashion illustration with you. The painting process was fairly simple. First I sketched this girl with a pencil, then I filled it in with watercolours. I added the finishing touches with markers and then I added another layer of watercolour to blend the watercolour and markers. You'll be able to see a part of the painting process, if you choose to scroll down. In addition, I made a tutorial collage explaining this painting in 4 steps, just in case that you would like to copy this design of mine or make your own fashion illustration in a similar style.  I'm not a professional fashion illustrator so I can't teach you how to make professional fashion illustrations, but as a hobby artist I can (and will) share my painting process with you. Why not? As long as I'm on this subject, I'll also say a few words about my motivation for this illustration. I wasn't motivated by anything in particular, just spring in...

Hi guys! Today it's time for my regular 'Inspired by' feature. That means I'm back with another fashion illustration of mine. But as you know, when it comes to this feature, it's not going to be just any kind of fashion illustration. It's going to be a fashion illustration inspired by a fashion blogger. Over the years, I've  illustrated so many fashion bloggers. I love fashion bloggers (big surprise!:)).  I've always maintain that when it comes to regular features on my blog, this is my favourite one. Perhaps because it allows me to join two things I love, fashion bloggers and my art. This time I illustrated a blogger from Not Jess Fashion (you can visit her blog here ). The medium is watercolour on paper. I added some finishing touches with coloured markers. I absolutely love this outfit. Well, I obviously love it since I illustrated it and all. I think it's feminine, beautiful and simply perfect for these transitional days. Great take on the ...

When it comes to shopping our own closets, there are many obvious benefits. However, today I would also like to talk about the surprising benefits of shopping our closets, the ones you perhaps didn't think about.  I wanted to write about this subject for such a long time. Today I'm finally taking the opportunity to do it. Personally, I'm a big proponent of shopping our own closets. Some of you have even noticed that. I do like to re-wear clothing items and I know I'm not the only one. A lot of people are advocating shopping our closets these days. There is so much I feel like I have to say about this subject. I'm sure that I'm not revealing anything revolutionary when I point out that shopping our closets makes sense. As someone who loves and possibly even prefers this type of shopping to any other form of shopping, I feel like I have something to say. So today I will talk about 'shopping our closets' in more detail. Nevertheless, I will try to refrain ...

There is a stark contrast between the black marker fashion illustrations/sketches I'm going to share today and my outfit. The fashion sketches are all about spring and summer, while the outfit is all about winter. The only thing they have in common is that they are both in black. So, I figured I can post them together. I made these sketches last summer and originally I didn't plan to share them on my blog, but now I decided to do so because I've spent quite a few hours drawing and painting yesterday and that made me realize how important sketching is. Free styling things is everything when you'e trying to find your own style. Yesterday I've even used markers again (to work on my new illustrations), so that made me reflect not just on drawing with markers but on the importance of drawing from head. I have even made a little drawing/painting video but I'm not sure am I going to post it or not. Would you like to see it? Painting from memory or imagination is...

Hi darlings! I decided to start a new regular feature on my blog. This feature will be focused on easy and quick recipes. I'm a foodie. I think I've always been one. A typical Taurus lady, you could say. I love to cook and bake. I don't need to mention that I love to eat, I think you can all see that, wink wink. Cooking is one of those things I can never get tired of. I do enjoy trying out new recipes and preparing food. However, like everyone else on this planet, I don't always have all the time I want or need for cooking on my disposal. Just like everyone else, sometimes I have to make do with a limited amount of time. When things get a little hectic or when I'm simply tired, sick or occupied with something, I like to rely on easy & quick recipes. Today I was on a phone with a friend and I mentioned how much I love to prepare Italian food. I'm a  big fan of Italian cuisine. Not just because it's delicious, but because most Italian dishes don't...

Spring is in the air. Well, sort of. It's kind of cold, but we won't let stop us, will we? We can always snuggle with a nice book. Speaking of which, this is the book I'm reading at the moment. All the Kings's Men by Robert Penn Warren. Published in 1964, it is considered a classic. Warren even got a Pulitzer for this novel. So far, this novel didn't disappoint me. It talks about a rise of a politician Willie, but the story itself is told from a perspective of Jack, who works for Willie. The narrative pattern resembles that of The Great Gatsby. I do like the way this book is written. The style of writing makes me think of Faulkner. I haven't finished it yet, so I can't give you a recommendation or anything like that. Are you reading anything at the moment? I have to level with you and say that I haven't done as nearly as much reading this month as I usually do. I could say it is because I had a lot of medical exams, but that would be just an excuse. Th...