Art it Up! is a weekly feature hosted by Tabitha @ Not Yet Read. It is dedicated to showcasing our Art. It could be inspired by a book or some other entertainment media or even just whatever artistic thing you’ve done that week. Break out those dusty art supplies!
Want to participate? See the Art it Up! main page
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This week’s art
I did a few more wooden plaques. It’s rather challenging to doodle a design that will comfortably fit on something that is 3.25 x 5.25 inches in size! And that is the base size of the entire thing not the actual surface size that I have to draw/color on. The oval one has an even smaller surface then that. Of the three I’ve done so far I definitely like the green guy the best. I’m going to keep doing these “tiny” ones – and I even decided to stop whining about the minor Etsy costs that they charge as a fee and listed them on my Etsy shop.

You can buy them now at http://www.etsy.com/shop/pabkins
You can see lots more of my daily doodles over on my instagram! Remember if you decide to participate via Twitter or Instagram please use #ArtitUp so we can all checkout your doodles!
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Random Doodle of the Week
I really want to get better at drawing things like HAIR (yes like hair on your head) and improve my technique with details so this week’s challenge to myself is hair. So I came up with this little girl last night. She is anime inspired from those helmet girls and the mecha girls that sometimes have decorative tiny wings in their hair.

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This Week’s Crafty AGGRAVATION!
I’m still struggling to finish a custom Frozen / Olaf yarn painting that I’m not really in the mood to do. My sister and husband keep harping on me to do it because I told the lady I would and heck I said I’d have it done 3 days ago so I better really get cracking on it. I guess I’m finding it hard because I don’t have a passion to do it since it isn’t my artwork just “fanart” of a movie that I’m not particularly in love with. It would be different if I were a huge fan of Frozen I bet. LOL
Anyways I’m also trying to strike a balance between my art and my reading. Now that I’m reading heavily again I find that it’s so much easier to plop my butt down on the couch and read then to break out my pencils and sketchbook or my paints and yarn. I should have known this would happen! So I’m trying to make sure I do art at least every other day and still read anytime I have a spare minute.
So link up folks we want to see your art!
Tabitha (Pabkins)
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Angie @Angela's Anxious Life
Well to be honest I would also love to see your Frozen art. I really love Olaf. He is just so positive about life no matter what. Even if he is melting.
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Tabitha (Pabkins)
Don’t worry I’ll be sure to post it probably next week when it’s finished. Very true Olaf is a very fun character.
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Nathan (@reviewbarn)
Oh man, admitting you are not a huge fan of Frozen on the internet. A thousand teens will soon be crashing your site.
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Tabitha (Pabkins)
I know I might get shot any minute now but hordes of little girls in shimmery dresses….
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Art it Up! (34) – Mini monsters and Hair
Anya
Yey, I’m so happy you are adding more to the Etsy shop 😀
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Tabitha (Pabkins)
yes more and more! Tonight I just did a super quick 3×5 inch ice cream creature – its soooo cuteeeeee!
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blodeuedd
Adorbs 🙂
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Tabitha (Pabkins)
Thanks! I just did another that is now my fav a little ice cream creature!
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Review: The Accidental Highwayman by Ben Tripp
lynnsbooks
I agree with Angie – I love Olaf and would love to see your art of him!
I know what you mean about it not being your own style but then I bet there aren’t that many yarn pictures of Olaf!!
Your plaques are great – I love the pink critter with the dark background. It’s difficult working in those size parameters isn’t it – only so much you can fit in! And congrats putting them on Etsy!
Lynn 😀
lynnsbooks recently posted…Looks to me like you’re on the wrong side of the river…
Tabitha (Pabkins)
Thanks – the one I just finished a few minutes ago is now my next favorite next to the little green guy – this one is an ice cream creature its soooo adorable and the size of it worked out perfectly I’m so surprised.
Yeah we’ll see how the Olaf turns out – I’m going to hopefully knock it out tomorrow so I can mail it on Monday.
I’m so excited about the Etsy shop and then not excited at the same time because its so intimidating – there are so many fabulous artists on there that my stuff won’t get noticed but hey doesn’t hurt to try!!
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Molly Mortensen
I hadn’t thought of that, but yeah it would be annoying drawing so small. I’m glad you’re keeping your Etsy shop open. I like the orange guy best myself. Hair is hard! She does look anime-esque. I was thinking of Chi from Chobits for some reason.
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Tabitha (Pabkins)
Thanks for the vote of confidence on the store! I’m definitely going to keep giving it a chance. It’s much too soon to throw in the towel and get intimidated. Yes there are tons of amazing stuff out there but I just have to keep plugging away and trying to improve.
You’re right – she does have a totally Chi from Chobits feel doesn’t she? I’ll take that as a compliment haha.
The small drawing can be kind of fun its the coloring it that is difficult because of the pencils.
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Art it Up! (34) – Mini monsters and Hair
Molly Mortensen
You should so take that as a compliment. She’s adorable!
Molly Mortensen recently posted…Indie Book Review: Elemental Rancor by Charles Lominec
Diamond
I struggle with that balance a lot. Unfortunately, reading usually wins. I can’t force my creative moods, and they’re very …picky, brief, crazy. Lol. But with how crazy things have been lately I have been in a reading slump and overwhelmed and am actually scheduling (yes, you heard that right) a craft and art day with a friend to make some presents and Art I can hopefully give for the holidays. I have a ton of ideas bubbling and I feel it will relax me in a way reading can’t right now (reviews, lack of posts on my blog, etc.. Arghh!)
Ultimately, you can rush or pressure yourself a bit, but you don’t want your content to suffer. I usually know within the first brushstroke whether forcing myself to sit down and paint will work or not, and if it doesn’t you could maybe tell the customer that you are working to make it even better and you’re sure she will appreciate the extra time you’re putting into her piece. (When said like that, usually people are amenable to that.) good luck!
Tabitha (Pabkins)
Yeah I can’t force a creative mood either though doodling is easy because if it doesn’t turn out good then ehhh who cares right it’s just a doodle. And usually my doodles I refine later and use them for something else like a watercolor painting or a wooden plaque or a acrylic painting or yarn art so it all starts with the doodles which I’m usually always able to pump one out a day if I remember to take a few minutes to do it.
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Review: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
The wooden plaques look so much larger in the photo, I didn’t realize that you were working with something that’s super tiny. My respect for your skills just went up a notch. It sucks that your Frozen project is lagging behind, but that’s what happens when you have to do something, as opposed to crafting just for you!
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Tabitha (Pabkins)
They aren’t like SUPER tiny – but when you realize that they are smaller then a standard size photo it’s funny huh? One of those fits in the palm of my hand!
I’m having fun with the smaller / tiny plaques – I definitely plan to grab more since I only got 4 thinking that I wouldn’t like working that small and had originally planned that size to be like “testers” now I’ll totally do more I think.
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Review: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron
Richelle Nicole
Your art is rocking!! Hair is something I definitely struggle with, so I understand the need to practice! Get to work on that Olaf lady *cracks whip* He will look AMAZING when you’re done
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Tabitha (Pabkins)
muuuwhaha the Olaf is done! Hopefully it’ll get purchased by the lady the end of this week. He looks ok I’m not happy with his right eye =P
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Review: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron
Danya @ Fine Print
Hey, hair is important! I like the movement you put into the hair in your doodle. Very cool! Good luck with the Frozen piece – personally I think it’s always hard to finish a project you’re not passionate about.
Danya @ Fine Print recently posted…Review: Grave Witch by Kalayna Price
Tabitha (Pabkins)
Well I finally finished the Olaf from Frozen. And yes it is totally hard to force yourself to do something you’re not all that into. I don’t think I’ll do that kind of commission again.
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Review: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron
Rachel @ Paper Cuts
Not having the motivation to do your painting reminds me of writing papers for school. If it was something I was interested in, I’d have it done quickly, painlessly, and happily. But, if I didn’t care much or it was a given topic, I’d just put it off till I had to. 🙂 Your interest definitely makes a difference!
Tabitha (Pabkins)
Luckily I’m almost done with it now – I’d say I’ve got about one third of it left to do. I’m hoping to finish it tomorrow so I can mail it out on Tuesday or Wednesday. I’ll be relieved when its done and a lesson to myself not to take on something that I’m not truly interested in doing.
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Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows Reviews
I absolutely love looking at your art (as usual) YAY for putting them on etsy too 😀 Oh and I love the anime chick with the looong hair – preeetty! Thanks (again) for sharing!
Hope your having a great week – oh and I apologize for the radio silence on my end, I moved last month and ended up without internet at home for over 2 weeks o_O *cringe* I’m only starting to catch up this week hehe!
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Tabitha (Pabkins)
Thanks Micheline! No worries I know how it is to have computer and net problems. I am in dire need right now of reformatting my computer and I’m just so lazy about doing it! I hate that it takes so long to get net connected sometimes when you move. I’d be sitting at starbucks or the library if that were the case lol.
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Review: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron