EvE Designs: Animal Art Advent Calendar 2013

Saturday, 14 December 2013

December 14th: The Mouse King (for my Mummy).

Copyright/ All RIghts Reserved Elissa V Evans 2013
Inspired by the Royal ballet's Mouse King earlier this evening, drawn from memory...I managed to notice the King had little mice heads in amongst his crown mane! Ewww.
Pencil, watercolour and ink on handmade paper.

On a very wet and windy 14th evening of December, my dear mum took me to see The Nutcracker Ballet(streamed live from the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, to our local arts cinema in the Taliesin at Swansea University of Wales).

What glorious music(Tchaikovsky) and what talented dancers! There were a few kids there, with their mummies and daddies, and the little girls were all dressed up in pretty frocks and head bands. I bet they all want to be ballerinas when they grow up. They probably go to local ballet classes, just like I used to do. I wonder... is it too late to train again? Hmmmm. I think so! Nothing stopping me do a few pirouettes in the kitchen for Marty, though, is there?

Thanks for a lovely evening Mummy! Merry Christmas! xxx

Friday, 13 December 2013

December 13th: The unlucky Magpie and a Parrot made with love (for you Vicky Archer).

Copyright/All Rights Reserved Elissa V Evans 2013.
Pencil, Ink pen and coloured felt tip on the back cover of my sketchbook.

On this the 13th day (a Friday!) of December, whilst walking along one of the main roads in Swansea, I came across a poor injured Magpie huddled in a door way of a shop. I tried to gather him up in my warm hands, in order to take him to a quieter spot, or even to the bird hospital, but he was too frightened and kept attempting to fly/ walk off. In the end I had to leave him... I wonder if he's made it through the day? What an unlucky day for him.

Sorry for the sad post... here's a happier bird to cheer you up:

My lovely Aunty Vicky made this felt parrot on a hoop for my darling baby boy, when he was born. Vic the Parrot swings underneath the lamp next to Marty's cot. We say goodnight/nos da to Vic every night. This post is a belated birthday drawing for you, (Aunty) Vicky Archer... better late than never, eh? Lots of love. xxx

December 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th ! A mini zoo ( Giraffe, Monkey,Penguin & Polar Bear Cub) for you; Laura Kircough, Rhian Mai & Ffion Jones, Asa Seljestad & my darling Sis, Meriel Evans)

December 9th:

Copyright/All Rights Reserved EvE 2013
Giraffe drawn from a photo I took at Folly Farm, back in the Summer.
Tree inspired by, well, a tree.
Pencil and Watercolour on handmade paper.

This rather lovely Giraffe is for my old school friend, old as in from the 80's, not old as in 'she is old...', oh dear. Hmmm.
Any way a Christmas Giraffe was suggested, and so this is my offering. I think it has a certain charm. Merry Christmas Laura! xxx

December 10th:

This little sketch is a Monkey, or rather it should say 'Mwnci', as it is for my Welsh speaking friend and her daughter (one of Marty's baby/toddler girlfriends). Hope you like (hoffi) it, Rhian Mai and Ffion ? xxx

December 11th:

Copyright/All Rights Reserved EvE 2013
Giraffe drawn from a photo in my dear friend, Asa's FB album.
With added military star ribbon, just because.
Sharpie pens and pencil, on the back of a brown envelope.

An extremely quick drawing for the 11th day of December. 11.12.13, was a busy old day for me but just enough time to do a doodle penguin for my lovely gal pal Asa. He's for you Asa babe! x

December 12th:

Copyright/All Rights Reserved EvE 2013
Polar Bear cub from memory after a visit to Poundffald Farm Winter wonderland.
They had a grotto full of mechanical animals and Santas and all things Christmassy.
It was really great.
Parker pen biro on handmade paper

And on the 12th day of December I drew this little fella for my beautiful and talented Sister who came over from Paris to join us for a trip to Winter wonderland, so Marty could meet Father Christmas. Such great memories! We all loved the grotto en route to Mr C with it's winding path of animals, singing Christmas trees, life size nativity (with a rather old looking 'baby' Jesus, the jazz band Santas, fake snow machine and real life reindeers (although one of them looked rather sorry for himself which made us all feel rather sad, too). Thanks for coming 'home' Sis - we'll come to you in the New year for some French memories! I love you!!! xxxxxxxxx

Sunday, 8 December 2013

December 8th: A handful of Elephant (for my boy, Marty)

Copyright/All Rights Reserved Elissa V Evans (and Marty Wilson)2013
Life drawing of Marty's Elephant handpuppet made by Bambia (an Aldi purchase).
Carpenter's pencil, with added lines and expressive marks by Marty Wilson, aged 18months.

On the 8th day of December, whilst still in my dressing gown, I was playing with our gorgeous son and all his stuffed animal toys. Bambia elephant(handpuppet) posed for a quick drawing and it was all going well until Marty decided he wanted the pencil. I think he felt my drawing needed loosening up a little. My head of Fine Art, back in Art college, would agree with him and I,too, think our joint effort is actually rather lovely!

By the way I take commissions and love drawing other peoples long loved toys. A great way to keep them alive long after they have lost their eyes and limbs and fur! Contact me on elissavevans@hotmail.com or via my FB page

Saturday, 7 December 2013

December 7th: A Kangaroo and Joey (or rather, 'KangaRuth & Joey Bach', for you and Sam, Ruth Cronin!)

On this the 7th day of December and after going to 2 different Christmas family fun events, with our lad, O and I are truly worn out. So this little drawing is a quick portrait for a pal and her son... Sam, look it's you as a joey ,and Ruth, yes that's right, you as a Kangaroo! Hmmmm... still friends? Hope so. xxx

Friday, 6 December 2013

December 6th: Mrs Tiggy-winkles needs our help (this one is for me!)

On this the 6th day of December, my boys and I had a little trip to Cardiff Bay to collect an exhibition that Jazz Heritage Wales* had on in the Senedd (Welsh National Assembly building). We stumbled across an outdoor Christmas market and spent an hour looking round all the lovely stalls. One stand was for the RSPB and whilst chatting to the chap running it I discovered, to my horror, that our hedgehog population really needs our help. In the 1960s there were some 35,000,000 little spikey friends roaming around our fair isle, and now in 2013 there are only an estimated 1,000,000 left! We need to help create their natural habitat again... too many patios,concrete,and tarmac gardens all of which are walled or fenced in. Outdoor lights left on and cars everywhere don't help matters, either. I really hope it's not too late... absolutely heartbreaking. Can you help?

Thursday, 5 December 2013

December 5th: Gini the pooch, with and without a Santa hat. For you, dear Abbe Elson (Oops Vaughan!)

On the 5th day of December, and after eating a lovely kebab with my man and a pal, I (rather quickly) drew this rather sweet pup - Gini, the pooch. One of my friends, Abbe, suggested a picture of those poor pooches that are made to dress up as Santa...so I've sketched her little woof(or is it your Mum's Abbe?),and below is a version with a Santa's hat. Please tell me you don't dress her up in real life? Poor woofs.

Copyright/ All Rights Reserved Elissa V Evans 2013
My friend's doggy (with added Santa hat), from a photo. Pencil, pen, and a tiny bit of watercolour
- oh yes, and spit to smudge the black in with my fingertip. Nice.

Right, now I'm going to make 3 big mugs of tea, and watch 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', with my hubby and pal... what a movie!