Monday (Wednesday) Music - and more steampunkery

Busy week! (as I'm sure it is where you are, if you are celebrating Thanksgiving this week. And have a house full of people. And deadlines..)

There was a room devoted to live music at Steamcon (what is steampunk music you ask? Yeah, I did too... Was told it was classic sorts of songs done with a twist... You decide if that is at all satisfactory.) At any rate, here are a couple of the performers that were at the convention last weekend...

And for your viewing pleasure - more pics!

 Yes, that *is* a birdcage on her head (she had one of my favorite costumes all day).

 A very debonair couple...

 More of the boy...

 It's for *all* ages!! :-)

 

 The theme this year was "Wild, Wild West" - and behold! Steampunk cowboy!

These guys were from the League of S.T.E.A.M. (www.leagueofsteam.com). This fine gentleman demonstated his zombie-fighting apparatus by having me grab the metal prongs. Zowiee! Pretty shocking - literally! (and powered by baby electric eels, no less...:-)

 Hand-powered wooden chain-saw.

 (they have paranormal adventures posted on their website..)

 Another awesome get-up...

Steam puppy!

 And this is the lovely Gail Carriger, signing her books for me. (squee!)

*Everyone* looked great. Over 95% of the people there were dressed to the nines. So much eye candy. I wish I could have taken a picture of *everyone* there.

But the company was the funnest part - the son, a good friend and some face time wandering about with Greg Manchess (who is the best sport of anyone I know).

Already looking forward to next year (which will be 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea :-).

Sunday Sketching (with some steampunkery) -

Sleepy sketch today - after a weekend of steampunking...

Justin and I spent Saturday at Seattle's second annual steampunk convention (Steamcon II).  We stayed up way late the night before making accessories to wear -

I made a stacked ring (like my sister makes with buttons -left), and key-earrings (which were very heavy! My ears aren't used to that much weight).

Here's my bracelet -

-my pendant - which I hung on my pass. I had collaged it with a larger key and padlock, which fell off sometime during... :-( sad. I loved that key...

My modified penny-farthing broach...

-and I borrowed Justin's top hat - which I adorned with found and built hat pins, and a 'clockwork poppy', also courtesy of my sister... Twas just fripperies - and nothing compared to what the majority were wearing, but that will have to wait until tomorrow...

Figure Friday -

 The model had a lovely slinky robe that we decided he should partially keep on so that we could also draw the drape...

...but being sleepy, I ended up copping out and drawing extremities...

WIP Wednesday - Critique Meeting -

Tonight was our monthly critique meeting -

I brought print-outs of the large spreads from the current book I'm working on for tweaking (me and perspective - we are not friends).  They are all much better for their critical eyes...

It takes a village to illustrate a book I tell ya. Thanks girls.
(You can see more of our critique meeting on our POBL blog).

Music Monday - OK Go

You may recall the awesome of OK Go's treadmill music video:

More recently, they've done another constant-motion installment.This time with doggehs!

I like their music fine - but am not sure I would ever listen to it on purpose if not for the fabulous video accompaniment. :-) With it, it's pretty darn addictive.

Sunday Sketching -

 

 

10-minute or so heads in the teeny purse-Moleskine upon my knee.....

Figure Friday - Renaissance day

 It was draped/costume day at life drawing today...

 Had a fun time drawing all layery drapery...(15-20 minute poses here).

...while we listened to period soundtracks (Romeo and Juliet, The Virgin Queen, Tristan + Isolde, etc....)  Fun day! (1 hour pose).

WIP Wednesday -

(yeah, I know it's not Wednesday - I'm slammed. Don't judge me.)

Pardon my sporadicness....  I'm trying to wind up this last book that is past due... So, lots of drawing drawing drawing. Hope to be back soon....

Music Monday - Uninvited....

Just seemed like a good day for a live version of Alanis Morissette's 'Uninvited'... (love me some orchestrated backing to rock songs...)

(Studio version is here..)

Sunday Sketching -

The internets wouldn't work for me yesterday, so I could not post...

 

...but here be the quickie head-sketches in my teensy purse Moleskine upon my knee....

Figure Friday -

Awesome model. Amazing muscle definition. Wish I could have done him better justice...

Music Monday - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

This song is factual (the wreck took place November 10, 1975) - but Gordon Lightfoot makes it feel like something out of myth.... This is a very moving video accompaniment...


Happy November to you...