The pencils that dance the best . . .

I have been keeping my funky brain busy with some cartooning and some art over the last week or so, call it relaxation in the run up to Christmas and all the excitement that is literally lifting the roof of our house! Yep the mini Funky's are well and truelly excited for the man in the red suit and our house has gone from a tad untidy and in need of storage to a WINTER WONDERLAND and even more untidyness. Lametta and tinsel have it in for me, im sure they wait until i have put the hoover away and then throw themselves off the tree! And what is it with the Blu tak these days? It couldn't hold a piece of tissue paper up let alone a card, i'm forever picking them up as they fall off the doors! I remember when i was little i would use blu tak to hang my posters from my favourite magazines and my Mum would go nuts because it would pull the wallpaper off! Not a chance of that now, its as good as cellotape after its been ran along a hairy pair of jodphurs!

It's all worth it though, because on a night when those lights are twinkling and the tinsel and toys show their pretty colours it just makes you feel all gooey like a ginger bread just out the oven :)

I love my tree ~

 I bought a beautiful snow globe for our table ~

So what have the pencils been dancing to? Well certainly not Christmas songs, i still consider it too early for those! Ive been enjoying some nice remixes of the chart hits going into my own little bubble and thinking of Funky ways to express Christmas with the GeeGee's. Ive done quite a few which i have been sharing on my Instagram and Facebook, I hope they make you Giggle ~

I love cartooning, i really, really do! It is so much fun and the only limit is my imagination . . .  Which it seems has no limits, so limitless fun is what my creations bring me :)

Last blog post i talked about my favourite pens, for this blog post i'm going to talk about my favourite pencils that just LOVE TO DANCE!

 I need a pencil that does the tango, the salsa and can street dance, they need to be hard wearing as i am terrible for dropping them or pressing too hard. They need to be BRIGHT, FUNKY, and let me express the FUNKY-NESS that i need to express without any limitation. And to add to that they need to be within my tight budget. I cannot afford the expensive top of the range brands i see advertised, I like my brands but i have to go midway on quality to stay within my budget. And as i use so many i also need pencils i can restock quickly.

I started working with watercolour pencils a couple of years ago and over this time i have tried out many and some i loved and have stayed faithful to, others were handed down to my children to scribble with as their pigments - or lack of, meant i couldnt release ANY FUNKYNESS. Not good for Miss Funky, but mini Funkys? Well they think they  are well cool budding artists like mum!

SO, What are my favourites that i use regularly?

Reeves watercolour pencils, they blend beautifully and their colours are POW! they have a slight glaze to them when they are layered on top of each other. Remind me alot of the good old crayola pencils. They are also good price at around £10 for a pack of 12 and so far hey have handled my constant drop test i seem to put the poor things through! They also sharpen fab and are really comfortable to hold.

Also i use alot of Derwent watercolour pencils. I can only afford academy grade but i find that they work fabulous and layer really well. They range in price depending on what size pack, I recieved my last batch as a gift. They are readily available in most arts and craft supplies.

 How i use them ~ I layer them up, starting with adding in my shadows i then build up my colours towards the lighter tones which layer o top. I tend to only use a damp brush if i want to blend the colours, sometimes i dont i just layer them and blend on top of each other. It really depends on the mood and how i want the finished cartoon to look. Whichever i choose Derwent watercolour pencils hold up to both, along with my small collection of Reeves which are so vibrant and soft so ideal for layering. Derwent pencils however don't seem to handle been dropped very often and i have broken the leads in many of them meaning they can be tricky to sharpen. The wood casing is also not very strong when it comes to sharpening them so i try and get Mr Funky to sharpen them with a knife for me when the edges get a little splayed. What i love most about the Derwent watercolour pencils is their huge variation of colours, I have so many colours to choose from that they really do give me the opportunity to add extra Funky-ness to my cartoons as i can add in many different tones and streaks of colour. They aren't as vibrant as some of the colours in the reeves set though and i especially love reeves red pencil which is so rich it jumps off the page!

Illustration in progress using a mixture of Reeves and Derwent watercolour pencils.

Here is a picture brought to life using a mixture of Derwent and Reeves watercolour pencils and then brought to life with the Uniball Eye and Posca. The effect of layering and using a tiny weeeeeenie bit of water on a brush has transformed a picture into FUNKY GeeGee's and well a couple of Funky goats :)

Afternoon stroll ~ Watercolour pencil and Ink.

I'd love to hear about your favourite brands of pencil and what you love most about them.

ALSO . . . 

 . . . DO YOUR PENCILS DANCE? 

Well i'm off to create some more FUNKY-NESS as i watch my Christmas tree glisten. I will be back soon with some carole singing GeeGee's who are off around the North East of England singing so loud their little fetlocks are shaking and their forelocks are waving!

Catch up soon ~ Miss Funky and the GeeGee's xxx

Pen review ~ Uni-ball

The pencils, pens, paintbrushes and funky cogs have been working overtime this last week and i have managed to stick to my schedule (yes that is sometimes possible haha) and get through the work i wanted to get done this week. 

I still have a few more to complete but i have managed to get the majority of my Festive themed GeeGee's drawn out and some have been brought to life and some are waiting eagerly for their colour. This feels good and productive and it spurs me on when i chuckle away in my little funky world and become surrounded by GOOGLEY EYES! :) 

Its been hard to kick my hindquarters into gear with these dark days and nights though . . . COR BLIMEY i feel like it never really gets light enough to call it daytime, i must get myself sorted with a lamp or something because working in my kitchen the lighting is so bad and it causes mayhem when i'm trying to colour highlights. My hand becomes a constant shadow and i have to keep moving the canvas or paper around to try and see what i'm doing. NOT GOOD FOR FUNKYNESS.

I have also been testing out some pens sent to me from Uni-ball. Thank you Uni-ball :)

I received a lovely collection of shiny new pens to test out. 

And if there is ANYTHING I LOVE MOST . . . 

 . . . It is letting those pens DANCE!!!

I was sent the uni-pin fine liner along with their uni-ball white signo gel pens and the uni-ball eye fine. I sometimes use white pens but mainly black so it was the black pens that would be getting their workout. And a workout is what i gave them. I had some sketched out GeeGee's ready to bring to life with the fine liners and the music blasting through my headphones ready to spur them on!

 The uni pin's didn't hold up very well, they started out great, very smooth and good depth of black colour, and i was optimistic they would do their job as i really liked the look of the nibs. However they clogged up really easy and then started to just scrape the paper and not glide leaving gaps of no ink. Ahhhh how i hate that!! Unfortunately they only managed one painting before they were deemed buggered?! Maybe they would be better suited to just outlining when there is no water colour or acrylic paint involved?

The white signo gel pens worked beautifully, however i was not sent a black so i cannot comment on how well they work as i haven't used the white ones often enough to test them properly but so far i love how smooth they are and the white ink is really white and covers well. Ideal for SNOWY GeeGee's :)

The uni ball eye fine however flew through every test i put it through. Both canvas and paper.  I work with acrylic and also water colour pencils. Pen nibs really have to be strong to work against the water colour that will lift off and try to mix with the liquid of the ink, and the Acrylic can be bumpy especially if i am using the pens on canvas paper which is abrasive. However the uni ball eye pens seem to be made of steel and they continue to glide right down to the last drop of ink. Most definitely one of my favourite in their range of pens. And i would definitely recommend them for artists that are looking for a pen that is both waterproof and strong and durable. 

Here is a couple of cartoons i have recently finished using the uni ball eye and watercolour pencil ~ 

Watercolour pencil and Uni-ball eye pen.

Watercolour pencil and Uni-ball eye pen

As you can see the depth of the black is fantastic, and because they are so easy to use and glide effortlessly, this means i can freely express my FUNKY side, and i just LOVE PENS THAT LET ME DO THAT!! I really cannot fault them, well except for when they eventually run out :(

And here is a painting using Acrylics on canvas with the Uni ball eye pen and uni ball POSCA paint marker which is also a fantastic product made by uni-ball which has the added bonus of being varnish resistant which is something i am yet to find in ANY other pen on the market. ~ 

Funky GeeGee's ROAD TRIP ~ 50cm x 40cm Acrylic on canvas.

SO THE UNI BALL EYE and the POSCA PAINT MARKER win the day, and the best thing is you can buy 

them almost anywhere!

WHERE DO I BUY?

I get my pens from CULT PENS ~ Click here to be taken to their site and the Uni ball eye pens. HERE

They also stock the paint markers I use, Uni ball POSCA PAINT MARKER. Another fantastic product that lets me express my FUNKYNESS with NO LIMITS :) 

My next blogpost i will be reviewing my favourite WATER COLOUR PENCILS, pop back  to read more ~

Catch up soon ~ Miss Funky and the GeeGee's

Mixture of Ponies,Snow,Mud Skiing and some FUNKY GeeGee's!

This week while the kids have been at school i have kept myself busy with a mixture of Ponies, snow, mud skiing and some . . . 

 . . . Funky GeeGee's too! 

Middle of last week we were thrown into a Christmas scene. The ponies thought it was great and they had a real SPRING in their step when i went to visit them.

The only problem is, white snow makes my horse look YELLOW!! And well every colour in between, he really is such a mucky pony, good job i don't have plans for him to be a show horse haha!! He is SUPER CUTE THOUGH, I love this pony.

Sparky pony looks fabulous in ALL SEASONS, Her black coat is striking against the snow.

It didn't last long, it was gone by the night time and it has been replaced with MUD!

Walking across the fields to check them requires skills on one's feet, mud skiing is the new walking!

So whats been happening in the studio?

Well the pencils got dancing and the sketchbook is beginning to come to life. I have lots of ideas but i'm trying to bring them together in themes. Now that we are in winter the GeeGee's are modelling their clips and rugs. Cozy scenes are starting to make it feel more like Winter as the GeeGee's brace themselves for the dark long cold nights.

This GeeGee has it sussed though . . . 

The weanlings are learning about their world and having some fun exploring and growing independantly without their mother.
This little guy is having great fun!

Some of the GeeGee's however are not having the best of times getting used to the winter routine . . .

I have been busy also creating some FESTIVE GEEGEE'S. I do this every year and i do hope you enjoy them as much as i enjoy creating them. This years theme will be Landmarks of the North east and i hope i can recreate the ideas i have wizzing through my head.

I painted this piece to get me in the mood and also because i haven't used the Acrylics in so long to paint a Funky GeeGee so i felt that need. Smurf and Sparky are the stars in this painting, HOW CUTE! They got some presents from Santa.

Christmas Gifts ~ 10" x 14" Acrylic on canvas paper. 

I will share the Landmark pictures nearer the time, I'm still working on them and hope to have them ready for a FESTIVE and FUNKY December.

Hope you are all well and having fun practicing that art of MUD SKIING . . .

 . . . Catch up soon ~ Miss Funky and the GeeGee's xxx

Instagram for insta GeeGees

I finally after all these years got myself sorted with a SMART PHONE. Smart meaning it can do lots of smart stuff for 'techno smart people, except i cant as i'm not, well, smart . . . 

. . . But i'm learning!

My latest thing has been Instagram, it's all new to me so i'm trying to learn as i go all about this hashtag malarkie and finding really cool and inspirational people to follow!! I LOVE IT, It is simply brilliant for following all the people and things you love and seeing great photos and beautiful places around the world.

I have been using it as a kinda Insta GeeGee sharing for cartoonwork. It's ease of use means i can snap a photo on my *smart phone (Yes i have figured that mode out straight away) and then instantly upload to the platform to share with my followers, Wooohoooo, Insta FUNKY.

It means you can get up to date shots of cartoon work and behind the scenes stuff (like my mad cat, cute bunny, fluffy and VERY muddy ponies and some of my art and cartoonwork). I can still share more detailed stuff and EVEN more FUNKY-NESS here on this blog when i have been busy getting those funky cogs into full swing and have lots to share with you all.

So if you would like to follow me search for missfunkyandthegeegees on Instagram and come say HELLO, Id love to meet you all.

Lots of doodles, scribbles and notes

There have been oodles of doodles and many a colour,
The sketchbook is filling from cover to cover.
Ideas, Ideas and more rattle round,
googley eyed GeeGee's waiting to be found.

Hello, and i hope you are all well and enjoying the beautiful Autumn colours! WOW, this year the colours of the earths canvas have been magnificent. The trees stunning as they changed from green to brown or yellow or red, the contrast on some of the leaves is almost that of a masterpiece painted on canvas, each its own individual abstract painting and when in among the rest that have fallen with it, simply stunning.

The Mini Funky's have been enjoying kicking up the leaves and picking them up throwing them over their heads, we are going to try and do a photoshoot over the next couple of days and im going to try and capture the leaves as they fall over their smiley little faces. Its like magic watching these simple pleasures of nature being enjoyed by them both, they too seem to connect to it, see the beauty in each season. They have asked to go out with their cameras and take some photos of the trees. Its going to be a busy end of week! Lets hope the sun stays out and plays fair.

We had our first frost this morning, it was gone by after breakfast so i didn't get a chance to capture any photos. I cant wait for the first hard frost, hopefully with a little sunshine to make it sparkle in the photo, a little low fog maybe over the valley . . . Not too much mind, enough to look spooky, Oh and a horse or sheep or something in the foreground, and OK, Now im just being picky haha, But i really can't wait to get those photographs when the crisp frost covers the meadow. 

I did however get a one the other morning of the sheep, and some fog, AND a little sunshine . . . 

Spooky isn't it, Wooooooo ooooooooo ooooooo!!

The ponies are looking FLUFFY!!! 

Winter is ON IT'S WAY!! Dig out those thermals and layer up like an onion!

It has been the school holidays and the beginning of them it rained LOTS! Infact at times it literally poured. BUT we held tight and filled our time indoors with well STUFF. Thankfully by the back end of the week we were blessed with some sunshine, and dry days so we could FINALLY ESCAPE and do some stuff outdoors. 

The weekend came and it was time for HALLOWEEN . . . 

Party food, Mmmmm Mmmmmmm!! Gotta love a good buffet. The kids all had a fantastic time, lots of SPOOKY FUN had by everyone, and tummies FULL to the brim. Our homemade gingerbread spooky biscuits went down a treat, the kids were happy with their bakes! Bless them.

Thankfully the rain had stopped by the weekend so the GeeGee's could get out on their broomsticks! Heaven knows what they would have done if they hadn't got out and done their 'around the county race' that they do every year!!

Some of the less adventurous of the GeeGee's opted for keeping their hooves firmly on the ground, and well, they went out and done a spot of trick or treating . . .. 

Awwww don't they look AWESOME !!

This week i have spent d-spookyfying our home and i have given it a good once over, from its bombardment over the holidays. Fun can be well . . . MESSY?!! That is i suppose why it is so FUN :)

Then i have settled back to some writing and doodling, as well as enjoying some quiet time reading a new book i have just recently bought. The peace and quiet has been bliss. 

I have many new ideas of cartoons that have been rattling round upstairs and i'm trying to file them into some sort of theme or order so that i can bring them to life in the best way possible. So far i have a sketch book almost full of ideas, and nothing as yet has been brought to life.

 But i am on with one, it is a WIP, still lots to do but i have been squeezing the odd hour in here and there and slowly building up the layers to give it that FUNKY-NESS!

Hope you like it so far, it's making me giggle each time i work on it, and of course giving me EVEN MORE IDEAS!

CRIKEY, I'm going to need office staff soon upstairs in funky studio (Aka my head) to help me sort through it all, the files are building up quicker than the pencil can dance!

Well i'm going to take a leaf out of this GeeGee's book and go dig out my warm PJ's, and grab an hour with my book. Catch you all soon ~

Love ~ Miss Funky and the GeeGee's xxx

Autumn cartoons

Here we are in the depths of Autumn here in the Derwent valley. The tree's have all changed their leaves and the ground is covered in a carpet of burnt orange and yellow, truelly stunning time of the year . . .

 . . . Well in-between all the RAIN SHOWERS!!

The ponies are both layering up, they have lost that shiny gleaming coat in favour of thermals and fluffy boots. Smurf is starting to get his moustache back which he gets every winter, so cute! Mud is starting to build up in gateways and around water source and the ground is becoming slippy to walk in many places. Oh how i haven't missed all this mess haha!

It is that time of year now when i see friends horses and ponies start to be clipped out and their fluffy coats replaced with brightly coloured, sometimes very FUNKY patterned rugs. Many are coming in on a night now, all cosy in their thick fluffy beds, that smell of haylage and garlic that fills the air!
Our two ponies will live out this year, the meadow they are on is 13 acres with ample natural shelter, a fresh running water source and a nice sized herd to all huddle and keep warm. The farm will start to hay them when the grazing dies back, but for now the grass is still green and they are thriving on the grazing they have. I love these two so much, they really do make me SMILE!

As you can see, they are FLUFFY! Unlike the Funky GeeGee's, 

YES, some of them have been for their hair cuts, and OH HOW SMART!!

Don't they look smarty pants, don't worry they all got plenty of blankets to keep them warm, they were shivering like i'd robbed them of their skin! I did tell them they would thank me when they go out and do their exercises, they looked at me like exercise was a good winter plan and asked when they would be supplied their hot cocoa's and onsies. WIMPS!!

I have been painting again, i forgot how much i missed my acrylics, i tend to mainly work in watercolour pencil now but there is something special about the feeling you get pushing paint around the canvas, It's not a horse . . . But its close to one ~

Its not quite finished yet, but i'm enjoying working on it. I'm also enjoying working on a rather FUNKY halloween GeeGee and also getting the Funky GeeGee's into the Christmas spirit in preperation for our Christmas 2016 collection of pictures. Lots to come over the coming weeks.

I also had a play with colour and texture and created an abstract piece.

I hope everyone is well, and i shall catch up real soon with some 'Seasonal GeeGee's' and some more cartoons of my best friend 'SMURF'. Meanwhile HAVE FUN WITH YOUR HORSES, and enjoy their FUNKY SIDE.

Catch up soon ~ Miss Funky