Random Doodle Update

I hope you liked the epic Grumpus tale " The Grumpus and Love" ? Because I am currently working on a LOT of new Grumpus ideas.So if you have any Grumpus story related ideas, specifically related to holidays that you celebrate, please leave a suggestion in the comment section. So whilst I get on with sketching, painting, scanning and titivating, I thought I would update you on some of my more current doodles for various people.

Trumpasaurus Rex:

This was inspired by an awesome little chap, who at the age of four already has an awesome sense of humour.

The crabheaded man:

Inspired by a particular arsehole/asshole who cooks and is obsessed with some weird herb/spice combination I have never heard of. He seems to make passable food though and has a very cute little daughter (how did that happen?). Check out his blog (with awful design template) Cooking for Assholes and on twitter he is @cookingasshole.

and If you 'like' Self Exam Doodles' on facebook, you could win a doodle like this lady...

Her name is Zeta, named by the dude that won her "Mike's World"

The Grumpus and Love

The Grumpus and love, it is a tragic tale, but what do you expect from someone called The Grumpus? This tale will also make very little sense, but that is not the Grumpus's fault.

Many many many many (x ten) years ago:

The Grumpus was minding his own business as he plodded around the jungle, when he all of a sudden noticed this beautiful tropical walled garden, the likes of which he had never seen before. So he passed through gates made of gold and was given the obligatory Fig Leaf  to cover his naughty bits.

A rather suspicious looking large purple snake persuaded Grumpus to take this luscious looking red apple and give it to the fur maiden of his choice. Surely nothing bad could happen now?

Au contraire! From the moment that Grumpus took that bloody red apple, he was destined to be unlucky in love and he would pass this fate on through the ages or something like that.... Any fool knows that a lady Grumpus hates apples!

Fast forward through time:

The Grumpus was the official ambassador for the Grumpi at the annual Lupercalia festival, it was a right bloody laugh, there was singing, dancing and nakedness. Surely there was a chance of him getting lucky with someone/thing here? Well there was until a strange bearded fellow by the name of..... Valentine showed up! History becomes clouded around this time and somehow Valentine ended up dead and a saint! What a bastard.

Just who killed Valentine (Hallmark?)

Next we see Grumpus swayed by an alluring ankle, covered in ample green fur and toenails of the most beautiful yellow and brown tones.

This drove Grumpus crazy with desire and he was willing to try anything, so he did what all the cool kids were doing in them days and wrote a postcard to his beloved. Which of course failed miserably, as the silly bugger had no idea where to post the thing.

Nothing was working and poor old Grumpus was getting rather desperate, so he reluctantly decided that he would give the lady Grumpus his heart. Not really understanding what this strange sentiment actually meant, this confused the Grumpus. How could he give his heart, but still be alive and finally get some Grumpus on Grumpus action? As he was pondering this matter, in wanders Snuffles, the pet cat that had kept him company for many a year.....

What finally worked it's magic on the lady Grumpus? Was it love? Was it bollocks! The thought of making someone's life a misery forever was all the aphrodisiac she ever really needed. So they are now miserable together, forever, until one dies (or is murdered).......

Happy Grumpus Day! 

It's the holiday for every holiday that annoys the shit out of you.

Hat tips to people that sparked off an idea: Timethief for Edenish, Juliana for Valentine, Jenn for Vintage/Victorian, Talegends for ball and chain. 

For a far happier magical Valentines day, please wander over to TJ's blog and read/look at  Preparing to find a Valnetine

Doodle House

Thanks to the wonderful world of twitter, I got to doodle a wee little house for the wonderful  "It's good 2 give" Charity.

It’s Good 2 Give (registered charity number SC041416)  officially came to life in April 2010 and already we have raised over £70,000 for local young people with cancer and their families. We’re little and local and 100% of the money you donate will go to the cause. No rent, no wages, no waste.

I was asked by @LeePeyton sometime last summer (summer! what a joke) and of course I said yes! The idea behind the doodle, was child's idea of a holiday cottage with their family. I can easily tap into my inner child, so it wasn't too difficult a challenge.

Doodle process: Lessons Learnt! 
As the new site for the charity was taking time to come together, as they do, I decided that I didn't like the doodle you see above and could do a much better job. When you are learning new doodle stuff all the time, you tend to look back at some stuff with a slight tinge of horror. So I cracked out the new paints and paper and proceeded to doodle a new house. If you watch the slideshow, you will see how it progresses nicely, until I over ink the piece and turn the little blonde stick doodle person into a menace! If anyone is interested, I was thinking of blogging about the main doodle lessons I have learnt so far, including the materials I use?

Doodle Slideshow

So glad that they went with the original doodle and that I will doodling some new things for this charity soon! A big thanks to @leepeyton for asking me in the first place, he is such an inspirational man, a fireman, husband, dad and an adventurer (crazy sports event dude), always raising money for charity. Check out his website Breaking Strain . It is GOOD to give, even if its a daft doodle.


Self Exam Doodles : Is my chance to learn more doodling skills and raise awareness using those doodles, whilst the focus is on the Breast Self Exam doodles, we will always be linking in with other great causes. 'We' is myself and the very cool TJ Lubrano (@TJLubrano)

Every Friday someone wins a doodle from one of us, so if you 'Like' us, then you could win one yourselves.

Dusting off the photo editing machine

Not played with lightroom, or any type of photo editing, since I finished my younger sisters wedding photographs back in October. People have persisted in annoying me by taking marvellous photographs and reminding me that I don't have a camera. Well that is not technically true, I do have my point and shoot, which was a great beast in its day. Unfortunately that day has run out and its heading towards being a knackered piece of crap! People really should respect the fact that I am jealous as hell and refrain from photographing anything, but people just don't have manners these days.

Now the other wretched sister has decided to get married! So I need to brush up on my haphazard photography skills. I shall only be a shadow photographer this time, lurking in the dark shadows ready to snap unsuspecting wedding guests... Mwhahahaha! Oops don't know what happened then.

Anyhoo here are a few photographs I never got around to editing when I was up in Scotland. Which I have now edited. Does that even make sense?

The rest are HERE

Edited note: Especially for Linda.. I was lazy and forgot (couldn't be arsed remembering) what the ruddy lighthouse was called. After a quick google ponder, I suddenly recalled that it was Chanonry Point Lighthouse. No need to go on those dolphin watching boat tours, you can simply bring your bins and sit on the beach to see some excellent dolphin action.

Photography link of win: For those that like adding layer upon on layer to distress, alter, add wizardry to your images, then you may just like this site: My 2econd Skin


Doodles:
Don't be sad about the lack of doodles in this post, I shall be posting a MAHOOSIVE amount in a few days or so!

Also have you ruddy well 'liked' Self Exam Doodles over on facebook yet?