September 2005 Entries
I’ve just completed a CSS/ XHTML re-design for the Pre-Raphaelite Society. This one was a little different to the last re-design in that the new site needed to resemble the old one as closely as possible.
It was relatively easy to mimic the “look and feel” of the old site with a few carefully placed <div>s. This also gave me the chance to organise the content structure of the pages better – rather than relying on inline formatting to show a page’s top-level heading and sub-headings, I used... headings! These make more sense both structurally and logically: they make content easier...
Woo! It’s been announced and it’s due out in October! Beginning ASP.NET 2.0 is an update of the bestselling book. I did the illustrations for the accompanying website!
I can’t tell you too much more (hey, if I did that would spoil the surprise), but once the book’s out, the site will go live and my illustrations will be up for all to see!
Another day hard at it, so I’m sharing a little trade secret with you...
Inspired by how interested the Scottish clan were in the stages that make up a drawing, I’ve decided to let the pond life in on the secret and share how I created the portrait of Milly.
I like to work from several photos, if I can. That way I get a really good feel for the pet’s character and markings. (There are some very good tips out there for photographing pets!) I had just one photo to work from this time:
but as the portrait would be a surprise...
After another day spent tying up loose ends, I felt the need to create rather than do more of the admin that generally folows the creative process. It was a little too dark to make a start on the next pastel pet portrait, so I decided to do some cooking instead.
I had some yummy cooking apples (thanks again, Chris and James!) and some slightly over-ripe peaches in the fruit bowl, and some whole oats in the cupboard...
Hey presto: peach and apple crumble with an extra crunchy oaty topping!