Salmon

http://priscillapeeters.tumblr.com/post/134329054992/salmon-by-misscilla

Seal

http://priscillapeeters.tumblr.com/post/133993528347/seal-by-misscilla

Bee

http://priscillapeeters.tumblr.com/post/133791755887/bee-by-misscilla

Adder

http://priscillapeeters.tumblr.com/post/126664368602/adder-by-misscilla

Don't have a whole lot to say about this one, except for that I like how it turned out :)

Goose

http://priscillapeeters.tumblr.com/post/125073337342/goose-by-misscilla

I'm thinking about migrating the domain name for the blog over to my Tumblr account by the end of the year. I like how it's much more interactive and I've been spending more and more time over there. So I'll be embedding the tumblr posts here for a while to see how I like it and then possibly making the permanent move later on. So go and check out my Tumblr please and follow me over there to make sure you've got all your bases covered.

For now, here are some geese.

Cat

Here, kitty kitty.

Raven

Making good on my promise from last time to assign one of the bird signs to a man. I've gone with a portrait bust again so it can kind of act as the counterpiece for the 'Owl' illustration.

Owl

I LOVE owls! I just noticed I seem to be unconsciously assigning the birds to the ladies so far though. Must make mental note to mix it up a bit :)

Bear

Grrrowl! :)

Crane

Second one of the year. I'm quite happy with how the crane turned out, and the feathers of her dress. There's something a little off in her face, I think I might want to try something a little more stylized for the next one. Her foot is a little bit too big but I really lost my foot  mojo while drawing it and struggled a little. Every time I tried to shrink it down it looked funky again so I figured I just about got away with it and left it in the end :)

All in all, pretty satisfied with this piece. 

Otter

In 2013 I set myself a subject and a goal: to make enough illustration pieces to form a calendar. This forced me to make at least 12 personal pieces throughout the year. In 2014, I did no such thing. I foolishly thought I would make enough stuff through the year to make a calendar with no set subject at the end of it. When I browsed my blog at the end of the year looking for work to feature in a 2015 calender, I was shocked to see I barely made 5 blogposts this year. I clearly need the proverbial kick up the backside a set goal gives me to not run out of steam as the year progresses. So I've set myself a new calendar subject: it'll be roughly based upon the birth animals featured in the celtic zodiac. Because I love drawing animals and I like to have a starting point list. I'm one of those persons who gets lost in the sea of endless possibilities when faced with the notion of being able to creating anything I want. So I'm limiting myself, as it were, in this way to keep me focused. This'll hopefully help me stay on track and result in a new cohesive calendar at the end of the year. 

Here's the first one in the  new series: OTTER. Hope you enjoy, and wish me luck!

Nand

I made this for the baby shower of a little fellow named Nand. It features all the star signs he was born under. I framed it with an explanation of all the elements of the illustration on the back. Those being:

• Gemini (the two moons), his starsign
• 2013, the year of the snake in Chinese astrology 
• his birth tree is the fig tree 
• his birth stone is pearl/moonstone
• his spirit animal acording to native American astrology is the deer.

I don't believe in astrology myself but I do always find it highly entertaining to look these things up and know what my signs are (just in case I got it wrong and it turns our there is some truth in this stuff, you know. At least then I'll know where to look for it. ;p) So I made the assumption that this is the way a lot of people feel about astrology and therefore it would be cool for little Nand and his parents to know his sings. And if not.. hey, then it's just a cute picture, right? :)

I like that it's fun and colourfull and the style's a bit different than what I usually do.

Cancer

When I think of Cancer (the zodiac sign obviously) I think sunburn. Me and sunburn go waaay back, since I am blessed/cursed (still not sure, after 28 years) with very pale and above all extremely sensitive skin. So a heartfelt shout out to all my fellow summertime lobsters out there!

This one is sort of an elaborate version of a sketch I did over a year ago, you can see it HERE. Although Belgium has a beach, going there is currently not an option. Because another thing Belgium has is rotten weather. Nature is not without a sense of irony, after all. This summer has been particularly depressing so far with lots of rain and little sun. I do hope for my mental health's sake that it'll change around at some point. *crossing fingers*


Cancer
You like to know what's going on in the lives of everyone in the galaxy. However, you tend not know know what's going on in your own. If you are lucky, your friends will tell you. Cancerians only get dressed because they have to, and their fashion sense can only be described as "erratic." You are more likely than any other sign in the zodiac (except Pisces, who does not iron) to iron your clothes by sleeping with them sandwiched between the mattress and box-spring. Likewise, you can stretch one pair of underwear out for almost a month. Your home is like your very own Biodome, and you can remain indoors for months at a time. Despite your need to be everyone's savior, you need no social interaction. SWAT teams often show up, mistakenly thinking there's a hostage situation. A Cancer is like a walking Ladies' Home Journal, quick on the draw with shortcake recipes and helpful hints on how to talk to your teen. Whether they know it or not, they are all born with an exceptional talent for cross-stitch. So much for buying the world a Coke - they would breast-feed the world if they could. This trait is not gender-specific. You will never excel in sports because you have to rest for fifteen minutes every time you breathe. You do not mind, since you plan to conduct your career from the comfort of your own bed. You maintain your questionable health through a steady diet of Ho-Ho's and beer. You also imbibe a great deal of Pepto-Bismol in order to confuse your numerous ulcers. People walk on you often. Actually, not often - all the time. If you think someone is screwing you, you're probably right. The most entertaining thing about this is that you like it. You strive to be a doormat. Cancerians coin their own words to describe philosophical concepts. This is why it is no surprise that George W. Bush is a Cancer. Cancerians have minimal influence over their friends, even though they show up with homemade soup to remedy every minor or major tragedy. However, they wield their power through the fact that they know what everyone is thinking at any given time. This is why they are never invited to parties. Cancerians claim to be "tactful". The word for this is actually "shiftless". Cancerians are always appointed to take their drunken, drooling friends home. These friends are usually Pisceans.

Gemini

Poor Gemini, they had to wait quite a while for their pin up representation. But if it's any consolation I'm now  so behind that every zodiac sign from now on will probably be a bit late. Only three more days and it's already time for the Cancerians to take over! 

Enjoy the time you have left Gemini!

Gemini
Everyone loves a Gemini because everyone loves a schizophrenic. You like to think that you are a half-and half mixture of Socrates and Michelangelo, but in reality it's more like Prince and Bea Arthur. You are progressive, outgoing, and one of the most popular rides at Cedar Point. However, you can and will negate all of this by the time you're finished reading this sentence. Geminis drive funny cars. They often drive them into trees or buildings. Geminis are pushy and overbearing. They pick fights with small children and moon people at weddings. They like to use Libras as punching bags. A bisexual Gemini is a walking double date. The rest are hermaphrodites. Geminis vandalize their own houses. Geminis use far-fetched analogies to describe philosophical concepts. Geminis rarely compete in the Olympics. When they do, it is usually pool or air hockey. Frogger turns up as well. Geminis are always on some sort of medication. This medication is not always legal. Gemini is Latin for "I'm okay, I'm okay." Geminis speak very loudly in order to be heard. This is unfortunate as they are nearly always talking to themselves. In fact, they often pick animated arguments with themselves in the bathtub. The most famous Gemini in history is Orville and Wilbur Wright. Geminis are frequently abidextrous, which means that they can pick both sides of their noses at the same time. The Gemini is essentially nothing more than a paranoid Aquarius.

Taurus

Howdy! Taurus has always been one of the easier ones of the zodiac for me, I've had the idea in my head since I started the series. Taurus makes me think of bulls, obviously, and bulls make me think of catlle herding which brings us to ranchers and the whole wild wild west theme. I don't get that excited about cowboys (it's the spitting I think. Cowboys always seemed to do a lot of spitting in those old western movies. Personally, I like a man who can keep his saliva to himself). But cowGIRLS... Now, they're something else! They're totally badass, as proven by Elizabeth Taylor in 'Giant'.

I think I'm mostly in awe of how she could pull of wearing a cowboy hat and still look cute, while I look like a total idiot when attempting that same look (For Halloween or a dress-up party or something, I'm not strolling around the streets in cowgirl getup, just to be clear). I convinced myself it's because we only have knockoffs over here. I mean, the hats are an American phenomena and thus all such items that are sold outside of the US of A are just not the real deal. And that's why said hats refuse to sit on my head in a fashionable, or even acceptable, manner. Yeah.... That must be it... It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I'm not, to my dismay, Elizabeth Taylor...

Anyway, moving on! :D

Taurus
You are brooding emotion incarnate. One minute you're up, the next you're down, the next you've shot your favorite newscaster in the kneecaps, "just 'cuz.". You're very earthy, which may mean that you don't shower as often as most people. Or it may just mean that you like to roll around with your nose in clover and sigh. Taureans love happy movies where everyone is jolly and having fun, but they fight with waiters and get upset with billboards. They like to psychoanalyze their friends but have no real experience with life in general. Taureans mumble while describing philosophical concepts. The Taurus is a strange bird because he or she holds grudges about things that never actually happened. This may stem from the feelings of inadequacy resulting from being beaten out for first in line in the zodiac by Aries. That is the Taurean self-image, always second best. However, they are undoubtedly the best at feeling like second best. All Taureans want to be God. Unfortunately, God is an Aries. You are generally tough to figure out because you answer every question with a question. Also, you won't come out from under the bed. Most Taureans love conflict. If nothing is wrong, then that in itself is something wrong. Some especially like bar fights. If they can't get into an actual bar fight, they will make up interesting stories about them which they can tell their friends right before they psychoanalyze them. If it weren't for Bazooka Joe and The Family Circus, Taureans wouldn't know what to do. You feel that you are going nowhere in life. You are probably right. Taureans are impatient and pushy. They are in a tremendous hurry to get to the nowhere that they intend to go to. They make little dioramas of their homes, complete with tiny effigies of the people they know, and act out scenarios of the way things would be if they were God.

Aries

The year is just flying by it seems, it's already time for the next zodiac sign in the series. Aries, please step unto the podium! I thought a feisty pool-playing bonde bombshell would be apropriate to depict this headstrong fire sign. :)

And as before, here's another funny characterisation of all you Aries out there. If you're wondering, here 's where I'm getting those.

Aries
Aries have ramlike eyebrows and smug expressions. They should not be quite so smug because they are constantly clunking themselves in the skull. Cat Stevens' "Hard Headed Woman" was probably an Aries. Aries rarely say one thing and do another. They usually do the wrong thing and don't discuss it. Never point this out to an Aries unless you want your kidneys pulled out through your sinuses. Aries folks love Pisceans because Pisces people make them feel well-grounded. Aries love to laugh at the funny moon-people who suck their thumbs at age 35. Aries use guns to describe philosophical concepts. Whether you live in a palatial estate or a cardboard tepee, you will insist until death that it is exactly what you always wanted. Most Aries were concrete parking bumpers in at least two of their past lives. Aries are never born. They skip gaily from their mothers' wombs. This may even involve rollerblades. The Aries makes life decisions as a toddler. Aries marry several times for funnies but never divorce. Their spouses have many freak accidents resulting in death or crippling injury. Being infallible, God is probably an Aries. This would make Satan an Aquarius. Aries always hold management positions. If one is assigned to clean toilets, he will form a one-man union. Then he will go and picket in the parking lot. All of you think you're Lech Walesa. People run away when an Aries comes around. They know that if they do not, the Aries will set them on fire. Aries hate listening to Scorpios talk because they take pride in being even more self-centered. In fact, much to the Scorpios' dismay, you are the biggest pricks in the zodiac. Your rams' horns are in everyone else's asses.

Pisces

It's time for the next Zodiac sign of the year: Pisces. And I got kind of lucky with this week's Illustration Friday prompt as well, seeing as "fluid" fits this perfectly! :)

I'm a lot happier with this one. I stylized a bit more, making for stronger shapes and a clearer overall picture. Maybe I'll redo Aquarius if I get to the end of the series. We'll see.

I'm not really into the whole astrology thing per se, so I looked for a bit of alternative info to put with this instead of the standard 'strengths and weaknesses' thing most horoscopes offer. Here's a fun little characterisation of the Pisces persona I found online (it's just for fun kids, obviously I'm not looking to offend ;))

Pisces
Everywhere you go, laughter and comedy ensue. This would be great if you were trying to be funny. You are deeply confused by the idea of sex. As far as you are concerned, if it didn't happen in "The Velveteen Rabbit", it doesn't exist. Piscean women wear long floaty dresses and enormous amounts of unusual silver jewelry. On hikes. Pisceans claim to love the stars, but the only constellation they can find is the Big Dipper. If they cannot find it, they cry. You remember what you were wearing on March 3rd, 1981 but forget your own address. You have no sense of direction. The people you find going in reverse at 70 m.p.h. on the expressway are usually Pisceans. Pisceans are most likely to die by falling out of a window or getting run over by a truck. That is, of course, unless they live with a Cancer. Pisceans are so zoned and perpetually endangered that they can bring out the maternal instincts of a Leo. Don't be fooled, however; many Pisceans can surprise you by kicking your ass and the asses of your four imaginary friends. While Leos tend to achieve the most fame in the field of entertainment, Pisceans strive to achieve historical greatness by sheer fluke. They are proud to tell you that Michelangelo, Galileo, George Washington, and Albert Einstein, none of whom had an agent, were all Pisceans. What they won't tell you is that so is Ted Kennedy. Pisceans claim to want "honest criticism" of their work. Then they commit hara-kiri on the floor when you say you don't like it. Never try to use logic with a Pisces; he or she is living about three feet off of the natural ground or in Narnia. Their tools of debate are non-sequiturs, quotes from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and, of course, crying. It wouldn't matter what linguistic devices Pisceans use to describe philosophical concepts because they aren't positive they know what they're talking about anyway. You cry over dead animals in the road but feel no remorse about mowing down humans you don't like. Cancerians say one thing and do another. Scorpios say one thing and do it just for spite. Pisceans say far too much and do whatever the hell they want.

Aquarius

On of the artistic challenges I set myself for the new year is to make a series of pieces. I didn't have a particular topic in mind, I just thought it would be a fun excercise to make some seperate pieces that would work as a whole once put next to each other. It'll be more of a project, something to immerse myself a little deeper in.

So I decided to combine my love for a certain TV-show (bring on season 5 already! My patience is stretched to the limit ;)) and the star signs (maybe a somewhat obvious choice for a series but I didn't want to spend weeks just thinking about a topic) and create... *drumm roll* The Mad Men Zodiac.

I'm not sure I will keep this up and actually finish the set. My attention tends to drift, there's always something new and seemingly more interesting to jump to next. But I'm sure going to try. Further more, although I am pleased with this one as a stand alone piece, I'm not sure this is graphically where I want to go with his. Maybe I'd want to stylize the characters more, play some more with the graphic possibilities?

Anyway, first up (and my own sign) is Aquarius.