Jeskila & Lady Elise

These are original characters I created for fun but I love them so much, they may appear in a future creative project. I drew the lines and +denzil roos did the colours. You can visit my Deviant Art page for more of my sketches.

If you'd like to support me, please follow my blog and if you'd like to support Denzil and see more of his artwork, visit his Deviant Art page.

This was the first image we collabreated on in the series in 2007. Her name is Lady Elise and she's a half demon, half angel mythical warrior:

                                                                                                               © 2007

In 2011 we collaberated again on the Lady Elise character:

                                                                                                                © 2011

 Part of the same universe, this is Jeskila, and our 3rd collaberation in the series done in 2012.

                                                                                                                © 2012

Would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment and tell us that you think :)

My First Blog Awards!

Special thanks to Deirdra for the Creative Blog Award and to Karien for the The Liebster Award.

Deirdra’s award is “no string attached”. If you wish to nominate a blog for one of her various awards, please visit her award page.

The Liebster Award has a few requirements. The rules of this award have mutated over time and as such it’s best to follow along with the rules attached to the award you were issued. Apparently these rules are flexible and can be changed to some degree.

“Liebste is German word that means ‘dearest’ or ‘beloved’ but also ‘favorite’ or 'like'.  The idea of [this] Liebster award is to bring attention to blogs with less than 200 followers.”

As per the rules attached to this particular award, I have chosen five blogs that I follow, to receive a variant of this award. This is the ‘Honorary Liebster Blog Award’ which has no rules attached. To me this symbolises that I liked your blog and felt you deserved some recognition (no matter how many followers you have). You are free to nominate other blogs. If you wish to be helpful, you can link back to the blogger who gave you the award and you can go and award other blogs. After all, it’s the thought that counts.

 

Right-click and save this, then repost it to your blog.

I nominate (in no particular order):

1)      siya oum's art - some cool artwork. Hope she updates soon.

2)      SourAcid, Illustrations by Karl Liversidge - a local talented digital painter.

3)      EzSketch - Another local talent.

4)      Karien Naude - my nominee & a great children's book illustrator.

5)      The World Of Popsaart - show him some love and maybe he'll update ^^;

Accepting this Liebster Award, I’m also requested to list 5 random things about myself, so here goes:

1)      Yoda keeps me company while I’m working on my PC.

2)      I’ve feed a wild Kudu by hand – the Kudu was very persistent.

3)      I have a cat, or the cat has me – sometimes I wonder...

4)      I also enjoy macro photography.

5)      I can bake.

There you have it! Now go blog and be awesome.

Between the Cracks

Time passes by unnoticed. Our sense of ‘just the other day’, compared to the reality of how much space has actually fluttered by, is distorted. At least, that’s how I feel most of the time.

I often felt like I could have been more productive in these past two years but I also realise that all the so-called ‘time off’ and ‘taking a break’ was in fact, a time of recuperation and healing for me. During this time, I reviewed my lifestyle, my diet, my goals in life and what’s important to me…building the foundations for my future.

While on this self-imposed sabbatical, I published my first novel, studied for a year with the SA Writers’ College, launched my author website, became healthier, (slightly) fitter and started to regain my focus. Granted, this is a long-term journey and I am only beginning to walk this path.

I guess it wasn’t actually a break. Seems I accomplished quite a lot after all, just shifted my focus. Time to shift focus again…

With my first novel out of the way, I’m now starting work on the sequel. The first book was just a warm-up and I hope all that I’ve learned thus far on writing stories, will reflect in the next book.

So even the cement that holds the cracks together is important on some level. Let’s not dwell on what could’ve, should’ve or must be. Live in the moment, do what’s right for you in that moment and just live your life.

Cover for my first book, with art by +denzil roos.

Now that we’re all caught up, let’s see what the future holds. ♥

Your Brain burns Calories

Most people know that you burn calories when you exercise your body. Many people believe that checking calories is just for people who want to diet. However, there is much more to the calorie than we may think.

The standard nutrition label on your food products is based on a 2,000 daily calorie intake. That’s the average basic calories your body burns a day, just to function. If you were an avid sportsperson or worked out regularly, you’d need to take in many more calories to fuel this extra activity. This is also true for active people who like to go for walks, clean the house often or work in the garden regularly. They too need extra calories to sufficiently fuel these simple tasks.

It makes sense, the more you do, the more calories you burn and the more you need to eat. Still, very rarely do they mention that you brain burns 20% of your average daily calorie intake a day – just to keep you going.

For people who like to work on a computer most of the day, this is a very important fact. Also true for people who tend to be the worry type. They too burn more brain calories than the average person.

The brain needs glucose to function. By eating foods and drinking beverages, you provide your body with sustenance which it then converts into glucose. Your body and brain then burns away this glucose fuel, creating energy to function. Just like a car needing fuel to run – without it, you can’t move forward.

Ever feel fatigue just from working on the computer? Chances are you’re burning more fuel than you have in reserves. My advice would be to treat your brain like you would treat your body if you were an athlete. Make sure you have a good nutritious, healthy breakfast and keep maintaining your energy reserves throughout the day by snacking on fruits and vegetables. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of herbal teas.

It’s important to take regular breaks if you work on the computer most of the day. These breaks help prevent all sorts of ailments such as eye strain, wrist problems and general stiffness. While taking these breaks, it’s a good opportunity to have a snack or something to drink.

People who solve problems, work on mathematical equations or tend to worry and think more than is needed, should also take care to provide their brains with sufficient nutrition. Burnout can creep up on you faster than you may think. If you find yourself running on empty most of the time, you could be causing serious damage to your system.

Listen to your body and stay healthy.