Yep. I'm joining the gang in the search for improvement and that elusive Dragon scroll of legend(!)-A parchment said to give limitless artistic power to whoever reads it.(Harlequin)
 Thanks Eagle and Kaz for the brilliant idea and Nina and Harlequin for setting the challenge(-now where's that paintbrush?, I'm sure I left it next to my Halberd and Bow)

Day1 http://community.imaginefx.com/forums/permalink/159816/160612/ShowThread.aspx#160612

New Year's Day 2009

We spent the afternoon on Tynemouth beach so I took my sketchbook so trad pencil on paper wearing gloves and my fingers were still freezing. Tried to capture the canoeists and surfers in the distance lots more people than pictured. and the ship waiting for high tide to come in.

Day2 http://community.imaginefx.com/forums/permalink/159816/160890/ShowThread.aspx#160890 

This is a sketch of a syrian oud that we just happen to have lying about in our house, it has 11 strings and is played (trad) with an eagles feather quill. It was meant to have more detail but I ran out of time. Pencil sketch tidied up in painter elements (started with too soft a pencil) so I went over the detailing in a darker colour with a 2-3px brush and added shade to the fretboard before posting.

Day3 http://community.imaginefx.com/forums/permalink/159816/161109/ShowThread.aspx#161109

 Here's sketch 3/3 (trial studies on eyes and what they can express). *note to self*  Must get over my wacomsketchophobia.

Day4 http://community.imaginefx.com/forums/permalink/159816/161571/ShowThread.aspx#161571

here's a kitty pencil sketch day4 /4pts

I love the way they curl into a puzzle shape when they sleep.

Day 5 http://community.imaginefx.com/forums/permalink/159816/161863/ShowThread.aspx#161863

I was clearing up the christmas tree today. Amazing how you can never clear up all the needles.

Here's a tribute to the pine needle imp ( there has to be one) who works so hard hiding needles around the house so that  we find them all year round.   .First ever sketch on the wacom (and no outlines) Day5/ 5 points

Day6 http://community.imaginefx.com/forums/permalink/159816/162282/ShowThread.aspx#162282

Following Kaz's suggestion and a feeling that I should really get to grips with the painter essentials3 that came with my wacom this was sketched using only one layer (ie directly onto the canvas) using a ref picture although I have simplified it a bit. took about an hour but most of that was deciding which brushes didn't work (eg digital watercolour)and then starting again because It only has 4 undos lol. (Really hard when you are used to layers). some noise/color differences when saving as gif.

Day 6/ 6 points

Day7 http://community.imaginefx.com/forums/permalink/159816/162717/ShowThread.aspx#162717

This is a little sketch for poppy popcorn to make up for all the teasing about his name. I thought it would be fun (and it was). Painted in a combination of painter ess3 & Photoelements took about an hour ( I'm so slow)

Day7/point 7 *celebratory dance*

Day8 http://community.imaginefx.com/forums/permalink/159816/163210/ShowThread.aspx#163210

 an exercise in distance using painter using only one colour (ie keeping within the colour triangle in painter essentials 3)and using only size, opacity,value, saturation, detail to express distance (45 min) day 8 /pts 8

Day9 http://community.imaginefx.com/forums/permalink/159816/163641/ShowThread.aspx#163641

The day the forum was infected with Zombies. ....mm crunch slurp

----------------anyone see the end of dead set last night? (from memory...).

Day 10 http://community.imaginefx.com/forums/permalink/159816/164197/ShowThread.aspx#164197

(...something moved in the water)

not entirely happy with this one- i think it needs a little something but no more time. day10/10pts

Nimh your work is great so far keep it up yea! i love the eyes, unicorn and woods!!!

Alex- thank you so much that makes me feel better. I tried to make it a little darker ( less swimming pool like), but ended up just making it muddy , so I'm glad you like the original.

Thanks for your support Nicosstaff. and your earlier comments, all this inspiration its been infective hasn't it.

Kazky- aren't you overdosed on zombies yet? what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.Glad you liked it, and really thanks for commenting on my phoenicorn (lol) again.

thanksall of you for taking the time to visit  .I really appreciate it