St.Ainolopa

One among the loads of works in progress: Bulb Fascination

2012-02-09T21:52:00.000+01:00

2012-02-04T21:34:00.000+01:00

Bird-headed Elephant

2012-01-29T22:47:00.000+01:00

2011-2012

The Hedgehog who stole the Sun

2012-01-15T22:41:00.001+01:00

Cat-Comb or Chat-Peigne

2011-12-20T15:56:00.000+01:00

It is said that if one uses for the first time his new comb in order to brush a cat (no details have been given about the kind of cat it has to be) , that comb will last for a very long time, it will be resistant to any damage that may be done.

Armadillo

2011-12-20T12:46:00.000+01:00

Uriasz the Red Bear

2011-12-11T21:00:00.000+01:00

Le Renard et La Jeune Fille

2011-11-30T22:29:00.000+01:00

Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin (November 2011)

A face from Lincoln's Cathedral

2011-10-28T19:59:00.000+02:00

A street door, York

2011-10-27T15:55:00.000+02:00

A hidden house in York

2011-10-27T15:51:00.000+02:00

Monk Bar

2011-10-27T15:49:00.000+02:00

At death's door

2011-10-27T14:53:00.000+02:00

Post box

2011-10-27T14:49:00.000+02:00

Jackson-Stops & Staff

2011-10-27T14:46:00.000+02:00

York, England

One of York's gargoyles

2011-10-26T13:19:00.002+02:00

Beans

2011-10-26T12:39:00.000+02:00

York, October 15th 2011

Going Blind

2011-10-26T12:33:00.000+02:00

York, October 15th 2011

Two months already

2011-10-11T00:39:00.001+02:00

Two months and two days have gone by since my last trip to Krakow, Poland. You may have noticed some new photos on the blog lately – well, I have only posted two photos. I am definitely enraptured by that town; everytime I go there, I come to rediscover it from a different vantage point, and I always find myself filled with marvel at Krakow. This is fascinating to see that despite having been several times in Krakow, I can still be astounded as if it were my first time wandering its streets.

2011-09-29T23:32:00.001+02:00

An Elephant at the front of a chemist's shop, Krakow

2011-09-27T23:36:00.001+02:00

Off to Poland

2011-08-09T05:35:00.001+02:00

I will be back at the end of August, I wish you super great holidays!

Work in progress

2011-07-23T02:38:00.001+02:00

This Summer Holiday is quite productive; I am proud to say that I am not lazy, not a bit. Well, I must admit that I may sleep too much - but that's not the point. As always, I work slowly (but surely), and I am so relieved to devote my time to doing what I like the most! This time, I wanted to keep a trace of my illustrations before they get dressed in colours. Have a peep! Feel free to comment :D

I know I will like them better with colours.

At the top

2011-07-18T13:42:00.001+02:00

Kościół Matki Bożej Zwycięskiej, Lublin (Poland)

Entrance to a crypt in Kurow (Poland)

2011-07-17T20:49:00.000+02:00

House dressed in ivy

2011-07-17T13:46:00.000+02:00

Give way to the blog's first Giveaway! - And the winner is...

2011-07-02T21:45:00.000+02:00

Hi folks!
A few weeks ago, I organized my first giveaway, and I must admit that I feared no one would enter it. I was amazed to see that some of you did take part in it, and I thank you. I will not prattle on about the giveaway, do not worry.
And The winner is... (drum roll)...

Congratulations to the number 6, that is Ti-igra!! Please, email me your postal address (ainolopa@gmail.com); the card will be sent to you, as soon as I find an envelope :D

Glassware

2011-06-24T17:45:00.000+02:00

House buried in the woods

2011-06-19T02:11:00.000+02:00

'Super Petit Coq' Pattern

2011-06-13T19:36:00.000+02:00

This is my submission for Illustration Rally's Pattern Rally. Actually, I am not done with Super Petit Coq, as the latter will see itself dressed in colours, and it will be the first illustration for my new cards series. I am also thinking of having that pattern printed on canvas tote bags - it may turns out to be lovely. So See you soon Super Petit Coq, with your garment full of colours!

Give way to the blog's first Giveaway!

2011-06-10T23:15:00.000+02:00

Today was the first day of my Summer Holidays - at last! Exams are done, and from now on, I can devote my time to doing what I like the most: drawing, writing, reading, and taking photos (and of course sleeping).

Over the next few days, I am going to make new illustrations. I would like to give away a card from the former series, in order to celebrate the first sell I made a few months ago (I managed to sell eight of my cards to a shop near Paris), and to thank you for being interested in my works.

I hope that many of you will take part in the giveaway. To that end, you only have to post a comment under that post. Do not forget to give your first name (or your nickname), and your e-mail address - so that I can get in touch with you if you are the winner.

The deadline is July 1st 2011.

Bird Pattern

2011-06-10T18:33:00.000+02:00

Carved in a piece of rubber.

What's in the bag?

2011-06-06T21:47:00.000+02:00

Superstitious

2011-06-04T00:09:00.000+02:00

Garlic wreath

2011-06-03T23:59:00.001+02:00

A mosquito trapped in a colour wheel

2011-06-01T15:45:00.000+02:00

Last year, during summer, I remember that I was sitting on the sofa, in the living room, reading a book about colours. It was a very hot evening, windows were wide open. A dauntless mosquito got into the room, and sought to have a taste of my sweet scarlet blood. I was quite defenceless against my foe. As a last resort, my book came to be used as a shield. When the mosquito drew closer to me, I merely closed the book. It got squashed, and the colour wheel captured it.
Now, a portrait of the vanquished mosquito is to be found on my desktop, as a hunting trophy.

Bilberry Muffins (made by my own hands)

2011-05-30T22:09:00.000+02:00

I am so proud to have mastered the art of baking muffins! I took a photo as some friends could not believe me. The bilberry muffins are the best ones, my favourite ones.

2011-05-30T22:02:00.000+02:00

A new banner!

2011-05-30T13:36:00.000+02:00

I've slightly changed the banner of the blog. I do not expect you to notice it - as even my father and my sister have not noticed it.

Before

After

A peep at my balcony

2011-05-29T20:25:00.003+02:00

Guess what?!
Yellow Raspberries do exist! Yesterday, when my mother told me that yellow raspberries had grown in her little garden, I could not believe her. She showed them to me, and indeed, they were yellow!
One may think that they are mutant raspberries, but they are misled. Actually, they are natural and belong to the same family. What a delight to find out such unusual things!

Comte de la Lune

2011-04-22T20:26:00.001+02:00

At the top of the Petit Palais, Paris

2011-04-09T19:01:00.000+02:00

The end of March?! Already?!

2011-03-28T09:25:00.000+02:00

It has been a while since my last decent post. I am overwhelmed by a lot of work at my university as it is my third year - being demotivated, the work to do is even harder. Nevertheless, I am not done with this blog! Be patient I will be back soon - there's a new illustration under way and the inspiration has not vanished. Take care.

Facebook

2011-02-25T21:24:00.004+01:00

Now you can follow the blog on facebook

Snowy Winter In Paris

2011-01-12T17:02:00.002+01:00

Bird Doppel

2010-12-24T18:37:00.000+01:00

Let me eat my spud!

2010-12-19T16:03:00.001+01:00

This morning, my dog Smola stole a potatoe from a basket in the kitchen and tried to eat it. Unfortunately, my mother noticed the missing potatoe and darted in the living room to pick it up from Smola's mouth. It was not an easy task to get it back, Smola was growling and its fur was bristling. Eventually, both got tired of the potatoe and Smola forgot it and left it lying around somewhere in the flat.

Deserted Wander

2010-12-08T21:44:00.000+01:00

Snowy Dinner

2010-12-08T19:25:00.000+01:00

Lady Of The Shroud

2010-11-27T13:32:00.004+01:00

2010-11-23T23:54:00.001+01:00

Not dead. Have not forgotten my dear blog. Just busy. Tired. Well, Holidays where are thou wandering about? Come to me, I need you, please.

Scratching Cat

2010-11-11T18:06:00.000+01:00

(Click on the image)

Orange Tree

2010-10-12T01:52:00.005+02:00

L'oranger est symbole d’amour et de chance. Il est dit qu'orner la robe de fleurs d'oranger ou les intégrer au bouquet, présage le meilleur pour la (future/jeune) mariée.

The Orange tree stands for love and luck. If the dress of the bride/bride-to-be is adorned with orange blossoms or if the bridal bouquet is assembled with the latter, it foretells a very good omen for the bride/bride-to-be.

(To me the good omen would be her husband being crushed to death by a rock. I love grim humour.)

Umbrellacopter

2010-10-04T00:00:00.000+02:00

Bird

2010-10-03T23:55:00.000+02:00

Snail-y Ram

2010-10-03T23:24:00.001+02:00

A wonderful custom in the Tatras

2010-09-23T18:52:00.001+02:00

When you go hiking in the mountains for several days, you do not see very often a lot of people on the way. However, when you encounter someone on a mountain path, custom has it that you say hello.

Macaroon Party

2010-09-20T23:50:00.073+02:00

My mum is a genius.

You know macaroons are very fashionable and that may explain why they are expensive. I waste a lot of money in buying them and it is quite upsetting. So my mum had this great idea: why not bake them instead of buying them?
Last Sunday was the second time my mum made macaroons and they were so delicious! They did not look exactly like the macaroons found in cake shops - they reminded me of lovely tiny piles of pink shit.

I made photos before I put the jam between the layers. You can get an eyeful on them.

St Mary’s Basilica, Krakow

2010-09-10T13:38:00.000+02:00

2010-09-10T13:35:00.001+02:00

Wawel

2010-09-09T01:52:00.000+02:00

Charming Wooden Houses in The Tatras

2010-09-07T00:31:00.000+02:00

Warsaw's magnificent rooves

2010-09-07T00:21:00.001+02:00

Mary Full of Grace

2010-09-06T00:53:00.000+02:00

My first cake, a Rubbery Banana Cake.

2010-09-06T00:40:00.001+02:00

I am a true mess when it is about cooking and baking. I always have been among those people who love to eat but hate to cook. Nevertheless, I muss admit that it was fun to make a cake. Of course it had to be a complete disaster as it was the first time of my life that I made such a thing. In the end, it was tasty and it had beautiful amber tones. The most important thing is that my family and my dog did not fall ill.

Beautiful Hidden Houses in Poland, Part II

2010-09-02T23:58:00.000+02:00

Beautiful Hidden Houses in Poland, Part I

2010-09-02T23:46:00.000+02:00

Front of a Neogothic House in Puławy (Poland)

2010-08-28T14:03:00.003+02:00

Mushrooms from the Tatras

2010-08-28T14:00:00.002+02:00

Back from Holidays, I LOVE THE TATRAS.

2010-08-27T22:04:00.008+02:00

Off to ...

2010-07-28T22:27:00.004+02:00

Tomorrow at 7AM I will be off to Poland. It is going to be a two day car journey, a tiring and quite fearsome one. It is always a nightmare to drive through Germany and above all Poland - I always get worried that it is going to be my last holiday ever, that I will never survive.

Yet, I am so excited! I love Poland so much - my land of inspiration and happiness. When I come back, I will publish a lot of photos and tell you everything as I did last year. I hope I will get ahead with the illustrations of my two fairy tales - It is very difficult to start, I am so phobic about blank pieces of paper.

See you soon Folk,

I wish you all the best.

Father's Figure

2010-07-16T01:44:00.004+02:00

Go to Photography to see it in larger size.

Darling Poppies

2010-07-16T01:35:00.005+02:00

The Tatras

2010-07-15T00:45:00.014+02:00

It was said once in Poland that if someone wandered about in the Tatra Mountains, he had to be careful when after he had climbed up a mountain he came up to some clouds.

If he stood facing them and he saw* for the third time – it did not have to be necessarily the third consecutive time – his shadow on a cloud (the shadow being casted by the sun behind the person), he would eventually die.

*I lay stress on the fact that the tale is not about someone who would be 'spaced out' and who would hallucinate.

That tale is so thrilling! When I go to the Tatras, I will have to keep in mind not to encounter any cloud.

Tales From Far-Off Poland

2010-07-15T00:40:00.008+02:00

I have been preparing myself a little since the beginning of July for my trip to Poland (yepi yeah) in about a week and I have just found out some new old tales from there. Here are some delightful ones.

Mistletoe
Two young lovers could not kiss each other unless they were married, as it was considered a sin to do so out of wedlock, except if the two lovers found themselves under a mistletoe.

Broom
People did not let anybody sweeping round them as it was said that they would never become rich or that they would lose all their wealth.

Blog's changes

2010-07-15T00:08:00.001+02:00

The blog has changed a bit my dears:

it has a new domain st-ainolopa.com. Forget my other blog st-ainolopa-s-gallery.blogspot.com. From now on if you want to see my photos you will have to click on the button "Photography" placed on the left side bar and if you want to see my illustrations you will have to click on the button "Illustration" also placed on the left side bar.

Giverny

2010-07-02T22:52:00.005+02:00

From The Rear

2010-06-29T22:35:00.005+02:00

Crystal Chandelier

2010-06-29T22:33:00.002+02:00

Surrealist

2010-06-10T00:33:00.005+02:00

The egg in the nest has vanished into thin air.

This morning, a pigeon was resting on my vinyle player.

No harassment about the pigeons anymore...

Seawolf with a pink moustache

2010-06-09T12:10:00.003+02:00

A very old work

2010-06-07T01:17:00.007+02:00

As I was looking for some files on my computer, look what I found: it is a school work of 2008. We had to illustrate a tale by Kveta Pacovska, Es war einmal eine Blume. It is impressive to look back on older works! Quite lame illustrations but it is so great to see at last that you have improved (maybe not so much I do not know now) in composition, drawing technics and the use of colours. Maybe I should not look at those illustrations while I am working on my book project...

Hol[y]-days begin

2010-06-07T00:22:00.011+02:00

Now that I am on holiday I have no excuse! From tomorrow morning - hoping that I will get out of bed - I resume working on my first book project. I have finished the draft of my little fairy tale and I must start making the illustrations. I can tell you that my tale is quite weird - nothing surprising about that as it is a creation from my wacky brain. I am afraid as every time I am on holiday, I happen to become lazy...

Besides I will take part in 3 or 4 photo contests, we'll see.

Another batch again my dears

2010-06-05T01:52:00.002+02:00

A lovely tearoom in Paris

2010-05-16T19:05:00.009+02:00

As you may have noticed, I love tea! Yesterday, I went with my friend and her mother in a tearoom, in Paris. What is amazing is that the tea room is set in the garden of a beautiful museum: La Vie Romantique. I took a tea called "Mélange Anglais" and a chocolate tart - scrumptious. I would die for another cup of tea!! If you come to Paris, I really advise you to go there!

A new Photo in my Gallery

2010-05-14T02:36:00.005+02:00

On Her Guard (2010)

Twitter-ized blog

2010-05-01T16:51:00.007+02:00

Silly Me as always! It does not surprise me at all : I have lost my password for my twitter account (fanatikmania). I can only tweet to fanatikmania twitter account through my facebook fan page - too complicated. So now if you are eager - I do not think so - to follow me on twitter, I have a new twitter account : stainolopa

http://twitter.com/stainolopa

Easter Chick

2010-04-25T02:44:00.001+02:00

Easter Landscape

2010-04-25T02:43:00.001+02:00

2010-04-21T22:44:00.006+02:00

As you know, my shop on bigcartel is closed for the moment - I have not payed my bill. So, here my shop on Dawanda where you can go to. I promise that my bigcartel shop will reopen :)

I am busy busy busy drawing :D
Have a nice week folk!

http://st-ainolopa.dawanda.com

Update March 28th 2011 : that shop on DaWanda dos not exist anymore.

Happy Birthday

2010-04-15T22:01:00.003+02:00

Hi Everyone! I completely forgot that today is my blog's birthday - maybe because it is not really important at all. So, happy birthday!! It has been a year now that I post messages here and I am glad that I have not given up. I hope this blog will keep on existing and that I will not get bored.

on April 3th, somewhere

2010-04-05T23:34:00.002+02:00

Spring

2010-04-05T21:22:00.006+02:00

Folk who know my blog from its ouset are about to cry out. I think it has become a kind of ritual to show you each year their getting back on my balcony - Of course my dears I am talking about the very same pigeons. Actually, it seems to be the 'babies' which took flight last year. They are quite plump but still very cute :) So again a new photo among the thousand ones - I know I have been repeating myself over and over again about those birds but I really love them.

And now another topic! Let's talk about Easter! It has been a great festival with a lot of food and chocolate - I am quite sick now I hope I will not have an indigestion. I have not finished my Easter cards so you will no doubt see throughout April many posts about them - I hope you will not be bothered I am really sorry I did not have the time this weekend.

On April 15th my blog will be 1 year old - I know that you don't give a ... :D In two weeks I have holidays so it means I will spend all my spare time on my photographs and illustrations! And also - maybe - a quick trip to London again! I'm looking forward to being on holidays fellows! What a jolly Spring in prospect - except the exams and the fact that I hate this season...

Easter Cockerel

2010-04-02T22:11:00.002+02:00

The Realm of King Egg

2010-04-02T01:39:00.003+02:00

I am so euphoric as in a couple of days there will be Easter. At Easter one eats a lot of chocolat and eventually eats oneself sick :D At my home, my mother does baking and I loove her cakes so much. You will think that Easter is too me a big orgy of food if I may put it this way but it is not only that. Christmas is usually quite sad but Easter is a day of great festivities - I always drink like a fish. You spend your time with your family and you go to church. The Easter day is really my favourite day! This is my first illustration of Easter! I hope that tomorrow I will have time to make loads of illustrations for Easter.

April Fool

2010-04-01T01:21:00.007+02:00

Thank you Picasa

2010-03-29T20:09:00.007+02:00

It appears that Picasa Albums Web has erased lots of my pictures. Have you encountered the same problem on your blogs? I hope I won't have to re-upload the files as I do not know where I put them :S Sorry for the shambles fellows!

Arccimbo

2010-03-21T17:37:00.003+01:00

New illustration! I think I'm going to stop drawing faces - I've become a little too obsessed with faces :) I'll start soon to make some cards for Easter - If I find time.

My State of Mind

2010-02-18T00:49:00.003+01:00

So much work to do because of my studies that a part of me cannot give in to what it loves - drawing!!! Holidays where are thee? I need you!

Fairy Tale

2010-02-12T00:11:00.006+01:00

A few weeks ago, I had an exam where I had to write a story that would end by the following sentence : "if you run after two hares, you will catch neither". A weird exercise but it was fun to do it! Here my fairy tale.

Once upon a time, far off the land, lived in a remote castle a princess named Alice. She was a spoiled girl who could have whatever she wanted – thus she had never had to choose. When she was given the choice to have either a black horse or a white one, she took them both.

Her mother Queen Ann was obsessed with finding her a husband who would be the next king when she and her husband King George would pass away – they were very old.

The King was said to be an odd person. He had never said a word of all his life. Some said he was dumb and others said his tongue had been cut some day during a battle. But it was not true. Actually, King George was not timorous, he had always thought that the world was full of people who did not listen to what others said and that it was a waste of time to open his mouth and utter words that no one would listen or understand as it was too difficult – the king was very intelligent, too intelligent maybe. The forest and its animals was his favourite place in the kingdom – that was why he spent his spare time hunting.

One day, Queen Ann decided to organize a ball where all the young men of the realm would be invited. Thus Alice would choose – at last – her husband. So the next evening, all the men arrived at the castle. It had been a hard night for Alice as it was the first time in all her life that she had to make a decision – as in the kingdom the Queen was not given the right to have several husbands.

She had been thinking for several hours when she eventually chose two young men. But it was too hard, she could not decide which one she would marry. Both were handsome, nice, they had beautiful hair – and the most important for Alice, they were both very wealthy, thus they would give her whatever she wanted. The dawn was going to break and Alice still had not made a decision. Her mother could not bear it no more and called for the King to come. The latter arrived and sat. Alice had to wait for a long time before her father looked at her and eventually said : “Dear Alice, if you run after two hares, you will catch neither”.