vector

This is a 'badge graphic' for @AlenkaofBohemia's Madhuri Dixit appreciation week (it's the actress' birthday today, May 15th, so Happy Birthday!), which she's curating on her 'Bollywood-ish blog'.

To be honest, I'm not super-happy with this. The anatomy is fine, but the face is far from it, and I can certainly tell that it was either put together in a hurry, or that my mind and heart were elsewhere while doing it -- both of which are partially true, at least.

On the one hand, being able to bang one of these out on something close to autopilot, after months of not illustrating, is a good sign for my skills -- practice makes perfect. On the other, isn't half the point of these fun side-projects that you learn something new, try something different?

I have no idea why I've never put this up here before. Did it last year when fellow Bollywood bloggers were doing a Sridevi-themed week. The hands are hideous (and they're actually improved from a previous version -- I love you vector) but I'm quite happy with it.

The other day I finally bothered to buy an optical mouse again. The old one had gone wonky and had been replaced, for a few months, with a ball one. While installing it I suddenly realised that the little graphics tablet attached to my work computer -- hidden beneath a pile of well-intentioned clutter -- was indeed working. Samir had fixed whatever byzantine driver issues were afflicting it, and in typical Samir fashion had now forgotten quite how he did it and when it had happened (btw, have you checked out his spiffy new blog and site?). With another hour to go before The Simpsons, I decided to give it and the new mouse a whirl.