Shadows

 

(Pen and digital)

 

It happens to us all...

Toes

After a few dull days the sun has finally popped out again.

Hoorah!

My daughters and I painted our toenails bright pink this week, so I was inspired...

 

 

Pen and Digital

Sweet, sweet summer

 

Happy Birthday to MEEEEEE!!

These are just some of the lovely gifts I've received today.

And I was spoilt by Steve who took the day off work so I could stay in my pjs until 2pm.

Here's one of the pieces I worked on today:

 

I'm a little bit digi-obsessed this week, but I promise I have also started a lovely little watercolour painting with my new paints.

And there are other bits too - all to come eventually.

Such fun!

Oh, and I'm surrounded by birthday flowers!

Houses, houses, everywhere!

Ok, so I couldn't keep away, and I have MISSED posting each day.

What a shock on Saturday when I was allowed to do nothing at all

and I really, really got twitchy!

So this is what I've been working on this week so far:

 

Pen and digital colour

 

Where we live it is so hilly - not in a 'hills and dales' lovely way, just in a 'can't push this pushchair any longer' kind of way. But as it is quite built up, I am always reaching the top of a hill for a breather and looking down onto a valley of houses; rows and rows of inter-war and post-war houses and I actually really love how that looks.



#30 of 30-Day Art Challenge

Day 30

 

I did it!!

Woop woop!

Challenge completed.

 

Seahorse - watercolour and brush pens

 

So on reflection, what have I achieved?

What have I learnt?

What will I change?

 

• I have discovered many different artists whose work has inspired me (inc. Marion Smith, Sam Toft, Angie Lewin, Emily Gravett, David Roberts, Clare Mackie, Sarah Dyer among others.)
• I put more value on 'creative time', and this has enabled me to produce one or more new pieces every day of this challenge
• I can work with watercolour much more confidently, and have discovered more about pencil work, and where I might wish to use digital manipulation
• I have actually produced more than 30 pieces in 30 days - big achievement! I've come a long way from that pen-pot drawing on day #1.
• I learnt when to pick up my tools and when to put them down - as I said yesterday, prioritising and balancing with all the other 'jobs' on my to-do list
• I realised it's ok to give yourself permission to get on and do something you love, that feels part of you, and really brings you joy. It's ok, it really is. As long as the sacrifice is not too painful for those around you (who are gradually being buried under piles of laundry)
• My family really support me in this, and that has been really good to learn. My husband shared this blog with others, encouraged me at the start, and my daughter wants me to draw her now, and has even made other suggestions for me to 'do that and put it on your computer mummy'.
• I truly didn't consider whether or not I could fulfil this challenge. It was totally personal and private at the start. I told my husband on day #4 and after that I gradually mentioned it to others as I grew confident. It remains fun. It remains motivational. It remains creative. That was the criteria laid out and it still is.
• There is a difference between blogging my progress just for me and sharing this with others. As I read somewhere this week, we are all encouraged to make marks on paper as little children, but then somewhere along the way the unconscious experimental freedom of 'creativity' becomes conscious. Someone comments, has an opinion, shares their view, offers ideas on improvement. And suddenly we are self-conscious, aware of how our creations look to others. And the fear of 'not being good enough' comes in. I've produced a variety of images during this challenge, some I am proud of, others much less so. I have my own standards, others will have theirs. All I know is what is good enough for me.
• I need to now think less about this for a while, so I will set myself the challenge of producing one new piece each week (or posting at least once with some new development), and will try to post on the same day every week. I do leave things to the last minute though, so who knows if this will work.

Let's see where it takes me!!

 

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” — Mary Lou Cook



#29 of 30-Day Art Challenge

More with the Tombow Brush Pens. I love them, and have just ordered more colours for my birthday! Yey!

With a day ahead of me and no real ties on my time I could have spent it all drawing/painting BUT I was very good and instead I decided to get all my jobs done first. 

 

 This challenge has made me prioritise my art more - which is great! but it means the ironing and other little jobs are left until I feel guilty about not doing that stuff SO now I have to find that balance. Now it's a case of setting time aside and making it precious, around which I do all the other 'chores'. All through this month I have found what I produce is very much affected by whether I know I need to sit and 'create' first (or else it won't get done), or knowing that with a pressing job that needs doing I should get that out of the way before working on a creative idea with a clear conscience. That will always be the balance and so with all this I need to remain self-aware.

 

(Creating time as 'precious' is something many of us are bad at - which is why a 30-Day Challenge could work for anyone in any area...reading, exercise, even ring-fencing time with their partner or kids. I certainly need to do it more in lots of areas. I wish it was as easy as writing about it!) x

#28 of 30-Day Art Challenge

It's not stopped raining all day, so this is Mrs Hippo waiting at the bus stop.

 

I discovered the 3 Tombow Dual Brush Pens I own and for the first time ever I used water with them and they are lovely! Such a great watercolour effect, but with much more control and vibrant colours. And I love the strong line left round the edge - I'll be doing some more experiments with these. Although the limited palette may be tricky: Bright Pink, Dark Pink and Purple

#27 of 30-Day Art Challenge

Feeling a bit grumpy and uninspired today - sorry!

Again, a little pen sketch will have to do while little one sleeps.

 

Not sure what to do with this blog, now the end of the challenge gets closer.

I want to carry on somehow, so I'll have to decide on my commitment, and what I want to do with my work.

Hmm, any ideas?



#26 of 30-Day Art Challenge

'Breakfast by the Seine'

This morning I was eating brioche for breakfast with the kids, and the smell of toasting them made my brain wish to be overlooking Paris eating real French croissants! Ha! However, I had a whole day ahead of me with both kids at home and a poor weather forecast. The idea for this drawing hovered in the back of my brain all day. I hoped to colour it too, but I am shattered...

 

(Beginning to wonder what to do after day 30 of this challenge...

Option A - stop
Option B - continue the same

Option C - change the challenge ie one image a week, or one theme a week)

#25 of 30-Day Art Challenge

Continuing some drawings from yesterday.

3B pencil, watercolour paints and watercolour pencils for detail/shading.

I forgot to give him anything to stand on - woops! - the floating golfer.

(Although I really want to call it 'Tee-ed off')

 

The detail and concentration needed sort of got me down. I wanted to use my pencil freely with more movement...

 

...so this lovely lady sprung into my head and onto the paper...

'The Beautiful Joyous Dancer'

2H pencil (contrast increased in Photoshop)

Funny how I draw with ease when the subject matter is closer to home.