…not that dinos are exclusively BOY…..is anything? But still, my boys ask for certain animals sometimes and so just for fun….
Queen Procrastinator
I stay pretty busy, but house projects often get side-tracked in the name of work projects. The project above might set a record for me, though. i bought burlap, lining, cord, etc over 18 months ago to make new roman shades for our kitchen that we remodeled last year. i finally made them in the couple days before Christmas. To be honest, i’m shocked i didn’t break down and just buy some in the meantime. Better late than never!
What is the longest you guys have ever put off a project you had all the supplies for?
New ARtwork – That ARtsy Girl
That ARtsy Girl – 12×17 (image area) in acrylic and collage on watercolor paper
i painted this small as a color study. Painting small really helps me with freedom of color selection, layout and experimentation. It feels less “heavy” than when i am painting on a huge canvas – less pressure. And that often yields results that i really end up liking.
How about you all? Any strategies for energizing your creative mojo?
productive days creating
Nothing can put an actual, noticeable spring in my step as much as a super-productive day of creating….even better when some of the hours are billable, right? : ) On days like that, i sorta feel like the stars are aligned, and everything will be alright with the world. i’ve got glitter under my nails by bedtime (hopefully the kids didn’t eat any with their lunch?!), and i’ve got a big stupid grin on my face.
i had one of those days yesterday. It was so needed.
i was so grateful for it.
Half client work that miraculously hit zero snags, and half creating artwork for my shop and fun projects. Do you guys also have that magical recipe? that perfect storm of little things that add up and make you feel so happy and content just to BE? The kind of day that makes you feel like a good night’s sleep is on its way? i’m so interested to hear….for real-real! i swear, sometimes it just a day of sunshine and breezes that can do it! Or a day when the baby sleeps soundly during his nap and the house is peaceful for a bit. AH, the little things!
Anyway! Here are a few little tidbits of what yesterday’s creative sessions entailed…
~ a new print for the etsy shop
~ and the start of some sketching for the next in that same series
~ a bit of sketching for a commisioned t-shirt design
~ and little sliver of a peek at some free, BOY-FRIENDLY art you’ll be able to download over at Lil Blue Boo.
Hope you all had a great day too, and more of the same today!
going for it
i’ve wanted to be a published illustrator since i first realized that was an actual thing. i took a class in college called The Children’s Picture Book. My instructor was an amazingly talented artist whose experience both inspired and discouraged me. What i mean is, she was phenomenal and let us know that the kids book biz was a tough egg to crack. i thought, if doors don’t fly wide open every which way for someone like her, what chance did i have?
Skipping forward some 15 years and i kinda wish i hadn’t been discouraged to the point of paralysis. i’ve been kicking around in every possible area of the art world ever since and i finally feel like i’m finding my most comfy niche…..in painting abstracts and sketching characters. i’ve just recently started combining the two and it feels like home.
These are a few of my latest kiddos. i’m on a mission to create throngs of them in the hope that practice makes perfect. And in the meanwhile, i’m actually shaking off the paralysis and dummying up a few of the books that have been collecting dust on the shelf. It’s feels like doing a class project and not really real. DO you know what i mean?
Aaaaaanyways…..i’ll leave you with this one last little sketchy-poo; it’s me, as i’d look in my little land of sketchy girls and bright colors…..think this would this look ok on a book flap someday? Because i think i like it better than my headshot. haha. Fingers crossed.
Recent Sketches courtesy of instagram
i was a latecomer to instagram, now i couldn’t bear to live without it. the quickest and super cutest way to share vignettes of my sketches on the fly….here’s a peek inside my sketchbook of late.
…..yeeeahhhhhh…..i haven’t decided which filters are my faves yet : )
why have i not done this before?
so, in the category of “why on earth have i not done this before” i’ll enter the submission: MAKE MY OWN PHOTOSHOP BRUSHES AND PATTERNS.
whati’ve actually made patterns before a long time ago before i was creating any of my illustrations digitally, so it doesn’t count. i wasn’t utilizing them to their full capacity! And making brushes is something i’ve always put off because 1) there are so many available already online and 2) i thought i needed to learn the process or something….no….you don’t. Its easy as pie. For real. i feel like such a doofus.
So, now i plan to play with these new fun techniques a lot in the coming weeks and ya’ll will have to look at all the silliness i make. lucky you?? ; )
Looky here at what i made tonight. Necessity was truly the mother of invention. i NEEDED this specific look and texture for big project i’m working on. Can’t wait to share more when i can.
G’nite!
what we sing around the house
“They call me the D-A-double D-Y-M-A-C
And there ain’t another brotha bad as me
When I let go
Somethin’ from the ghetto
Word, a little brother kickin’ rhymes like you never ever heard!”
This little girlie wears her pants the right way….but she still spits rhymes, yo.
dashes -mix n match summer bracelets
I used some discarded shreds of t-shirt material to braid up these super-quickie summer bracelets today. It took me about 15 min to make all 3. They are so fun and FREE, that i plan to experiment with braiding in some metallic trims, maybe sew on some metal beads or fringe on the next batch and play with more printed or striped fabrics. In fact, i think i’ll use my time at the beach next week to stock myself a whole summer stash of these!
why i’ve got a swing in my office
What makes your work worthwhile? What makes you feel successful? What frame of mind is necessary for you to function at your best?
For me, these answers involve providing for my family, knowing i’m actually ABLE….no incredibly well-equipped to provide for my family (doing something i love and that fulfills me), and also being comfortable with the fact that i am a type-A control freak, worry-wort who needs calm and peacefulness in order to dig in and do the work required of me.
That’s why i’ve got a swing in my office.
My newborn sleeps in it peacefully at my side while i peck away on the computer…. and sketch at my lightbox…. and paint ….and email.
The rhythmic clicking of the motor keeps me ever-mindful of my goal. Its like a clock ticking. The baby will be awake at regular intervals demanding to be fed and i’m the only restaurant in town. i must get my work done in a timely fashion so as not to feel flustered and behind schedule each time these forced breaks occur.
The swing reminds me why i work, what really matters. It makes me feel like superwoman to retrieve the binky that’s fallen into the crevice of his seat and replace it with my left hand, while hitting “send” on a client email with my right hand. i feel like i’m in total control of my life and my business as the swing sways away by my knee, i chat up my 5 year old nearby at his art table, and simultaneously create new art and designs on my graphics tablet…all while sipping on mugs of decaf.
Sure, i could have the baby in a crib or bassinet in some other room. But i like being able to look at him all the time. Seems like he changes and grows every hour! Having him near me and safe actually fuels my creativity and my confidence in the fact that i can maybe, sorta do it ALL! That’s a pretty awesome feeling.
So, this is the fullness of my life at the moment. i will never have it again….at least, never just quite like this. One day very soon, there will be no swing in my office. But for now. It is perfection.