The Wheels are Turning

Taking notes and doing preliminary sketches. I'm going to work on my first "Illustration Collection" for licensing purposes. The theme is Woodland Animals. This is an excellent way to continue my "Year of Drawing"!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Craft-A-Doodle

 

I admit it. I am obsessed with this book, Craft-a-Doodle by Jenny Doh! I carry it around the house with me or to the park so I can refer to it while the kids are playing. It has 75 creative exercises from 18 wonderful artists. I am not a doodler. I'm sure I did it when I was in grade school but I don't do it now. I actually find it kind of hard. I want my doodles to look like other artists' elaborate doodles. Well, that's not what doodling is about. You're not supposed to think. You're not supposed to compare. You just play. So, I've been playing like crazy with this book! I can draw and not necessarily be pretty and when I least expect it, I find treasures I can use and expand on in my art.

Here I attempted Cori Dantini's " Recipe for a Face". I can't draw like Cori but it was fun trying!

I loved doing some of Flora Chang's exercises.

 

One of my Fave's Carla Sonheim has exercises too!

Then I was inspired to create my own. I put random watercolor blobs on a page and drew what I thought they could be. Some failed and some were super cute.

I can't recommend this book enough. There are tons of exercises so, you can find the ones that speak to you and give them a go. It helps me get unstuck. No more "what am I going to draw?" and it gets you to play. I am very guilty of feeling "this has to be an amazing piece of art that I can sell" when I sit to create. I sometimes think playing is a waste of time. It's not. Every mark you make feeds into your art and teaches you something. All that matters is the act of creating. This book helps you create!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

P.S. I've opened an Etsy shop! Each week I'm adding new things. Please click the link and check it out!

 

Back Pain!

I did a number on my back pulling weeds yesterday. I've been bed bound with a heating pad watching "Lost" and doodling a little. 

 
 

Doodle Fun!

Yesterday I got a lot of time to play in my sketchbook while my kids were playing. I had the book 20 Ways to Draw a Cat on my iPad to inspire me and I drew, drew, drew. 

These were fun little doodles to make. It's all part of my Year of Drawing. 

I am also continuing to add items to my Etsy shop so, please stop by! 

 
 
 
 

A Year of Drawing Returns

I have been bad. I admit it. My goal of drawing every day and posting to my blog got sidetracked. I got a new app for my phone so, I intend to be better at drawing and posting from now on! (At least I hope too). 

I was sketching and this girl was my fave!

 

New Supplies

There are some new things on my desk this week.  

New neons from Golden's High Flow line!

And some fun new markers from Liquitex and Montana. They are acrylic paint markers and they are great for detail work and mark making. 
 
 

Abstracts? Me?

Artist, Carla Sonheim (one of my faves) recently did an awesome thing, she had a series of art classes with a couple of guest artists. I took Between Speech and Silence with Diane Culhane. Her work is abstract and colorful and very, very fun. I created very interesting pieces of art. Lots of color and texture. The classes are now available for self study so I urge you to check out Diane's and the others offered.

We took a line for a walk.

And we collaged and painted abstract landscapes.

 

 

 

I am really enjoying this style of painting. I can make it my own. There is lots of texture and even though its abstract I can include my characters. This is quite different from the art I usually make but I can incorporate my style in there. I also like this style as it's a little more "grown up". A lot of my art is great for children. This style is more adult and yet whimsical. You know I'm going to be me making more. You can purchase prints in my Etsy shop too! How cool is that?