Drawing a Day 20150131

Oh Dear

Pencil on paper

A friend wants a dear for a logo. Thought I'd finally play with it. Different than I have ever done. Needs work. 

I actually wanted to do a freer drawing (was looking at work by illustrators James Dean and Oliver Jeffers today and I just love their styles) but clearly that didn't happen. 

I also was limited by supplies today. I went to the studio to get new paper, etc. but K was working on my door. I didn't want to ask him to move even though he offered. He's been working so hard for me! (Nice new wall and door, huh?)

Drawing a Day 20150130

Ten Years

Pencil on paper

Not thrilled. Started this too late and I am too tired so I was super frustrated and frankly not wanting to draw. But I did rally through, and got my creative brain working, and that's important. 

Might have to reexamine the rules and allow myself a day off once a week?

Drawing a Day 20150128

Goodwill

Pencil and watercolor on paper

I wanted to play today. I have been really into using white in my past few drawings and so I found a blue piece of paper and played with using white for the negative space to make the image pop. I had fun! Not sure I love it, but I had fun and that's what counts.

Drawing a Day 20150128

Twisted (for the) Sisters

Watercolor on chipboard

I picked this carrot out at the farm share because I thought my four year old would get a kick out of it. Little did I realize what a pain it would be to clean and peel to actually eat, so it's been in the fridge for a while. But it's a great subject matter. 

I had so much fun working on this. I have been listening to my music on shuffle and have been reminded that one of my greatest passions is listening to great music and making art. I started this piece while listening to an old high school friend's music: The B Flat Project. Listening to Brian sing was so inspiring and it was great to "rediscover" his work as it appeared in my playlist. 

I had to stop this one because I am overtired and overworking it and it was getting muddy, but I was just enjoying it so much. I can't wait to see where my art takes me. 

Drawing a Day 20150127

I Just Ate My Subject (Blackberry)

Pen on paper

I'm tired. It's late. I spent all evening working on decluttering the studio so I can work now that it's heated. I literally spent twelve minutes on this. But I had some me time and got to rock out to Parents Just Don't Understand. And I realized that blackberries are really hard to draw. I couldn't remember which druplets (yes, that's what those little parts are called -- I looked it up!) I had drawn and it was a lot of confusion. I was admittedly kind of glad when I could abandon this drawing after ten minutes or so.

Drawing a Day 20150126

A in the Snow

Watercolor and pencil on chipboard

Not loving it. Distracted today -- have a big freelance project I need to focus on instead. But I did it! Do I have to share if I don't like it?

I might go back to the root veggies for the time being. But the pressure is on!

Drawing a Day 20150125

The Turnip I Thought Was a Radish (For Cos)

Watercolor on cardboard

This is for you Cos. I was inspired by the Christmas tree you did on brown paper. Thank you.

A (Wo)man with a Plan

I'm not sure what to call this post. I sure have been a slacker poster and a slacker art maker. In the past few months, I have been trying to change habits. I read The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business and got some good ideas.

I've been trying to (in no particular order):

• Spend more time with the girls. They are growing up so quickly.
• Spend more time with K. Still keeping up with our Thursday night date night.
• Be in better touch with people I love. (I might have an idea how to do this. See below)
• Exercise more. I have been getting down to the basement to row multiple times per week. I was introduced to rowing by my dear college roommate Mandi, and I have fond memories of rowing in the crew room at Tufts with her and my sister. Recently though it was Frank Underwood who inspired me to get my Concept 2 out of storage and start using it.  
• Eat better. I still have that sweet tooth (see here) but I have been trying to use our winter farm share to the fullest as well. How's this for a fab recipe I made tonight?
• Buy less. I don't need more stuff. 
• Declutter more. And keep up with the house. I know I have two kids under 5, so this is something I have to accept that won't be easy. And K and I won some time with a declutterer in the HOPEsudbury auction. I got in touch with her today. That's a start! As an artist though, it's hard to get rid of things. (Might be another thing I can do with...see below)
• Read more. At least I have been listening a lot lately. And it's been helping me keep up with the cleaning and decluttering.
• Give more. I am excited that the Friends of the Goodnow Library brochure is going to be printed soon -- it's been a fun way to give back to the library.
• Spend less time on the computer. Mostly time wasters like FB and obsessively checking email or stumbling upon stuff and getting lost online for hours. (After today, I am hoping to write less on this blog, too, because I want it to be more about the art.)

And then there's the art. What this blog is all about. I have been pretty good about some of the above and I need to make the art a habit again.  I have been reading posts by Dayna and Jennifer (as I mentioned a year ago, the last time I wrote...) and have continued to be inspired by two women who also have young kiddos.

And then I read Jessie's post How to Do a Drawing a Day. I need this kick in the pants. Thanks Jessie! I know I have tried this before. But maybe I need new guidelines. Or maybe I need less structure and I need to give myself permission to change the rules if they aren't working.

So I am putting my brainstorm in the open. Here it goes. And I start tonight.

• Once a day.
• Start small. 10 minutes. I can do ten minutes. Let's see how it goes. If I want to push it up, I can.
• Length. This is key. I never thought about this. I always say a year and basically set myself up for failure. Jessie says "How long your drawing a day project goes on is up to you. Maybe it’s just a week, maybe it’s a full year. Or maybe you want to take it easy and see how it goes, like a month-to-month lease. " I love the month-to-month lease idea. Let's do it!
• Format? I'm thinking small. 4x6? I have these super inexpensive (but awesome for this project) NYJJTA frames from IKEA. I am going to put drawings I like in the frames and hang them on the wall. I'll rotate them out. It will be inspiring. Or I can send these artworks in the mail to people I want to stay in touch with. Maybe some of each? Again, this doesn't have to be set in stone.
• Sharing the project. This blog, I guess. I was thinking Instagram since it is solely photos, but the square format doesn't go with the format of my choosing. 
• Medium. I use the term drawing loosely. Enough said.

Ok, enough thinking, more doing.