Challenges + other news

 

Recently I learned of The Sketchbook Challenge and of course I had to sign up for it. And in case you didn't know I LOVE sketchbooks. New ones, old ones, other peoples. I love everything about them. I have several and for this challenge I have purchased a couple of new ones :) In an effort to improve my skills I have been drawing daily anyway so this just adds to the fun.

Here is the info via the site:

The sketchbook challenge is a new project launching on 1/1/2011. Follow along with us as we fill our sketchbooks based on a monthly theme that will be announced on the first of each month.

Each month we'll announce a new theme on this blog and throughout the month we'll be showing you images from our sketchbooks and talking about the intention and inspiration behind them.  Along the way we'll be sharing tips, techniques and tutorials.  We hope that by giving you a peek inside our sketchbooks and showing you how different they all are that we'll inspire you to start keeping a sketchbook of your own.  And of course if you do, we'll want to see some photos of your book too so we've designed a blog badge for you to put on your own blog to show your participation in the project.  You can download the badge here.

We encourage you to post photos of your sketchbook pages on your blog and then post a link in the comment section of the Sketchbook Challenge blog so that others can look at your pages too!  We've also set up a flickr group where you can post photos too.  You'll find the group here.

And that's not all! Thanks to the generosity of some terrific sponsors we'll be doing some givewaways and special shopping offers too!

So pick up your blog badge here, go grab a sketchbook, some pencils, pens, markers or paints and get ready to sketch with us!

Here is the list of the AMAZING artists that will be sketching along:

                                    

Jill Berry 
Sue Bleiweiss
Laura Cater-Woods
Jane Davies 
Jamie Fingal 
Judi Hurwitt
Leslie Tucker Jenison 
Lyric Kinard
Jane LaFazio
Kelli Perkins 
Carol Sloan
Carla Sonheim 
Susan Sorrell
Melanie Testa
Diana Trout
Violette

The second challenge I jumped on I found via Melanie Testa. 30 lines 30 days. She posted it on her blog awhile back and I recently found it. She (and others) have already completed it but I am doing it anyway.

Melanie recommends a ruling pen used with black paint to create 30 line drawing in 30 days. I am not using the ruling pen and have just been working with my Pitt pen.

Here are days 1-7. I am working in my moleskin book and I am not spending alot of time on them. I am really enjoying it.
 

I almost forgot to mention the other news! On my creative dream/life list has been to be published in Artful Blogging. I truly love this magazine. Just beautiful like so many of the other Stampington publications.

And while I wasn't chosen to be featured (I am still shooting for this) my blog banner will be featured in the spring issue of Artful Blogging in the Banners we love section!! I am truly honored and thankful to be included once again in a Stampington publication.

Slices of Life

Walking, enjoying the flowers and trees, working in my sketch book

Around here

* I got to meditate today with this cd while my daughter napped and my husband took my son out. This is only my 2nd time trying this and it was great.

*I am anxiously awaiting the rest of my painting supplies. I am going to stretch my own canvas. I really enjoy that part of the process.

* I sketched with colored pencils last night. Flowers and thoughts of growing things are keeping me going through the end of winter. We bought some bulbs yesterday. I have to restrain myself from starting any seeds indoors because last year I did it way too early and the basil and tomato plants were so big, so fast.




*This is a sketch from artist Susan Abbott. She does beautiful watercolor paintings. She travels and teaches and posts daily paintings to her blog.



*Another daily painter, Carol Marine. This piece is titled "Cherryguards".
She has been doing one small oil painting a day since 2006! I love her pieces! Don't you? Wouldn't it be great to do a painting a day? She says it takes her anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hrs. to complete a piece and 15 minutes to post her paintings to ebay and her blog. Here is a link to a demo of her painting.

*Have you seen the Crafting an MBA blog? It is blog devoted to business for designers and makers. A wealth of info.

I hope your weekend was great!
xo,
Dana

It has been awhile I know. I guess I have been doing alot of thinking about art. And getting quiet to realize what it is that I am passionate about and want to share. For me color is a driving element, followed closely by texture, form and pattern. I think with my training as a textile designer these things will always be with me. I started thinking about my wreaths and I what I love about them. Again, color plus the different textures and materials.

I tend to get caught up with what "everyone" else is doing. About whatever the "trend" may be. I tend to be very curious about artists who sell alot of art. I have realized that it is o.k. to be curious and try and learn a thing or two from established artists but it should end there. I really am so inspired by all of the beauty that is created. However, I don't want to try and analyze what drives and inspires them. I just need to know what drives and inspires me and go from there. When I see established artists work in a certain style and subject I sometimes wonder if they ever get bored with doing that particular thing. I think I worry that I could become bored with doing the same style work. Like does someone who creates bird art and is known for this ever just want to go and paint portraits? I guess there is no one saying you can't do this. Or maybe it is just me and I am just thinking too much. Which I have a tendency to do.

I did open a shop for my art. There is nothing in there at the moment but I will let you know when there is. It may be awhile.

I did want to mention micromovements. SARK talks about this in her books. Small movements that lead to big actions. Here is a short article on this simple but powerful tool. What is a micromovement?

Sketchbook

I have been working with my inspiration boards and also a big, beautiful flowers of the world book and creating sketches. I have also done some paintings but I am still waiting... waiting to do one I really LOVE and want to share up close. I really like the looseness of the sketches but it seems when I go for the painting the looseness gets lost in translation. We took down our tree and put away all of the Christmas decorations. It feels good to get a fresh start.

A page from my sketchbook

I spent about an hour last night working fast in my sketchbook. A great to unwind from a busy day.

I am really feeling the need (it really is a need) to paint and collage. Ideas are floating around in my head and I love to be able to play with them in my sketchbook. It feels safe and free and I enjoy being able to share some of the pages with you.

I am going to be focusing more on painting and collage in the new year. I am going to learn more about blogging and websites and shops amongst many other things. I also want to sign up for
A Year of Color after reading about it in Artful Blogging. Not sure if it is happening for 2010. Does anyone know more? What are you going to be working on in the new year?

Just wanted to mention that on the Bella Wish blog she is giving away 3 copies of Kelly Rae's book Taking Flight. Isn't that sweet? You have until Monday to stop by and comment for a chance to win.

Stop by Regina's blog, Creative Kismet by tonight (Friday) for a chance to win a great giveaway.

Also, I read about UK handmade mag on Lupin's blog. She has an awesome tutorial on her blog and in the online mag. It is also filled with lots of other great goodies. Enjoy!

Illustration Friday-Pattern

I created this painting in my kraft paper sketch book with gouache. This is my first IF submission. Pattern- It resonated with me because I designed patterns for many years as a surface designer. It was quick and fun. I hope to feel inspired with next weeks word.

Painting and a Sketch book page

The top pic is a page from my sketch book. The bottom one is a painting I did based on another page from my sketch book. I am not so happy with it. Not sure if it is too flat and lacking something that the original sketch did. And maybe I just feel that today and will like it tomorrow. :)

Hello

I hope everyone had a great weekend. The weather here in NY has been splendid. Yesterday I took the kids to Truck Day. They had a blast. They got to sit in the big trucks and blow the horns. Today we went to the farmers market and ate cookies and explored the community garden.

My husband and some very generous family and friends are replacing our roof, the roof with 3 layers!! So I have been super busy with the kids. My little guy is sick and I am hoping he feels better tomorrow so he can go to school.

We are all adjusting to him going to school. It has gotten easier now. Still weird that there is this whole other part of his life that we are not a part of. His sis misses him and wants to go to school as well. Soon enough baby girl.

So between school, play dates and runny noses I haven't been creating so much. I started working on my blackwork embroidery and I felt it wasn't coming out right so I stopped. I am doing a pattern that I did last yr. as a pin cushion that I gave to my mom. She is going to bring it over this week so I can take a look at it and see what I am doing wrong with it.

I also printed out these by Alicia Paulson. I have no idea if I will be able to do these or not but I am feeling so excited to try.

I do have ideas for more paintings and the sketch above is just a quick sketch with some ideas to explore further.

This week begins the e-course Life in Fish Bowl with Marisa from Creative Thursday. I can't wait for this to start. I can't wait to see what she covers. I feel so ripe with possibility lately. There are so many truly inspiring women artists and designers out there and I feel so thankful that I am able to read about and learn from so many of these wonderful artists on a daily basis via the web. In my "real" life I don't have the creative network that the web offers so to read along on their journey is incredible. ( If they are a mom as well, even better. ) I have a post coming soon about being a mom and an artist.

I hope your week is a great one filled with many creative possibilities. MAKE ART.

Sketchbook painting and artist

I painted this with gouache right in my sketchbook. The paper gets kinda wrinkly and it was a quick one but I am happy with it. I think I am going to do a similar one on watercolor paper. I have been so inspired by many artists lately for different reasons and I keep wanting to mention them so here is one (will get to more soon):

Kelly Rae Roberts- She has a blog right here. She is also the author of Taking Flight. I haven't read the book yet but it is on my wish list! I have been reading her blog regularly for awhile. I enjoy her art and her wonderful words of inspiration along with beautiful photos. She shares her journey as creative woman who has had success but also still has slumps and doubts just like the rest of us.

P.S. Just noticed that if you have a pic that runs horizontally and you want to enlarge it, it gets cut off. Guess there isn't enough space in the layout.

Colors

Worked on some colors last night.

Hello September

Welcome September! We didn't have much of summer here in NY. Lots of rain and cool air so it pretty much flew by. Now the weather is beautiful! Sunny and cool. I hope it lasts a bit longer.

My son starts pre-k next week. It is going to be a big change for all of us with the driving back and forth and not having him home with me all the time. I think he will love it and do fine and it will probably be harder for me then him.

I had entered the CRANE & CO. STUDIO LINE call for artists a month ago. I didn't have any of my designs picked. But I am curious to see how this line turns out. Should be exciting to see it.

Also, the Etsy shopped is now empty.

I did the above painting in my Moleskin watercolor journal using this color story and gouache paint. I am liking the direction of the color but I still don't feel like it is right. I am not sure if the grey needs to go darker or lighter and the mint, less bright. What do you think? Anyone, Anyone?

This afternoon

I worked in my sketch book today and my son worked in his. He drew a sunflower and I am still obsessed with leaves. That cup held my beverage of choice, coffee and the bowl held my son's afternoon snack, applesauce and cinnamon. This sketchbook I was working is so great. Every left side page has an inspiring quote about creativity and on the right side it simply says CREATE every day. And in case you were wondering I signed up for the life in the fishbowl course. YEAH!! I can't wait. I am a bit nervous for some reason but super excited. I hope your week is going great so far. I need to get busy actually making instead of reading about it, writing about it and looking at it!

Doodling

I just doodled the other night. It makes me feel better. It takes me out of my thoughts and puts me in the moment. The flow. I realized when I don't get a chance to some sort of art for the day I get a bit cranky. I know that I have to make art. It almost isn't a choice just something I must do. Sounds crazy right? I will be back later with a color story. Was inspired but lots of homes with pretty flowers on their porches.

Sketchbook today

This is a a couple of pages from my moleskin. I was coming up with some ideas for a collage. I finished the collage. I will share with you soon.

Also, I am looking for a name for my group of collages/paintings. I was orginally thinking of Nature Studies ( they will have a nature theme) but then I thought of Gatherings. I want to gather different ideas, papers, colors and put them together. What do you think?

Feeling a bit glum and trying to do some fun things... Working in my moleskin sketchbook. My huband gave me some inexpensive opaque watercolors yesterday and I played around with them.

Hostas again

Finishing up some Hosta pieces... If you haven't already check out the latest issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors. The cover is gorgeous!! The art is by Melanie Testa. She did wonderful art journaling and was so inspiring. I am going to get a moleskin and some Pelikan paints!

Hostas

Working on a Hosta design.

My sketchbook today...

Working in my sketchbook is so theraputic to me. It is a place to play, try things out and knowing it doesn't have to be perfect. It is place to discover things for yourself. It is the best.
Yesterday afternoon and last night I played with color a bit. I LOVE color. When I was a textile designer color was such a huge part of my job. It was so important to get the color right. It can really make or break a design. So I painted stripes in colors that I enjoy and have been inspired by nature. I like the colors on the paper that I used to test my colors on better then the ones in my sketchbook. They are brighter and more vivid. Anyway it all makes me happy.

I also layered different papers and painted them all white as a base to paint on... to see how things would look. So I tried out different things to see what direction I want to go in for upcoming Nature Studies.

So after a very exhausting day with my little ones this is what relaxes me. What about you?
I am off to do something fun for myself.. my husband took my son out and my daughter is sleeping. Ahhh... quiet.