Acceptance

A stomach virus wiped me out for most of last week.

My "schedule" to finish my Sketchbook came to a screeching halt.

Art House actually extended the deadline to Tuesday,

but I am not sending it in.

My dear friend Sophie will be sad, but thats ok.

I learned A LOT through doing this.

See, even sickness preoccupied my sketchbook!

(I love my Canada Dry symbol)

I learned that I need to come up with a more focused plan.

I chose In Flight as a theme, with the idea

that I would show my journey through the art world in my Sketchbook.

Sounds good in theory, but means that I meandered.

A lot.

Eden performed spectacularly. 

I want to have more structure next time.

Either stay with one media, or do the same type of drawings...

I don't know yet.

I also know I am going to sign up for it earlier.

I signed up as soon as I found out last year,

but many themes were already gone.

Maybe if I find a theme that really calls out to me

I will be more inspired.

I also learned that it is OK that I didn't finish.

That may not seem like a big deal,

but for me it is.

I am quick to see myself as a fraud, a failure.

I was tempted to do that when I (again) didn't finish a project.

I decided that this was a great learning experience for me.

There are many pages I don't like, or are only half finished.

I just don't want to put that out into the world,

but I will be that much better next year!

I'm still going to finish the Sketchbook,

because there are many things  I do love about it.

Sketchbook Project Update

I had pretty much given up any hope that I was going to finish

my Sketchbook Project by the 15th.

I lost all steam after my trip to Kansas in September.

What was I thinking that I could do this?

This is dumb, who is going to see and care about this?

I did some stuff here and there, but left a lot of partially done pages.

These two drawings have been in pencil for months.

I originally did them because I was practicing drawing Legos

for a little boy I babysit for.

I was going to make him a painting, which has been sitting

half done for just as long. I sort of hate it.

Sophie, an 8 year old I babysit (little boy's sister) for

is my best supporter.

A few days ago she saw me working in the sketchbook 

and goes "Oh yeah! How many pages do you have left?"

I sheepishly looked at her and went 

"Ummm...a lot. And I haven't finished a lot of pages too.

There is no way I am going to get this done in time."

She demanded to see my Sketchbook, to which I obliged.

She marveled at my most recent drawing

My mom gave me this bizarre bird pen for Christmas,

so I brought it to work--and all the kids love it.

Sophie was amazed at how good it was and says,

"Dawn, you must be one of the BEST drawers in all of Virginia!

You have to finish this in time. You only have 9 days. Tonight

I want you to draw this pepsi bottle, and start finishing those pages."

Yep, all of this coming from an 8 year old.

She boosts my ego even though I know I am not even 

close to being one of the best drawers in Virginia!

So, I listened to Sophie.

When I saw her the next day, I showed her the sketch, which she loved.

Her next project for me to tackle was finishing ALL of my unfinished pages

(hasn't happened yet), along with drawing a Sharpie

and scissors that were on my desk.

I couldn't help but to listen and oblige.

Not finished yet, I still have to color it in.

Of course she gives me all circular objects!

Drawing circles in perspective (aka: ellipses) is HARD.

I then worked on old pages, because she asked so sweetly.

How can you let a kid down?

These spreads were unfinished since September.

We went on a Party Bus, and yes it did catch on fire

(not while we were in it),

and yes it did get caught up in a high speed police chase

(also not while we were in it).

I also got an entire beer poured all over me

by someone who was drunk and walking around a moving bus.

NOT COOL.

This page was inspired by a pair of hairbands

sitting on my bathroom counter that I 

found to be in an interesting pattern.

Funny the things that strike you.

This spread was fun.

I had previously Gesso'ed these pages,

and watercolor on top of gesso gives out an interesting texture.

The gesso is very non-porous. and I really like the effect.

That website is real! It has a step-by-step demo

on how to draw a marble and color it in with colored pencils.

Mine looks horrible in comparison, but I do like it.

I'm not sure if I didn't press hard enough,

or if it was the paper.

Lastly, I am trying to draw my cat, Jack,

from when he was a wee babe.

As you can see, its not very good!
Sure it looks like a cat...but thats about it.

Any seasoned drawers out there want to give me some pointers?

Also, while this is in my Sketchbook, I also am

drawing this for the Sketchbook Challenge

Each month for the year, this blog puts out a theme,

and you can make as many sketches that fit that theme.

They even have a flickr group!

It seems lots of people are participating in this challenge.

I really want to try and expand my drawing skills this year,

and I know myself well enough that I am going to need

a little motivation.

I so hope this is it. It looks like fun!

Failing at Creativity

Sigh. 

You wouldn't think someone could fail at creativity,

but I am pretty sure I do.

These paintings are for my aunts, for Christmas.

My Nonni asked me to do them in OCTOBER.

They should have been mailed like 3 days ago.

Failure.

I bought the canvases about a month ago because I felt so guilty

for not having started.

A few weeks ago my Nonni told me I should probably unwrap them.

A week later, I did.

I did these paintings in the various forms as they are in 

one inspired saturday.

Every single day this week, what did I do?

Oh, laid in bed. Because THAT is the productive

way to spend my evenings.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?

Also, not to mention my Sketchbook, for the Sketchbook Project.
I still have about 40% left to acomplish before Jan 15.
yeah right.
My peak with that was when I traveled to Kansas
to visit a friend. I've half-drawn some stuff here and there,
but blech. I was so excited for this, and now I want
to throw it in the trash.

Works in Progress

I've spent the last week or two ruminating

on some ideas, and thinking about

how I want their final output to look like.

I'm still ruminating, but I have at least started

sketches! 

Have a look see at my beginning stages.

You may notice each one is in a completely

different journal/paper type.

:)

This is the biggest size, 9x12 I believe.

What hopefully will be a birthday present for my dad.

Inspired by a painting I saw in my boss's house whilst babysitting.

 This little sketch (in my Sketchbook Project) was inspired by some

Sarah McLachlan lyrics.

I plan on using watercolor in some fashion.

And this little bugger is inspired by

my favorite little guy that I babysit for.

He likes Legos.

I hope this turns out as nicely as I have it pictured in my head.

I practiced the letter drawings on tracing paper,

an idea stolen from Andrea Joseph.

Except, if I were to transfer it onto the paper,

the letters would have been put on backwards!

DUH!

After some thought (I spent nearly two hours doing this...)

I decided to just cut the letters out and glue it right to the page.

It quickly answered what medium I was going to use;

Acrylics.

It would be hard to do watercolor or pen over gel mediumed 

tracing paper.

Acrylics, I hope I still know how to use you!

As you may see, I'm still on the quest to

learn to draw.

Just keep practicing.

Stay tuned for (hopefully) some finished products.

Watercolor Practice, drawing practice

Ok, so this cloud picture has nothing to do with my post.

I just like it :)

I took it on the way back to VA from Kansas a few weeks ago.

I've had my hand in dabbling in a few different things:

I am enamored with watercolors at the moment,

I still want to practice developing my drawing skills,

I am still working (slowly) on my Sketchbook.

My poor art journal is very lonely, 

but I know I will get back to it eventually.

Tonight I practiced and played with my watercolors.

I love the softness and flow of watercolors,
the way the colors just bleed into each other.
UPDATED: I want to make a note, that the paper I re-bound my sketchbook with
is Rives BK paper, which I believe is a printmaking paper.
It is so soft and smooth, but the way it takes watercolors is beyond stupendous.
The colors just melt into the paper effortlessly, mix and mingle.
Pure joy.
I also am trying to keep on working on my Sketchbook.

Not every page is a finished "piece."
I am documenting my Journey through this little art thing
I got going on; my take on In Flight.

I babysat my boss's kid last week,
and used that opportunity to practice some drawing skills.

 The top picture I am trying to realistically draw some wood grain.
It takes patience and diligience!
You can see I gave up after awhile.
The second picture is something I sketched from
a painting hanging on my boss's wall.
I love her painting, and this is my take on it.
I have started a larger drawing
to turn into a painting of my own for my dad's upcoming birthday.
I just can't decide if I want to do watercolor or acrylics.
Hmmm....
Last, but not least...a little "doodle" practice.
I am a horrible, awful, no good, terrible doodler.
I can not just sit and let my mind wander and draw aimlessly.
I need ideas, patterns, something concrete.
So, I drew some doodles from all sorts of places for inspiration,
mainly flickr.

 I do love sepia pens though :)

MEGA Post

Hello blogger friends!

I am back from KC, and have mostly finished

my pages that I worked on during my mini-vacation.

I actually brought my sketchbook with me

almost everywhere we went.

I was nervous.

This was the first time I've been exposed

in my art making.

Sure, I've posted stuff online,

but it isn't the same as actually doing it in front of people.

(hold those dirty thoughts!)

They are only my favorite people,

and yet I was almost embarassed.

What if they made fun of me for being an art dork?

What if they didn't like what I was doing?

What if they didn't even care?

Ahh!

Hello insecurities, nice to see you.

But, I did it.

I told them right off the bat that this sketchbook was

going to be traveling with me all weekend,

and it was ok.

Whew!

Now...onto the pictures.

Enjoy :)

This isn't finished yet.

I want to color the letters and finish coloring the plane

Detail.

I like trying to figure out the art of cross-hatching with a ballpoint

This spread isn't finished either.

The checkerboard needs to be colored in,

and on the right side, I need to finish the background coloring.

Close up.

Definitely my favorite shading with cross-hatching to date.

Oklahoma Joe's banner with some doodles (that need to be colored)

Apparently this is the #1 BBQ place in the US,

and #13 in the world, according to Anthony Bourdain.

Delicious food.

I saw this, and how can you NOT draw it!

We only went to the outdoor part of the museum

that had the gigantic shuttlecocks on display.

Yes, my friends and I went cuz its funny.

*insert dirty thoughts here*

Doing some slow journaling (a la Daisy Yellow)

from a relaxing day.

We played cards.

I really like this page.

True Story.

Creepy neighbor came into my friend's backyard

because we were screaming as we killed the world's GROSSEST SPIDER.

We told her that we were fine, we just killed a really big spider.

"How lame," she says...about 5 times.

The next day, we wake up to find 2 construction paper

spiders taped to the front door!!!!

HOW LAME!

Some pages aren't quite done, but I couldn't wait any longer to post.

I feel like I'm being a traitor and ignoring my art journal.

I also am already sad I'm going to have to give this

sketchbook up in January.

In Flight: A mini vacation

Hey folks!

Me and my Sketchbook are flying off to Kansas

for an extended weekend with friends.

Oh, how I need this break from work.

I hope to come back refreshed and full of drawings from my Sketchbook.

But, probably not...because I will end up just enjoying

my time with friends.

I shall leave you with some new blogs that I've found recently.

Hope you enjoy :)

Lisa Lights a Fire: Awesome artwork/doodles

Journals and Sketchbooks: Exactly what it sounds like :)

Flora Bowley: Her blog is new, but her art...oh my. Gorgeous use of color

Louise Gale: Another feast for the eyes

Sue Doodles: Dooldle-icious

First 3 pages of The Sketchbook

I F-I-N-A-L-L-Y started on my Sketchbook!

That little blurred out bit is my blog address, 

which is for my family.

I don't want everyone in my family seeing this blog.

This is the first page.

I debated long and hard on how I wanted to use the theme In Flight.

I eventually came up with the idea

of how a tiny (not so pretty) caterpillar

transforms itself into a beautiful and colorful butterfly.

I feel as if I'm that little caterpillar

and hope to one day become a butterfly;

through my art.

Oh, how I worked ALL DAY on this!

There is still a lot wrong with it,

but you know what?

I think I've come quite a ways 

from just a month or two ago in my drawing abilities.

I'm proud of what I did!

I hope you all enjoy this journey I'm on.

Practice, Practice, Practice!!

I'm still hooked on trying to learn how to draw.

I am learning to overcome my fear of not being able to draw,

of letting my little brother's talents 

overpower any thought of mine.

There is SO much wrong with these.

Drawing circles is hard...

drawing circles in proportion and scale and perspective...

so difficult.

I am determined to keep trying,

I also re-bound my Sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project

This is my 4th book to stitch together...

and it does get easier and better

These stitches are almost straight!

and somewhat tight!

Woo!

Projects Galore

I have multiple projects going on right now,

and glad for all the distraction.

Project #1: Rebinding The Sketchbook for the sketchbook project.

 The papers are so thin! Worse than composition paper.

There is no way I could work like that.

I have been struggling trying to come up with ideas

for my theme, "In Flight."

The website says that it is just a jumping off point,

but Eden's posts on her sketchbook has made me think hard.

I have thought about "In Flight" and it eventually 

brought me to a journey.

That is what I feel like I'm on.

I constantly want to try new things, experiment,

so I think I'm going to document it in the sketchbook

and then send it off for the world to see!

Ahh!

I am cutting down papers to put in the Moleskine.

It says you can do 5.5x8.5, but 8.5" was too long,

so I kept it at 8". A little short, but not too bad.

Project #2: Color Journal

I've seen on a few blogs of people keeping

a color journal. 

I've thought about it, but always put it off.

I decided to do one, because there are so many color combinations

and inspiration. I found much of it in the Art Journaling magazines,

but also in other magazines,nature, tv shows. Its everywhere!

This way, if I am ever stumped on color,

I can be inspired!

Project #3: Blurb.com photo book

This has been really hard for me to get going on

InDesign is harder than I thought to use,

and I just want it to look GOOD, NOW!

Is that so hard to ask?

On top of that, I keep on painting in my art journal.