My favourite T-shirt

I LOVE this T-shirt, it's my very favourite. I bought it at a super-cheap import shop for $6. But it is shrinking with every wash. I thought I would draw it before it wears out. Pen and coloured pencil.

Almost Me

Self portraits, regardless of technical flaws, are always confronting and somewhat revealing - especially when you rediscover them down the track. I feel like my life is entering a new phase and I wanted a record of its beginning, or perhaps, I am really recording the end of the old. Sketched yesterday, from the mirror. HB pencil in sketchbook.

Monday Artday - bunny

A few weeks ago when I reached 100 daily drawings I rewarded myself by requesting to join the collaborative illustration blog Monday Artday and -hooray! - I was accepted. I am truly honoured to have the opprtunity to participate in a site so filled with skill and talent. However, life and self-doubt interfered and it has taken me some time to work up the courage to tackle one of their challenges. This week's challenge is 'bunny', right on time for Easter, and here is my submission, titled 'Stay Close' in watercolour and pastel on yellow ground.

Fledgeling (self-portrait)

This is my current view of my creative self. And it is empowering to have made this sketch. When I think now of all the self-doubt and negativity that kept me from pursuing art for years I feel renewed. I have a new vision. I realise the futility of all that self-criticism. Now, I understand that the pursuit of art is embedded in hard work, practice and fun. That each and every one of us has an abundant capacity for creativity waiting to be explored. I am humbled and inspired by all the talent and the dedication of my newfound flickr friends. I am so glad to be drawing again. And I feel like flight will come. Sketch in HB pencil, I hit the 'sepia' button after scanning.

Art Goals 2009

I thought it would be helpful to define what my creative goals are so that I have a record of what I want to achieve and how I am progressing. Basically I started out with 2 broad goals - to improve my drawing skills and to sketch daily. As I have kept to my daily practice some other aims have emerged. There are essentially 3 areas in which I seek to gain greater confidence:


1. Illustration - the illustration of a concept, idea, poem or story is a skill I would love to master. Yet the complexity of its demands are wide-reaching. Still, I have started here and there with small pieces of this nature. I made this sketch, entitled 'Homecoming', to decorate a card to send to an Aunt in Scotland. The children are representative of my own and the door is symbolic of her house.

2. Location sketching - I now carry a sketchbook in my handbag with the goal of sketching while out and about, I would love to be adept at this. My first few attempts were embarrassingly awkward as I wrestled with emotional inhibitions and practical issues. However I am finally increasing in confidence and I am actually quite pleased with this sketch I made at the library today.

3. Watercolour - learning to paint is an immense challenge and at present I am wrestling with watercolour. I find the medium incredibly frustrating and yet, I am persisting. Really, I would love to justr give up and try acrylics instead but for some reason I won't allow myself to do so! This, in itself, is unusual. I feel I must continue on, 'push through' until I feel less frustrated and more in control, although goodness knows how long that will take!

Each of these 3 areas requires me to tackle perspective and use of the whole picture (inclusion of background, foreground, hands, feet and other scary features!) which have long been my two greatest challenges in drawing. Still it feels good to realise I am taking steps, small but steady, towards where I want to be.

Thumbs up - life is good!

March has been a great month! My daughter turned 7 and that was a beautiful day. We are all healthy, the kids are settled at school. Business is going really well, things are moving forward. We have a new car that is far less embarrassing than the old bomb we were driving before (no, seriously...) and I have kept up my sketching. The weather is gorgeous and simple pleasures abound. It has been a long, long time since life has felt this good, this calm...so I'll enjoy it while it lasts and hope it continues!

An Apple a Day

'An apple a day keeps the doctor away,' or so we were told as kids. I rarely eat them now. Although these were too beautiful to resist. So, I joined the kids in crunching through an apple this afternoon. It was delicious, crisp and juicy - just right! And they looked so good I had to draw some. Pastel and coloured pencil. Lots of fun!

March Already!

Well, it's March already! WOW! And it seems I have received so much motivation and encouragement from my new flickr friends that I haven't been posting here at all. Well, it was actually one of my New Year's goals to change that and commit to this blog. Of course, it would help if I was more technologically literate and felt like I had some idea of what I was doing but I guess I'll just have to learn as I go! I have, nonetheless been sketching or drawing daily (OK, I admit to a few days of non-productivity, but very few actually) all in all I am very pleased with my progress in terms of dedication. My favourite piece so far is this one of the sea, I called it 'After the Storm'. Well, posting even this much was a big step. More tomorrow.