I spent several hours de-cluttering the spare room a few weeks ago, it was never finished since we moved in 4 yrs ago, still had unpacked boxes in it 😝 but it felt good getting rid of unused “stuff”, and now it’s waiting to be painted and used as a spare room! I love getting rid of stuff, and then I moved my attention to my “studio” for de-cluttering, it’s mostly just re-organizing, putting things back where they belong, I don’t have shelves & cabinets full of supplies, but I do tend to leave stuff out! so the studio has been tidied up as well, just a pile of paperwork sitting on the floor, waiting to be shredded! and it feels so good! cathartic!
If only I could “de clutter” my brain so easily!! get rid of unused & unwanted thoughts! negativity, self-doubt & in some cases self-loathing! if I could get rid of that little voice that keeps asking “why are you wasting your time, making art no one wants?”; what makes you think you’re an “artist”? how dare you call yourself an artist? ...that inner voice, needs to be “tossed” to the curb! or the 80 different things I’m constantly thinking about ...bills, groceries, bills, the what if’s! if only I could put those self-doubts in a box and toss them to the curb! I’ve tried meditation, it helps, but the greatest meditation for me is creating! so while “monkey mind” is still with me, during the time I’m drawing or painting, my mind is “quiet” thinking only about the vision I’m trying to capture, and that is my focus! So while my brain may be cluttered & disorganized, at least my work area is clean & tidy, for now! and I can clear my mind by drawing, it has always been & always will be my “escape”. And here’s a peek at some sketches for a map I’m illustrating, not surprisingly, it’s an island! The finished map will be posted next Monday, I haven’t done one of these in a while, such a great idea for capturing memories! and the ink & watercolour fun continues! Inktober 2018 is a wrap, 31 ink drawings in 31 days! and for the first time I followed the prompt words every day! it made me draw things I normally wouldn’t draw, which got me out of my comfort zone. You can see them all on my instagram account (link is above) if you’re interested. Also, I wrapped up an online watercolour course, which I loved, and am still working on, it has given me so much information, and inspiration. I can’t wait to try it with some motorcycle inspired work. I always feel “letdown” when I finish a project, what’s next? I want to start a new monthly drawing challenge for November, and I haven’t yet, it keeps me focused if only for 30 minutes a day, and I am continuing on my never-ending journey of self-promotion, banging my head against the wall, and creating, because it’s the only time I feel “alive”, and continue to learn & evolve! Not a lot of deep thoughts here, trying to stay motivated in this gross season called Fall, 2 weeks of colours and then mud, grey, cold & wet, for the next 7 months, it’s not easy! but I’m trying, through my art to bring some colour & inspiration into this bleakness! I’m currently doing the same scene in a few different watercolour washes & techniques, it was suggested I paint this scene by a customer, who has become a friend, so thanks for that suggestion, and I’m hoping to do it in a mixed media as well, with coloured pencil & inktense perhaps? and I think it’s time for some ocean or motorcycle inspired work, from my heart! but first I must find a new monthly drawing challenge, or maybe return to my daily dog drawings?
So here’s the two pieces, which do you prefer? believe me, it was hard to see “beauty” in this snow that fell way too early, but it’s since, melted and we’re back to mud! 11”X15”/ink on watercolours, more colour less ink & lighter washes more ink detail, cause you know I love my ink! |
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