Saturday 10 July 2010

Where I appreciate time

Appreciating my time is new thing. I remember not too long ago when I had to keep doing things, mainly going out all the time and being active. Since this, art reawakening thing (and since my brain has calmed down etc) I am so much more CHILLED. I actually punched the air with glee last night because I had a free Saturday today - no plans, nothing (well just my own) but no ties or obligations. I knew I had the entire day to myself and that felt like a little gift. I cleared out some of my room, I did some exercise (which killed in the heat to be honest) and I did some flower watercolours in the garden. I hated the first one and then did the sinful horrific ripping out sketchbook page *cringe* because it wasn't up to scratch. I've never been one to go for watercolours, so it was like my own little mission. I sat back and thought 'right.....what the heck am I doing wrong here?' then it clicked. I tried again and this time it was much better. Still not quite there but I'll get there. I felt a bit gutted I ripped out the page but thats ok, it was my first time after all.

So from today I have vowed to become great with watercolours, like my own mini mission. Expect to see some soon (well if I havent binned them).

Other than that, I've decided to just draw from that core place and not think about it. Not wonder where its going. Not specifically draw something for online (because lets face it, it probably was going that way) however I like sharing it so thats ok. But like I said in the last blog, I've been reigning it all in and its been good. I've also realised Im going to try and draw more from real life and not from magazines/books unless its for a specific reason. Mainly to get into the habit of being able to just sit anywhere, pull out the sketchbook and just go for it. I've been relaxing in the garden on my days off last week and drew a few things -


The back of my house, whilst sitting in the most comfortable deckchair with a cat resting on my foot.



Hanging bird garden ornament.
My mum was given this as a gift and she was pretty horrified and to be honest so was I because we thought it was naff. However after drawing it, I noticed every carve mark, every detail and I realised that someone had painstakingly made this. So I have much more respect for it. Even thought it's not really my thing and all it's quirky.


Coral. Coloured pencil (wimped out of doing watercolour at the time, oh how that will change, we hope).



A quick hand sketch, because well.....I felt like I should draw something. Note to self - never draw just to draw. Draw because you feel it.

The rest so far can be seen here on flickr

So there we are, until next time...

8 comments:

  1. All great drawings and especially like the bird and the hand. I am relatively new to watercolors and had a really rough time at first - stick with it and it will come together. The odd thing about watercolors for me, and when it really clicked was when I realized that with watercolor you can go from your lights to darks with layering. One of the unique qualities for me of watercolors is the wash. I play with washes a lot, and love the free flowing risks and possibilities. Whereas once I turned to watercolors because it was quick and convenient (and a challenge), now I truly love the medium!

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  2. Fantastic sketches! =) My favorite has to be the back of your house, something about the perspective that reminds me of my childhood

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  3. These are all terrific, but I'm with Alex. I love the first one!

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  4. It's OK to rip a page out. There really is not a journal policeman who will come and give you a ticket. It's your journal.
    The pieces you shared are lovely.

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  5. Ditto on the back of the house. Lovely.

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  6. Oh wow! Fantastic sketches here!! Well, it is totally ok to rip out a page.. And now that you have tasted the freedom of ripping, you will do it more often, and it is usually fun.. (it is more fun if you can rip off pages from elsewhere, and stick it in your journal, kind of making that a mixed media kind... lol)

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  7. Oh, these are all wonderful drawings! The back of your house looks charming and the little bird ornament is wonderful in its quirkiness :-)

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  8. I really like the study of the back of your house too... it's all the little details that give it a real charm! All lovely pictures :0)

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