Creating Challenge Day 88--More Lettering

I've made further progress on the letters I began yesterday:

Creating Challenge Day 87--Lettering

I'm playing around with my own letters.

Also playing around with the Pilot Precise V5 Rolling Ball pen.

Creating Challenge Day 86--Sketching

I continue my way through the Art of Wild Abandonment class. In the video I recently viewed Junelle Jacobsen encouraged students to sketch something from a rural setting. The idea is to complete the sketch in ten minutes so we don't allow our inner critics to comment. That didn't quite work for me (apparently my inner critic is gifted), but the encouragement did compel me to complete my challenge for the day. I've frequently been drawn to this windmill that lives in nearby open space, so today I decided to draw it.

Creating Challenge Day 85--Lettering

I returned to a set of letters from the recent past, and attempted to create capital letters in the same style. I'm not in love with them, but I do feel motivated to keep trying.

Creating Challenge Day 84--Mixed Media Chaos

Here's the piece I've been working on for the past few days:

Below are some of the steps I took over the past few days to create this. I first decoupaged paper pieces onto a 12" x 12" canvas. I did this on day one:

A few days later I finished:

Then I outlined the star and finger-painted over the paper with acrylics. I also stamped, inked, splatter-painted watercolors, and used whatever various techniques seemed to serve the art.

Creating Challenge Days 82 & 83--Background

I've been chipping away at the background for a piece I'm working on: gathering materials, fingerpainting the background, etc. I don't yet want to post pictures--feeling like I want to post the finished piece when it's complete.

Creating Challenge Day 81--Lettering

Today I finished reading Creative Lettering by Jenny Doh. (I also finished reading iPad for Artists by Dani Jones.) I want to develop a number of lettering styles that I can use in art, so I'll continue practicing the techniques described in the book. Here's an alphabet I practiced today:

Creating Challenge Day 80--Upcycling

Thursday is Restoration Project Day! Here's the latest:

It's tea time, and in this room it's proper to have your tea ON the table. Today Judah (pictured) and I reinforced the palette and attached the wheels. 

Creating Challenge Day 79--Drawing Practice

Today I delved back into my Figure Drawing for Dummies book, completing some of the suggested drawing exercises. I had fun! I must admit I'm feeling intimidated by figure drawing, but practicing hatching and drawing squiggles makes the topic feel playful. I suppose I need to shift my perspective around this art category.

Creating Challenge Day 78--Sketching Ideas Again!

Today I sketched another idea for a tray I want to upcycle:

Creating Challenge Day 77--Sketching Ideas

Many artists recommend keeping a sketchbook handy to capture ideas and to draw whenever inspiration strikes. I know this is important. Have I been doing it? Not so much.

Today, in my Skype conversation with co-Creating Challenge friend Wendy Balman (and co-conspirator/creator of Brilliant Chaos), I realized that I must become the prototypical artist where my sketchbook is concerned. To take this Creating Challenge to the next level, I must befriend my sketchbook, spending quality time with it. Doing so will help me hang onto ideas and make them realities.

I'm a little ambivalent about this, but generally speaking, when I've come to a realization such as this one and followed through, I've been grateful. I look forward to where this little epiphany will take me. Today, it took me here: an idea for upcycling an old tray that has seen better days. I'm not in love with the concept yet, but at least I have something to tweak in the future.

Creating Challenge Day 76--Learning

Today I read the back half of the March/April 2013 issue of Somerset Studio, theme: A Touch of Whimsey. I felt inspired by a number of techniques, especially the use of papier mâché. I've always reminisced fondly over papier mâché, considering it a throwback to my preschool days. I'm intrigued by the possible use of it in my current pursuits. Can't wait to get my hands messy with it!

Creating Challenge Day 75--Background, Part 2

I've made more progress on the project I began a few days ago. I finished decoupaging paper pieces, washi tape, and tissue paper to the canvas. Next step: paint!

Creating Challenge Day 74--Photography

We are having such beautiful weather, I had to get out and walk. This isn't my favorite time of year for photos; everything around here looks grey and dead. But someone said the word "pictures" to me, so I thought I'd bring my camera with me. I looked at the scenery with a different perspective. I especially noticed the trees meeting to create an arch, something I've never noticed when the trees have been in full leaf.

I'm currently intrigued by windmills. I'm not sure why. This one lives near my home, and I've taken many pictures of it over the years.

And who can pass up taking a picture of Jack in the Box when you get the chance? Such a quirky picture--I love it!

Creating Challenge Day 73--Power Tools!

Oh yeah, baby! Bring on the chop saw and the drills! It's Restoration Project Day, and I'm all about reinforcing our stained wooden pallet so it'll withstand the rigors of tweens and teens. I used a chop saw for the first time ever, and I learned much about how to drill holes for screws. It's way too much fun--I can't wait until next week to do it all again!

Creating Challenge Day 72--Background

Let the creating begin! After a few days of gaining inspiration and supplies, I've begun to assemble the background of my piece. I've gessoed a 12 x 12 canvas, then have decoupaged torn pieces of paper onto it. As you can see, I still have a ways to go.

Here's what I have so far:

I love making a creative mess! More soon, I hope!

Creating Challenge Days 70 & 71--Gathering, Gathering, Gathering!

I continue to gather supplies for a project, including the music I'll listen to while creating (I do that, you see). Not telling or showing anything yet! But be assured the creating is happening in the brainstorming, preparing, and gathering realms.

Creating Challenge Day 69--Preparing

I am beginning to feel inspiration! Today I gathered some supplies for an idea that's brewing.

Creating Challenge Day 68--Background

Barring inspiration for other creative modes, I decided to photograph various textures that I can import into iPad art apps for future artwork. Today is a snowy day, a great opportunity to look at surfaces in and around the house with iPad art in mind. Here are some of my faves:

Creating Challenge Day 66--Upcycling

Today I spray painted a file cabinet that my organizing friend Beth garbage-picked for me. The frame is purple (my favorite color!), and the drawers are white. Beth suggests I adorn the drawers with Sharpie marker drawings and/or collage. The wheels in my brain are turning...

(And so is this picture, apparently...can't get it to upload vertically. Gah!)

Creating Challenge Day 67--Learning and Resting

Today I watched a video from Junelle Jacobsen's Art of Wild Abandonment Two class.

I'm still not feeling inspired, so I'm not currently creating my own stuff. I want to allow this part of the process to have its impact, to rest knowing that when the time is right inspiration will come.

Creating Challenge Day 65--Learning

I continue to read iPad for Artists, and I think I've narrowed down the apps I want to purchase. For now, I'll buy ArtRage, and after I've played with that for awhile, I'll get Sketchbook Pro.

Creating Challenge Day 64--Pencil Drawing

Creating Challenge Day 63--Pencil Drawing

Creating Challenge Day 62--Lettering

Yet another art book I'm reading is Creative Lettering: Techniques & Tips from Top Artists by Jenny Doh. Since I've grown interested in art journaling, I've wanted to spice up my lettering. Exposing myself to new ideas helps me develop my own. I've decided to copy some ideas from the book to begin a flow in this area. Today I copied the alphabet as exhibited by Flora Chang. Her alphabet is quite different from what I'd create. She tends to make her letters top heavy, and I do the opposite. Therefore, this is good practice for me, stretching me out of my box. As well, though her alphabet looks unified, her letters aren't predictable. I like how she tosses in a few capital letters amid her lowercase ones and adds a curly flair to some and not to others. I also like the doodles at the end (as you see, I drew those twice!). Again, they aren't like anything I'd ever create on my own, so I'm enjoying the stretch to copy them. Perhaps something similar will show up in my own doodling in the future!

Creating Challenge Day 61--Rest

Today I watched another video from Junelle Jacobsen's Art of Wild Abandonment class.

I must say I'm not feeling particularly inspired to create something tangible right now. When I cleaned up my art room a week or so ago, I found a bunch of unfinished projects, and those kept me going for awhile. Having completed those (great feeling!), I find myself asking "What's next?" So, I keep reading and viewing art resources until inspiration comes.

This doesn't feel negative to me. It feels like rest, and I've come to value rest as an important part of the creating cycle.

Creating Challenge Day 60--Learning

Today was a reading day. I read a little of iPad for Artists by Dani Jones, a back issue of Somerset Studio magazine, and a bit of Creating Lettering by Jenny Doh. I'm feeling inspired! And I'm honing in on a few iPad apps I want to try. More on that when I make a final decision.