Daily Work: April 3-9, 2016

Sunday, April 3, 2016, 93/366

I printed the word ‘fly’ out ages ago. I’ve traced the back and rubbed off the letters three times that I remember specifically. I guess maybe that word has a lot of meaning for me since I’ve used it so much. Or maybe it just works really well paired with whichever illustration of an insect I’m currently obsessing over.

I started out with a whole bunch more ephemera on this page but kept editing it down. I guess sometimes less is more. It’s a lesson I can’t seem to learn very well.

Monday, April 4, 2016, 94/366

It’s the Season of Lists over at Get Messy Art Journal and I’m so excited I can barely stand myself. This is my first page on the left and my cover for this season’s journal on the right. I had a ball making this first page and am looking forward to making something else tomorrow.

Get Messy is a school, art playground, and family. We are a group of like-minded art journalers who have come together around this art form to learn, share, practice our skills and push past our creative limits with hopes to inspire. Our community values consistent creating, encouragement and support, and trying new things.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 95/366

There are certain things I do, and I think at this point, I do them pretty well. But then there are some things that I struggle with. I haven’t touched watercolors (or in this case, gouache) since college. When I started Make Something Every Day, my carpel tunnel was so bad I couldn’t hold a brush for more than a couple of minutes at a time so I didn’t take up anything that used brushes. I used my fingers or a palette knife or the edge of a plastic card to apply paint. Joining a community of artists though has prompted me to stretch myself. And since having my hands fixed at the end of last year, I’m picking up a brush again. So I’m practicing and pushing myself to keep putting the work out there even though what I see in my head and what I am able to put on paper still has a pretty wide gap between them. Baby steps. Baby steps.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016, 96/366

Liza and I are still working on the watercolor challenge. We are working in chunks though because of school so sometimes we are ahead a few days in Torrie’s challenge and sometimes we are behind a few days. We are having a blast with it. I’ve been showing Liza mine and she’s been duplicating it to some extent so next time I’m going to have her work first so I can see what she does on her own as well. Then maybe I can copy what she does.

Also continued to work in my Get Messy Lists Journal. I’m enjoying the themes that are emerging from this work. I’ve been following the prompts and working in the constraints that I set up with the cover. It’s loose in a different way that my work is usually and I’m loving that freshness.

Thursday, April 7, 2016, 97/366

Here’s the inside cover of my get Messy Lists Journal and the page I made today. I had breakfast this morning with a dear friend who has been through a lot recently. I mean A LOT, a lot. Life has been a jerk to her family and as I sat with her and we caught up on what has been going on with each other I realized that she has developed so much grace through these life events. It is a beautiful thing to witness. As I drove home I realized that it was more grace than I have ever seen. For just a few moments this morning, I think I had my brain fully wrapped around what grace means.

Friday, April 8, 2016, 98/366

I’m starting a commissioned art piece and I really enjoy doing color studies on my gelli plate to prep for that.  It gives me a chance to put various colors next to each other and drill down to what color combos work. It’s just a bonus that I then wind up with a handful of pieces of paper that I can either give to the client or use on the piece. This project is for a couple and their new breakfast room. The husband is career military. As I was hunting for book pages to print on I randomly ran across a section on Patriotism. It was meant to be!

Saturday, April 9, 2016, 99/366

I’m having so much fun with Torrie’s watercolor challenge. So. Much. Fun. I am constantly amazed at how my skill sets don’t always translate to a medium I am learning or relearning. I keep thinking: “How am I going to make this thing interesting? Remember the rule of thirds! REMEMBER THE RULES! Which rules am I going to break?” And all the while, practicing what I can do with my hands and a brush or pen. Speaking of my hands, I have been floored at what I am now able to do with my hands. I knew the numbness was gone but I have had a paintbrush in my hand more often than not this week and never had a moment’s twinge. I am thankful. So thankful. On the right is another fun thing I worked on today.

What else I worked on this week:

I have a shop up over at Fine Art America and there are prints available from some of my recent postcards. Go check it out!

What I read, watched, or listened to this week:
Crafting Calm: Projects and Practices for Creativity and Contemplation I picked this book up at the library on a whim. It is a lovely book. It has ideas for different crafting projects, journaling prompts, and wonderful quotes. I’ve been savoring the reading every day this week.

What did you work on this week? I wanna hear all about it!