The Sketchbook Project 2014

This thing has to be postmarked in three days. THREE DAYS. I’ve been making progress — more progress in the last week than I made in 6 months — and I still have a bit to go. 9 pages, I believe.

My biggest issues with this project (or any creative project) are fear, poor planning, and choice of medium/mediums/media. When I’m making something for someone else, terror strikes and I feel paralyzed. If it’s for me, then I don’t care and somehow it turns out well. Anything else, though, and I feel incompetent. Smooth lines become jagged from a shaky hand, choosing a color palette is nerve wracking, subject matter–forget about it.

However, in the past few days, I discovered a workable theme, a palette, and — most important — the medium! The pages of the sketchbook are not typical heavyweight paper; they have their limit. In the past, I’ve attempted marker (which bled through) colored pencil becomes time consuming depending on how it’s used (I like to make it saturated and blend blend blend), pastel gets all over the place, and paint wrinkles the pages too much. I have a tin of Derwent Inktense pencils. I use them once in a while for various things, but didn’t use them on the sketchbook until recently. HOLY HELL! They’re magical!

Granted, I’m only using a variety of reds, but still. The paper doesn’t buckle, the color is saturated, but isn’t bleeding through, and adding water gives my hand a much-needed break from the blending of colored pencils.

So, with three days left, I’m pretty sure I can swing it.  Also, sorry for the bad photo!

Wonderful Little Things…

I have nothing of interest going on so I wanted to tell you about something/someone that interests me

A few months back I met Courtney, of Wonderful Little Things. I was on Craigslist hunting for the perfect seating to use in my home studio and she was selling this attractive, simple daybed that I just had to get my grubby mitts on. Which I did. In the process I not only gained some seriously kick ass seating, but also met a fellow creative cat and that just bumped the whole deal up to Awesome.

Courtney has an Etsy shop featuring several of her hand-painted ceramic dishes (multi-purpose what!), a couple hand painted wood frames, and a hand painted pendant. The point is everything is hand-painted. My favorite bit is not only are the paintings free hand, but they have a mehndi look to them and, really, when does that ever go wrong in home décor? It doesnt, thats when.

Because I can be somewhat of a tightwad, I enjoy reasonably pricedeverything. Her items are really reasonably priced (possibly under, in my opinion). The bases are structurally unique on their own, so having ornate designs well placed on top really makes for attractive pieces.

Earlier this year, Courtney began collaborating with Green Market Girl on Eco Cuffs. Courtneys designs appear in the Muse collection and adorn these eco-friendly, attractive, and well priced wrist cuffs. Love it!

So, while youre surfing the webs, hop over to each link I posted and see whats up I kinda, sorta think youre going to dig what you see

Self Portrait Project – the beginning…

*cue Rocky theme*
I started the Self Portrait Project, as seen below. I assure you I am a human and not a landscape. How sweet would that be, though? Height: 6,789 ft. Weight: More than your mom. Smoker: Yes (for volcanoes). I’d get all the ladies.

Anyway, clearly I’ve not done any more than a background on it, but it’s something. Plus, I feel pretty productive today. It has been months since I’ve fondled a paintbrush and doing so was wonderful!

My head is pounding, so this is it for tonight.