Draw Your Day and how I’m feeling about it
‘Draw Your Day’ has kicked off a new obsession. I’ve been obsessed with watching art videos on YouTube lately and I’m loving it! I’m learning so much. I’m finding artists who do the kind of art I enjoy and I’m learning what tools they use.
I’m very keen to get myself a fountain pen. At the moment I use what they call ‘fine liners’. I’ve learnt a lot about different kinds of ink. There’s water soluble ink and there’s waterproof ink. My fine liners are waterproof which is what you want when you’re painting with watercolours as well. However, I am also keen to experiment with some water soluble ink too as the effects you can get with it are beautiful! Watch this space as I think some monochromatic experimentation with a combination of both waterproof ink and water soluble ink is in my near future!
I’ve also been watching videos on what artists pack in their travel kits. In case you didn’t know (see posts here) I’m going to New Zealand in May! It’s so interesting how different they all are with regards to what kind of bag and size of bag they pack their gear in, what tools they decide to take with them, what kind of sketchbook they prefer. It’s so wonderful to find this community of artists sharing as they do. It makes people like myself feel part of a global community of many like minded people all sharing our experiences, learnings and artworks and I’m all for it! I will share more on what I’ve learnt from my much enjoyed global art community in future Art Chat posts!
Interestingly, I’ve noticed that I’ve lost some of my original followers on Instagram since I’ve started mostly posting my art but I’ve gained many more than I’ve lost. Many like-minded new followers who are art enthusiasts. So I’m finding my people, my tribe, people who ‘get’ me. This makes me so happy! In all the years I’ve been blogging (over 10 years now) I’ve never had a ‘niche’. Perhaps I’m finally finding mine.
Today I’m sharing the next lot of my sketchbook drawings/paintings. I do feel that the quality is impacted by the fact these are done on a cheap Mont Marte sketchbook and that sketchbook paper isn’t white (jt’s an off white/cream colour). I hate wastage though so I will finish this sketchbook. I have a lovely new Stillman & Birn sketchbook waiting to be used next and I can’t wait! Also note that some days I have more time to put into a sketch/painting than other days (and you can tell)! Having said all that though, I am pleased to say that I feel like I’m getting my creative mojo back. This ‘almost’ daily practice works! The reason I decided to start drawing my day (nearly every day) was to loosen me up again (kick perfectionism’s butt) and to get the creativity within me flowing again. I can feel it doing that and I am so happy about that!
So here’s my latest sketches. There’s a bit of a gap between 5 March and 10 March as I was over staying with Mum and it was a busy time that week with no time for sketching. To see the sketches at full size, click on the first one and then arrow your way through them.
Draw Your Day Sketches from 15 February to 14 March 2023
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Denyse Whelan’s ‘Wednesday’s Words and Pics‘
16 Comments
Hello Min,
I’m pleased you’ve found your tribe; it makes such a difference when you can share your passion with like minded people. Your sketches are all lovely so thank you for sharing them – I really like the market scene and the watering the plants pictures. I hope you enjoy experimenting with the waterproof and soluble ink and I look forward to seeing the results.
Hi Elizabeth, thank you! It feels good to find yourself amongst people with the same interest and who like talking about and doing the same things. Thank you for your kind words and I love hearing which drawings people like that best. Who knows what the next lot of sketches will contain. I never know myself but yes, experimentation with some ink is on the cards!
Hi Min, you have blossomed since joining your art class and your work is such a joy. I look forward to your daily posts on social media to see what you have drawn xx
Hi Sue, thank you so much! They’re not quite daily but I do my best (nothing today for example). I am certainly feeling that by making it a regular practice my creativity is starting to blossom (using your word) again and I’m feeling much freer and looser and joyful with my art which is a really lovely feeling. Thank you for your support! xo
Hi Min – I’ve enjoyed having your art pop up on my Facebook feed each day. I can see how stretching yourself is growing your skills – and I bet it gives you a quiet moment in your day to just pause and focus on something that brought you a glimmer of joy.
Hi Leanne, thanks so much. I definitely feel my skills expanding and my creativity opening back up again. Practicing art regularly is what I need to do to keep it that way. I can’t always do it daily but I’m not doing too bad at the regularity considering. Thanks so much for your support! xo
Your sketches are incredibly stunning. Although the paper quality may not meet your expectations, you have painted them exceptionally well.
Thank you so much!
Oh Min, I love the detail in your drawings, you really are talented! The fountain pen is fabulous! Also Instagram is notorious for losing/gaining followers, I can never keep up with it all. Keep going, you are so creative!
Thanks so much Debbie. I still battle the inner critic and feel I can improve a lot more but I can feel myself starting to loosen up which is a good thing. Yes, re Instagram I know, my numbers go up and down a lot!
You notice so much detail and can then put them in the picture. I am loving watching how you are blossoming in this creative journey of yours. I have kept all of art/play books and dated them. I will revisit them from time to time. They are a link to how I was feeling and what I was learning then. Great to see you link up your post for this week’s Wednesday’s Words and Pics link up at Denyse Whelan Blogs. Thank you for being part of the WWandP community. Denyse.
Thanks so much Denyse. I’ve really appreciated your support and encouragement along my art journey! I think looking back at my art journals will be something great to have (just like my blog) to recall what I was doing and feeling at certain times in the past. Also something to leave behind for family (if they’re interested) after I’m gone. xo
I love that you do this. I can’t wait to see your travel ones. As for the Insta followers, I feel we don’t have to be for everyone. I use my fb to engage but my Insta is for me. It’s like a pretty diary. I don’t know what people make of it. I know in lockdown when I was down, I’d scroll thru my own page and it made me smile. I figure that’s as good a purpose as any. So the fact that you lost some followers doesn’t mean anything, the fact that you gained some means that it’s perfectly fine to do what you are doing. As long as it’s what you like to do. Enjoy!! They’re lovely. #WWandP
Thanks so much Lydia. I’m really not at all concerned about losing some Instagram followers. I know that nothing ever stays the same. The type of stuff I blog about is ever changing. Over the years I’ve been trying to find Min and understand what fulfills her. With art, I think I’ve finally found it. I know it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea and so I’ll lose some followers. BUT the great thing is that those that stay, and the new people that follow me will ‘get’ me and be interested in what I say, share and do and that makes me so happy! I think it’s fabulous that you scroll through your insta page and it makes you feel happy. When I scroll through mine I think I feel the same because it’s all me! Thanks again for your kind words and support. It means a lot to me.
Upon your recent mention of Draw Your Day, I purchased it. Now to open it and get busy. I always dreamed of having a little sketchbook tucked in my bag with a fine tip pen or some pastels. And just opening it for a few minutes while out to lunch, or getting the oil changed in the car, or reading on the back porch.
Your work is so fresh and full of life. You take the everyday and make it beautiful with your brush strokes. The backpack is a particular favorite of mine. The varied shades of its clay-red color. The cup. Your freshly pedicured foot!! I love it all. Do you work from a photo or a sketch or do you pull out the water colors at the spa and paint your pedicure?
I love the life you are living and the art you are creating. I am going to open my book and start first thing tomorrow. Thank you for the inspiration.
Hi Leslie, this is wonderful to hear! I hope you enjoy the book and that you enjoy having your own little sketchbook to unleash your creativity upon! You’ll find yourself loosening up more with it as it becomes a regular habit. Thank you for your kind words about my art.It always surprises me to hear such positive feedback on my art because I am such a terrible self critic. I’m so glad I’ve inspired you to get started with your own sketchbook. Let me know how it goes and have fun!