Draw Your Day & how I’m feeling about it
It turns out that I’ve quite a bit to say this week, so grab a tea or coffee and settle in for a bit!
My sketch book continues to slowly fill. I’m finding that when I’m over staying with Mum there’s no time for sketching lately so that’s mostly where you’ll see gaps in dates.
I’m determined to fill this sketchbook even though I don’t particularly like the paper. It’s 150 gsm and buckles quite a bit with the use of watercolours, but surprisingly not as much as I thought it would. It does dry very quickly which can be good at times but very annoying at others. The paper is a beige colour where I’d prefer white and I don’t particularly like its texture. I do quite like the size and orientation of the sketchbook though. I’ve become quite used to it. I like that I can do a landscape sketch on one page or extend it to a two page spread if wanted. I can turn the book and do a portrait sketch on one page or extend it over two pages too if preferred. I also like that if I’m very time poor, the sketchbook size will allow me to do a simple and quick sketch on one page without having too much empty paper space making me feel wasteful.
As usual, some days I don’t have much time and so sketches are very quick and rough. Other days I have more time and will put a lot more into them. I am trying to get into the mindset of my sketchbook being a space where I can play and experiment. These sketches/paintings are not intended to be masterpieces. You will notice they are a different quality to the ones I did for The 100 Day Project. I tried to produce quality most days for that project and nearly wiped myself out in the process! It was very time intensive! I was basically committed to the project like it was a job and almost all other tasks (especially domestic tasks) fell to the wayside until the project was over. This is why I took a long break afterwards!
Sketchbooks are typically something you’d keep private, with no need to show anyone, allowing you to feel free to experiment and play. I’m choosing to share though, to show that some days you can create great art and some days you can create some pretty blah art. You have good days and you have bad days – even the really great artists do! A lot of it depends on your mood, how much else you have on your plate, whether you’re feeling relaxed or stressed, inspired or overwhelmed and time poor, or whether you’re feeling well or unwell, etc. Regardless though, if you want to create good art you need to practice regularly to keep the creative flow and growth open. I learnt this lesson after completing my 100 Day Project and not doing art for a long time after. I completely lost all my creativity and all my creative inspiration!
I will take a break from using this sketchbook when we go for our 3 week holiday in New Zealand. I will use one of the two Stillman & Birn sketchbooks that I’ve purchased (a 8 x 10 inch and a 7.5 x 7.5 inch) for the trip (probably the smaller one) and may do an introductory sketch in it before I leave so I can get a feel for the change of paper. I’ll then return (that’s the intention anyway) to this sketchbook to finish it off. I may change my mind though because after using a preferred watercolour paper it may be hard to go back! The Stillman & Birn Sketchbooks that I’ve got are from the Zeta series and contain hot press paper. I used hot press watercolour paper when I did the Urban Sketching Course with Ian Fennelly and loved it. I will have to get used to the fact though that this paper is likely to take a lot longer to dry than my current sketchbook.
So here we go with the latest batch of sketches. As I’ve been a bit overwhelmed and stressed lately, this batch are not exactly my favs. Click on the first circle so that the image enlarges and then arrow through the images if you’d like to see them in full and larger.
I’m starting to find that some days I don’t particularly want to ‘draw my day’. I just want to draw ‘something’ and that ‘something’ could be anything but not always about my day. So there’s some food for thought for me to ponder over further. Perhaps I rename my sketchbook sketches from ‘Draw Your Day’ to something else or perhaps I reframe the definition of ‘Draw Your Day’?
I also think I need to draw/paint outside the sketchbook sometimes. I’m feeling a lot looser now and like the creative flow is open and flourishing. It’s probably time now to get back to doing some pieces that are more time intensive and of better quality. This may not happen though until we return from New Zealand, as time is running out for me to get things ticked off my very long ‘to do list’ before we go.
Anyway, enough introspection from me. I hope you’ve had a wonderful Easter! If you’re lucky enough to still be away on holiday, enjoy every moment and safe travels home!
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Denyse Whelan’s ‘Wednesday’s Words and Pics‘
16 Comments
Hi Min – I can see how your drawing and painting have flourished since you first started sharing your art a year or two ago (or maybe it was longer and time has just zoomed by?) Creating regularly has certainly grown you and I love seeing what you post on Facebook. I think we’d all love to be “arty” and will always cheer someone along who is discovering their innate muse and going with the flow of it all. I’ll be looking forward to seeing what you create when you’re away in NZ in your fabulous new little sketchbooks – I wonder if smaller will be easier?
Hi Leanne, and thank you! Time sure is zooming by. The older I get, the faster it seems to go! NZ is coming around quickly and I’ve still got a lot to get organised. Being sick this week hasn’t helped me out at all. I’ll get there I suppose! I think the smaller of the two new sketchbooks isn’t any smaller than the one I’m using now – just a different shape. xo
Hi Min, I find great joy in your sketches and admire your talent. As someone who can’t draw well (or probably hasn’t tried), I am amazed that you start with a blank page and produce what you do. I wouldn’t know where to start. I’m looking forward to your NZ trip and seeing your photos and sketches. I love NZ and we have visited three times with more to come I’m sure in the future. I’m so pleased you have your art as a release for the stress of your Mum and life in general. Take care xx #WWandP
Hi Sue, thank you so much. I really appreciate your support and kind words. I can’t wait till I’m on my way to NZ. It’s a holiday needed like no other, and a place I’ve long wanted to see. xoxo
I look forward to seeing you draw your day, but then, as you say, it could morph into something else… eg draw what I feel like drawing. My daughter bought me an art journal for my birthday and a small watercolour block but I have done very little. The journal we had to get for class is massive and unwieldy.
Hi Jo, that’s so nice to know. Thank you! I’m so excited for you that you’re dipping your toe into art! Sometimes I think it helps to set yourself a little project or theme to get you started with your art. The more you do it, the more the creativity starts to flow from you. I hope you enjoy it! xo
I think it’s up to. you to determine how your ‘draw your day’ unfolds Min and if it means drawing something outside of your day, does it really matter as long as you are being creative. But it’s your talent so you get to do what you want in my book! I think your sketches are all brilliant. You must be getting excited about NZ now 🙂
Hi Debbie, yes I guess you’re right! I often have pretty mundane days and it’s hard to come up with something to capture it! LOL Thank you for your kind words about my art. It really does mean a lot to me. I am very excited about NZ. A bit panicked at the moment though as time is running out to get organised (hard when I’m at Mum’s every second week) and I am far from organised. I need to sort out clothing needs etc. I suppose I’ll get there in the end and once I’m on that plane and we’re on our way I will finally relax and be excited about the adventures ahead! xo
I love each of your drawings and I’m in awe of your talent. I’m not an artist myself – not at all! Visiting from Wednesday’s Words & Pics today – nice to meet you!
Hi Kym, nice to meet you too and thank you so much!
Hello Min, another set of lovely sketches. Moving away from the ‘draw your day’ idea seems like a natural progression of your creativity. I hope you are feeling better x
Hi Elizabeth, thank you! I’m feeling better each day which is great! xo
I liked reading about the processes Min. Yes, to always giving things a go, and trying to see how they work for you. I learned over the years what medium I like in a book and its the Moleskin Art Ones, with white smooth paper. Your work looks lovely and I hope you keep going as well as you have been.
Thanks so much for linking up your blog post this week for Wednesday’s Words and Pics. I appreciate your support of this community! Take care, Denyse.
Thanks Denyse – I know that when I did the Urban Sketching Course with Ian Fennelly the requirement was to use A3 Hot Press Watercolour paper in a big spiral pad. I loved the hot press paper so I’m hoping I like the hot press paper in the sketchbooks I’ve purchased. My art has dropped off lately – too much on my plate – but I’ll get to it when I can. xo
I have purchased this same sketchbook and have used it twice so far. Thought it was interesting that we are asked to draw our art supplies. Then I remembered some sketches you had done of pens you use. At the end of every week, I pray that the coming week will be quieter and allow me more time to read and draw and paint and scrapbook. But LIFE keeps interrupting my best laid plans. So proud of you to keep sketching…whether it is sketching to the prompt or not. Love the painting of your legs stretched out on the bed. And the way you are incorporating journaling in your art.
Hi Leslie, Fancy you having bought the same sketchbook! I’ve read good things about it so I’m pretty sure I should like it. My only concern is whether it dries quick enough when I’m travelling. We shall see! LIFE has interrupted my best laid plans too lately. It’s been a while since my last drawing. But we can’t beat ourselves up. Sometimes we just have to prioritise ourselves and try not to juggle too many balls. So glad you like the one of my legs stretched out on the bed. I wasn’t well that day and so that seemed like the only logical thing I could draw if I needed to lie on the bed! lol xo