Change can be hard when you are used to living your life a certain way. Not only hard for you, but others also. If you are used to doing everything for everyone and putting yourself on the back burner, it may come as a shock to them when they have to start putting away their own socks. Many times when we find ourselves angry and exhausted it is because we are doing things we no longer need to do. Yep, your 15 year old can do his own laundry. So get used to it! The same goes for your art. It is your own world and you can make it any awesome way you like.
Little Ruby
If you like black and white and red all over, go for it. Glorious colors are your thing? Don't hold back. You do not have to try and follow someone else's style because they are popular. Make your own style, then find the people who like it. There are Facebook groups, Google hangouts, Meetups, and endless social media forms where you can find your people.
Ruby, grown up.
So stop conforming! Be like a comet and blaze your own trail. xo Oh! Don't forget to enter the February Art Giveaway RIGHT HERE. Good luck!
(This blog was inspired by awesome art agent Lilla Rogers and her Monday Moments. You can find her HERE.)
Many writers and artists state that the first way to get things done is to have your butt in the chair. I think Steven Pressfield said it in The War of Art, and I took it very seriously. In other words just be there, ready to work. I agree 100%. I've had endless discussions with friends about this too--and we have come to the conclusion that you'll fail at everything you do not begin.
Of course. But my question is: Do I get in the chair and STAY there? After months of doing just that I find the answer is definitely MAYBE. Actually it depends on the day. There are days where I feel if I am interrupted I would cry, or at least be very upset at the disruption of the flow I am riding. Then there are other days where I feel if I don't get up and go somewhere I will get nowhere. This is said after I did the butt in the chair thing exclusively for months. I fought every urge to go out for coffee, or meet a friend for lunch. I would not be able to jump up now if I were at an office, I would argue with myself. And I wouldn't. But that could be one of the reasons I do not work in an office, and was never meant to. Don't get me wrong, I still get my hours in, but they might not be 9 to 5--in fact they may end at 2am, and that is fine with me. I do not allow myself to get distracted to the point where my work takes a back seat--I get my coffee, interact a bit, and get back to it. (Sometimes I get distracted by household stuff--pets, kids, bills, cooking, etc. Here is a shopping list page I created for myself to stay efficient, but I thought you might like it too. CLICK HERE to print :)
I think for some, sitting at the computer or canvas and working through a glitch works, for others the solution might be Starbucks or an episode of The Walking Dead. So to make a long blog post short, just because a famous writer or artist does their thing a certain way certainly does not mean you have to do the same. Find your approach, and do it like a boss. xo Ah! Don't forget the art giveaway--click HERE to enter.
Pablo Picasso said "the chief enemy of creativity is good sense." This is probably true, but as you can tell there are some inherent issues with this statement. I am certainly not trying to argue with the master of creativity who would surely say that his art came before anything else. But many of you out there live in a home, possibly have a car, have some type of job, and eat on a regular basis. Most would say their family comes before anything. Having good sense allows us to keep our homes and jobs, eat decent meals, and stay out of jail. That being said I cannot be a complete proponent of throwing good sense to the wind. But if we can laser focus our good sense to our artistic endeavors, I think the advice is perfect.
Rejected
A few years ago I was chosen to illustrate a children's book. The text was lovely and I instantly had an idea of what the pictures should look like. I quickly put together several images and sent them over--and they were just as quickly rejected. So I tried again, and again, and again--no luck. All my great ideas were gone. At this point I had nothing to lose. I drew a far more grown up image, but the made me happy. I loved the colors and the whirling dreamy background. I figured what the hell! At least I could go out with a bang.
Accepted
Those were the pictures that were chosen for the book. I had nothing attached to them--no fear, no worries, no preconceived notions. I figured it was already too late, and a tiny voice in the back of my head said the images would never work. So I sent them. My roundabout point is this: sometimes the thing that gets in our way the most is our own negative thinking. So when it comes to art, do what they say in Frozen: LET IT GO! If any of you are true beginners here is my advice: * Go out and get whatever you like to create with--markers, paints, yarn, fabric--whatever! (Even if you are scared and you never tried, all the more reason to go for it.) * Find a magazine or Google article about whatever medium you chose. * Choose a project--a picture, a painting, anything--and copy it. (That's right--copy. You can trace, copy, recreate, or do your own version of anything you see. Some people need this little kick start for their creativity--especially if they have not used it since they were little. Plus copying or tracing actually helps you learn very quickly. Before you know it you'll be itching to create your own stuff.) *Start right away and DO NOT worry about being perfect. * Finish it! * Start another. * On the same day you start this project, get a notebook or journal--even a piece of paper will do, and write about your artistic dreams each morning. Feel free to tear out the page and rip it up after you write if you are afraid someone will read it. (Great idea from a friend). The point isn't to have a book to read when you are done, but to get your mind on creativity and what it means to you. Just do one page, and try and include one positive thing you are feeling about your creative process. Also, follow Picasso for this too--just write with abandon, write from your soul. This could be something you have waited to do for years. (I have included a downloadable journal page to hopefully inspire you HERE. It is free, and you can rip it up when you are done if you like.) * Last but not least, do art with kids. Watch how free they are, they are not worried, just happy to be in the creative moment. I'd love to see your work--especially if you are just starting. I feel art is so important and can be a wonderful way to express yourself. Here are some words of wisdom that every. single. creative needs to hear. Only two minutes and super worth it. Click HERE
Video Cat
Today's video is How to Draw a Cute Cartoon Cat. If you like it I hope you share it with a young person who likes art too.
Don't forget to enter the Six Shades of Grey Faber-Castell Giveaway HERE for a chance to win SIX Faber-Castell PITT artist pens. Good luck!
The internet has made what Disney called a small world even smaller. We get information in the blink of an eye, and we are exposed to far more than any other time in history. We can get news from the other side of the globe faster than if your neighbor ran over from next door. What was once underground and very hard to see can now be considered mainstream.
The web has leveled the art playing field somewhat--what was once relegated to a very select group can now be viewed by millions with the right amount of retweets or shares. We see hundreds if not thousands of images a day as visual artists. We are lucky enough to look at the work of our peers, and in a matter of seconds we can find millions of images to help as reference points for our work. Looking at other beautiful artwork can certainly elevate our practice, but I feel it can't help but influence our style, too. When we see a color combination we love we get excited and want to try and incorporate it into our work too. A new medium can have us running to the store so we can try it at home. It is hard enough to develop a style that is recognizable yet unique, and now we have to contend with the daily hyper-viewing of images. I am not complaining! I love the web and I love that I can see all the lovely art I could I ever dream of. But I am just a tad more aware of the fact that I need to stay true to me and my style, and not get seduced by something bright and shiny. Every Friday I will be sharing a video that is geared towards helping kids learn to draw. I will be demonstrating in a way I liked to learn as a child--with fun and fancy images that are easily repeated and not too complicated. This week it is the grumpy bunny from the image above.
Please feel free to share this post or video with any artistic little ones you may know.
This is an image from a book I illustrated a few years ago for author David Rowinski called The Open Pillow. Another style for PPF.
So get going! Draw draw draw with abandon--and help your kids do the same. Before you know it you will have your own amazing style.
Today it dawned on me that my future has a direct correlation with how I feel today. And what I do today. And what I don't do.
SO--Facebook? You have been cut to 5 minutes. Drawing and writing? Business hours. The rest of the time will be delegated to activities that are positive and NOT time wasters. (We only have so much.) Most importantly--the endless loop in my mind will be carefully monitored. NO MORE personal negativity. Tough goals? You bet. I have a feeling it will be worth it. xo
