Contrary to popular fantasy beliefs, professional artists do have deadlines and really work at it whether the muse shows up for work or not. Ask the professionals and they will surely admit to slower days and difficult times. However, they have to work through it – like anyone else who has a job. You just have to keep at it, otherwise nothing will get done in the end. It must be a natural human characteristic to procrastinate as well. I’ve realized that I have so many interests and plans for the future, but scrambling from one thing to the next really just chokes up the whole process. I’ll end up with a million in progress things and nothing finalized. Multi-tasking is NOT more productive! Although, I like to work on different things – there has to be a happy medium in my schedule. So I’m going to focus on project by project, giving myself deadlines. Even if I end up with a prototype version of something because of the deadline, I would have at least gotten that far. It’s better than saying, one day…I’ll get to it one day! When is that one day going to be? Focus…plan…succeed!

Part of my process involves a bit of character development. See the little lady I’ve been trying to draw above? I suppose it’s a cute representation of myself, but it’s been challenging to draw the same character in different ways, but still retain the essence of whoever she is. The idea is so that you’ll realize it’s the same lady! But then again, when I watch cartoons they don’t really seem to change clothes, do they? Hmm. I’ve noticed that I lack control and consistency when drawing. It’s easy to make things look different, but what if I what to be able to duplicate something exactly? She seems a bit different each time…even if it’s a slight difference. I started thinking about development and realized maybe it’s okay that I’m not machine like, duplicating my drawings. Maybe that’s normal! I mean, even when we take pictures of ourselves we often look different or at some weird angle it might even seem like an imposter! The development part of the term character development, means ever changing and growth. So it’s okay to be a bit different, a bit inconsistent – and by that I mean my own life and my alter ego character drawings. Life is good…don’t sweat the small stuff and just go do something fun, right?! Yeah, that’s the way I’m going to think about it. Happy Friday!

I happen to draw little elf-like girls a lot, they are very similar but I never really think of them as the same one. No character development here! Just a cutie to make you smile and be happy. I love the idea of having an illustrated diary where each page is filled by a different artist. Talk about inspiration galore as you go through each day…pretty cool idea and just wanted to share with you all. Maybe you’ll want to sign up for a page as well?!

I’m also continuing with my watercoloring and illustration. The lady from last time is finished from a watercolor perspective, so I took her off my board to dry and will add details with pen and ink. I also started another lady with a house on her head…beginning watercolor stage here…

Now I’m going to take a break and wait for things to dry…will visit the other kootoyoo creative spaces.  Check them out for inspiration!

Hmm, sometimes I’m really not sure at all. The images come to my mind in a flash or sometimes they form slowly through the lines on the page.  I suppose it’s just a mix from all the thoughts in my head…subconscious mind telling me something? Hmmm…I decided that it’s perfectly fine to just do and not understand completely. Today will be all about doodling, going about whatever feels right and embracing creativity.  I must have faith in myself, right? Thanks for stopping by and checking out my creative space…I’ll also be getting some inspiration by visiting the other kootoyoo creative spaces. Ciao ciao and Happy Thursday!

I hope you can look back at your own work and see how much you’ve already accomplished. Or maybe an unfinished idea will spark up a new passion and sense of motivation? Don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back and then use the positive energy to inspire yourself to Spring forward. Happy Monday folks!

Although I want to dive in and clean madly, I know it usually results in spreading everything around the room and not finishing! So I’m trying to do it one drawer at a time…one thing at a time, like paper!  I confess that I am a paper hoarder, always thinking I’m going to do something cool with this particular special paper, but end up hoarding it forever because I can’t bare to cut it. Tsk tsk. I’m collecting up all my paper stacks and rolls and looking for a place that is in view, so I will be more drawn to making the cut! Along the way I’ve been finding a lot of paper scraps for the recycling bin. Some of the papers are nice and thick, even if not blank – so inspiration struck and I decided to make a scrappy journal.  I gathered up old magazines, catalogues, packing materials, scrap watercolor paper, test prints and btw the latest issue of Somerset Studio has artists papers in it, too. Anything with a bit of thickness will do nicely for a mixed media art journal because you cover up with paint anyway.

In the end, my recycled scrappy journal actually turned out really cool looking!  I’m happy with the results and feeling that using scrap materials provides more inspiration and is less intimidating to dig into. The super long cotton ribbon is there so I can keep changing the binding tightness if things get too thick. Now I can go paint this up and work on a stack of paintings I have in progress.  I tend to forget about things because I’m already on to the next thing – eek!

Before I go offline, I also wanted to share my drawing a day on Flickr, little birdies with style! I added a beanie hat one today and hope to keep this up because it’s fun to create little characters that have such different personalities suggested by changing a few lines here or a hat there! Illustration is cool. Our family just got a birdhouse set up, so I’m currently very amused watching the birdies eat our bread crumbs. Okay, now I’m off…

I’m also experimenting with a new craft toy – a Kumihimo braiding disk.  I was so excited to receive it in the mail yesterday, except all the instructions are in German…eek!

I also cut into my beautiful orange leather – finally!  Now if I could only put it together…

Last but not least…working on illustrations that will eventually be paintings.  I can never draw the same thing twice without it morphing into something different.  I’m consistent at being inconsistent I suppose, perhaps I can call it originality?  Well, let me try and finish some of these projects now…have a fabulous Thursday and as always I appreciate you stopping by.