Painting Bliss

My Week Through the Eyes of Instagram 9/16-9/23

 

The end of September has come so quickly I can't believe we are just a week away from October. Has anyone noticed the changing of the trees?? They are really starting to say "Hey, I'm here!".

I hope whatever your week was, wherever it found you that it was a good one... and if it wasn't what you imagined it to be that you managed to set it straight.

 

My week through the eyes of Instagram 9/16 - 9/23 2012

 

If you like my photography and would like to follow me on Instagram, you may do so

@Paintingbliss

Clean Up the Art Studio

 

Have I done well fooling you all into believing that I have been really productive? I mean... I am being productive and have been... with yarn - crocheting, drawing in my Limited Edition Sketchbook Project sketchbook, and spring cleaning my house.  But have any of you noticed that I haven't produced any real art since my Poe Submission to Somerset Studio Magazine and The Bleu Squid piece? did I do a good job of hiding it? Or maybe your saying... but Ashlie, that's a lot! hmmm... I guess it is. But I expect more of myself you see and hold high standards for my productivity.

You might remember in this post, that I gave my top 10 tips for surviving a creative rut. I wrote that because I knew I was having one and wanted to share my tips with you.

Soooo... I have been gentle with myself, and taking all my tips to heart - I waited patiently for my mojo to return... and returning it is. I am starting to see visions of art pieces dancing in my head. Of course I did have a few ailments that I don't usually have that haulted production... one being a muscle spasm in my neck that left me useless, and in the past two weeks a strong case of poison ivy (tis the life of an allergic gardener). Not looking for a pity party, just stating the facts folks :)

I know if I am to create anything new though, that I must really start with cleaning my studio, cause O-M-G it's a catastrophe! I mean seriously! I have been crafting everywhere other than in my studio and dumping my supplies onto my desk in-between tasks, taking no care to the slowly and surely growing pile of this and that.

So here I am... kicking my self  in the rump with a good ol' fashioned spring clean up!

On my agenda in the coming month of May and into early summer will be creating the custom portrait giveaway for Laura from The Blue Eyed Night Owl. Thank you to her for being patient while I complete my Sketchbook Project sketchbook! And then there's my alphabet I want to return to and take seriously, and also some items for my Etsy shop. Amongst all of those things, I will be working on some pieces with Jax from The Hand of Bela Peck. We have combined our talents in past years and we are past due. I have some of her beautifully made forms sitting on the studio table awaiting my paint and brush :) Hopefully in the near future we will be able to open are LONG anticipated shop which we have forever and lovingly called, The Rustic Foo Foo.

I could of been a wee lil' white liar and kept on fooling you and acted like I'm super human - saying I can do it ALL ALL ALL... but I won't, and I'm not. I'm flawed :) we all are. This break has given me the opportunity to give attention to some things that become neglected when I'm buzzing in the hive. Hmmm maybe that's a great name for my studio?

All Clean!

 

 

Have you felt the need to spring clean? declutter and start anew?

 

 

Let's Talk Black Pens - Every Artists Must Have

 

An artists most beloved supply is the black tipped pen. A must and have, and must work well - never fail the black tipped pen is every artists most used tool. There are so many out there, each claiming to be the best... and one can get truly overwhelmed in an isle of 100 or so...

But really, in my book (in my book anyways)... there are only 4 kinds of black tipped pens one needs to create great art and here is how they go...

 

• Sharpie Pen - The Sharpie pen is relatively new and supreme in the world of black nibbed pens. It doesn't bleed... and it really doesn't. Some say they don't then they do and you end up frustrated.  Draw on a piece of paper and look on the other side and it will NOT have soaked through. This pen has a smooth feel and takes a good long while to run/dry out as long as you cap it between uses. Highly recommend is this pen!  I even like the weight of this pen in my hand, very comfortable... and I'm picky ;) I use the Sharpie Pen for outlining. This pen is a new find for me and I was really excited about it and still am. Up until now I was using the Sharpie fine tipped marker which bleed a bit and ran out quickly.

 

 

• Micron Pens- Never fail, always reliable, acid free, and my I can't live without is the Micron Pen. Found in the marker, pen, pencil isle of the art department you can find these sold separately by nib size or in sets that create an array of what you need. I personally, only use one micron pen size and it's my secret ;) I use microns for detail and outlining.

 

 

• Sharpie Marker - One can't argue with tried and true. The marker that's been around forever, Sharpie is the king of all permanent markers. Yes this one bleeds, but if your not drawing in a sketchbook, then there's no worry. Always in the studio,  it's used for everything from Artwork, jotting down quick notes - to addressing packages. It's a must need and must stock up on. A few extras awaiting you is never a bad idea when it comes to items you use ALL the time. I always have at least 2 of what I use most frequently in stock. My only qaum with the sharpie is that over time, and quite quickly; the once sharp and hard point becomes a rounded squished nub. I use a Sharpie Marker for packages, blocking out big areas, and well that's about it.

 

 

 

• Black Copic - Yeah, ok... it's a pricey marker. But it's refillable and it writes sooooo smooooooth. I love the black Copic for it's two sides. One being a brush tip and the other being a chiseled edge. I discovered Copics during my online course with the amazing Joanne Sharpe called Whimspirations. I use the Copic for a lot of my large lettering and alphabet work.

 

 
 

Don't bother with a black Prismacolor by the way (Sorry Prismacolor! I love you!)... it's streaky. I don't enjoy a marker I have to apply 2nd or 3rd coats to. A one coat marker is a must for me, as getting rid of every little streak can be quite agitating... Oh! and be not afraid of pricey items, that's what coupons are for! bring a friend, an extra coupon, and have them purchase and item for ya!

Now that I have taken all the work out of picking out the best black pens for artwork, go ahead and hop over to your nearest art supply store. Jot down my recommendations and then come home and try them all out.  Search no further, waste no more money trying to find the best... cause I just let ya all in on what you'll need and never go without again!

Sketchbook Project Limited Edition

 

It's no secret that I am a fan of the Arthouse Co-op and all their projects... and most of all their great project titled

The Sketchbook Project.  Read about the book I just sent off a couple of months ago here.

And if you have been visiting me you may remember a few months back that I signed up for the second kick-off of Arthouse's Sketchbook Project, but this time the limited edition...which basically means they were only accepting a small number of people to participate. First come, first serve basically. So of course I signed up and of course I was excited and OF COURSE I confused this and didn't read every little word that this whole little book is due in completed form THIS April 30th not next April 30th (thank you Suki thank you thank you)... as the SB project is usually a year-long affair. You pick the theme of your book (so much fun), they send you your book, and you then compose a book of your artwork based on that theme...which you are allowed to complete in 365 days, aka a year. BUT this limited edition project is sooner and in a shorter amount of time and I'll be #$%ned if I miss out!

sooooooo....

I'm hauling buns and getting it rocked out! that's right, uh huh... rockin' the limited edition sketchbook project... however due to time constraints I will not be doing this mixed media. I have opted for all my favorite fine tipped black pens (which will be a future post come soon) and will be drawing the entire book. THANK the universe I already had an idea of what I was going to do... oh yeah! and you probably would like to know my theme! The theme I chose is "Create and Capture".

 

I will "create" whimsical unseen creatures that appear in nature and throughout your household that you don't normally pay attention to or see cause they are fairytale and like to be "unseen"... I then will "capture" in my book along with all my notes on everything from their diet to preferences, where they can be found, temperament... and well even some of them live by a motto like "don't tread on me".

I already know I am going to adore my book and want to keep it... so to comfort myself I will be making high quality copies of each of my pages and then create an actual hand bound whimsical fairy tale book :)

Here is a peeky sneak of the pages I have already created (which I just started yesterday)... I did say hauling buns right? yeah... sure am! have to! cause along with this of course I signed up for a huge blog swap called Something Good and also a Mystery 10x10 project in collaboration with Prismacolor through the Arthouse. Yup, just when I think there is nothing on my plate and I pick up my crochet needle, there I am full of it again as the universe likes me to be cause well that's really me, and my life, and my calling... and if I'm not busy then I'm not happy.

 

By the way! The Sketchbook Project that I completed not too long ago and sent off launches its tour THIS saturday from Brooklyn, NY~ If you live local and wanna go it's gonna be a fab event that you just can't miss... plus you can find my book and touch, feel, and see it in person! Please let me know if you do! I unfortunately can't go, it's the hubbys first company party with his new place of employment. He gets to go to NASA next week for a project they're doing!  That's right I said NASA as in to the moooon baby!  Lucky boy... better bring me back a post card from the airport :)

 

 

Sketchbook Habit 2-4

 

I'm still at it! yup! haven't given up and am going strong... even though it is difficult to find the time to sketch each day.

As the days go by I am trying to bring myself to a  page without plans or ideas... just start with a shape and hope it goes somewhere.

I am really enjoying working with my colored pencils, a medium I rarely pull out. In drawing my whimsical girls I am starting to wonder why I don't get as detailed on their faces in my actual pieces as I do in my sketches... hmmm... am I afraid to?

 

Pink Octopus

 

"Sprout head"

The image you see coming through this one is the sketch on the next page, please excuse it :) My boys and I had a cute conversation about this one... they laughed at it and told me it was weird... I told them that maybe it was a fairy, and she found a clever way to hide in the garden. They decided it was a good idea and then talked about whether it was her real hair or a hat... they decided it was her hair.

 

 

"The Ocean Awaits Me"

Every spring we venture to our favorite place in Connecticut... we have decided that next month we will be going on a lil' family get away and I just CAN'T wait!

 

Remember that it takes 21 days to form a habit... or so I read somewhere along the way. Want to change something? YOU CAN!

 

Sketchbook Day #1

 

So here is the first sketchbook entry of my 21 day adventure  start a good habit. Who knows if it will stick, finding time to sketch is more work than I anticipated! It's like putting one more scoop of hot fudge on the sundae...

you just know it's gonna slide over the rim of the bowl and plop onto the table.

I am not sure why she looks so worried, maybe it's just me that sees her that way!

 

 

 

Why Can't I? My Sketchbook Conundrum

 

Why is it that I can't manage to keep a sketchbook? sounds simple doesn't it? drawing in a book and keeping it all in one place?  you would think so... but for some reason or another I am unable to do this. All my life I have tried to keep one, a place where I can doodle and explore without commitment... but I am always tearing out pages or deeming something ugly or un-fit.

I have been giving it a lot of thought lately and I really think I am hindering myself by not keeping a sketchbook. When I'm not in my studio, I should still be drawing... it's a great way to grow artistically and to improve my skills even more than I have. I can't help but feel like I am holding myself back by being controlled by my sketchbook "mental" issues...

I guess if I think about it a little deeper that I also fear that if I draw something truly fab that it's stuck there... even though I know I can re-produce it, there will be the chance that I can't. Stupid I know... but still I can't help having the feeling.

Before all else... before being a mixed media artist, having fun with all my supplies... if you strip an artist down it comes to this... you CAN"T be a good artist if you can't DRAW. Drawing is the beginning of all art. It is where your talent starts, takes root and builds into something more. A sketchbook is the water and the sunshine... if any artists are reading today, do you also have trouble keeping a sketchbook?

 

 

 

I watch other artists online keep the most amazing and lovely books of sketches, sharing them for all to see... loaded with ideas and images that amaze... why not me? Maybe it's because drawing all in one place is like keeping a visual diary... and I can't seem to keep one of those either. Really a shame... cause I have a huge admiration for stationary and notebooks. I often think of how lovely it will be someday when I am no longer here, for my children to get lost in my sketchbooks... trying to figure out their mom on a whole 'nother level.

Perhaps, if I force myself... and secure the completed pages shut with a clip, I will not have the temptation to look back and tear out... or abandon for that matter.

They say that it takes 21 days to form a habit... 21 days... ok... I think I can, I think I can... I think I can!!! For the next 21 days I will do one sketch a day in a SKETCHBOOK and no matter what my daily post I will attach my sketch to the end of that post. The good, the bad, and the ugly. There! I won't let my sketchbook psychosis own me, no way uh uh! I am artist, here me roar!! (meow...)