scribblings !
The online journal of a passionate artist, writer and educator.
A New Box
This weekend, we delivered paintings to Bellevue and Seattle. “Why,” you ask, “on a holiday weekend, would you drive through the I-5 madness?”
It had to be done.
 While there, however, I shopped for goodies at Daniel Smith Art Supply in Seattle, picking up a nice wooden box for my pastels that I managed to dump on the floor the previous evening. Yes, it was that top box that went over.
I could have wept picking up the crumbled shards of my beautiful Sennelier pastels. Thankfully, only a few were ruined, several were replaced with nice fresh sticks, and they are now safely tucked into the new box with a latch.
December 30, 2007
At Peace with Oneself
"A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself." Abraham Maslow
This coming year I resolve to be more at peace with myself. How about you?
New today:
Tip 3 for Stellar Art Classes has been added to teacher stuff!
For all of you Victoria Magazine readers (and everyone else) more of Sharyn Sowell's originals are up on her gallery pages.
I've finally gotten my own available originals up. Whew!
December 28, 2007
Creative Gifts
Nourishing the creatvity of others defines the life work of John and me, so, for us, the best gifts are the creative ones. Among our greatest treasures are creative offerings of our children.
 One of our daughters is a musician in the fullest sense of the word. She writes amazing music, plays all manner of instruments and sings with a flute-like voice that soothes the soul. She and her sisters sang and performed together as they were growing up. They filled our home with music and when they all went their grown-up ways, music, as we knew it, went with them. The loss cannot be expressed in words.
This Christmas Eve we received one of the rare, precious creative gifts that will remain throughout eternity. Jen worked every weekend and evening for the past two months putting together the first rough-cut of her music. Her sisters, Beth and Melanie, and Lou provided additional vocals.
It touched our hearts as little else can.
New today:
Look for the horse study and Shadow Shapes on the artist stuff! page.
December 27, 2007
Pastels and Watercolor
A holiday cold had me on the couch the better part of last week, during which time I worked on pastels with watercolor on Wallis paper. If you've never tried it, it's interesting stuff.
Imagine painting watercolor on sandpaper and you've got it. Add powdered pastels and the fun begins!
Actually, the numerous effects created by a combination of texture, powder and water allow for stunning results.
Due to schedules, we celebrated Christmas from Sunday through yesterday. In spite of a cold, this was one to remember.
I'm humbled by the gift of family and friends we have been given. And I count you, dear friends, as a big part of that blessing. It is my sincerest hope that your Christmas has been as blessed as ours.
December 26,2008
Part 2: Tips for Boosting Creativity
Kay Moser sent an email with her suggestions for dealing with creative dry spells. The first made me laugh out loud:
"One of my favorite tactics involves making myself a 'To Do' List. 'Great!' you say, 'Just what I need. Another “To Do” List in my life!'
" Now, hold on. This is not just any ole ordinary 'To Do' List. This one includes such awful (and authentic) alternatives that writing looks like heaven. For example, one of my favorite lists included the following 4 items:
· Roto-till the garden (I live in Texas, and it was 95 degrees outside),
· replace grout in shower (the shower looked like a Louisiana swamp),
· clean the oven (yes, I did forget to put a cookies sheet under the molasses-laced, baked beans last Sunday, and yes, they definitely spilled over.)
· write Chapter 7 of new novel."
New today:
For the remainder of Kay's email and suggestions, see: writer stuff!
December 18, 2007
Finishing the Last Christmas Commission
Today I finished up the last Christmas commission for the year. No peeking! Several someones are getting delightful surprises! It is the most wonderful thing for me to bring joy into people's homes for the holiday!
And, yes, I am painting on my lap. See Tips from a Lazy Painter in the journal archive.
December 17, 2007
8 Tips for Boosting Creativity
Hitting a creative dry spell equals frustration and stress for any creative person whether a serious artist, writer, designer or cake decorator. Dry spells happen to all of us. The knowledge we must get out from under them quickly only adds to the pressure.
Here are 8 tips for digging yourself out of a dry spot with additional notes about some of my favorite ways to refresh and recharge my own creative energy:
1.  Go for a walk in the fresh air.
2. Curl up on the couch for a movie night. On the right is a photo of such a night with our puppies, Toby and Gigi. Note: Cookies and milk make up an indespensible part of our ritual.
3. Peruse books with beautiful photos or artwork. These are eye-candy to me.
4. Read some favorite authors, online or otherwise. I love to focus on yummy words.
5. Listen to music someplace other than your workspace. I find this particularly helpful while allowing my mind to wander.
6. Glance through your idea notebook. I would be lost without mine!
7. Get organized. I clean my desk, rearrange the livingroom, sort through my art supplies...
8. Look at the world through the lense of a camera. This sorts through the overwhelming information coming in through my eyes and organizes it into managable bites, some of which turn into artwork.
New today:
Take a peek at the free stuff! page for more great reference photos.
December 14, 2007
Creative Spaces
Everyone needs a creative space, even if it consists of the corner of the kitchen table (where I started) or a desk in a closet. My creative space expanded to fill my entire home quite some time ago, but the photo below shows my dedicated writing space.
Long ago, I found these wonderful cast-off post-office boxes at a local junk store and topped them with heavy glass to make my one-of-a-kind desk. The glass top does double duty when I need to work sloppy and wet with watercolor.
Behind my chair sits the giclee printer and on the right (where you cannot see) I have shelving that stores other printers, art, sewing and writing supplies, and numerous bins of reference photos. Out of the photo on the left is a huge 4-drawer file cabinet topped with more bookshelves, a closet bursting with supplies and more shelves.
"Snug" describes it well and I could easily fill twice the space with what I have crammed into the room, but I love it.
Find your creative spot, love it and watch it grow along with your own creativity.
New today:
If you wonder about the effect your light source can have on your subject matter, check out the photos and mini-article: The Color of Your Light Source . Also, reference them in the future through the artist stuff! page.
December 13, 2007
A Bunch of Blank Paper...
"I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper." Steve Martin
Artists, like writers, begin with that big blank sheet or canvas. We pour out our hearts, our passions, our ideas and our dreams, then step back to evaluate.
I often said in my younger days as an artist that showing my art was like undressing in public... very uncomfortable indeed. Now, however, I have come to realize that tastes vary and not everyone will like my work. If I've done my best and I like it, that is what matters.
Seasoned by experience and tempered by the market, I resonate with these words of Steve Martin.
New today:
The storefront! is open. Many of the offerings are up, though not all, so keep watching. I am rejoicing after months of struggling with code!
A number of opportunity resources for writers and artists have been added on the opportunities! page.
A new source for reference photos is on the artist stuff! page.
December 12, 2007
A December Weekend
 This weekend our entire family took time out from their busy lives to converge on our home and help decorate the Christmas tree. We laughed, listened to music, took photos and videos, enjoyed each other and ate far too many goodies.
I love this season- from Thanksgiving through New Years!
This year I am keenly aware of how much I have to be thankful for: my family and friends, my country and church, my students and each of you.
With a thankful heart, let me say thank you. Thank you for blessing my life and for including me in yours. May you be richly blessed this Christmas season!
December 10, 2007
Videos Ahead
After numerous requests from students and three years of contemplation, we are in the beginning stages of planning and production for art instruction videos. This decision was not made lightly because there are many videos on the market and we want to offer a product that is different, marked by excellence, truly helpful, and entertaining.
This is your opportunity to tell us what you most want to see. We will put your ideas into the mix and see what comes out!
New today:
"Secret Two for Stellar Art Classes" has been added to the teacher stuff! page. Remember, these tips are fabulous and can be modified for whatever you teach. Believe me, I've done it all: from college classes to workshops to homeschooling, from preschool to, well, let's call it: very-mature-school (Of which I'm rapidly becoming a member, by the way).
And I've added some comments to the reference photos on the free stuff! page. Enjoy.
December 5, 2007
The line study "In Her Sleep" to the left is one of my favorites. It was first drawn with pencil then overdrawin with a Winsor and Newton Series 7 brush and watercolor.
Celebrating Milestones
This week overflowed with milestones to celebrate. It hasn't come easy. Sometimes moving forward consisted of entrenching rather than getting pushed back and sometimes it reminds me of the quote by Joseph Blodgett: "It's one bloody little achievement after the other."
WOW!
"What one does is what counts and not what one had the intention of doing." Pablo Picasso
New today:
Download the Value Chart on the free stuff! page for help in getting your values right in your paintings.
Use the Character Development Chart on the free stuff! page to deepen your characters and strengthen your writing.
December 3, 2007
The First Snow
The first day of December and it's snowing. As an artist, this snow grants me one more excuse to pull out my paints and capture the beauty around me.
It's time to kiss the last of the roses goodbye and cut the rosehips for a lovely Christmas display.
I ventured out a few minutes ago to snap some quick photos of the flowering kale speckled with snow. I added this one to the free reference photos on free stuff!
New today:
The scribblings! archives are up. See right-hand column.
Also added: a number of reference photos on the free stuff! page.
December 1, 2007
|