A non-art post about creativity

Growing up, I drew a lot but never thought of myself as any good by other's standards. This internal mindset killed my motivation eventually, and my creative drive lay dormant for many many years. It was that Wine and Paint class April of 2015 that revived it, and I started indulging in visual arts for my own pleasure. After a few years, people encouraged me to sell some of my art, but it appeals to me more to give it away. I've 'sold' a few pieces on commission only charging for supplies and postage to mail it. My time and energy toward the piece is a gift to the recipient and also to myself. 

I'm linking a video that I hope inspires you to pick up a pen and sketch, even if you think you can't draw. This isn't about becoming an artist, but more about indulging in the creative process which is extremely healing. It describes how we can change our perceptions to our world with our eyes and mind. I really like how Ralph Ammer states in this video how his sketching stores memories in his mind and not in his camera. What a powerful concept in today's world of smart phones and social media.

How drawing helps you think

Starting a new sketch with Cece

Sicilian Citrus

 Something about peering down a narrow Sicilian alleyway under the hot sun and spotting a bowl of citrus fruit invokes a nostalgic feeling within in. For this painting, I used M Graham gouache, which is by far my most favorite medium. This is on a good quality watercolor paper made by Carson. 

Paradise Found

 Very pleased with how this one turned out. M Graham watercolor on paper. This sketchbook isn't 100% cotton watercolor paper as it began to ball up with heavier water usage. Still like how it turned out.

The Hawaiian Monk Seal

The Hawaiian Monk Seal resides in the northwestern Hawaiian islands, and is on the endangered species list. About 1600 remain today.

This is the final of a series of four paintings dedicated to marine life. The links to the others are:

The Sea Turtle

The Blue Whale

The Giant Squid

As with the others, watercolor on fine watercolor canvas.

Roses are Red, Creepy Eyes that are Blue...

 The inspiration behind this painting was a weird one to start, plus it didn't quite turn out exactly like what had given me the idea in the first place. My youngest plays Sims a lot, and I love watching her decorate her houses within the game. One house was very gothic, and one particular room had ornate wall paper with oval paintings of roses with gaudy gold frames.

This painting took on more character when I got the idea to put in eyeballs everywhere. I thought painting plain roses would be boring. This is gouache on 100% cotton paper. I painted an old picture frame dark wood to frame it, and it now sits on an end table in my eclectic studio office. My husband isn't a fan of it, but that's okay because art can disturb sometimes.

The Dragonfly

 Guess I'm on a bug painting roll. Another small one on paper this time using Daniel Smith watercolors. 

Seven years of paintings

 In April of 2015, when I went to my first sip and paint class, little did I know where I would be years later. Those first couple of years were definitely experimental, and it kept me progressing in my style. Lately I've been feeling that I'm stagnant in my progress perhaps because I lost that sense of enjoying the journey rather than making a finished piece.

Below is a set of lotus flowers I did in 2016 in gouache. I had these hanging somewhere in my home, but took them down once I felt these were my more basic works.

Now, nearly seven years later, I found them again and thought it would be fun to spruce them up, add my style I have currently progressed to. The re-do used acrylic this time, with a gouache background.

It will be interesting to see where the next seven years take me on this journey of discovering my creative side.