New Art Journaling:Sometimes You Need to Throw Paint (AEDM Day12)

As you can see, this is rather different from the "neat" colouring page on Day 10.

I did open up ArtRage 6  meaning to add neat digi-colour. But then, something about all that keeping-within-the-lines was infuriating. (It's also been a heck of a few days, one way and the other).

Quite simply, it felt like that the page was so prissy, (even though it was *my own design*) I'd rather take it and shove it somewhere that the sun doesn't shine, rather than "stay between the lines" any more.

And so, much layering and paint-splattering in ArtRage 6 (and following the total obliteration of the original message), this is my piece of "Art Every Day Month," art journaling for Day 12.

More tomorrow.

Art Every Day Month 11: Gingerbread Birdhouses

These gingerbread birdhouses (complete with gingerbread birds) in repeat are actually a re-working of something I did at the very end of last month). As the reworking of colour and general neatness took ages, am hoping this counts as "art" for today!

AEDM Day 10-What I'm Learning About Art Challenges (and Life!)

It's Day 10 of Art Every Day Month, and as you can see, it's what yesterday's half-finished frame is becoming, though not necessarily what it will end up being in the end.

And yes, a busy time for me i happening to coincide with the stage of these month-long art challenges that naturally feels like a lull.

But what's more important right now is what I'm leaning from this challenge. That taking time to finish something is OK. That acknowledging that I can't do everything all at once is OK too.

And most importantly of all, that things take time to grow and emerge, and that the process of *becoming* simple cannot be rushed, whether you're a person, a plant, or a painting.

More tomorrow.

AEDM Day Nine: An Authentically Half-Finished Frame!

I thought long and hard before posting today's effort for the Art Every Day Month Challenge. Our Instagram-perfect culture has  made it feel bizarre to post anything that looks less than "perfect," or that looks "unfinished" (try posting a work in progress over there that is truly "in progress",  rather than "closer-to-finished-than-you-can believe," and you'll see what I mean).

But the fact of the matter is, sometimes the little thing called "life" *does* get in the way. Phones ring. Other things intrude.  And sometimes, that leaves less than no time for creating picture-perfect items.

With that said, here's my effort for Art Every Day Month Nine: half a doodled floral ink frame in Krita. I'd had high hopes for finishing this today. Adding lots of colour, even. But the fact is, I'm off out now, and definitely won't have time to complete any more of this today.

But the truth is, not everything can be finished in a day. And on some days, almost nothing can be started. For any of us...because we're all human. And that's OK.

                                                                                                                                                                      

AEDM Day 8: What I learnt today about photographing art

This Art Every Day Month entry is very much a "quickie," again using mixed media paper, a pen, gel glitter pens, watercolour and a Posca pen for the highlights.

It's actually about 2" by 1" (a similar size to the one a few days ago). But this time,I've learnt something which you probably know already of you photograph your own art a lot.

But to me, as a 95% + digital artist and designer, just this one idea was a revelation.

Basically, a macro setting on the camera is not enough. I couldn't believe the difference when I (accidentally!)  got really, really close to the paper before taking a shot.

Obviously, I still have tons to learn about physical art generally, never mind the photoing of it.

But for this attempt, I'm happy. You can see the glitter waaay better than last time, and I've learnt something important. And that's enough for one day.

Art Journaling/Inspiring Idea: (AEDM 7)

Day 7 of Art Every Day Month is a bit of a victory for me. Let me explain.

There's the most beautiful silver birch tree in a neighbouring garden. Every year, at about this time, it turns the most wonderful shades of orange and gold. And every year, I attempt to capture that.

In previous years, I've always left the attempt feeling disgruntled. This year, well, it's still an attempt and an approximation of the real beauty of this tree. By doing fewer actual strokes (still in Krita with digital watercolour brush strokes) and more splattering, it feels like I might just have come a tiny bit closer to capturing something of its autumn essence, anyway.

Miniature Ink & Watercolour: Glittery Christmas Tree (AEDM 6)

For AEDM (Art Every Day Month) Day 6, here's something completely different-a 1" by  2" miniature, involving watercolour, ink pen, glittery gel pens, and a Posca pen for the white highlights.
(It glitters a lot more in real life!).

New Digital Painting: Happiness Quote (AEDM 5)

Day 5 of Art Every Day Month...More digi-Art journaling in Krita, with hand-lettering...and the necessary partner to the Day 4 drawing.

Digital Art Journaling/Lettering AEDM Day 4.

Day 4 of AEDM (art every day month). Hand-lettering is new for me, so managed to combine a reminder to myself that I always need with digi art journalling and hand-lettering practice in Krita .

Funny Cartoon : Neanderthal Christmas (AEDM Day 3)

A fun cartoon for Art Every Day Month, day three...