Thursday, 28 September 2023

An Autumn Leaf Art Journaling Idea




This is a piece of art journaling, featuring a watercolour sky and autumnal falling leaves. Each of the leaves has a word on it to be released, like, "the past", and the word that go with the nimage in hand-lettering are: "Let go of everything you need to release"
Let Go of Everything..., by Clare Walker
Available with blank leaves, on Redbubble

Hello there

Hope all is great with you. But if you're feeling like there's a lot (or a little) of which you'd just like to be rid, am sharing  you this art journaling idea that came to me this week. Feel free to try it if you'd like.


One "Letting Go" Art Journaling Method

The way I did it (which doesn't, of course, have to be the way you do it) was this:

1. Get quiet and peaceful (eg by deep breathing), with the art supplies/device you want in front of you.

2. Draw a scene or symbol that represents "letting go," to you. 

For me, it was falling autumn leaves, but it doesn't have to be that for you...It could be the tide, a feather, or a dustbin or trash can. Whatever works for you is all that matters. (Neither does it matter how "well" or other wise you think you can draw. You don't have to share this with anyone...I don't share a huge chunk of the things like this I create).

3. Include some space or way to incorporate the words or symbols representing things of which you wish to be rid. (In the picture above, you'll see that each leaf has a labels, such as "Anger" and "Fear". But your labels will of course be your own).

4. Identify the things you'd like to be rid of (for me, they felt heavier than everything else).

5. Add those things as labels on your drawing.

6. Optional, but if it feels good, complete this by crumpling, altering or destroying the journaling in whatever way feels good to you. (In my case, on the newest version of the journaling (as it was digital) I erased the labels, and was just left with the pretty colours of "blank," falling leaves again.

The next step

In end, I really liked the actual design once those "heavy" labels on the leaves were removed, so I popped the peaceful and blank version of this design onto Redbubble

I guess if you really would prefer and *really* don't want to draw anything, you could always get a stack of postcards with the blank design on, and add and destroy your own labels.

Descriptoin is as for last image, save that this is on a postcard.
The peaceful, blank version of the
design, on a postcard...

But though I love people to buy things of mine to which they feel drawn (thank you again if you have and do), in this case, it's very likely that you'll get the most benefit from drawing this out yourself.

Go on, give it a go...I dare you.

More soon.

PS. If you are one of the people seeking designs featuring cats, bats and hats for Halloween, fear not, my newest Halloween designs *are* already on sale in my Redbubble shop, and at Craftsuprint, so please use those links if you'd rather buy now than wait for any upcoming posts. Many thanks!

Thursday, 21 September 2023

A Happy Autumn Image

Hello there

Hope you're thriving, and looking forward to the coming season. Here it feels as if autumn has arrived, "just like that". One day it was hot, and the next, blowing a gale, with just the first hints of autumn tint in the very tops of a few trees.

This is a free "Happy Autumn," image

However, autumn it is, and this image (above) is a shareable freebie, to celebrate the return to crisp air, stunning colours, and everything else that feels good about this season.

If it would be useful to you, please just follow the instructions under the image to download it (as ever, generous terms of use are here).


That's all for now, as am deep in preparing *lots* of images for the season ahead.

But thanks so much for being here and enjoy using the picture.

Have a great day, and more soon.
___________

PS. If you're in the southern hemisphere and beginning to appreciate all the colours of new life springing forth, I hear you, but would be nervous about drawing your amazing nature without a specific request and guidance from you about wattle, eucalyptus etc. But you can find all my spring-related posts and illustrations here.

And there's an equinox graphic, suitable no matter where you live, here. (I believe the upcoming equinox is on Sept. 23rd this year).

Hope this helps, and thank you for reading down this far.

Thursday, 14 September 2023

A Very Persistent Raccoon...

Watercolour line and wash drawing of a cute raccoon, staring cheekily at the viewer.
"Cute Raccoon", by Clare Walker

Hello there, and hope you're ready for this most persistent little creature to enter your heart as he has mine.

Let me begin at the beginning, lest you think that I've suddenly moved to the USA. 

I haven't. but a cheeky furry creature resident in those parts *did* take up space in my head recently, and basically refused to leave until I'd drawn him *and* put him up for sale in every place known to me, in some form or another.

Sidenote: this creature is certainly *not* shy :-).


Raccoon magnets, shirts or blankets anyone?

His first foray was onto dozens and dozens of  items at Redbubble...


Like this magnet...

Photo shows a cute raccoon magnet, on  fridge door.
Cute Raccoon Magnet



Strikingly cute T-shirts...

Photo shows a man and a woman, each wearing a black tee shirt with a cute raccoon motif on it.
Cute Raccoon T Shirt




Photo shows a cosy raccoon patterned fleece blanket.
Cute Raccoon Throw Blanket





 I did some further research on raccoons, Having not even seen that many raccoons ever, I checked against loads of images at the Pixabay royalty-free image site, that his proportions were even correct. (Amazingly, they were, as far as I can tell).


Further sidenote: I came across this incredibly cute video by  James Blackwood-Raccoon Whisperer on YouTube  of around 25 rotund raccoons all feeding at once. 

Obviously, I *had* to watch it several times for research ;-)...And am passing this link on to you, in case you're also in need of repeated essential cuteness. 

(You're welcome :-) ).


Raccoon Appreciation Day...

And somehow, all of this then lead me to discovering that "Raccoon Appreciation Day," is October 1st. And a card with a variation of the original sketch, followed.


Card shows a cute raccoon sketch on a gold background. on a
My "Raccoon Appreciation Day" card,
editable (and downloadable too, if you wish), 
at Zazzle.Com




But he still wouldn't leave my mind and make polite space for something else to take its turn to be drawn.

A raccoon pattern made its way onto fabric...





Which leads me to...

Which leads me to this post, and this creature's exceptional talent for keeping himself in my inner spotlight.

Don't get me wrong, he's sooo cute, I'm deeply honoured that he chose to visit my mind, and love all that's happened.

But I am hoping that this post will be all he needs to feel that his need for publicity has been satiated...And that I'll be able to draw or design something else very soon.

We'll see in the next post, won't we? :-).

In the meantime, thanks so much for reading down this far, and have a lovely weekend.

More soon.

Thursday, 7 September 2023

A September Grapes Freebie Illustration

A watercolour drawing of purple grapes, a green leaves and a blue sky, with the word September set against a white cloud.
Click, tap or double-click here to download
and use this September graphic if you wish.



And just like that, the holidays are over. Hope you had a good one. We did, and I'll share if you'd like. But somehow, you think you leave everything organised, and yet there's still so much mysterious *stuff* to sort out on returning :-).

Which is a roundabout way of saying that all the plans I had to have all my ducks in a row by now are *laughably* behind, but am still too "holiday-relaxed" to be too stressed about it.

A free September illustration/graphic for you

In the meantime, if you have any use for a new, free "September" graphic like the watercolour grapes above, then please feel free to download and use said grapes. (They are harvested in Europe at this time of year-can't vouch for elsewhere, but hope this helps in some way...And yes, I know we're into September already...).

And as ever, credit is very much appreciated, but not required, and terms of use are here.

And with that said, I'll go back to trying to get at least some of those ducks in a row for next week instead.

Thanks so much for being here, and have a lovely weekend when it comes.

More soon.