New Art: Remember That the Magic is Within You...

"Remember That The Magic Is Within You"
Image: Clare Walker

Hello there

And I hope life's treating you well, whether in autumn (as here in the UK) or the spring of the southern hemisphere.

It was the shortening of the days that had me feeling more mournful than I'd have liked...When a wise whisper inside encouraged me to, "Remember That The Magic is Within You,".

So, in honesty, I created this first of all as a cheering-up, "note to self". But seeing as it turned out better than I thought it would (with a ton of new ideas and options I've never even thought to use before...Like creating my own digital stencils in Rebelle...Soooo fun!).

Well, then it seemed only right to share, in case the message resonated with/could be useful to anyone else. Yes, it's shoppable (and commentable) if you'd like, here. But my main aim  in posting it was to spread some cheer as we go into October.

And yes, Southern Hemisphere peeps-I hear you. Enjoy your spring (and know that this should still be here in April, if you need it).

With that, I'll leave you to your week. Thanks so much for reading down this far, and for being here-I really appreciate it, and you.

More soon.

___________________________

And Now for Something Happy, Fun, and Completely Different...

Update on July 19th 2023 

I'm re-writing this post, to offer you this design in a way that (from feedback) seems to be more popular and workable for people.

If you never read the original post, then, in a nutshell, it was a result of my having done more digital art journaling of late, such as this:

Click here to see this on journals,
magnets and more...

This is available on Redbubble at the moment, and perhaps on other sites soon.

Sorry for any confusion caused!

More soon.
___________________________

Like this post? Tap or click here to subscribe to BoundingSquirrel

An Inspiring Question for January?

Hello there

Hope you're well, and having a happy New Year.

One of my responses to recent events outside my control has been to delve more deeply into art-journaling than before. And in the case of the graphic below, digital-art journaling, in Krita 5.

The bizarre thing is, when I sat down to do this, I was feeling much less than great. So much less than great, in fact, that a totally unrelated question, designed to take my mind off things, felt like a *wonderful* idea.

 And so it was that, in the midst of all the gloom, this, cheery, sunny message that came out. Can't explain that at all. But maybe this is part of the mysterious power of art-journaling that its devotees describe.

Where will this lead if anywhere? Am not sure yet. Or indeed, whether it even *needs* to lead anywhere. That may not be the point. 

But it *is* fun to explore things from a new perspective, and I *love* the joyous and summery colours that emerged. Plus, what better time to keep journaling than New Year/January?

Then...

Click or tap here to see more...

I was having so much fun, in fact, that I couldn't resist popping over to Redbubble and seeing how things looked there. 

Imagine my surprise when something started in order to cheer myself up ended up looking this good on a journal cover, magnets, and other lovely things? What lovely little reminders might they make, to give any of us a little nudge back into feeling more magical when we need it?

Click or tap here to see more...

It just goes to show that art time, in all its forms, is always a good idea, and its results, a constant surprise.

Thanks so much for being here, and for reading down this far. May your own January inspire you too, however you most need it to do so.

More soon.

___________________________

Like this post? Tap or click here to subscribe to BoundingSquirrel

Free Inspiring Quote Image and Ecard: You Can Do This...

Let's face it, life continues to be various kinds of weird for a lot of people at the moment. Which (maybe) is why this illustration popped into my head. This woman *is* managing to balance her strange and heavy load at the moment. Maybe the message, "You Can Do This..." that goes with it *is* all she needs.

If you know someone who would appreciate this, it's fine to tap, click or right-click (according to your device) on the image on the left and send it to them. Please leave the web address and signature on it, though.

Also...

Also, if you'd rather send them something more physical (or have some encouragement yourself), I have greeting cards, magnets, badges and more that carry the same message, available on Redbubble.

(You can see what some of them look like in the images below).

Buy on a tote bag here

Buy as a sticker here

Buy on a greeting card here

And whatever you do or don't do, remember that you too can do whatever is in front of you. And that, better yet, you have the power to let other people know that they can, too.

Hope this helps anyone who needs it. More soon!

Wildflower Quote and Celandine Painting

Hello there.

Hope you're doing well. The idea in this new painting spoke of freedom to me, and seemed to go with the bright, wild beauty of celandine flowers.

At some time soon, I'll know whether or what to do further with this, but thought you might like to see it "hot off the press," as it were.

Be as  happy as you can-more soon.

P.S. Update, Jan 23rd 2021. In the end, this quote has ended up being ready to buy on cards, gifts, and even a cushion, at Redbubble.

Follow

Art Journal: Attempting Something New

 Let's all be gentle with each other today, for a variety of reasons.

But in the art context, am attempting to be both brave and gentle by posting a thought have been having for days...but illustrated for the first time ever (for me) with an attempt at a watercolour landscape.

Am posting here in the interests of transparency and "keeping it real". And hoping that the words at least will feel inspiring for someone, as they did for me.

More very soon-take care.

Day 38: Inspiring Stuff?

 

Today, I was simply playing around with getting wax to resist watercolour. Some days, you just need to moodle along, and this was one of them. Then this thought occurred to me..Maybe it resonates with you, or someone you know.

And in any case, there'll be more tomorrow.

Inspiring Quote: When the Winds of Change Blow...

Seems like the winds of change are blowing for us all this year already...So this quote (which is apparently an ancient Chinese proverb), felt like a good one to illustrate.

And if you're on eof those people who likes to know how things were done, this is all hand-drawn, but also all digital. The textured background involved several layers in ArtRage 6, and I did the sketch and brush lettering in Krita).

If it speaks to you too, it's fine to share this image on social media (or you can get it as a gorgeous and durable metal print poster at Displate.Com...where a new tree is planted with every purchase made).

More soon.

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 .

Daily Illustration #91: Rose Quote/Sketch

Have been doing a lot of rose drawings-this might even go on for a day or two. May or may not keep the words on this image to the right. What do you think?

Daily Illustration #39: Rumi Quote

Today's illustration was inspired by two things, each almost 800 years apart from the other.

The first is the quote itself from Rumi, the 13th century mystic:

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love". 

Coming across that quotation really stopped me in my tracks: it's been the guiding principle behind this blog from the beginning.

The second inspiration is the theme for February over on Creative Every Day, which was "love".

More tomorrow.






Click to subscribe to BoundingSquirrel by Email

Flamenco Painting & 100th Post

According to Google, this  painting is the 100th post. Appropriate then, that a blog which began with my trying to work out why I'd fallen into digital art at all should mark the milestone with a first painting in motion.

It's also the first that's portrait, one of the first featuring a person, and one of the first in which words popped into my head that just had to be included.

Firsts in a group like that usually lead somewhere significant, and I know they will. Looking forward to finding that path, because the urge to follow it-even to an unknown destination-is building...

Update: You can get this image on a postcard here...

How abstract is *too* abstract?

How abstract is *too* abstract? Or, depending upon your point of view, can there ever be such a thing as *too* abstract anyway?

Just to reassure you, I'm not asking this for theoretical reasons, like some medieval cleric wondering about the number of angels he could fit onto the head of a pin. No, there's a practical purpose.

The thing is, I'm enjoying creating inspirational poscards at the moment, and people seem to like them. So far so good. But  like the rest of us, I've been used to pin-sharp natural photographic scenes as a backdrop to such things, (I'm thinking about majestic mountains with the word "Courage" emblazoned at the bottom, etc.)

So part of me feels constrained by this. The other feels it's high time that inspirational images came in all shapes, and specifically, softer, more feminine, and maybe more abstract choices. Hence my dilemma.

I have no answer to the question posed in the title of this post...