What to do with created work

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What to do with created work

I’ve been spending a lot of time re-organizing my art studio. It’s a good thing to do when you’re in the time of Ebb, and besides everything had just gotten out of hand. I quickly got the art supplies under control—but there was one category that took a lot of work.

The art.

I am not one who likes to accumulate stuff as it is. It makes me nervous. And when you love to create, artworks accumulate. In corners, on shelves and even in—I shudder to think about it—stacks on the floor.

So it was inevitable that

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How I'm creating a sketchbook habit that sticks

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How I'm creating a sketchbook habit that sticks

As I explained last week I had a shift in how I look at my sketchbook practice, and I promised to share how I’m now creating a sketchbook habit. And while I’m at it, I thought I’d share a few sketchbook pages from the last year.

First, I can’t emphasize enough

I had doubts about why I was spending time in a sketchbook, but now I get it. Making a list of all the benefits made me realize…well, I feel the need to repeat this list here:

  • The PLEASURE of pen or brush on the page

  • The lovely feeling of being fully PRESENT

  • The surprise when DISCOVERING new line, shape, texture…

  • Really SEEING while drawing from life

  • The absolute fun of INVENTING while drawing from imagination

  • The satisfaction of LEARNING craft

  • CONNECTING with Self—responses, challenges, emotions, voice

  • EXPRESSING my Self

  • BUILDING SKILL over time

  • The unexpected JOY in any of the above.

These are all the reasons I need for working in my sketchbook every day.

What is there to doubt?

Hah—let me count the ways

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My continuing sketchbook saga

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My continuing sketchbook saga

I have a confession to make: I’m sick of my current sketchbook—the Crescent Rendr.

This sketchbook, which I’m more than half way through, is too big even though I thought I wanted a larger sketchbook after the last smaller one, and the paper is unsatisfying. It might be good for Copic markers—alcohol ink doesn’t bleed through the paper which is amazing (and the reason I bought it) —but it’s not so great for anything else.

Watercolor and gouache smear rather than soak into the fibers, and I just don’t like the feel of it on my hand. It feels kind of coarse--but it actually has no texture.

And…yes, I admit it, my disillusion with the current one might also have something to do with the allure of a newer

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