Just like the rest of you.... life has seen changes since covid hit. In some ways life slowed down and in other ways not so much.
What has changed.... the biggest change is that my hubby retired. Yay! We got a golden retriever puppy. She is such a sweetheart! Our little farm went through a crazy summer of having no irrigation, so we did a lot of feeding hay during months we never had before. And because we needed to do daily feedings instead of having pastures... we stayed home. A lot! Not much traveling. Oregon desert once, and a couple rockhounding day trips. What has not changed... I am still doing art. Lots of art. My hubby says I need to open a gallery. (He's not far off there!) I attended some classes, took some online classes, learned some new techniques, bought new supplies, worked on old techniques, generally just did more art and loved most every bit of it! I will have my art here locally November 19&20 at the Shepard's Market at Crosspoint Christian School. We will be still going on our 3 week Arizona trip whenever one of our kids can watch the critters. What is coming.....sometime after Arizona, I will be looking for a building to open an art center. I am envisioning a studio area, classroom area and possibly extra studio space to rent to local artists. It's a dream in infancy right now. Now that I have most of the office to myself, I am back at putting online classes together. There will be new classes soon! In person classes will hopefully resume Spring of 2022. (Depending on finding a space and Covid.) I hope this update finds you healthy and happy and creating art. Please make time to take care of yourself and your creative side. Have a blessed beautiful day.
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Doodling... What is it? Why do it? When should I do it? How it helps grow my artistic abilities...
How doodling helps my artistic abilities....
For me, my doodling took front and center in my art career for several years. Due to circumstances outside of my control I could not spend time in my studio (desk in my back room) as I once had. So I packed a small backpack with pad, pencil, small travel watercolor set and off into my life I went. I doodled in the car while waiting in between appointments. I doodled many hours in hospital rooms while keeping my daddy company. I doodled in the park because I needed to destress before going home. I doodled over coffee while gathering enough energy to face the day. Now I have many journals of my memories of helping my Dad, but I also kept my brain and hand in practice for continuing my art career. Doodling keeps your brain thinking in an artistic creative way. Doodling keeps your hand in practice to draw those lines, curves, and circles. I do not create a piece of art each day.... but I do doodle EVERYDAY. My challenge to you... Give it a try. Date your doodles so you can look back and see how much you improve. With that title you may be expecting something about how to paint a balanced picture. But I want to talk about finding balance in doing art... The when? how much time? daily? weekly? etc. Some of us would like to do art every waking hour of the day, but realistically that's probably not feasible for most of us. What I find, just like everything in life, the more I do it the better I get. So as a part-time artist I try to find balance in doing art, running my art business, keeping up with my other part-time adventure (I also run a small nursery from my home) and of course I have my home to also keep in running order. I try to at the very least doodle on a daily basis. Doodling keeps my art skills up for when I want to actually do a piece of art for shows or sale.
I incorporate art into my day... at the very minimum of 20 minutes of almost every day. Some people take a walk every day to start their day or bring themselves down from the day.... I do art. Art is my balance. Questions for you....
How can you incorporate art into your everyday? Even just some doodling. When is your time that you could carve a little "me" time out? Are there changes you could make to fit in a little art time? What is your balance? Let me know how you balance your artistic/ creative life with your have to life. Wow! What an adventure I have been on. I decided to take my art hobby a step higher and start sharing. I had no idea that I would learn how to put together a website, take pictures of my art, video stuff, not to mention learn computer languages (ok just terms, words, etc.) that I had no clue existed much less was important in this cyber space world I am exploring. I am thankful for my husband's help, the many help files I have poured over, and don't forget Google search, But I think I am getting it... who am I kidding! I am on overload! But if you are reading this I have accomplished something. My first blog post on my own website! Who says you can't teach and old dog new tricks... I'm just a little slower and need a whole lot of help. Thank you Handsome Hubby of Mine. You are the best. Today's tip.
Art supplise are usually more expensive in a craft store than they are in an art store. (Dick Blick's is my favorite.) |
AuthorBarbara Giller CategoriesArchives |