Motivation.

It's funny how something, such as starting a blog, can give you the perfect amount of motivation to start doing, creating, and chasing your dreams. I actually signed up for this blog in January, but wasn't producing any art because of my obscene amount of work from school. The stress of final semester seemed to take over my life and I quickly forgot about it.. I revisisted it in June and after seeing the success of so many other local artists who carried on a blog, and I decided to start over. I finally figured out the layout, style and what content I want to show the world, deleted all of my prior posts (which were nothing of interest) and just began typing.

I feel like I started this blog at the right time in my life, it's exactly what I needed to keep on going and not give up which is something I was quickly approaching when it came to my creative side. I figured I would never make it in the art world. But now, I feel a certain amount of obligation to paint, draw, and keep up with posting new things for my visitors (which are mostly made up of only family and friends at this time). This in turn makes me motivated to get better and see the progress I have made since starting this blog.. I wake up thinking about what to create in order to take a picture of it and display it on here.. this also must mean I have gained confidence and am starting to become more proud of myself and displaying my work.  As I see it, things can only go up from here!

Photo by Nicki Varkevisser via Flickr

Sidenote: I created a custom signature.. see it! Just below this. I am also slowly figuring things out and have started to get a hang of HTML and Photoshop once more. It's the little things that excite me, can't you tell?

That is the truth.

I found this online, while surfing many of my must read blogs and I gotta say, the tiny words placed in the center of the photo speak to me like I was meant to read them. These two sentences can easily be compared to how I feel and view my current situation when it comes to life. I will create something better for myself, just you wait and see.

I've been drawing a lot these past few days, and I have made a promise to myself to draw at least 4 drawings (whether they are big or small) each day in order to always be getting better. Today I am focusing on feathers and maybe a few birds. Here are some quick five minute sketches of feathers.. I will post what else I come up with soon!

Roses

 

I finally mastered the art of drawing traditional roses. I drew both of these (minus the ugly one cut off in the corner) freehand without any reference. I might even do a small painting of roses later tonight.. I know this doesn't seem like a great accomplishment, but too me it is.. Every time I succeed with something small, I gain more confidence in my artwork, something I have lacked and what has kept me from progressing.

Hopefully one day, I can finally say "I can do this!"

Side note: My boyfriend's mom makes the best nacho dip ever.. Full of cream cheese, sour cream, hot pepper, tomatos, cheese and green onions. This was my own personal carry home package from yesterday and will make for possibly one of the best lunches I have had in a while.

Panda: Complete!

This is the finish product of my painting for my boyfriend Spencer. There are some changes I wish to make eventually after I complete the second painting... but only if he agrees and wants me too. This is the best picture I could get but I think it represents the real thing well enough. The painting probably took me around 10 hours all together to complete. I am not completely happy with it, there are things I would like to change or be better at in general ultimately.. but practice makes perfect, right?

I am in a rush to get ready and go out, but I will probably add more pictures later tonight! For now, here is a close-up of the panda's finished face.

UPDATE: Spencer loved it and the panda now has a new home above his television! 

Oh, panda bear.

I started this painting a few weeks ago for my boyfriend Spencer. He recently redid his room which was originally steel grey and red, to pay homeage to his favourite football team as a child. Thankfully, he enlisted my help and the walls are now a soft, almost minty, green colour  and the furniture is a medium oak brown and white inside his closet. He asked me to do a series of paintings for him (since his walls have been left bare) and this is the beginning of the first one. It will also feature a panda bear, munching on some leaves, when it is finished. As it in not finished, this is a little sneak peak I put together.
As for the subject of the next one in the series... you'll have to wait and see.

Painting seems to be my biggest stress relief these days since I can't afford retail therapy. But I am glad I can spend this time focusing on something which I had become a stranger to during my college years.