My Creative Journey

[felicity-b]

I’ve taken this blog on three journeys so far: (1) 52 weeks in Sydney (2) Growing Basil and (3) On Hiatus. It’s time for another chapter - creativity and art.

I have always wanted to be able to sketch well, my ultimate goal is to be able to sketch people. But to get myself started, I set a goal of making 52 Sketches in 2023. I hoped that goal would get me motivated and on the journey, and it worked from that regard.

I’m working on technique, and trying to find what works for me. I’ll take any (kind) feedback and suggestions.

[felicity-b]

📎🔩🏗️ WIP 🚧. I have new painting ideas percolating … and also collages … so while I think through those … working on a fluffy cat 🐱

[felicity-b]

Finished my peacock 🦚 collage.

Tried something different. In previous collages I would try to cut discs with two colours to them, and use these for creating edges. This time, I used only one colour disks. Sitting with this for a bit to see if it works for me.

Learning. Always learning.

[felicity-b]

More World Cup sketching. One eye on the TV, one on the paper 🤣⚽️.

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Multitasking - sketching + watching the beautiful game ⚽️

Gooooooooaaaaaaalll

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I’ve been practicing art regularly (sketching, watercolours, collage) for three years now. I feel I have so much time to make up for, people who have been creating art since they were kids have had so much more time to develop their skills.

I am feeling lately like I can create works more from my own mind, with a few references. So excited about this as a milestone 🙌🎉🍾

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This started out as a quick sketch while I waited for someone, and then turned into a decent little picture … until I realised I’d started it too close to the edge of the page 🤦🏼‍♀️

Eyes and fur are 🙌

Background is non existent 👎🏻

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🚧 WIP check in 🏗️ . Taking some advice to make the shading darker to add more realism. I feel like my second attempt is closer to reality, with the shape of the head.

Every attempt is one more on the path to better 💪🏻

[felicity-b]

Used a photo reference for my friend’s face. Now, I’m putting her in an urban turban (thinking maybe python print??). And maybe with an actual python?

I just love the feel of pencil on paper …

[felicity-b]

Doing a bit of drawing while watching the football ⚽️ 🇲🇦🇧🇷 One eye and both ears on the football 🤣

I think I flattened the drawing too much when I tried to add some green (coloured pencil). The B/W gives more glass, I think.

Ah well, always learning.

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I learn a lot every time I make a few attempts at the same subject. Looking at these photos, I feel an urge to work the watercolour version a bit more, but think it might be time (is time) to move on.

[felicity-b]

Finished my friend as an ice cream!

Not sure if I’ll share this with her. I feel like the cone isn’t awesome. And also, tbh, this face doesn’t exactly look like her 🤣. And, I can see now that I put the highlights of the ice cream swirls on the wrong side. But … 🤪🥰

But I loved the process.

[felicity-b]

Still plugging away at the portraits. RHS was attempt #2. I spent more time blocking out and locating all of her features so when I started on the shading and detailing things were in the right places. Well … right-ish places 🤣

The struggle continues.

[felicity-b]

I seem to be in an ice cream era 🤣

A friend asked me to draw her as an ice cream cone so I am busy with some preparation and exploration.

[felicity-b]

I’m off to do some “en plein air” painting with my best friend on Tuesday. Not gonna lie - feeling a bit intimidated 😬🤪

Decided to pretend painting in the pub we are meeting at, to see what I’ll be able to accomplish is an hour.

Can’t say I am loving the water brush, but I am getting used to it and have hope that more practice will help me fall more in love. I like it as a way to add colour to a line drawing, vs trying to create effects with it on its own.

Learning, always learning.

[felicity-b]

This is a glimpse of what I would like to be my style. I want to be able to … draw portraits of my friends as cats 🤣 Along with other things.

The struggle continues. In bursts of energy.

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Three attempts. I have one more sheet of paper but I don’t think I feel like attempting a fourth.

There’s something I like about each attempt, and they all taught me something. Like peeling the tape off (in disgust at my water drop on the stingray, another learning moment 🤦🏼‍♀️) too soon is a bad idea. And too much white flattens the overall effect.

None are great, the struggle continues 🤣.

(As an aside, I went looking for Leonardo Da Vinci’s first painting. There is one that survived, not necessarily his first. It wasn’t that flash - understandably. Because no one is great from their very first attempts 😉)