Free time? More art

Every gig I do, people vomment on how "talented and great" I am as an artist. I always reply I am just a doodler and I can not draw, but I am trying to change that.

As an artist I am constantly learning new things, trying new things, pushing myself to be better.

Even though henna is my main focus, I have been branching out more into other art forms.

I always wanted to be an artist. When I fell into henna I never wanted to be "just a henna artist." I wanted to be "an artist." Part of that means trying things I am not so good at and working until I "suck less."

Natural talent? Naw, my stick figures were as bad as anyones in the beginning. I am learning just like anyone else learns.

YOU too CAN draw!

How can you learn to be a better artist? What motivates and inspires me to keep pushing?

Some of the resources I use are contests. They keep me pushing myself, they give me guidlines and deadlines. Occasionally I win, most often I don't, but, I am tenacious and I just can not stop. I have some odd internal drive that keeps me going forward, and I LOVE that part of myself.

Sometimes I wish that drive would carry over to cleaning my house or shaving my legs, but mostly I am thrilled to be able to expiriance that drive at all.

I also swap artist trading cards. Artist trading cards are 2.5 by 3.5 mini artworks.

I mostly swap through Swap-bot. If you have never checked it out, swap-bot is an amazing website for swapping all kids of snail mail. Honestly, who doesn't love snail mail? Recently I was made an official swap-bot ambassador. Basically I spread swap-bot swag and my love for mail art. Perfect for me.

I also participate in Free Art Friday and the art abandonment movement. I drop free artwork as I can here and there. It is an amazing time!

I thought it might be fun for the next few weeks to highlight my very favorite places online to push myself as an artist. These are the places I go almost everyday to learn more and inspire me. Any maybe some of my favorite artists- who knows.

Till next week, c ya.

30 days of creativity- day 30, the end

That was an incredibly fast 30 days! I can not believe it is over.

This challenge got me blogging, doodling, creating and I am sad it is over.

Massive thank you to Kelly of Whimsy and Zen for the push in the right direction.
Check Kelly and her blog out here.    

http://whimsyandzen.blogspot.com/?m=1

Recovering from the Maker's Faire, I am exhusted and my brain is all phlfffffffft.

I made some little henna ATCs to mail to some henna peeps.

Not a huge big bang, but a little spurt of creativity, ended as I began, slow and enjoying each stroke.

Maybe I need to find another 30 day challenge. This was amazing. :-)

For now, I need to package up these cards and mail them out. Assign partners for my latest swap and sleep.... ohhhhh beautiful sleep.

Until I blog again, please please go create something. Even if it is little, do it!

30 days of creativity- day 29

Makers Faire today was AWESOME!

I got to network and meet some amazing wonderful artists and creators. (They all already have a dear place in the cockles of my heart!)

I got to draw on clay. It was so different. Difficult and slow because making clean lines was troublesome. But it was super cool.

The clay project was for red star studios. They construction a huge wooden pyramid and the clay tiles were used to cover it. It was a wicked awesome project! They are such great people too. Such a great experience.

And I drew some doodles on people. Love love that.

And.... omg... AND I finally got to see Kryptc art paint. He does live spray paint art. He is wow so awesome. He is adorble and his wife is such a doll. Adore them both.

Just so many amazing wonderful pieces to today. Squeee.

30 days of creativity- day 28

Ohhhh so tired.....

Day one makers faire done. Exhusted.... I feel like I didnt create much.

Want drawing time.....

I forgot to take any pictures at all.....

Hopefully tomarrow will be better.

30 days of creativity- day 27

Went and dumped off our gear for the Makers Faire. They tried to set us up outside. I wasn't having any of it.

So, finally got moved to Science City where we need to be. Hopefully there will be a table and chaire for us tomarrow. I got fussy and mean with the coordinator. Rare for me to lose my crap, but I did and I feel bad for it.

So, now I am home, it is almost midnight and I am making protein pancakes and boiled eggs to eat at the faire.

Say what?

Yea....

I need steady hands to work, need frequent bites to snack on. I know me, if I do not pack food, I will not eat. Even if I pack food, I will forget to eat. Lol

One of my favorite fast healthy-ish snacks is banana peanut butter pancakes. They are great cold and if they pick up the flabor of henna, they are still edible. Boiled eggs and packets of salt are a must too. And of course tons of water.

I get grumpy when I need to eat, maybe that is why I was so mean tonight. Maybe I can offer a "forgive me protein pancake."

My creativity is banana pancakes at midnight. Lol it counts right?

30 days of creativity- day 26

I try to live my life very ho hum. I try to not get excited because then it hurts to be let down or after the excitement things go back to normal and that is a let down.... better to stay mellow and happy....

Well... I can not help it. I am too excited for the Makers Faire! Squeeeeeeeeee!

Hands are hennad. Not as in-depth as I planned but for simple designs they are clean lined and dark.

Mummys are often found with hennad fingers and toes, so my tips are dipped. Oh the shades are beautiful!

I saw a photo of a mummy with hennad nails, they were the same shade as mine. Henna on nails is translucent and distinctive. Amazing how simply I was able to connect to a 3500 year old Egyptian.

I kind of look mummied too- lol

Anyhow. Squeeeeeeeee

30 days of creativity- day 25

Makers faire is in 3 days. One hand is now hennad.

This took entirely too long.

I am naturally left handed, so part of my issue was I drew this with my non-dominate hand. A necessity for pro henna artists is non dom henna.

Tomarrow will be faster, more detailed and more my usual work because I will be using my prefered drawing hand.

Every year the Makers Faire takes place at Union Station. Union Station always has a special exhibit. This year is the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Since Egypt has a history with Henna, I  wanted an Egypt themed booth, and of course, hrnna desisn.

The past few days have been spent looking at collars, sarcophagus, wall carvings. The patterns meld pretty decently with henna.

Anyhow.... more work...