Resolutions & objectives 2008

As you can see on this blog, I started the year quite successful with regulary drawing and some experiments. I didn’t follow my monthly schedule and it didn’t feel important , as long as I was drawing. And then came September…and my last drawing of the year. I had so many things on my agenda I couldn’t draw. Although I know drawing gives me inner peace, I also need some quiet time to draw. A dangerous vicious circle.

I learned from the experience of setting art objectives. I’ve made them less detailled for 2008

• Weekly EDM challenges ( and try to catch up challenges I didn’t do yet)
• weekly IF-challenges
• Kate’s watercolor pencil class (and actualy work on the tasks)
• Work further on manikins & quotes (and try to make a set of cards)

I do not dare to commit to drawing every day...it doesn't sound realistic when I see my schedule, but with all these challenges I come quite close. 'Everyday in may'... that's when I want to go for the daily drawings... I could do this last year, so I will do it again.

I would like to improve my skills in pen & ink and watercolor by working through the many books I have. This will be a hard one; mostly I do not work that systematic. Yesterday evening I started to re-read 'the creative license' , partly because I believe this book will get the engine running - just as it did when I first read he book , partly because I want to join in a 'creativity book salon' which will discuss the book in February

I will make more detailled goals each three months, based on what I learned and what will happen in my professional life. Here’s the start:

Januari: pen & ink

Februari: Kate’s watercolor pencil class

March: Kate’s watercolor pencil class

I’m thinking of buying an easel somewhere in the second half of the year and I will look out for some watercolor classes. And I hope I can contribute to the EDM community by being a buddy for someone and by leaving encouraging messages on blogs.

I have my materials and the books at hand, so let the new year come.

A happy & prolific drawing year for you all!

EDM # 136 Something soft

Soft tissues
good to have them in every place of the home

EDM # 39 Toothbrush

Needed patience to finish this one...

IF- Wedding

Portrait

I've missed drawing. September is a busy month. Finaly I found a quiet moment...for this drawing from a picture in a newspaper

Peach revisited

Another day, other light conditions, other paper, other attempt.
Not satisfied yet. Any advice welcome.

EDM # 133 Peach

Ingredients for a smoothie... My daughter loves it. She almost couldn't wait.

IF - Captain

Aye Aye Sir
Ready when you are

In my holiday I had some time to play around...

EDM # 131 Spray Bottle

Back from vacation and I want to work on a new habit. Create first thing in the morning...so, I can I improve my skills and I'm not too tired in the evening to start with drawing/painting. Obviously mornings are not my 'best moment'. I hope it will improve as I cultivate the habit.

IF - Moon

I pointed out to you the moon
and all you saw was the tip of my finger

This is one of my favorite quotes...

Manikin breakin' loose

and what a fun it was !!!

IF - Poem

EDM # 127 Skyscape

Strange weather

"And I never buy umbrellas,
for there's always one around.
Marianne Faithfull

This drawing was an experiment to render this kind of pictures (from summer last year) into a black/white pencil drawing. Much harder than I thought it would be... or maybe I need more patience.

EDM # 126 Sponge

The best time to plan a book is while you're doing the dishes.
Agatha Christie (1890 - 1976)

IF - Camouflage

EDM #124 Yellow

And the manikin is back...

Glasses

I know this was one of the challenges...have to llok up the number.
Anyway, I'm back into drawing
and more ideas are waiting

Habit & 21 days

I was told it takes 21 days to create an habit. Well...after been very busy (work, work, work) for a month now I almost lost the drawing habit. I couldn't finish EDIM, although I did draw more than posted here. Anyway, it was hard to restart. And finaly I resumed where I ended last time. This picture from a magazine...I'm still not where I want, I do lack patience and I will let go ...Time for new challenges...

EDM # 119 Rock (Stone)

Drawing a rock from live when you live in a city...isn't evident. Instead I drew this stone. Some years ago I decorated it in a workshop 'Meaningful work, meaningful life' I still have this stone, although I don't especialy like the way it's decorated.

Still participating in the May-challenge and this is entry 100 on this blog.

Time to let go...

Time to let go...I think it's the closest I can get to this picure from a magazine. It still doesn't feel completly right, but I have to let go...

Still triggered by a picture in a magazine

I'm still triggered by this picture from a magazine. Trying to capture the essence of it. I'm not there yet... I will not finish this one, this is going nowhere...
but I will try again ...

see also the upside down attempts some days ago:
www.flickr.com/photos/sparks2005/494860071/
www.flickr.com/photos/sparks2005/494922229/

Flowers

Needed to finish this one one time, before I had to throw away the flowers...


I did some more drawings last days, nothing 'blogable', just some sketches & scribbles. In fact, there are only 2 days this month I didn't draw, and that's quite a progress. I even have colorful illustrated notes from a training this week...fun to go back an review the course!

IF - Signs

This challenges (IF -Signs) comes right on time. I've been to a workshop where we discussed signs & symbols, the meaning of symbols for our own life...we've got an assignment to create our own sign/symbol. I was doodling and came with these... I would love some feedback. Which do you like most? And when you see these signs/symbols, which keywords come to your mind? All answers are highly appreciated.

Work in progress I

My first attempt to pastels...

IF Citrus (2)

A more classical approach to the theme...and a great excercise. Not quite happy with it, next time another try.

IF - Citrus

I made this one on a Fabriano watercolor postcard. With this message I will use it someday...

EDM # 118 Hair (upside down)

Upside down is fun...
although I need to work on proportions.
Next time gridwork upside down?

Anyway I did draw again after two days of long hours of work and getting things done for everybody except myself :-(

Quickie

Challenge is draw everyday...I had to force myself doing it, just to stick to the new habit. Anyway, the small drawing for the 9th.

Last one in the series...just in time to give three of them tomorrow. Very curious about the reactions. This friend doesn't now I started to draw/paint...

EDIM 7 - new version

I didn't like the previous, so I made a new one.

EDIM + about age again

Trying some other methods...not so happy with this one...learned how not to...

EDIM 6 - about Ideas and Age

Made as a birthday gift for a friend - If I have enough time I will make some more, so I can give two or three.
25 cm x 25 cm