Getting Past the Suck of Stuck

Today I was feeling stuck. I know it happens to everyone, but it's still frustrating. For me, if I miss a day or two of drawing lately it proves to be a somewhat painful reentry. When I'm ready (and desiring), I crave out some time to draw only to be faced with a sort of paralysis. I don't know what to draw. Where do I start? Nothing seems appealing or interesting. I have the internal argument with myself, all while the clock ticks. I can't summon the nerve to draw the people who sit closest to me. I find the furniture around me boring. I've drawn that particular subject before. On and on it goes.

Today, an hour passed while I argued with myself. An hour. I could have done something in that time. Or several somethings. Finally, I had to determine to just draw the thing right in front of me. An empty Starbucks comfy chair. I had drawn this before. But today I had to quiet the resistance and just draw. Do SOMETHING. Act. And it's in this acting that something really does happen. The voice shuts up. You focus. Paralysis is shed. And you create.

It's not a masterpiece by any means, but sometimes it's not just about the result of what you create but how you got there. I was close to packing it in and not creating anything today. But i pushed through. A small victory for sure, but a victory none the less.

Something's Sketchy

If you've been following me for any length of time, you know that I've recently renewed my love for drawing. I've been filling up art journals like crazy and posting my sketches on the web. Part of the challenge is to keep finding interesting subjects to draw, whether from real life or photo reference. That's where you come in...

I want to invite you to be a part of the process. Are you ready?

Here's your chance to pitch something for me to sketch. Between today and September 15th, 2013, I will be accepting photos from you - things you want me to sketch. After all the submissions are in, I will randomly pick a winner and sketch their subject matter. When I finish, I will post it here and on Twitter/Instagram and then will mail the lucky winner the original artwork!

Are you in?

A few rules:

** Open to US only. I'm paying the shipping charges :)

1. You MUST enter a comment below introducing yourself - your name, where you are from, a twitter name / website and why you want to be the lucky winner.

2. Email me (MBsketchme at gmail dot com) ONE image only (must be your own image - no googling images or stealing from others).

3. Image specs: must be a high resolution and clear image. I need to be able to see details!

4. Image content: NO Explicit images! // No landscapes or crowds // Iconic images work best (IE - an object or person, part(s) of a person, animal, plant. machine, etc) Look at my sketches to see the types of things I've done.

5. The final artwork will be my artistic interpretation (I may exercise "artists rights" to crop or colorize, etc.). Ink & Watercolor medium. Final dimensions TBD but will be no bigger than 8.5 x 11.

6. There is nothing legally binding about any of this. It's just pure fun!

 

You must abide by all rules to have a valid entry! Good Luck!

Creative Tools

I love hearing about new tools to use in my creative endeavors. Perhaps you're the same. Sometimes using a new tool can open up a world of new creative expression. A few people were asking me about what I use to create those illustrations in my art journal. While this is by no means a complete set, the following are some of the tools i'm messing around with currently.

What's in my new creative bag:

1. A set of color Pilot V Razor Points.

2. A no-name pan watercolor set I've had for years (large white one shown) and a Peacock watercolor set that was my sisters from the 80's. (Made by Binney & Smith, turns out to be "vintage")

3. A new Winsor & Newton Cotman pan watercolor travel kit.

4. Giant binder clips to help with holding wet pages down.

5. A set of Staedtler liner pens (0.1 mm, 0.3mm, 0.5mm and 0.7mm).

6. Two Moleskine Classic sketchbooks larger & smaller (these are from old days. Not really liking the Moleskine reissues though).

7. A black Sharpie. (always helpful)

8. A cheapo no-name brush.

9. Three waterbrushes - two Niji Large Waterbrush and one Sakura Small Waterbrush

10. Kamset pocket pan watercolor set (no link available)

11. Recollections watercolor pencils (bought from Michael's)

12. Canvas carry case for pencils & misc.

13. Pencil sharpener.

The contents will probably change up (I don't have any graphite pencil sets, charcoal or pastels in here currently) but that is it for now.

Do you have a creative toolkit?

What's in your bag? Share some of your own favorite tools below!

The Journey

Art isn't a result; it's a journey. The challenge of our time is to find a journey worthy of your heart and your soul.

Godin, Seth (2012-12-31). The Icarus Deception: How High Will You Fly? 
(Kindle Locations 228-229). Penguin Group US. Kindle Edition.

{Photo Credit}

The "H" Word

Hobby.

It's become a dirty word.

"I'm not a professional, or even an amateur. I'm a hobbiest."

I don't know about you, but growing up the word hobby always had a "lesser than" connotation. People would say things like "Oh it's great you like to do that. It makes a great hobby. But what are you going to do for a career? To make money". It was all very patronizing. And then the strong internal sense of responsibility comes along and puts hobby in a stranglehold. Because really, who has time for a hobby? There's too much to do. Too much to accomplish. There are bills to pay.

The problem with this thinking is that you end up eliminating something that feeds your soul. Something that make you feel alive. And in turn, that effects your work life, relationships - the whole of your life.

I think sometimes Art is put into this lesser than category by well intentioned adults when speaking to kids. After all, the world doesn't need any more "starving artists". Perhaps art should be kept as a hobby. (Which there's nothing wrong with, as not everyone should become an artist as a career). I know far too many people who like to create art in some way, but it got sequestered to the back burner of hobby only to no longer see the light of day. Perhaps, once in the proverbial blue moon, it comes out and is met with comments like "You know, I really should start doing this again. Perhaps someday..."

I love the way Austin Kleon describes a hobby it in his book "Steal Like an Artist":

It’s so important to have a hobby. A hobby is something creative that’s just for you. You don’t try to make money or get famous off it, you just do it because it makes you happy. A hobby is something that gives but doesn’t take.

Kleon, Austin (2012-02-28). Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative (Kindle Locations 334-336). Workman Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.

Even though I'm a "professional" artist, there are some art forms for me that I consider hobbies. And I have learned the art of doing them just for me. And I'm much better for it.

What about you? Do you have a hobby (or hobbies) that you keep up with regularly? What makes you feel alive?

{photo credit}

Confession of a Dying Artist

Something inside of me started to die. It was a slow death. Barely noticeable. It went on for years. Somehow, I think I knew something was wrong but I couldn't put my finger on it.

I've spent years using my art (mainly graphic design) to support the cause or endeavors of others. That's what I get paid to do. To use my art to create a logo for someone's product, someones else's message slides, someone else's company and ideas. Nothing wrong with that. But, I finally realized what had been slowly dying all these years. My personal art expression. My message. My voice in my art.

Doing design for others isn't the correct place to insert your personal message/expression. I'm hired to communicate their message, their identity. BUT I came to realize that I had stopped pursuing avenues of my own expression. And it slowly began shortly after graduating art school.

Earlier this year, I began a journey back to my passion - creating art "just because". Creating because my soul needed to. Creating art not for the masses but for personal expression. And something wonderful happened. I felt the cold dead place inside start to come back alive.

I made a fatal error early on in my design career. I don't even know if it was conscious (I don't think it was). I took on an either/or approach to my art. Either I could do commercial work (and get paid for it), or do personal art expression (and not get paid for it). And just like the carpenter who lives in a home where the carpentry needs go unmet - I felt like after doing "art" all day long who had time or energy for more when I got home?

When it comes to creating commercial and personal art, it isn't about either/or but rather and/both. Both are vital to creative health. Who knows, maybe one day the two lines will blur more for me and I'll get paid to create my personal expression art. But until then, I'm making sure I don't loose sight of pursuing both.

What about you? Do you ever feel that tension?

Illustration by Mike Brennan

Lightning in a Bottle

We all need creativity but it's impossible to conger on the spot. There is no "lightning in a bottle". That's why it's important to capture ideas BEFORE you need them, when the pressure is off. When your mind has time to wander and think. (And if you just thought to yourself, sounds great but unrealistic, you might have a "margin" issue, as in, you have none - that's a different issue altogether)

In the advertising world (at least back in the day) the creative team would pull out a "swipe file". It's what it sounds like: a folder stuffed with inspiration, color swatches, photos, anything and everything that is an idea or could lead to one. Today there are great options to do the same digitally. One great app/website I use is Evernote. You can save photos, text, video, and audio into files that you can tag (so you can find them in a search later) when you really need them. I don't collect ideas daily, but as often as i can. I also realize that it won't happen on it's own. You have to work the system!

So do you have a system to collect your ideas? Are you more of an old school file folder person or do you have some other system or app you use to collect? Either way, just be sure to a system! So next time you are put on the spot, you can have a place to go.

{photo credit}

Beautiful Mess

I read these words tonight on Danny Gregory's blog, and it resonated. How about you?

Organization is irrelevant to making stuff. Art needs to be messy. A neat stall is the sign of a dead horse.

The more responsible side of me wants to make sure I can contain my art and process, and not get too dirty in the process. Sanitize it. But there can be (and should be) beauty in mess. Here's to more art birthed in mud and mire.

{photo credit}

At the Creative Crossroad

It's a crazy day/week/month/year. Work is super busy. My calendar is exploding. My weekends and evening are booked solid. Everyone wants a piece of me and there's not enough to go around. I just don't have time. Or energy. Maybe once this season, project, or event passes I can do it...

Stop saying you'll create your art once "such and such" passes. It's an excuse. No judgement. We've all been there. But, we need to learn how to create in the middle of life. How do most people meet this challenge? They don't. So they don't create.

You must be able to create in the middle of things, or else you will not create. You must learn to take whatever practical and psychological actions are necessary to combat the anti-creating forces that surround you and live within you. ... There is always profound turbulence within or without — that is life — and it is in the middle of that turbulence that you must create.

What if we could create not in spite of the turbulence but even harnessing it somehow? Now, that might be the kind of authentic art we've been looking for!

Get moving! Get creating. Today.

 {Photo Credit}

Maisel Ph.D., Eric (2005-01-18). Coaching the Artist Within.

Is this really necessary?

To be honest (and I aim to), I've had a love/hate relationship with blogs. I like the idea of starting them (mostly), but over time the love fades. And then it feels more like something I have to do, not want to do. But here's the problem: I really do want to have a forum to express my thoughts & ideas, and would really like to connect with people like you (like-minded artists). And do so in more than 140 characters.

So, I'm launching out again. But this time I'm sticking to what I know & where I live, so to speak. I love art. I love to CREATE. That's my passion. Not just the skills of executing an idea or design but the conceptual thinking - the creative process.

There was a time along the way on this journey where that got lost in the shuffle. Someone asked me what my passion was and at that point I couldn't answer. And it really messed me up. I allowed all these other roles and responsibilities to cloud even my faintest creative endeavors. But that's behind me now. I know who I am. I know what I am (and what I'm not). And I want to connect from that place of authenticity (and maybe even help some along the way through what i've been through).

So to answer my own question - "Is this (site) really necessary?" - yes. For me it is. It's a place to share what I see & how I see it. A place to SHARE. And I'm hoping it's not just me, but you as well. So if you have thoughts, ideas, questions, etc. - let me know. I'd like for this to be a conversation, not a soliloquy (Dost thou protest? Me thinks, not...).

If you're an artist (and I'm assuming if you're this far into things you are) I'd love to connect. Break through that wall of silence (AKA "Lurker mode") and introduce yourself. Who are you? What do you do? What would you like to see here?

Go on. I triple-dog-dare-ya.

What are you confessing?

[kuhn-fesh-uhn] noun

1. acknowledgment; admission.

2. acknowledgment or disclosure of sin or sinfulness, especially to a priest to obtain absolution.

3. a formal, usually written, acknowledgment of guilt by a person accused of a crime.

4. a formal profession of belief and acceptance of doctrines.

While I won't be posting anything about crimes I've committed or personal sins (at least not until we know each other better), I will be posting  my artists "confessions" - things I've seen & experienced, things I'm learning or thinking about, and hopefully insights and questions that can create some community for us artists. (Also, I grew up Catholic & have some not so favorable experiences with confessionals. But that's for another time.)

Although You don't have to have any particular "credentials" here, I'm sharing from the place I know - mainly visual arts and my background working within churches. But creativity is creativity no matter how you slice it so pull up a stool and let's chat.

And don't begin with "Bless me Father, for I have sinned..."

365 Days of Drawings & Paintings

 

I had this internal prompting that was calling me to create more art. Not the graphic design work that was part of my full-time employment, but rather a getting back to my roots, tactile experience of handling some art supplies that I hadn't interacted with in many, many years.

It started when, on a whim, I took a printmaking class at a local art center. While attending this 3 week course, I was turned onto a book called "The Creative License" by Danny Gregory. Little did I know this would stoke the internal creative fires within, that were dormant for far too long.

I decided to try my hand at 365 days of drawings and painting. Danny Gregory wrote "a five minute drawing is better than none". Somehow these words were liberating. Surely I could manage five minutes.

I was off and running. It was forced and awkward at first. But I leaned in. Rarely missed a day and when i did, i did two to catch up. I kept going. At first, filling pages and pages of my Moleskine sketchbooks, then branching out to individual pieces as my confidence grew.

Early on I decided to post my daily work on Instagram (and later Facebook) as a way of keeping accountable, and even posting the work that was in my opinion, sub par. It wasn't about creating "masterpieces". I wouldn't let that perfectionist voice discourage me from keeping on my journey.

Today, is one year. 365 days of at least one drawing or painting. Beyond the work itself, this journey has changed me. It has given me more confidence in creating and sharing my art. It has helped me identify tools I like to work with, and what my style is. It has challenged me in ways I'm not sure I can really express.

It has awakened a hunger and passion that doesn't show any signs of stopping. I want to keep learning, creating, sharing... What lies ahead? I don't know. But as I keep taking the right next step, It's a step more into being who I was created to be.

Want to know what 365 days of drawing and painting look like? Visit here.