![]() I love painting, I love sketching and I love spending time in my art shed. As soon as hubby heads off for golf with his buddy's, I have whipped open the door of the studio before he has even reached the end of the driveway. There is something about having no one around, no distractions, no noise, nothing for me to even think about. I open my sketchbook and lose myself in the pages. sometimes I decide to use watercolour, other times acrylics or there are times I delve into the art supplies and enjoy the freedom of mixed media. There is no rhyme or reason to what medium I choose. Sometimes, I flit between sketchbooks, Just the other day, I went from sketchbook watercolour (the photo is the end result of my sketch book watercolour) to a canvas using bold vibrant colours with impasto medium. As one part dried I worked on the other. Can you believe three hours had passed by without me even knowing it. There is something said about immersing yourself in art. For me I go to a place where worries, sadness, hurt, frustration and negative thoughts don't live. This is a place that is void of negativity and a place where time stands still. This is a place that time forgot and peace exudes. Does art give you a happy place? Does art give you a sense of peace that can reinvigorate you and send you back into the world refreshed and positive? Leave your comments below and let me know what art does for you and if you can relate,
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![]() In the art classes I run, I use photographs and artwork for students as inspiration. It is easier as a student to have a reference shot to learn techniques and to develop skills. So what if you are no longer a student and now creating your own artwork, can you still use reference shots? When you stumble upon a stunning artwork or photo that speaks to you, it can spark a flood of creative ideas. It might ignite your imagination, to assist you in developing your own unique creation. You may draw on elements of the reference be it the colours, composition, theme, or mark making and reshaping them through your eye and interpretation. When coming to creating your own artwork it is about making something that is uniquely your own. In the realm of creativity, using a photo or artwork for inspiration can be powerful as a reference for your own imaginative journey. It is about interpreting, reimagining, and creating something that has your stamp of style, voice and take on the piece. Personally, one of my favourite things to paint is flowers in vases. Whilst I may look at a van Gough for inspiration, for his use of light, colour and texture, I don't want to recreate his piece, I can do that with a photocopier or camera. I do however, want to look at his work and identify some of his prowess with the brush strokes, colour, texture and light, even seeing how I can incorporate some of his elements into my piece. Although imitation is the highest form of flattery, true creativity lies not in replication but in the ability to weave inspiration into something uniquely your own. No to mention, copyright laws. ![]() I once knew a lady who spent so much time talking about how little time she had that she never actually got anything done. We all have the same mount of time in our day 1440 minutes to be precise. It is how we choose to use those minutes which makes a difference. Personally, I am a paper diary gal, I write everything in it and schedule time for particular tasks. Yes, I schedule medical appointments, classes I run, business tasks, cleaning the house and also studio or painting time. I also have non-negotiable times which often my painting or studio time falls into that category. Non-negotiable means it must be something super important for me to schedule over that time. If your hobby of art is important to you, you will schedule in time to spend pursuing it. It may be as little as 30 or 40 minutes a day. The first step is giving ourselves permission to take the time to enjoy our hobby, I don't know about you, as I was growing up the fun stuff could only be done when the work was finished. Our brains have been programmed to allow ourselves pleasurable pursuits after the work, chores and responsibilities have been completed. Guess what? They never end, they never are completed so we don't end up enjoying our hobby, art, painting, knitting or any other hobby. Think about the last time you "indulged" in your hobby or a pleasurable pursuit. How did it make you feel? Did you feel calmer, less stressed and revitalised? If like me, the answer is yes, this is the time to grab that diary, planner, phone and schedule in the time to enjoy your hobby. You are no good to anyone else or yourself if you are frazzled, stressed or feeling down. Making our art or hobby a priority is helping ourselves to a better, less stressed and more rounded life. Leave a comment below on how you prioritise your time to pursue your hobby or what you plan to do now. I would love to see your ideas. ![]() I opened my first business when I was in my late teens/early twenties. I loved it and it gave me the taste of entrepreneurship from a young age. Fast forward to today and I have navigated the corporate world for quite a few years, owned and operated several businesses, and was on the board and president of a radio station. In each of these roles and businesses, it taught me to review. Goals are great to have both personally and professionally but we need to know where we have come from, where we are now and what worked and didn't work. Toward the end of December of 2023, I sat down and wrote a list to wrap up my year. It wasn't until I started checking my diary, checking my notes and really drilling down to see what I had achieved over the last twelve months. We can get so caught up in the day to day over our business, craft or lives that we forget what we did often without thinking about it and sometimes in adversary. Putting pen to paper and really thinking through achievements, processes and highlights can be quite eye-opening. I for one, was pleasantly surprised at my achievements through 2023. Once I had a gauge on 2023, I was ready to put my plan together for 2024. Do you review and reset or do you leave it to chance? Leave your comments below. |
AuthorLee Cummins is a mixed media artist, workshop and art class facilitator. Archives
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