Acrylic markers in my hobonichi techo planner. I love the way this one turned out!
Hobonichi Doodles – 2
Hobonichi Doodles
I have probably mentioned a time or two before that I am very much a journal person. I love writing, I love tracking. What I don’t love is trying to figure out which planner to use – because there are a LOT of them out there. Last year I used an A6 hobonichi techo, but this year I opted to go with an A5 cousin – along with a 5-year journal – AND a weeks (this is my media journal). As the year went on I found that the cousin was a bit too large for what I wanted, so I downgraded to another techo – but it ended up being TOO small. There are days that I find I have a lot to say, and others, not so much.
So as it sits now. I’m using the old A6 for art (pictured above). Acrylic markers cover the pages nicely. I hear watercolour are also pretty nice. I’m sticking with the A5 cousin and it will probably be what I get next year. I’m also going to get another weeks and continue to use it as a media journal (though I have also been contemplating the Kinbor, which is basically a cheaper Hobonichi weeks). So you can expect some art here from that hobonichi techo. At least it’s getting some use.
Strawberry Fields Forever
Just a little watercolour strawberry, no reason no purpose. I liked it better before I tried to add white highlights in gouache – those were done before it was dry, my own fault. I’m still learning patience.
Just Creating
One thing I’ve always struggled with as an artist, is creating art just so that it exists. In this day where social media is flooded with beautiful cultivated pieces of art, I find it hard to just .. create something. Something that doesn’t have to have a reason or a purpose, something that doesn’t have to be refined but simply exists. Making art for no other reason except to have it be there is something I find really hard. But I also realize it’s important. It’s important to me as an artist to create these pieces.
So that’s what the above is. To anyone looking at it, the piece might not be much but to me it is filled with meaning and purpose. The piece represents a difficult time in my life where I was struggling. I feel like I displayed that pretty well, but I understand that those looking at it might not feel the same way – and that is OK. That is what art is supposed to do, convey one feeling for one person and then a completely different feeling for someone else.
That’s why I create.
More Acrylic
I really like how this miniature acrylic pour turned out.
A little Acrylic
I’ve seen people do some really neat things with acrylic pours, so I decided to try my own version using miniature canvas. I mixed acrylic paint with modge podge, and then added a few drops of machine oil (that’s what makes the bubbles you see). Then layered a few colours of paints together, and poured it over the canvas. It didn’t quite get the effect I was going for, but it was fun and interesting to experiment, and I really like the final product!
I haven’t decided what I’ll do with them yet, I have a few of these miniatures, but I might put them all in one larger frame together. We’ll see.
Crochet Axolotl
Crochet is not my favourite thing to do, but I try to keep practicing it and when your kiddo asks for an axolotl, of course you oblige. Even though I can see all of the wonky that this little creature has, my kid absolutely loved it, and honestly that’s all that matters.
Right Handed Writing
I happen to be a left handed person. My whole life, people would try to get me to use my right hand – sometimes successfully. For example when I was in school there were no such things as left handed scissors, so I use those with the ‘wrong’ hand now. My computer mouse is another one. When I would sweep the floor, my Mom used to say I was ‘doing it wrong’ because of how I held the broom. So of course I learned to adapt with these small tasks, to do them the ‘right’ way.
I’ve always wanted to learn to write with my right hand because let’s face it, fountain pens and left handed people do NOT go hand in hand. We smear our work, we push the pen instead of pull, and it’s just not a pleasant experience despite the fact that I almost always use a fountain pen. So. I decided why not teach myself.
I bought a blank notebook, and started writing out The Count of Monte Cristo. I thought I’d see where I’m at in a year, and if I could ‘write’ any better with my right hand. Weird task? Maybe! But it gets me using my fountain pens and let’s face it I’m always up for that.
Colour Theory
This year I wanted to flesh out my reference book collection a little bit when it comes to art. I have a few books, but I’d like to get a few more on anatomy, and colour theory. I’ve never really been able to draw people, sticking to mostly organic shapes and landscapes, but it’s something that has always been on my ‘wish list’ so to speak. So I’ve been doing a bit of research, and plan on doing a bit of shopping (eventually).
One ‘must have’ I grabbed, is the book pictured above – A Dictionary of Color Combinations. This book is lovely, and is just filled with page after page of color combinations. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated. If I’m stuck, I can just flip open to a page and find something that appeals to me.
Have any recommendations for art theory reference books? Be sure to drop me a comment and let me know!
Watercolour Beach
This painting is the result of a YouTube tutorial that I found, and I think it turned out pretty cute. I’m still trying to learn how to use my watercolours properly, and sometimes I don’t really have any creative ideas but I do still want to be creative. Following along with tutorials can scratch that itch, and teach me some neat techniques.