CREATIVE: 29 faces - days 4 to 12

Please don't say I'm slack, I have some wonderfully valid excuses!!

I've been getting used to the idea of closing down my shop :(  It was a gorgeous gallery in the heart of Fortitude Valley here in Brisbane, but sadly the last day was yesterday, and I closed the doors for the very last time..................I'm being very positive about the situation, so am looking at this as a door closing, but with many other opportunities opening up for me in the very near future!!

It's funny, once you've set your mind to something that has a creative bent, it just won't let you give up, will it!?!!

So if i may, I'm submitting my work on one blog, that shall cover a few times I had 10 minutes to sit and sketch.

I found a book on big eye art at the local Cystic Fibrosis Op Shop - and i knew I had to start making these whimsical girls!!!

 I think with each piece I do, my confidence grows, but I'm still not sure on the hair - but this is about faces, no!?!!

 I'm going to add that I had been watching Dami M (last years x-factor? winner) on the TV when this one was created (coloured in with oil pastels) her voice is amazing, my hubby texted me while he was in melbourne this week that she performed for his work colleagues - UNBELIEVABLE!!

 And this lovely lady was created from a canvas gone wrong - I tried mixing old lace with gesso, and the end result didn't work.  Luckily I had started making faces, which meant I could hide her in the back, but also make the flowers in her hair a feature - I have this one on display at home but I feel she may be a work in progress to add to as I get a little more fearless, and a litte less fearful!!!

So from now on I'll be more connected, i promise!!  sketch every night, and post every morning.  Not many more sleeps to go till the end of the month.............my days will be filled with moving out of the gallery and a bit of painting.................

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy - Anne Frank xxx

CREATIVE: 29 faces.....day 3

so while this face wasn't drawn today (is that allowed, am I now disqualified!?!!)

I wanted to show how far I had come in the last few months.  This one was done before Christmas and she has a very whimsical feel to her.............

I have watched a lot of You Tube between then and now and am learning about shading and position, as well as colouring & composure.

This was done in watercolour pencils, although lately I've been loving the neocolour water soluble crayons - they go on beautifully and it's such a fun process.

But then again, looking at this lovely, I really enjoyed the acrylic too - mixing with opaque might be something I could look into.

so many options when you're playing with no agenda.....

Now all I need to do is win lotto so that I can spend ALL DAY doing this type of thing!!!

CREATIVE: 29 faces, day 2

ok, bit of a late night sketch this time, just finding 10 minutes for myself at the end of the day!!

This one feels a little Goldie Hawn to me - her eyes have been accentuated and I might work on some colour later on.

I was looking at doing some side on faces as I'm getting used to the front on ones - hoping to extend my repetoire - maybe this 29faces is just the thing i need at this point!!!

CREATIVE: 29 faces - day 1

ok so this is truly a VERY NEW EXPERIENCE FOR ME - but I'll give it a go.

sorry if I haven't done everything I need to - I'm much like the rest of you - more of the creative, and less of the organised!!!

I was working on a few faces while at a crafty retreat with some girlfriends earlier this week - and I've been loving the results coming out of late.

This was one of my favourites - using neo colour crayons and lots of acrylic paint - hope you like it too!!

MUSINGS: Endings & beginnings

I'm not very philosophical, and I'm still very much hog tied as to what I can and can't say

all that I want to share is that I come from a place where all I want to do is help others - that is deeply rooted in my soul

I want to help where I can, and if I can't help in my current role, then I need to make changes.

We aren't trees

So we make movements slower than we had hoped, but eventually we find the path that we want to be on - and usually it's within us

I heard a great quote once - whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have

My new journey starts soon - and I'm just writing the story now.  Soon I can say that I've finished that chapter, and I'll be rewriting a new one.........................if soon comes along sooner that'd be great!

it's all about learning lessons and taking the good with the bad - it could have been worse and it could have been better

All that matters to me right now, is that I have my health & home, my family by my side, and my passion

BRING IT ON 2014..............I AM READY!!!

2014 - my year of rebirth

so many things I'd like to be able to share, but alas my hands are tied.

I have big plans for 2014 for Dottidoo and my artwork - without giving anything away, I'd like to share my plans for this year

1. get my personal Facebook page up & running
2. get Dottidoo online & start selling on Etsy & madeit
3. do some local markets
4. be more involved with BrisStyle in any capacity
5. start to get my own work out there!!

As I have written my intentions down, so shall I get s&%t done this year!!!  I hope you can enjoy and learn lessons along the way too!!

As a footnote, I thought I'd show you the Week 1 from Willowing's Life Book!!  It's 52 weeks of art tutorials and lessons, tips & tricks, and if this is what I've achieved with the ENOURMOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION I got from week 1, then I'm very confident IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT YEAR!!  XXX

Will your dream ever become your reality?

One of my friends Coral from creativewomensbusiness recently posted about BEING SO CLOSE TO YOUR GOALS THAT YOU CAN ALMOST TOUCH IT

She has a wonderful blog that talks about the stresses & challenges of being creative and trying to make that transition from hobby to business, while tackling a job and many other FUN THINGS!!

She went to an inspiring class recently (Go check it out!) and was posting about her doubts.....(quotes from her post below)

You can’t just cross your arms and nod your head like ‘I Dream Of Jeanie’ and poof, there it is.

Because you know it takes a lot of work to get to that point.  And while you love living it just for a day or two, you are reminded just how far away you are from it being your every day.  And I little bit of ‘I’m not good enough’ creeps in even though you know better.  Even though you know that’s not what it’s about.

 

I wrote a comment back to her about what I thought it meant to be close to your dream..................and I wanted to share it here.

 

 

 

Was I being too judgemental and thinking she was 'down on herself' too much?  Did I assume because she mentioned her doubts that she was automatically meant she had taken a back step? 

 

here's what I wrote

 

I HEAR YA SISTER!!!
I posted something the other day that may resonate for you…..
Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy
I know exactly what you mean about the life you can see others living that you are hoping to have yourself………….and I know that negative thoughts will sometimes stop your mind from believing you can have that life too.
But I suppose the difference between them & us is that they are just a little further along the track.
Doesn’t meant that you’re not already there in someone else’s eyes though
for sure, have an end goal, draw up a vision board, get back to Oprah reruns and read up on The Secret………..but PLEASE also remember to ENJOY EVERY DAY along the way.
It’s so easy to get caught up in everyone else’s highlight reels that we forget how far we have actually come, or how lucky we already are.
Just remember that you have an amazing gift, and it’ll all fall into place……if it hasn’t already fallen into place and you just need to see the forest rather than the trees xxx

 

I think my comments are trying to inspire Coral, but I also don't want her to think that I'm living the dream.........

 

Because I don't personally think anyone is ever living the dream..........all the time.  I think it's less about searching for happiness, and choosing to be happy where you are RIGHT NOW

 

 

 

I'd love to know what you think about how our internal dialogue is constantly in dispute with our outward persona..........is it right/wrong or does no one but us really care!?!!

 

Curious to read your thoughts on it all