CREATIVE: 29 faces - a month summation of less than 29 faces!!!

surely it hasn't been over 2 weeks since I posted last!?!!  That can't be right!?!!

I closed the gallery recently, and we have spent the last fortnight clearing, cleaning & finalising all the nasty little details of a small business closure - lots of loose ends to tie up, lots of misc bits that need finishing, and lots of rubbish to throw out!!  It's very similar to moving home - something that I did too much as a kid and will try to avoid for the next 20+ years!!!

So I didn't get much time to spend daily on my faces - but I am making it a PRIORITY now that I'm free of the space..............and I'll be focusing more on the body form as well as faces to get some progress with my art.

These faces are by no means my favourites - but I know that every one you do is a step closer to getting where you want to be - it's all about practice, practice, practice!  (still need desperately to work on hair!)

Hope you haven't had any hurdles too big to jump over these last few weeks - I know others are fighting bigger battles than me, so it's nice to be able to enjoy the free time and be grateful!!!\

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