WR #13
[Note to self: I’m really proud of finishing this review “late” and not just quitting my reviews and website entirely because I got off track. Things don’t have to be perfect. Just keep going. Focus on God, and trust Him to use your love of art however He sees fit.]
Writing this on Friday, April 19. Continuing to be off my ideal schedule during our season of transitions/ moving. But still considering it a win if I don’t miss a week entirely. :)
Now I’m finishing this on April 29th. It’s been a whirlwind few weeks with Mom and Dad moving, but I think we’re over the hump. My focus for the next few months will be small, consistent progress as Nick and I continue revamping Ahead in 100 and thinking through our own next steps for moving
Last week’s focus
I started my Marla Baggetta drawing class! yay!! My focus continues to be consistency, even if it’s consistency in small efforts.
Helpful inputs/ resources from the week
Interview with Ruth Chou Simons… thought her emphasis on honing your heart instead of honing your skill was a helpful reminder. (Not so sure about Jonathan Puddle, but Ruth was great.)
Now and Not Yet book from Ruth Chou Simons
“When we, weak and without hope in our own strength, choose to come under the shelter of God’s forgiveness through the blood of Christ, we are made strong in the Lord.” (RCS Now and Not Yet pg 119)
I’m trying to focus more on God’s supernatural enabling rather than my own natural abilities or qualifications.
Art really highlights my struggle with this. I want all the degrees and approval from lots of people telling me I’m a “good” artist and that I have “permission” to continue on in my art practice. But I don’t have those things. So if I’m going to continue in art, I have no choice but to turn my gaze away from earthly approval and toward Christ instead. Art has a special way of making me feel vulnerable, weak, and without hope in my own strength and abilities. Pushing into that helps redirect my gaze to God. Lord, please help me to keep my gaze on you always and forever! I have such a wandering heart. It’s cool to see how God can use something like art to reveal that struggle in such a tangible way.
STUDIO TIME LOG
Monday | 04-08, 04-15, 04-22
Logo/ branding work
Random sketches while brushing teeth
Tuesday | 04-09, 04-16, 04-23
Logo/ branding work
Had a great morning art session, spent time review all my old sketchbooks (which was really encouraging… I am making progress, even if it feels slow!), and did part of the Bee-keeper zoom call from Emma Carlisle’s Patreon replays
Reviewing old sketchbooks was particularly encouraging because:
I could see how I’ve intentionally invested in more supplies to have on hand
I’ve grown in my knowledge of those supplies and how to layer them together
I’m no longer intimidated of supplies/ scared of wasting them
I make marks so much more consistently than I used to… I complete a sketchbook like 3x faster now than when I first started exploring art
When I started my first sketchbook, I never could have imagined making things like what I’ve drawn in my latest sketchbook… I’m so far from where I want to be (isn’t that life??), but I can also see how far I’ve come.
I just love being creative. It makes me happy. And I’m thankful that God has helped me continue in my art practice despite my insecurities. After all, His strength is made perfect in my weakness. My lack of credentials just point all the more to God’s goodness in helping me know Him more through the beauty of art.
Wednesday | 04-10, 04-17, 04-24
Quick weed/ flower sketch before bed
Random sketches while brushing teeth
Thursday | 04-11, 04-18, 04-25
Worm-eating Warbler sketch
Random sketches while brushing teeth
Friday | 04-12, 04-19, 04-26
Started bird sketch
Random sketches while brushing teeth
Saturday | 04-13, 04-20, 04-27
Marla Baggetta class - warm up/ making marks/ learning different ways to hold pencil
Random sketches while brushing teeth
Sunday | 04-14, 04-21, 04-28
Continued bird sketch
Random sketches while brushing teeth
SKETCHBOOK REVIEW
April 13, 2024
What question did I ask my sketchbook with this spread?
What can I come up with if I just cut loose and play with a pencil and don’t worry about my marks being “ugly?”
How do I feel about it overall?
I was just happy to dedicate a chunk of time to Marla’s course. Hopefully I can do this more going into May. I really want Nick and I to get more consistent with our morning routine so I can enjoy longer art sessions.
What am I curious about?
If I dedicate time to practicing with just a pencil, will I end up enjoying it as much as I do mixed media?
What do I want to carry forward?
Consistent play and practice. If you’re making a mark on a page, there’s progress being made!… even if you can’t see it in the moment.
FINAL WRAP UP
What has God taught me this week about glorifying Him through my art?
In Now and Not Yet, Ruth talked about a painting assignment she had in college. Long story short, the professor made them repeatedly do intense, hard paintings…. only to make an assignment to paint over the previous painting a few weeks later. She talked about how, at first, all those painted over paintings felt like a waste of time, energy, and supplies. But that they ended up making the final product into something wonderful and beautiful that never would have been possible without all those underlayers… that feels like such a good illustration about how God works in our lives. Nick and I have definitely struggled with seasons (like our time in Fairhope and Knoxville… and now planning to move back to FH) feeling like a waste, because they haven’t turned out the way we thought they were going to. Thank God that He knows better than us, and that His ways are better than ours.
”Trust in the Lord with all your heart…” (Proverbs 3:5a, Victor’s memory verse from church before things went haywire 🙏)
Lord, please hone my heart. Help me to trust in You, and not to lean on my own understanding. Please use art to continually turn my gaze to you. Amen.
What am I excited about/ what’s my plan for next week? Any changes to initial 2024 planning?
Just make a mark everyday. Don’t feel discouraged if I don’t have amazing art sessions the next few weeks. We’re balancing helping Mom and Dad move, thinking through our own move, staying consistent with Bible study and healthy habits, and revamping some major stuff in the business… I just don’t have the capacity for major change/ progress in another area at the moment. And that’s ok. I can still enjoy small moments for art and make small, consistent progress.
