WR #8
I made some purchases to broaden my art practice. I bought a heavy duty canvas tarp so I can spread out and paint in the floor (inspired by Orla Stevens). I really like how she works on multiple pieces at once and hops back and forth between them. I’m also enjoying the opportunity for Scripture meditation that this type of abstract painting session gives me. I want to continue in this style of practice. And I’m proud that I’m continuing to develop my acrylics setup so those paints will be easier and easier to incorporate into my work.
I had TWO big painting sessions this week! I plan to continue this trend. Some days call for tiny, quick sketches. But I’d love to have more and more days where I paint for at least an hour or so.
Last week’s focus
I challenged myself with using acrylics and painting abstractly this week. I’m enjoying both of these things, but I very much do NOT know what I’m doing haha. I’m trying to remind myself that that’s ok, and that it’s even a good thing!
Helpful inputs/ resources from the week
Orla Stevens’s Patreon
Sandi Hester’s latest YouTube video! (First Steps to Making Good Art)… so helpful! and perfect timing for my color swatching session!
STUDIO TIME LOG
Monday | 03-04
Studio time at my art desk - bird drawing
Tuesday | 03-05
Quick sketches of icons for biz stuff… working on making a brand pattern for A100
Wednesday | 03-06
Sketched quick birds on prepped page of my giant Moleskin (it’s setup on my easel)… still need to paint these. Hoping to get my studio time dialed in over the next couple of weeks, so I can have a a painting ongoing and do little 10 minute bits with my acrylics… I’ve been doing a lot of moving art supplies back and forth and up and down stairs. This is also partly because I’m in the process of figuring out my acrylics setup. I feel like I’m making a lot of progress in this area and am close to having a system that I can quickly dip in and out of.
Thursday | 03-07
My first abstract session - followed Orla Stevens’s “Words to Composition” exercise from her Patreon
Wowsa… this is so fun and SO challenging. It definitely helped my brain think more creatively. I’m looking forward to more of these sessions!
Friday | 03-08
Quick margarita sketch after going to eat Mexican food with Nick 🤗
Saturday | 03-09
Acrylics paint swatching session!
Practiced mixing colors based on exercises from Orla Stevens and Sandi Hester
This was super helpful. I’ve been getting frustrated because I feel like all my color mixes end up looking the same… and kinda muddy. I’m really having fun diving in and playing with acrylics, and it’s definitely pushing me outside my comfort zone.
Sunday | 03-10
Continued my paint color swatch session and drew a quick sketch of my swatches… very meta haha 🙃
SKETCHBOOK REVIEW
March 7, 2024
What question did I ask my sketchbook with this spread?
I worked through Orla’s “Words to Composition” Exercise:
Think of an experience you want to capture. Now think of a title/ short phrase that encompasses that experience.
Write down buzz words - visual elements, emotions, or words you associate with that experience
List of colors you associate with your buzz words
What’s the energy/ atmosphere you want to explore with this painting?
How do I feel about it overall?
This was a huge stretch for me. I feel like I executed really poorly, but I’m so glad I did it! And I’m going to keep practicing. This is such a wonderful opportunity to reflect on Scripture, hymns, and God’s faithfulness in my life and work it into a series of paintings. I’m loving working this way.
What am I curious about?
How would this exercise go now that I have my swatches to reference for help with color mixing?
What do I want to carry forward?
Working on several different abstract pieces all at once. And I really enjoyed the prompts from Orla’s “Words to Composition” exercise.
FINAL WRAP UP
What has God taught me this week about glorifying Him through my art?
The importance of scripture memorization. Orla Stevens’s abstract practice has given me a good framework for incorporating Scripture/ hymn meditation into my art. I’m feeling very inspired by this type of painting session.
What am I excited about/ what’s my plan for next week? Any changes to initial 2024 planning?
Continue with practice inspired by Emma Carlisle and Orla Stevens’s Patreons. I also want to incorporate reading my “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” book… I’m not going to necessarily worry about doing all the exercises at the moment, but I still think the content will be helpful. I’m also excited to continue dialing in my upstairs studio setup (Nick and I shifted our office to downstairs, so now upstairs is the art/ Bible study room… still working on this setup… will be buying a few pieces for organization next month to really make it feel nice in there).
