One More Trip Around the Sun (and art!)
I’m not entirely sure how a year has passed since my last birthday (because it feels like it’s still March 2020), but here we are.
This certainly was not the year I expected, but some good things happened. The big one? I got a new job, which has been the catalyst for reigniting the visual design and art fire under my butt, allowing me to refocus on things I really love while weeding out the things I don’t. Technically I started that job in December, but didn’t really get going with it until January because of the holidays and all that.
I’ve spent a long time in my career dealing with areas that I have absolutely no interest in continuing and sometimes those things were even the main focus of my work. While many of those things are still part of the orbit of what I do, I no longer have to focus on them. It’s so refreshing, and it’s been the exact catalyst I needed.
Messy palette
Watercolor books by artists I admire
After years of thinking about it and wishing I had time or whatever, I finally - finally! - started embracing art everyday. Right now, that’s mostly watercolor. I’ve long been fascinated, but also intimidated by watercolor.
Now that I’ve finally gotten started (isn’t that often the hardest part?), I’m on a roll. I subscribed to the Let’s Make Art Watercolor Box, enrolled in The Watercolor Summit 1.0, picked up a few books with some watercolor tutorials, and have just been exploring with various artists and teaching styles.
The work I’ve produced so far certainly isn’t “sellable.” There’s no cohesive theme, style, or vision. Instead it’s an exploration of styles and ideas. It’s learning. It’s progress.
Let’s Make Art June 2020 Box
Hibiscus exploration (work-in-progress)
Cacti, from a tutorial from 15 Minute Watercolor Masterpieces
Popsicles from Let’s Make Art Tutorial
And watercolor is just the beginning. I’m starting a college-level certificate program in illustration this fall so I’ll be immersing myself in art - both analog and digital. I also signed up for a monthly subscription to Brit & Co’s classes - so many things to I want to learn and I finally have the creative space in my head to do it.
The new job was the kickstart I needed to get me into gear to completely refocus everything. While work certainly isn’t life, it definitely affects life and the lens by which you view it. It can also drain energy or ignite energy, and I’m so, so, so thankful to have found a job and a company that ignite my artistic energy.
My work-in-progress art room!
The other fun thing that happened this year — our new house with an art room. I’ve always wanted a room dedicated to art and craftiness (and hopefully soon, music, because I want to get my piano from my mom’s house and get it in here). The room is still a work-in-progress and we desperately need some blinds, but it’s here and I use it every day.