100 Cats Project - Week 1

This first week of the 100 Cats Project has been interesting. I have two rules for this project so far, I want to draw cats and I want to learn how to ink in different techniques. But I never thought about style, not really, or the kind of cat I would be drawing. And yet, just in this first week, I feel I've been pulling myself into different themes and styles. 

I'm having a lot of fun which is great, and that was also the point of this project. Yes, I want to learn a drawing technique, but I am doing it for the sole purpose of my enjoyment. I think the last time I got into a project and enjoyed it this much was when I taught myself how to knit. It’s sad really, to go through life like that, it’s sad that many people still do it.

One of my many email subscriptions suggested the book “Big Magic”, by Elizabeth Gilbert. I loved “Eat, Pray, Love” (the book) and I loved her Ted talk about creativity. So I got the audiobook and it was great. It’s a combination of a self-help book and pure inspiration, and I can only recommend it to anyone, because creativity is not only for artists.

I can say today that I am all recovered from the funk that sank me for 6 years out of the pens and brushes, but at some point I felt like I wasted precious time and I should be so much better by now. But, right now, I understand that it took that long for me to realize that I don’t care what others say, I like drawing and painting and if others like what I make, it’s nice, but that’s not the goal, the goal is much more deep and important to me. And there’s no time limit or big goal to reach except keep doing it.

I hope you do read Big Magic and tell me what you think. Leave your comments, thoughts, opinions in the comments area. Thank you for reading and see you next week.

100 Days Project

Long time no see! I broke my promise of writing once per week. No excuses there. I have to find the way to do it. I have a plan and I hope it pans out this time.

In my absence I’ve been very busy still working on the Artist’s Way and I have to say that, in my experience, it works. To give myself a boost in my drawing I found a daily drawing challenge, I’ve talked about it before, the Random Word Challenge. It started very casual, with no professional illustrators involved, or not that I’m aware of, and that was perfect to let me just draw.

The first 10 days became 40 and then 60. At this point I’m far from perfect or at a level that I’d like to be BUT I enjoy drawing again and I do it every day. Yes, I drew when I had to because of work. Those animations, backgrounds and characters didn’t design themselves. But it wasn’t something I enjoyed. Now it’s fun again!!

The 60 days are up, and knowing me, I’ll need something to keep me motivated and accountable. I’ve been reading about 100 Days Projects. That sounds just like the perfect next step for me. I thought my project should include cats but I’ve been a bit indecisive on how to approach it, should I use any technique I can think of or should I pick one technique and perfect it. 

If I chose the latter, then I think I’d go for inking. I love the elegance of black and white illustrations and the versatility of the medium. So it could be a great excuse for experimentation and a learning process. For now, I’ll go with inking but I might change my mind in the future. Here is the first cat.

Leave your comments, thoughts, opinions in the comments area. This time I actually turned on the notifications so I’ll know ride away that you are around.

Thanks for reading and see you next week.