Acrylic Overpainting: Ikea Artwork

Acrylic Overpainting: Ikea Artwork

Author: Alison Hazel   –   Published: January 2024

Overpainting

Last month I decided to paint over, or overpaint, a large Ikea artwork I had in my living room. Over painting is a technique used by many of the great artists when supplies were short and canvasses hard to come by. It is an age-old tradition and I decided to use it on this artwork.

Original Image

The original image was a photograph of a London bus in a bustling street. It was in black and white except the bus which was a bright red and stands as an icon for London, England. We’d had this piece for over seven years, and I had become a little tired of it, so I wanted to make a change.

Rather than giving it away I thought that as it was such a large canvas, I could do something with it art wise in my quest to be a better artist.

 

Read more >>> Alison’s Art Journey

 

Ikea-original-image

Acrylic Overpainting Video

If you want you can watch the video I made for YouTube about this exact process. 

Process

Creating an acrylic overpainting of an Ikea artwork, or any other artwork, can be a delightful and creative process. As a hobby artist with a liking for mindfulness, my approach to this project is that I wanted it to be both relaxing and fulfilling.

Remember, your hobby art is a sanctuary for your thoughts and creativity. Enjoy the process, be kind to yourself, and let your upbeat and creative energy flow onto the canvas.

Ikea-bus

Material Preparation

I gathered my meagre acrylic paints, brushes, palette and any other materials I might need. I made sure that my workspace was organized and free of distractions to maintain a mindful and focused environment.

I was going to do this work on my dining room table. This is a very old table made from 100year old floorboards. We originally got it so that the kids could work at it and if they made a dent or drew on the top, it didn’t matter. It is a working table and I’ve now commandeered it as my creator studio table.

masking-tape-detail

Acrylic Paint

I began by trying to cover the very black and darker parts of the image. I used both white and yellow acrylic paints whcih were left over from my kid’s school art classes.

Next, I bought some dollar store white and red to continue to cover the darkness in the painting. This took several coats and I left each one to dry overnight.

Then I bought some better acrylic paints and a few colors. Additionally, I purchased a half-liter bottle of white which finally managed to cover the canvas.

white-and-yellow

Inspiration

During this process I’d been watching the YouTuber Betty Franks and watching how she was working with acrylics.

If you recall this was my fifth every acrylic painting and I was not sure what I was doing.

Betty worked he canvasses by adding colors in blobs and circles. Her palette was bright much like mine, so I thought I’d do what she was doing.

I began adding blobs of yellow, blue and green. I added ciclles and groups of bigger blobs and shapes. This I did for several days allowing the paint to dry each night.

Then I realized that because she was drawing flowers that was why she did blobs and circles. This was a revelation.

By this time, I had a highly colored very busy canvas that was almost humming.

I took the art from the table and propped it up against my wall in the living room and lived with it for a few days.

This was a very distracting piece and there was no where for the eye to rest.

abstract

Seascape

I though then that I’d like to have a seascape as that would be restful and easy on the eye. This painting hangs in a place and dominates the room. I wanted something that I could live with and that would not be intrusive.

I live at the coast and I decided to try to create the visual from English Bay which is the closest beach to me.

seascape

Completed Layer

The seascape is what I did in the end. I partitioned the whole canvas into three horizontal bands thus:

Top

The top horizontal band is the sky.

Middle

The middle horizontal is the sea.

Beach

The bottom horizontal band is the beach.

I then brought in colours more related to these three areas. Whites and light blue for the skies. For the sea I tended to go for more a green/blue because really that is the colour what the water looks like.

For the beach I used a variety of colours in yellows, oranges and reds with a lot more dots and speckles to kind of represent the sand and the roughness on the beach. I finished up with some seaweed on either side, just to give a visual focus towards the center of the painting and draw the eye towards the white on the horizon.

seascape

How Long it Took

This final painting took about six days of daily paint and then let it dry overnight then painting again the next morning. But in the end, I was quite happy with what I created.

I added some finer details with Posca paint pens. I signed it in the bottom right with my gold pen that I love.

A few days later when it was dry, I removed all the masking tape and hung it back on the wall. This is an incredibly heavy painting for one person to wrangle, but I did. Phew…

acrylic-abstract-seascape-of-english-bay-vancouver

Final Thoughts on Overpainting

When I started this project, I didn’t really know where it was going to end up. I just knew that I couldn’t live with the grey photograph anymore.

This painting has gone through several iterations of colours and shapes. Until finally I found my groove. In a way as I created the two smaller paintings that are almost, miniatures, if you will, of the actual big painting.

I’m beginning to think that perhaps acrylic seascapes might be my thing. This is the first painting I’ve done which is acrylic and abstract and a seascape. I’m bringing these three components together might be a way forward for me.

Previously I’ve dabbled in watercolors and coloured inks, which I still love, but I found a lot of satisfaction working with these acrylic paints. I think I’ll explore more of this medium more in the future.

Now I’ve just got to find a name for the piece. Any ideas?

Art Supplies

You can find links to the art supplies I used on this page.

Alison Hazel

Author Bio: Alison Hazel

Alison Hazel is a hobby artist and she shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

Read more about Alison’s story.

Send Alison a quick message.

AHAtober 2024

AHAtober 2024

Author: Alison Hazel   -   Published: July 2024 AHAtober 2024 Welcome to AHAtober 2024! AHAtober is a special event for meditative artists, inspired by the popular Inktober challenge. This month-long journey is designed to bring calmness and creativity together,...

Meditative Art Coloring Book: Neurographic Inspired for Self-care

Meditative Art Coloring Book: Neurographic Inspired for Self-care

Meditative Art Coloring Book (Blue)

I am delighted to announce that I have published a meditative art coloring book with 52 original artworks crafted by myself.

I have enjoyed creating each artwork for you and this has been a labor of love.

This is now available at Amazon on this link.

Introduction

“The Meditative Art Colouring Book: Neurographic Art Inspired for Self-care” represents the initial release in a series of adult coloring books created by artist Alison Hazel.

It’s important to note that this particular book is designed in a captivating shade of blue, and there are plans for additional editions in various colors to be introduced in the near future.

 

Self-care

These artworks are carefully designed to support your mental well-being and personal self-care journey.

As a part of your self-care routine, consider selecting one image per week.

By incorporating these pages into your artistic activities alongside other projects, they can be valuable tools for exploring and refining your preferred color palettes.

 

Explore

Delve into the images within this book for inspiration that ignites your unique artistic expression.

These pages can serve as springboards, propelling your imagination towards new and exciting ideas in your personal creative journey.

 

Artworks

Within the pages of this book, you will discover a collection of 52 unique artworks skillfully crafted by Alison Hazel.

This equates to one stunning piece of art for every week of the year.

Each of these beautiful creations is presented on the right-hand page, and on the following page, you’ll find a smaller version of the artwork where you can personalize it by adding your signature and the date of your artistic endeavor.

This thoughtful touch allows you to make each piece your own as you embark on your creative journey.

 

Display

You have the option to carefully detach each page from the book and frame it, creating a wonderful opportunity to adorn your walls with your favorite artworks.

 

Teachers

For educators, whether you’re working with children or adults, you have the flexibility to separate the pages of this book.

You can distribute one page to each child in your class or provide one image to each person in your adult teaching sessions.

This approach enables everyone to engage with the artwork individually, making it a versatile resource for both teaching and learning.

How To Use This Book

Coloring

Color the images in the order that speaks to your preference.

It’s worth noting that certain images are more intricate, so they may require additional time and attention to complete.

 

Neurographic Principles

Several of these images incorporate principles of neurographic art such as:

  • The neurographic line
  • Circles
  • Connectors
  • Lines extending from one edge to another.

In fact, a chosen set of these images symbolize the synapses that form when you forge new pathways in your brain through creative expression. 

 

Color Palettes

Before you start your coloring journey, take a moment to contemplate your color palettes.

You might consider employing a restricted palette as a creative challenge.

For instance, you could opt to color one page using only three colors like red, blue, and yellow.

Alternatively, you could immerse an image entirely in shades of green.

Give yourself the freedom to delve into the rich and vibrant realm of colors, allowing your artistic exploration to flourish.

 

Hobby Artist

For those pursuing art as a hobby, these pages can serve as a valuable resource.

You can incorporate them into your creative repertoire, using each artwork as a warm-up exercise to flex your artistic skills before you plunge into your main projects.

 

Children

These coloring pages are designed to be enjoyable and engaging.

While they were initially crafted with adults in mind, they can certainly be appreciated by children too.

Feel free to involve your kids in these pages, offering them a chance to join in the creative fun.

 

Layout Painting

Once you’ve discovered an artwork which truly speaks to you and have colored it to your liking, consider using it as a foundation, a kind of preliminary sketch, for a larger painting you wish to craft independently.

You have the freedom to choose your preferred medium, whether it’s colored pencils, markers, watercolors, or acrylics.

The choice is entirely yours, allowing you to explore your creativity in the way that resonates most with you.

 

More on this Topic

Read more >>> Neurographic Art Quotes

Read more >>> 52 Herbs Coloring Book

Alison Hazel

Author Bio

Alison Hazel is a mature woman who shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

Go here to read more about Alison’s story.

If you want to send Alison a quick message go here.

AHAtober 2024

AHAtober 2024

Author: Alison Hazel   -   Published: July 2024 AHAtober 2024 Welcome to AHAtober 2024! AHAtober is a special event for meditative artists, inspired by the popular Inktober challenge. This month-long journey is designed to bring calmness and creativity together,...

Sketchbook Flip Through

Sketchbook Flip Through

Sketchbook Flip Through

Abstract Sketchbook

Welcome to the vibrant realm of my latest abstract sketchbook, where colors and shapes intertwine in a dance of imagination.

In this flip through, we will embark on a journey through abstract art, a world where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary, and where emotions find expression in every stroke.

Join me as I flip through my latest abstract sketchbook.

I say abstract as that is what most images are, however the one with the sentient cats is the favourite of my readers.

It is the landscape sketchbook from Leuchtturm which I love.

Timing

I put together this sketchbook during the past few months while enjoying some TV time.

Most of the time I enjoy having multiple sketchbooks in progress, each with its own unique size and feel.

Medium

The majority of the pages are crafted using colored markers, while some are done with a simple black pen.

I’ve also included a few neurographic-inspired images in the mix.

Emotions

My sketchbook is a canvas of emotions, a sanctuary where I let my creativity run free.

Each page is a playground of colors and lines, a testament to the power of abstract art to communicate without words.

As we flip through these pages, you’ll witness the evolution of ideas, the exploration of forms, and the celebration of spontaneity.

Shapes

Abstract art is a symphony of shapes and hues that resonates with the heart.

It’s a language of its own, inviting you to interpret and connect with the art on a personal level.

The beauty of abstract art lies in its ability to evoke emotions that transcend the boundaries of language, and in this sketchbook, you’ll find a gallery of emotions waiting to be discovered.

Visual

There’s a certain magic in watching colors blend and shapes emerge.

From bold splashes to delicate lines, every element contributes to the visual melody that unfolds before us.

As you journey through this sketchbook, I encourage you to let your imagination roam freely, to find your own stories within the swirls and patterns.

Thoughts

This sketchbook is more than just a collection of drawings; it’s a glimpse into the emotions and thoughts that have flowed from my mind onto paper.

It’s a visual diary of moments captured through colors and shapes, a testament to the power of creativity to transcend words and touch the soul.

Simplicity

So, as we embark on this journey through abstract art, let’s embrace the simplicity and complexity that each page holds.

Let’s revel in the joy of colors, the freedom of forms, and the emotions that weave themselves into every line.

Together, we’ll turn these pages and uncover the stories that await, celebrating the beauty of abstract art in all its wondrous forms.

Alison Hazel

Author Bio

Alison Hazel is a mature woman who shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

Go here to read more about Alison’s story.

If you want to send Alison a quick message go here.

AHAtober 2024

AHAtober 2024

Author: Alison Hazel   -   Published: July 2024 AHAtober 2024 Welcome to AHAtober 2024! AHAtober is a special event for meditative artists, inspired by the popular Inktober challenge. This month-long journey is designed to bring calmness and creativity together,...

Seasons of Art: Spring

Seasons of Art: Spring

Seasons of Art: Spring 2023

Group Meeting

Learn more about the recent Seasons of Art group meeting.

See more about the Seasons of Art group here.

 

Satvvir’s Artwork

Below is Satvvir’s artwork (Instagram @theambivertsbb). She used watercolor and combined orabges and yellows with a lot of texture in this piece.

Arwynne’s Artwork

 Here is Arwynne’s finished artwork. You can see more of her work at IG @mspinkdotcom.

Gillian’s Artwork

Below is Gillian’s finished artwork. I first meyt Gillian when she led a watercolor class at the Elephant Studio in Vancouver. Follow Gillian at IG @gillianpearsonart.

 

Alison’s Artwork

Below is my artwork of the still life done in watercolor. I tried to create something in the center which I couls later frame and hang on my wall. The main horizontal is slightly out which I adjusted when placing it in teh frame.

 

Seasons of Art Group YouTube Video

I complied a YouTube video of the evening’s activities and you can check it all out by clicking on teh video below. 

Seasons of Art Group: The Gals

Our group photo taken at the end. frome left to right Gillian, Satvvir, Arwynne and Alison. We had a really nice evenign and I look forward to doing it again soon.

gillian-satvvir-arwynne-alison
Alison Hazel

Author Bio: Alison Hazel

Alison Hazel is a hobby artist and she shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

Read more about Alison’s story.

Send Alison a quick message.

Using Moon Phases in Your Creative Process

Using Moon Phases in Your Creative Process

Author: Alison Hazel   –   Published: June 2023

Using Moon Phases in Your Creative Process

Pondering

I was thinking earlier this week about when I have multiple projects on the go that each venture may be in a different “phase of progress” than the others. When I say “project” I mean creative projects mainly artworks, art challenges, writing, cooking, garden design or crochet (I like to crochet) or other things you are working on. Some projects may just wither on the vine never to see the light of day.

 

Natural Cycles

As a keen follower of the natural cycles of the Earth, Sun and the Moon, I believe that you can align your creative process to the phases of the Moon. The Lunar phases are closely related to the plant life cycle. The principles of “phase” can be linked to your creative process and art or craft projects as well.

Moon Phases

Moon’s Orbit

The Moon takes about a month (or four weeks) to orbit the Earth. As it does so we see more, or less, light reflected from the surface of the Moon depending on its relationship with the Earth and the Sun. There are eight lunar phases and each phase lasts about three and a half days.

Dark and Light

At the New Moon the Moon is dark and at Full Moon the Moon’s light is at its brightest. This constant changing from light and dark and back again is symbolic.

Phase Keywords

Each phase traditionally has keywords associated with it and below is a modern list of traditional keywords for the lunar phases. You can find out more about Moon phases on this LINK.

Lunar Phase Keywords

New Moon Phase

Keywords for the New Moon phase are instinct, emergence and subjective.

Crescent Phase

Keywords for the Crescent phase are forward, self-belief and eager confidence.

First Quarter Phase

Keywords for the First Quarter phase are constructive growth, forceful and crisis in action.

Gibbous Phase

Keywords for the Gibbous phase are contribution overcome and perfection.

Full Moon Phase

Keywords for the Full Moon phase are clarity, mature and illumination.

Disseminating Phase

Keywords for the Disseminating phase are transmitting information, knowledge dispersal and conveying awareness.

Last Quarter Phase

Keywords for the Last Quarter phase are crisis in consciousness, pioneering and reorientation.

Balsamic Phase

Keywords for the Balsamic phase are release, surrender and closure.

 

Project Creative Phases

Phase Development

If we align the meaning of the moon phase with how a project develops it may go something like this. It is likely that there will be many more projects in the seed phase, in fact you would probably always be in this phase as ideas appear.

Whereas the later phase would have less projects as some do not take off or you kill them off naturally. Typically, I would think you would have one monster project in the final stages that is moving onto the Balsamic phase.

Multiple Projects

I also think that if I have multiple projects on the go at once thay will each be in a different phase to each other.

Seed Phase: New Moon Phase

Ideas

This is where ideas are born. They are the seed moments when ideas drift into your mind. Ideas can come to you at any time if the day and the knack here is to capture fleeting ideas.

 

Dreams

A great source of ideas is in your dreams. Make sure to have a dream journal and pen at your bedside to immediately write down your dreams.

new-moon-phase

Sprout Phase: Crescent Phase

Cultivate Ideas

Here you allow your seeds to germinate and sprout into the first leaf. This is a delicate time and things are still touch and go.

 

Wither on the Vine

You may decide to let some ideas go at this stage. You could nurture one or two projects forward into the next phase of development.

crescent-moon-phase

Experimentation Phase: First Quarter Phase

Techniques

In this phase you try different techniques and methods. Here you have a slightly robust idea or project and now you can stress test it.

 

Tinkering

There are many ways to check your outlines, designs or artwork now. Changes can still be made.

first-quarter-phase

Prototype Phase: Gibbous Phase

Examples in Hand

Now you have something to chew on. You have many wrinkles ironed out. You can see the glimmer in potential of your project.

Private

You keep your project quiet. You only share your vision with your nearest and dearest as you don’t want the whole thing to fizzle out from negative thinking.

gibbous-moon-phase

Crafting Phase: Full Moon Phase

Focus

This is the culmination phase and you can clearly see flaws and the strengths about it. You have a fully-fledged project or prototype.

Potential

This stage shows potential and you can fully visualize your outcomes now. This is the early fruit.

full-moon-phase

Marketing Phase: Disseminating Phase

Spread the News

Now you talk to your beta testers, pattern testers or recipe testers. Now you soft launch and gently talk up your upcoming project.

Disciples

You may seek backers or collaborators who can spread the word on your behalf. Now your audience gets behind your project. This can be a long phase as marketing and social media exposure can go on for a while.

disseminating-lunar-phase

Completion Phase: Last Quarter Phase

Public Launch

This is the moment and you go public and wrap-up your package. At this time your course, artwork, music, book or pattern is ready for sale. The public can now review, buy or consume, what you have created and people may lap up your offering.

Comments

There will be feedback from your tribe with both positive and negative comments. Brace yourself.

last-quarter-phase

Passive Phase: Balsamic Phase

Recovery

This is the period of post project rest, recovery and rejuvenation. Now is the time to hibernate or take a vacation. These are the moments after a project has launched, or the art gallery showing is over, or the book is out there. It is a time to let your project stand up and speak for itself.

Replenish Energy

Without further tinkering or attention. It is now in the passive income phase. You get to take a break to rest, relax and allow yourself time to refill your creative well. Without this phase you may become burnt out and feel depleted. Take care to avoid going straight into another big project before you have recovered from the current one.

balsamic-lunar-phase

Journal Page

To help me remember all these features of each Moon phase as they related to my project work I have created a colorful page in my journal.

I am likely to see my journal page often as I flip through and review where I am and what I’m planning to do next.

It is a visual way to bring focus to the different phases of each project I’m working on at present. You may like to draw this image in your journal as well.

 

Pin this image to your Pinterest board.

How Long Does it Take?

How long does a project take from start to finish? It depends on what you are making.

If you are writing a book, or a screenplay it could take you a year. If you are creating a set of 12 calendar images it could be three months. If you are crafting a crochet pattern or recipe it could take one month. There is more about creative projects and their timelines in this link.

Timing

Do bear in mind that everything takes longer that you anticipate. This is the nature of life. Give yourself enough time to fully let your project germinate, develop, blossom and fruit.

Type of Projects

Here are some ideas of projects, both art and not, where you can use the Moon phase principles.

  • Crochet patterns
  • Planning a wedding
  • Painting a picture
  • Taking an art challenge
  • Writing a book
  • Making a series of images
  • Creating a course
  • Testing recipes for a book
  • Building a blog
  • Building a YouTube channel

Thank you for spending a part of your day with me.

using-lunar-phases-in-your-creative-projects

Save this pin to read later.

Alison Hazel

Author Bio: Alison Hazel

Alison Hazel is a hobby artist and she shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

Read more about Alison’s story.

Send Alison a quick message.

Perpetual Nature Journal

Perpetual Nature Journal

Author: Alison Hazel   –   Published: December 2021   –   Revised: January 2024

Perpetual Nature Journal: Start Here

Start here with your Perpetual Nature Journal. I’ve gathered all the relevant posts from my Perpetual Nature Journal here on this page so you can find them all in one place. Many of you have asked to see the development of this journal, and while my Perpetual Nature Journal is still pretty new, it is growing and developing quietly in the background of my seasonal art practice.

 

Perpetual Nature Journal: Initial Setup

Here is more information on how to set up your Perpetual Nature Journal. Once you have a journal you can create the cover page.

 

Each Month’s Pages

Every month has its own page or pages in my Perpetual Nature Journal. Below are the images I have drawn so far. I’ve grouped them by month as that is how the sketch book develops. Over time more and more images will be posted here.

May

In May 2022 I drew the Canada Geese at the coast. This was my very first sketch in my Perpetual Nature Journal and at this stage I was not sure where I was going with this art initiative.

June

In June 2022 I drew the Inukshuk in monochrome inks at the coast. This was my second sketch in my Perpetual Nature Journal.

October

In October 2022 I drew the Weird Gourds in my studio. This piece was with colored inks and was quite messy in the kitchen.

 

November

In November 2022 I drew the Autumn Leaf in colored pencil in my studio.

 

 

Alison Hazel

Author Bio: Alison Hazel

Alison Hazel is a hobby artist and she shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

Read more about Alison’s story.

Send Alison a quick message.

AHAtober 2024

AHAtober 2024

Author: Alison Hazel   -   Published: July 2024 AHAtober 2024 Welcome to AHAtober 2024! AHAtober is a special event for meditative artists, inspired by the popular Inktober challenge. This month-long journey is designed to bring calmness and creativity together,...

Freebies

Freebies

Author: Alison Hazel   –   Published:  January 2023   –   Revised:  February 2024

Gifts for You

As a strong creative and arty person, for many years, I have generated countless free resources on Alison Hazel Art. These guides, lists and templates are to help you get back to art, get to grips with being a hobby artist and build your art micro side business.

But these freebies are scattered all over my website and so, to help you out even more, I have put all my Alison Hazel Art Freebies in one place, right here. From now on you can easily look through all of them and get the ones you want and need right now.

Grid Art Journal Templates

  • Grid Art Journal Template: I have provided you with twenty-six different templates. The templates include some basic layouts that you can use to get started with grid art journaling. Also, I’ve added a few different grid shapes to inspire you to try something different with your grid art journaling.

Face of Jesus Guide

  • How to draw the Face of Jesus – This is a guide I made to help get the facial proportions correct and for a starting point to draw Christ. Use your intuition when using this guide.

Fibonacci Shell Template

  • Fibonacci Shell Template – This is a quick template to draw the dynamic natural Fibonacci shell which is, let’s face it, a tricky design to get your head around. 

 

 

Alison Hazel

Author Bio

Alison Hazel is a woman who shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

Read more about Alison’s story.

Send Alison a quick message.

AHAtober 2024

AHAtober 2024

Author: Alison Hazel   -   Published: July 2024 AHAtober 2024 Welcome to AHAtober 2024! AHAtober is a special event for meditative artists, inspired by the popular Inktober challenge. This month-long journey is designed to bring calmness and creativity together,...

Autumn Leaf Colored Pencil Art

Autumn Leaf Colored Pencil Art

Introduction

Seasonal Beginning, Middle and End

Each of the four seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, has a beginning, a middle and an end.

There is early Autumn when the Sun is in Virgo (September/October), middle Autumn when the Sun is in Libra (October/November) and late Autumn when the Sun is in Scorpio (November/December).

I live in Vancouver and, during November, the late Autumn leaves fall from the trees every day.

For this sketch I waited for the leaves to be variegated.

Multicolored leaves meant that one leaf has green, red and yellow in it.

I did not want to be too early in the season when the leaves and mainly green with a little red.

Additionally, I did not want to wait too late when the leaves get to be a washed-out yellow color which happens later in the season.

This is tricky and I had to be on the lookout every day to see which leaves meet my “color variety” mid-season criteria.

Get a Leaf

Well enough about that, just get a leaf to draw.

Hobby Artist

I am a hobby artist which means I’m sharing my journey to get better with art with you. I believe that in time to come I will get better at drawing as I hone my craft with more practice and some art classes.

I believe that Leonardo da Vinci took seventeen years before he was skilled enough to draw his masterpieces, so there is no rush for me or for you.

Perpetual Nature Journal

Perpetual Nature Journal

This time I am working on the November page of my Perpetual Nature Journal.

You can find out more about my Perpetual Nature Journal.

Pencil Sketch

I did a light pencil sketch picking up the main veins and outline of the leaf.

Colored Pencil

The colored pencils I’m using are Faber Castell polychromas.

I like to start with the lightest color first and build up to the darker colors in layers.

Yellow

I used dusky yellow called dark Naples ochre and went over the middle parts near the veins.

Orange

Using cadmium orange, I laid down some color further from the veins towards the center of the leaf.

Red

The red I chose is called middle cadmium red which is deep and ruby like to give the red color to the leaf. The leaf is red in blotches again between the veins.

Green

Finally, the green I selected is named olive green yellowish which tells you it is a yellow green and not a blue green which is what you want for natural foliage, yellow green that is.

Art Supplies

The art supplies I used are listed here but I urge you to use what you have at hand.

 

  • Sketchbook
  • 2h Pencil
  • Eraser

Faber Castel Polychromas Colored Pencils

 

 

  • Yellow pencil
  • Orange pencil
  • Red pencil
  • Green pencil

Color Swatch

At the end I created a small color swatch on the side and wrote the specific colors that I used on the page in my journal.

Swatching is a great idea so you can reproduce the exact drawing again later.

Thank You

Thank you for sharing a part of your day with me.

Love,

Alison

Alison Hazel

Author Bio

Alison Hazel shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

Go here to read more about Alison’s story.

If you want to send Alison a quick message go here.

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How One Artist Won Inktober for the First Time

How One Artist Won Inktober for the First Time

Introduction

This year, 2022, I was delighted to discover the artist, Sandra Sobota @faerenn and she took up the challenge and completed all thirty days of Inktober using the AHAtober prompts for self-care.

I recently interviewed Sandra and I am thoroughly excited to share her thoughts on this art challenge with you.

Alison

About Sandra

Are you a full-time artist or do you have a day job?

In everyday life, I am an English teacher. After failing to get a well-paid job in a big city to continue living there after my graduation, I decided to return to my hometown, the furniture industry. I thought I’d end up as an office worker with English skills, but the local job market was in a dire need of good English teachers. I teach in high school, and in a private school, in which I conduct remedial classes for students that fall behind, extra classes for ambitious students, and courses for adult groups. My working hours are irregular but I generally work from 8 AM to 8 PM. I am often tired, but I love my job and the people I work with.

My students’ age varies from 11 to even 77 years!

What city/country do you live in?

I’m from Kępno, Poland. Kępno is a small town with about 15 thousand inhabitants. It’s situated 75 km from Wroclaw, and about 160 km from Poznań where I used to live for 6 years, during my university years. I also mentioned before that it’s the furniture industry, having about 800 furniture-making companies here!

Do you consider yourself as a hobby artist or a commercial artist or something else?

I’d say, I’m more of a hobby artist. Drawing helps me relax, and it gives me some joy, it defines me and reflects my feelings. Sometimes I decide to share my creations, and it makes me happy when people share their enthusiasm towards my works. But the number of followers I have is mostly people I know. I guess I don’t have it in me that would make people stay, or I can blame the algorithm for this. But I’d still want to remain myself, and create art out of joy.

However, I did sell some pieces. I had some paid commissions, once I drew a girl from a photo I liked, and her mother wrote to me that she wanted to purchase the drawing from me. And I drew for a charity auction, the drawing was sold for an amazing price, in USD currency it would be around US$75, in my country, that’s a lot of money.

Did you go to art school or design college?

Imagine that I wanted to go to art school, but I was rejected! They preferred students who mastered some well-known techniques, e.g. cubism, and realism. I found a lack of creativity and uniqueness in their works. It felt like those students weren’t people but machines programmed to produce some art. While creating something, I live by this quote found in The Cat Returns (2002) by Studio Ghibli  (Hayao Miyazaki):

“Whenever someone creates something with all of their heart, then that creation is given a soul.”

And the creations I saw back then, had no soul. It opened my eyes and made me give up on the idea of going to any art school; I didn’t want to be abused by some strict art teachers, produce fine art masterpieces that no one would even hear of, and, most of all, be a nobody. I’ve never heard of any famous graduates from that art school I tried to apply to. I didn’t want to end up sitting on the street, begging for someone to buy my art.

Most artists I know and admire are self-taught and didn’t finish any art schools, I find it redundant.

Are you into self-care in general?

It’s hard to tell. I know self-care is important, but I’ve just only realized it not so long ago. It was the end of summer 2017, when I set myself free from a heavy burden that destroyed me mentally, I was a total wreck. I remember I was seeing a psychiatrist, I was on antidepressants, too. And while still recovering, I managed to get my master’s degree. It gave me a lot of power and feeling invincible. I alluded to those events in my other work, DAWN (no. 19)

However, I do struggle with body positivity. I do suffer from body dysmorphic disorder, which was triggered by the past trauma, including comparing to others, bullying and lowering my self-esteem by the third party. I’m still trying to find my way around self-care. I consider myself a student in this field, but a sloppy one (laugh). I tend to sacrifice my needs for the greater good.

What inspires you and to whom do you look up?

I enjoy works of Neimy Kanani especially her works from the prior years, when she used sketches, ink and watercolors. I like her style and way of coloring. Some works may be similar to hers, at some point. I love her lining.

However, my watercolor guru is none other than Gris Grimly. I love his watercolor coloring and the way he draws figures. I am into spooky stuff, and his characters. It’s way different from my doll-like characters, but this makes his figures interesting and original, he isn’t afraid of playing with geometry. When it comes to his coloring, I know he uses Holbein’s watercolors and masking fluid, something that I still have to get familiar with.

What is your favorite color and why?

I have 3 favorite colors, black, yellow and red (and I even mentioned them on no. 26, LIGHT! 😊.

I like black for its uniqueness. I don’t find it a solemn color, but rather elegant and intimidating. I feel good wearing black and this color attracts me.

Red, for its vividness and energy, and I love combination of black and red. My room in my family house is actually red, and I feel good in it!

Yellow is my favorite color from childhood, I consider it a happy color. All things I loved as a  child were yellow – chicks, the sun, daffodils and other yellow flowers. I like returning with my thoughts to those happy moments.

Inktober/AHAtober

How many times have you done Inktober in the past or is this your first year?

This was my first year of doing Inktober. I’ve always wanted to do it, but I never had time, or I thought so. Some events in my life allowed me to have extra time and made it possible for me to participate.

Why did you choose to do the AHAtober self-care prompts in 2022?

I was looking for something different from the original prompt list – Honestly, I didn’t like it. Not because there was something I couldn’t do, but I like themed lists. I read the entire prompt list and I was able to envision each one of them, so I decided to stick with it.

How did you manage to draw thirty images in October? Was it easy or a challenge to complete them on time?

I had to cheat a little, I admit. There were times which proved to be impossible to draw during that day. Some drawings, sketches or outlines were made way earlier before their time, for example LOVE (no. 29), which was made at the end of September!

Did you have a special time set aside in the day for making the artworks?

Continuing the answer to the previous questions, some sketches or outlines were made earlier, e.g., during the weekend. On Saturday I could create up to 4-5 sketches/outlines, which would leave me with the coloring part.

I tried to color them when there was natural light available, usually between 8AM to 10AM, and this is also the time when the drawings were posted online. Later on during the day, I’d have little time to draw or color. I sometimes started coloring late in the evening, to finish it in the morning.

Please can you share some of your process with us?

I don’t have much photos from the process but I could describe how the work process looked like. I started with some coffee, and scrolling through some of my daily pages. Then, I turned to Pinterest on which I watch some color aesthetics. This way I know how some colors work. I started imagining characters with the given colors, sometimes choosing the colors prior to the sketch. I have no problems with ideas or concepts, but sometimes I needed some guidance, I have two:

After envisioning things, I started drawing with my mechanical pencil – as a child I hated them, but with time, I started appreciating how thin they are, and my hand also became more gentle, so I had no issues while using it. When I considered my initial sketch done, I started the lines with Pigma MICRONs, then I could erase the pencil with a kneaded eraser – I like those erasers, because they don’t damage the paper, and don’t leave any flakes. I can tap them to easily remove the pencil.

After it was done, then I started coloring. I colored whatever I saw fit, but usually I started with the skin.

What was your favorite prompt from AHAtober this year?

It’s hard to choose my favorite.

However, I like what I did in SKY (no. 8). A girl and a dress made of clouds, semi-transparent. In here, I made quite realistic clouds, as I’ve tried a little bit of Bob Ross in my life. I’m glad I still remember how to do it 😊

I also love the smoothness of skin in JOURNAL (no.12), I think I did an amazing job with the blush, but it was a matter of the right timing.

And I like FRAGRANCE (no.17), I thought I’d ruin it while coloring but the robe turned out amazing. This is the drawing I loved from the very sketch, and I was struggling with the decision whether to color it or not.

What was your least favorite prompt from AHAtober this year?

I hated it when the prompts were similar, e.g. SUNRISE/DAWN, with little technical difference. But the piece I can say I hate the most is RELAX LOVE (no. 28).

Honestly, there was nothing wrong with it, I liked it as a sketch, but I felt I ruined it with the coloring. I thought the colors would work the way I thought, but I was so wrong. I insisted on adding purple and then green hues, and it made it a total mess. I think if I used just blue colors, it’d turn out better.

To win Inktober you must create thirty drawings during October, what advice can you give our readers who want to try Inktober or AHAtober in the future, so they can succeed?

If you know that you have little time in your pocket, start a little bit earlier. Some artists had half of the Inktober pieces ready before Inktober even started!

What is your favorite art medium markers, colored pencil, watercolor paint or other?

Actually, it’s watercolor markers, or, Aquamarkers by DecoTimeCrafts, that I found in Action store.

I love that they have a tray. So far, I’ve got a collection of 80 Aquamarkers (80 in a tray, and 10 in a minibox). Above the tray, there’s a framed sampler that I created, to learn how they behave raw, and if you add some water. This way I can easily navigate between the colors.

On rare occasions, I also like watercolor pencils by Koh-i-Noor.

I like to dilute the sketch with water, I also feel I have control over the drawing. It’s actually a great starter if someone wants to begin working with watercolors, especially if this is a shift from colored pencils to watercolors.

I am aware that there are better tools or paints, but I believe that you don’t need the most expensive ones in the world to create the best works, as long as you know the possibilities of the said tools.

Where can our readers see more of your work?

Only on Instagram, here @faerenn.

Honestly, I have two DeviantArt accounts, but I don’t remember the mail and password, it’s a shame. But I feel that DeviantArt is slowly dying – it’s not what it used to be when I was still using it.

How would you sum up your AHAtober experience this year?

It was a very nice experience. Tiring, required some sacrifices, but it allowed me for a moment of reflection. There was even a moment where I allowed myself for a little bit of anger, so the narrative changed from my original concept. I guess I needed this.

My mom told me that she liked it when I elaborated on something. She doesn’t understand English but she pressed “translate” option on Instagram. I know my other friend was also reading my monologues, as I had some discussions with her later on.

Pin this image to your Pinterest board.

What do you plan to do with the AHAtober images which you created?

In my area, there are many children in need, that are trying to get money for life-saving surgeries. For example, a boy with a heart disease which was getting money for a surgery in Boston, MA. Now, there’s a 3-year-old girl with a neuroma. I think I’ll set them up for an auction, where all the money would be donated to their cause.

But prior to that, I’d like to scan my pictures.

What activities will you do the same next year in your art practice to win Inktober?

Definitely making up the most on days off, this is what helped me in catching up (or rather, being ahead of the curve).

What will you change next year for Inktober?

I think I’ll start planning a bit earlier (laugh). I decided to do Inktober quite late.

 

Do you have any further comments that you would like to share?

It kinda felt lonely, as I thought many other people would join your challenge. But who am I to say, I’m not an influencer either, and when my drawings got 30+ likes, I was like, “wow”.

Do you have other hobbies and interests? 

Apart from traditional art, I’m also into digital drawing, sewing and flower embroidery.

Thank you.

You’re welcome 😊 I’m glad I could be a part of your Inktober/AHAtober challenge 😊

Sandra

Alison Hazel

Artist Bio: Sandra Sobota

@faerenn

Sandra Sobota is a teacher and talented watercolor artist from Poland.

She is a mutable water Pisces and loves dogs, animals and nature. Apart from traditional art Sandra enjoys digital drawing, sewing and flower embroidery.

Go here to see more of Sandra’s work.

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Weird Gourds – Colored Ink Art

Weird Gourds – Colored Ink Art

Oh, My Gourd!

I was in my local grocery store yesterday and spotted these weird looking gourds in the pumpkin section.

This is not a vegetable I usually prepare, cook and eat, but I thought maybe this time, as I wanted to add a drawing to my Perpetual Nature Journal, I would see what I could do.

Hello

Hi, I’m Alison and I call myself a hobby artist.

I am on a journey to get better at art and I’m doing this for self-care.

In a digital world I find that slow-paced activities which are creative support my drive for a slower lifestyle.

You can read about my journey.

Art Supplies

Get Your Stuff

I urge you to use the paper, sketchbooks, pencil, inks and paints which you have at hand.

I believe that artists already have what they need and there is no requirement to let not having the exact equipment I used to stop you from creating art.

No excuses here.

Look around and gather your art tools.

Specific Art Supplies

These are the exact art supplies which I used for this artwork.

Part 1 – Drawing the Outside

Perpetual Nature Journal

I added this drawing to my Perpetual Nature Journal on the October page.

This is the first sketch I have for October as I only began this journal earlier in the year in May.

Pencil Sketch

Once I had handled the gourd and rolled it around to find a good side, I lightly sketched the gourd out.

I used my favorite pencil which has a 2H lead. The 2H describes light lines on the page which are easier to erase later.

I took care to get the knobby bits and the color changes as patches as well.

Colored Ink

When working with these inks you do need to shake the bottles beforehand, but you also must wipe off the screw tops before you close them otherwise the stick and you can’t get the lid off next time.

There is an art to looking after your Windsor and Newton inks pots as well.

Yellow

I began with some Canary Yellow ink in my palette and thinned it down quite a bit with water.

I like to keep the paper quite dry and not add too much water, but it is a balancing act.

It seems I prefer to work with the wet on dry technique and not the wet on wet. One.

This opinion may change, but for now it is my selected method of working with colored ink.

Orange

Next, I added some Orange to the palette and dabbed it in where the gourd was much darker.

Green

The green was the Emerald Green to which I added a little Canary Yellow to make it more like a sage or olive green.

I watered down the ink mix quite substantially and then slowly built up the color after each drying.

Layers

I let this artwork dry in between and then added more color with a light touch.

Pen

Finally, I went over the whole drawing with a 0.3mm black pen to define the main outlines.

With this pen I held it loosely and let it wobble a little.

The pen part does give this a flavor of an ink and wash piece.

Part 2 – Drawing the Sliced Half

Hidden

After I’d completed the outside painting of the gourd it occurred to me to look inside.

I struggled considerably to cut this vegetable in half.

I tried my main straight-blade kitchen knife, but to no avail.

Then I got out my big South African cleaver forged from one piece of steel and heavy, oh so heavy, and I managed to push the blade into the gourd.

Artwork

Next, I set about sketching and inking the sectional slice of this gourd.

To be honest there were some interesting seeds in the main cavity, but not much flesh on the gourd only about half an inch of orange pulp.

yellow-gourd

Cooking the Gourd

After finishing the painting, I tried to cook with the gourd.

I had so much trouble chopping this vegetable up that I gave up.

The skin is so tough.

In the end I had about six one-inch cubes of flesh which I added to the pan with my other roast red potatoes, onions and other vegetables which I was cooking that night.

A gourd is not a vegetable that I am likely to buy to consume again.

However, I am likely to buy them for still-life autumnal center pieces which I love to create and draw.

You can see this year’s Seasonal Art Group story here.

Aspiring Artist Activity

Vegetables

This is an activity which can be done by anyone who has vegetable, which I’m assuming is everyone.

Get the kids involved as well.

Find a knobby vegetable that is interesting, perhaps with multiple colors or is a weird shape, which you want to draw.

In your Perpetual Nature Journal and on the appropriate month’s page please do the following:

 

  • On the appropriate month’s section find a suitable page.
  • Draw a light pencil sketch and remember that we are not engraving.
  • Color in or wash with watercolor, colored ink or your favorite art medium.
  • Pen over to add definition to your artwork.
  • Write the name of the plant in pen below.
  • Sign and date somewhere near the bottom left.

Reflection

Daily Life

This is not the most exciting painting you are likely to create.

Rather, it is a part of paying attention to the world around you and noting the details that go in to make up daily life.

Sketch Journal

This sort of activity can also be created in your sketch journal as a drawing about your day.

If you are the sort of artist who constantly draws your coffee cup in your sketch journal, then doing a gourd will spice things up a little.

Celebrate Seasonal Changes

Celebrate the changing seasons with this type of painting.

It could be a part of your Phenology Wheel as well where you observe nature around you and, during Autumn, the fruits and vegetables ripening into maturity.

Thank You

Thank you for spending part of your day with me.

Love,

Alison

Alison Hazel

Author Bio

Alison Hazel is a woman who shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

Read more about Alison’s story.

Send Alison a quick message.

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