How to Win at NaNoWriMo

How to Win at NaNoWriMo

by | Creative Life, Writing for Artists

NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month.

As the NaNoWriMo movement has become a global effort it could be called IntNoWriMo or International Novel Writing Month, but that probably won’t easily catch on.

NaNoWriMo happens every November.

The goal is to write 50,000 words in the 30 days of the eleventh month.

NaNoWriMo closely follows Inktober which is an art challenge every October which I love as well.

How NaNoWriMo Works

Say you were planning a novel, or any other type of non-fiction book or writing project, to have 50,000 words is a vast number of words completed.

If we take 50,000 words and divide them by 30 days, it returns 1667 words per day, every day for the month of November.

Stephen King

In his fabulous book, “On Writing” Stephen King says he writes 2000 words every day of the year, including Christmas Day, and on his birthday.

When I first read this fact it seemed an awful lot of words, but then I thought to myself, well perhaps I can do 1000 words a day and this has been my goal since then.

For NaNoWriMo you can write 1667 word a day and just push yourself a little further.

When I started writing blogs, I was writing about 150 to 200 words and then putting it in a drawer and coming back three days later as I thought this is how real writers work.

I’d read that proper writers write a bit of work, then they let it percolate and they eventually come back to it, but that really didn’t work for myself and my blogs.

After discovering the word count that Stephen King aimed for each day, I decided that I will write 1000 words a day.

Suddenly one thousand words became the perfect length for a blog post for me.

Most serious blogs are at least 1000 words, and some can be around 2000 words because this is a good amount which can be read in under five minutes.

How to Win at NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo is a challenge which you take with yourself.

You can report your wins on social media with everybody else who’s doing it under the hashtag #NaNoWriMo.

But to win at NaNoWriMo you must write 50,000 words during November.

The idea is that your 50,000 words could be a solid foundation for any type of writing project.

What to do With What You Write

What you write for NaNoWriMo will be different for everyone.

Here are some of my ideas on what to do with what you write.

  • It can be the basis for a book.
  • You could have 1000 words per week for your blog for a whole year and then you would get fifty blog posts of 1000 words each.
  • Your writing could become the basis for a course outline that you want to teach which may be a speciality topic that you inside out.
  • It could be content creation for any creative project. For example, if you are writing for other people, or ghostwriting, you can get your ideas down in 50,000 words.
  • You could have fifty 1000-word (or thirty 1667-word) scripts for YouTube videos if you are a YouTuber.
  • You might write fifty 1000-word (or thirty 1667-word) short stories or short story outlines. If you are artistic you may wish to go on and illustrate these as well.

Why Do NaNoWriMo

When you consistently write every day, and you push yourself to 1667 words, it builds the habit of writing.

This ritual will benefit you for the rest of your life because once you see what you can achieve during November you realize you have so much more inside you.

These revelations come to yourself as you see what you can achieve.

You can write 1667 words today and you can put 50,000 words down in November which could be a turning point for you and your creative journey.

My Experience with NaNoWriMo

I have tried NaNoWriMo three times in the past.

First Attempt

The first time was years ago when I thought I was going to write a novel. I quickly discovered that a novel isn’t my thing. They say everyone has a Great American Novel in them, well, I don’t think I do because writing a novel just didn’t keep my interest.

Second Attempt

The second time I attempted NaNoWriMo I was writing a new age book and although I got off to a good start, after about seven days, I just couldn’t keep up with the word count and I let it go.

In the time after my abortive NaNoWriMo attempt I did complete that book, but it took an awful long time (years) to get the basics down.

I often think that if I’d stuck to NaNoWriMo I would have forced myself to have all the basics that I needed for the structure of the book.

Third Attempt

The third time I attempted NaNoWriMo I was all caught up in all the social media aspect of it.

I saw that people were posting and saying, “I did 1500 words” or “I did 1200 words today” or “I’m on track for NaNoWriMo” and, “by day five you should have XYZ in number of words and I’m there.”

Many people were making it, but I found I still couldn’t keep it up every single day.

I slowly slipped behind on the word count and I let it go.

But this year I’m getting organized to write NaNoWriMo.

Planning NaNoWriMo for This Year

I’m writing this in July because I’m already thinking about what I’d like to achieve during NaNoWriMo in November which is still five months away.

I know that being prepared properly is what’s probably going to get me through.

There are several steps I’m planning out and I’m going to list them now.

What I’m Writing – 30 Blogs

I shall write thirty blog posts of 1667 words each, so that would be one blog post per day in November.

My decision is to write thirty blog posts of 1667 words each for following year.

I’m going to do thirty separate blog posts which will certainly set me up for what I need to provide me with lots of content going into the New Year.

After NaNoWriMo, and during this December, I can polish the posts.

My first completed blog post will be published in the first week in January.

Word Document Setup

I will set up the thirty Word documents on my computer beforehand and have them ready to go.

Each Word document will include the date in November and the blog title all set for me to start typing immediately on November the 1st.

New Journal

I also have a new journal, I love journals, which I’m dedicating to NaNoWriMo this year.

In my NaNoWriMo journal I am making notes about the content.

If I do thirty individual topics, I need thirty titles for each of the blog posts.

Then I will know each morning when I wake up what my daily title is and what I’m supposed to be writing about that day.

I don’t want to be sitting at my keyboard thinking, “Gosh what shall I write about? I know, let me make some coffee and do the laundry” and not getting the words on the page.

Although I’m not writing any words before November, I am planning what I’m going to be writing about.

Artwork for Each Blog

Because I am a creative and not just a writer, I do like to do art which is what the website is about.

For my NaNoWriMo journal I require a book with at least thirty full double-page spreads one spread for each day of November on which I can do an art piece related to the blog post.

This means the book must have at least 60 pages if not more.

Daily Reflection

I’m also planning to have a daily review at the end of each day.

I envisage my daily review as a place where I can write one or two sentences about how the writing went.

Because I do believe that some days, I won’t be able to do any writing at all and that being the case, I would either have to catch up over the next few days or get ahead beforehand, so that I can afford to take a day off if I have to.

I don’t want to limit myself to 1667 words per day and, certainly, if I can get ahead in the beginning that will help because I do tend to flag mid-month.

I feel that having a reflection in the evening in my journal jotting down a few sentences will help me realize what I’m trying to do and why I’m trying to win at NaNoWriMo.

My NaNoWriMo Page Template

This diagram shows the layout of my journal pages for my NaNoWriMo writing this year.

I always start on a double spread page.

NaNoWriMo template

Left-hand Page

On the left-hand page, I will draw the artwork that goes with the post.

Right-hand Page

The first right-hand page will be divided in a particular way.

Top

At the top is the working title, subtitle and then the paragraphs below.

Sidebar

On the right-hand sidebar is an area where I can make notes about items which I need to mention such as:

  • People’s names.
  • Specific concepts I want to make sure that I’m stating.
  • The highlights about the actual blog post.
  • Links to websites or to an artist where I reference their work.
  • I may need to make sure that everything is tabulated, and accreditation goes to those who I’m talking about. For instance, if I reference a Picasso painting, I will put a link to Picasso on his Wikipedia page or something like that. Or if I reference neurographic art I may put a link to some of my YouTube videos about this topic.
  • Tags, links and hashtags will all go in the right-hand sidebar on the first page, so I know immediately what the post is about.

Main Body

The body of the writing will be on the right-hand page in the wide left column.

I will set out my journal ahead of time because I do enjoy handwriting although I may ultimately put it all into Word.

I will write in Word to get the correct word count, and this might sound like double duty, but I do believe that being properly prepared will help me.

Footer

The bottom footer area is for reflection and evening review about how I felt the day went.

I want to reflect on this writing journey.

Notes

If I don’t manage to finish in November, I will still have all my notes in my journal about what I was getting into.

I can continue into December, if necessary, but I hope that it won’t come to that.

What to Write – Ideas

I want to share my plans for NaNoWriMo with you so that you might give some consideration to getting started with some writing project of your own this year.

Memoir

You may want to do a memoir for your family. A family record is something I’ve been toying with as my daughters are saying, “Hey tell us about the old days, were you in the war?”

I mean how old are they think I am?

Recipe Book

Perhaps you want to do a recipe book or perhaps you want to talk about gardening these are topics that interest me.

I may or may not want to at one point write about those things this year.

My focus is writing about developing creativity specifically in women over the age of 60 in the third age.

I am just sharing this with you.

If you feel typing is not your thing or tapping on the keyboard is not your thing or you don’t even know how to use Word, then pick up a pen.

You can still get yourself a journal and start writing and planning out what it is you want to share and what you really want to leave behind.

Legacy

This might be the year when you write your life story for your future generations which can be shared with your children, grandchildren and the rest who come behind you.

You have a lot to offer.

We are moving in a digital world and many of the young folk don’t know anything about it.

You might want to share that.

I’ll talk more about documenting your legacy in another video.

Self-care

I’m not going to beat myself up if I don’t manage to write 50,000 words in November.

I would love to complete this and I’m getting as prepared as I can to do NaNoWriMo and I plan to do it, but I will not mentally harangue myself if I do not complete the challenge.

Additionally, I will not consider myself a failure if I don’t make it.

However, I will certainly consider myself a success if I do win at NaNoWriMo.

Hashtags

Use the hashtag #AHANaNoWriMo so we can see what work you are doing with our template.

I’d love to see what you create.

Love,

Alison

Aspiring Artist Activity

In your art journal (or your special NaNoWriMo journal) please do the following:

Topics

  • Over a two-page spread on the left-hand page, write the dates from November 1st to 15th in the margin. On the right-hand page, write the dates November 16th to 30th.
  • Think about what type of writing project you want to complete in NaNoWriMo.
  • Between now and November write in the working titles of the writing project you plan. If it is a novel, write titles for each chapter or if it is for blog posts write the titles for each blog.

Templates

  • On the next two-page spread draw out the template and write the date as November 1st.
  • Leave the next two-page spread empty for the overflow words from November 1st.
  • Continue drawing the template on every other two-page spread for each day in November.

Now you are all set up to win at NaNoWriMo this year.

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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Creative Projects for Aspiring Artists

Creative Projects for Aspiring Artists

by | Aspiring Artist

Author: Alison Hazel, Original post: January 2022, Latest update: January 2024.

Creative Projects

Allow me to share with you how I manage my creative projects as an aspiring artist. I believe that being an artist, or an aspiring artist, or even a reluctant artist is a natural way to be. Maybe you were brought up to view art as fluff and something that kids do.

Or perhaps you were programmed by your early home environment to believe that to be an artist is not a real job. Personally, I was good at art at school and I had my first artwork exhibited at the tender age of nine in the local town library’s gallery.  At high school, as I scraped through maths, science and English literature I still excelled at art.

Yet I did nothing with it…

I could always draw and doodle.

The Middle Years

After school I found a job in an office, got married and had four hungry children, here I want to say, “…and a crop in the field…” My life was busy with family, family, family. Only when my youngest daughter left home in 2019, and my husband passed away, did I have time for myself.

I turned to art and signed up for a one-day Art Retreat at the Luminous Elephant art studio in Vancouver. At this time I began sketching privately and then joined the Vancouver Urban Sketchers  group and went to a few meetings.

Alison Hazel Art

I created this website to showcase my sketches and named it Alison Hazel Art. To start with I hesitated to use the word “Art” in the title. I mean, don’t artists have degrees from prestigious universities and certificate and all that? Who was I as a mature housewife type of scribbler to call myself anything “Art” but, I reasoned that I was an aspiring artist and I am on an artistic journey. My path to become an artist is different to yours and the art I create is different to yours, but it is my journey and I’m walking this road.

Improvement

I hope to get better over time. In the past two years I’ve accumulated some markers, watercolour paint, pencil crayons, acrylic paints from my daughter’s school leftovers, ink and pens.

Perpetual Nature Journal

In May 2022 I happened upon the Daily Nature Journal channel on YouTube and my direction shifted. Starting a perpetual nature journal I began to relish journaling. Discovering International Nature Journaling week (which is every June 1st to 7th) was another sign, I mean, who knew?

Recently

I wonder what I will do next. I have some ideas about personal energy management as I do seem to get tired easily these days.

Projects

I like to have projects on the go and the main reason to have projects is that it is good to have something to get out of bed for every day.

Journals

I began with Morning Pages like Julia Cameron earlier this year and I decided my Morning Pages needed their own journal. I discovered that, as I had so many interests, I preferred to have a variety of journals. I’ve subsequently moved onto multiple journals.

Now, I have a journal for:

  • General life with a yellow cover.
  • A family memoir with a taupe cover.
  • A grimoire with a dark ocean blue cover.
  • An art journal with a sage green cover.
  • A crochet journal with a Wedgewood blue cover and a crocheted cover.
  • A perpetual nature journal with a black cover.

Sketchbooks

After struggling along with one A5 sketchbook where everthing went in, I decided that to have more than one sketchbook is a better plan and this works well for me.

Now I have sketchbooks for:

  • Field sketches size A6.
  • Field sketches size A5.
  • Watercolour size A5.
  • Grey toned paper size A5.
  • Beige toned paper size A5.
  • Black paper size A4.
  • Handmade paper which is 10cm square.

I do prefer smaller sketchbooks like A6 and A5 rather than the bigger A3 and A2 sized ones. This may be because I like to finish each artwork in one day and I can do that better with a pocket sketchbook. In a way, my art supplies seem to be breeding all by themselves.

Explore more >>> Art Supplies I Use

Quarterly or Seasonal Projects

A quarter of the year is three months or around just under 100 days. Quarters can be related to the seasons as well Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. When you divide the year into four segments it provides you with a good chunk of time to get something worthwhile done.

Some ideas for quarterly projects which I’m toying with are:

  • Making a large painting.
  • Creating an online course that I can teach.
  • Planning and organizing a weekend art retreat.
  • Writing or designing a book.

 

Monthly Projects

Mid-size project are my monthly projects.

In this section my creative projects maybe:

 

Weekly Projects

Small quick projects which can be easily completed in a day or two are my weekly projects.

In this category my projects could be activities such as:

  • Recording a weekly video for YouTube.
  • Writing a weekly blog post for my website (like this).
  • Creating a simple drawing or painting.
  • Shopping for art supplies.
  • Swatching my paints, coloured pencils or inks.
  • Tiding up and organizing my creator studio.
  • Attending a weekend art retreat.
  • Going to an urban sketching meetup.
  • Planning an art date with my daughters.
  • Visiting an art gallery in my city.
  • Going to the beach to sketch.

The idea is to have three different projects on the go at any one time and these are a large one, a midsized one and a small one. It is enjoyable to be able to chop and change between three different ongoing projects.

Quarterly, monthly and weekly projects provide me with creative choices depending on my mood. I don’t always have the energy for intense creation for an extended period.

If I’m honest, this is the reason I believe I, and you, will benefit from having a variety of projects on the go at once. Let me know what you think.

Pin this image to your Pinterest board.

Aspiring Artist Activity

This activity is to help you sort out your thoughts and feeklings about the direction you want your art life to go.

In your art journal and, thinking about what you would like to try on your art journey, please do the following:

List

  • List three large substantial quarterly projects.
  • List three medium sized monthly projects.
  • List three shorter weekly projects.

Start

  • Choose one from each time frame and start.

In this way you will have three different projects to get your teeth into.

Now you will have a variety of activities to keep you going and you can start to plan the next trio of projects as well.

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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Sketchbook – Orchid with Colored Pencils

Sketchbook – Orchid with Colored Pencils

by | Art for Self-care

Intro

On Mother’s Day I was fortunate enough to receive this beautiful orchid from my daughters. It was totally unexpected as I’ve never owned an orchid before.

I decided to do a sketchbook drawing of this orchid as it had such an interesting form.

Border

I drew a border around the page and with the 2H pencil sketched out the main lines of the orchid.

This is called a waterfall orchid and it’s actually supported with a plastic structure to keep its delicate shape.

I positioned the pot slightly to the left so I could have the full cascade of the waterfall petals of the orchid in the top part of the page.

I then went over it with a Sakura Pigma Micron 0.3mm black pen and firmed up the lines.

Next, I erased all the pencil marks and ran over the page with a kneadable eraser to lift up all the loose graphite.

Colored Pencils

Actually I chose a selection of colours of coloured pencils from my pencil stash.

I’m using the Faber Castell polychromos crayons and the colours are middle purple, pink rose Carmine pink madder lake, dark Naples ochre, olive green yellowish and chromium green opaque.

The main colours for this drawing are the pink of the flower with the yellow centre and the green of the leaves on the stem.

I started with the lightest pink, pink madder lake and drew some light lines coming out from the centre of the large petals.

I then took the next deeper pink and filled in the blobs that really look like a face. I do not know the names of these parts of the plant.

Finally, I took the darkest pink to do the two sort of horn bits that are sticking out which is where I understand that the insects land when they’re collecting the pollen and nectar.

I then turned my attention to the leaves and using the two shades of green I coloured them in trying to put the darker shade on the lower side of the leaves or the underside of any shaded areas.

The Pot

The pot is interesting with diamond shapes in it shown in the way it caught the light.

I just wanted to give an idea of the shape and not give all the detail, so I used a beige pen here.

I continued building up the petals working from the center outwards adding more depth of colour on some of the closeups you could see that the one bloom was facing the other way and therefore it was much darker behind then the petals that are shown at the front.

I drew a horizontal line to stabilize the plant on some kind of surface and shaded in the table with pinks and I shaded the background in a light beige.

Plant Meaning

I have a fabulous book called The Secret Language of Flowers by Samantha Gray which I use when I’m looking at my flower meanings.

It turns out that orchid has several meanings of which some are beauty, mature charm, love, refinement, thoughtfulness and many children.

On the left hand page I drew a box and wrote the plant name and chose one of the meanings which was beauty as I felt it was the strongest meaning for this specimen.

Signing the Artwork

I put my art initials AHA for Alison Hazel Art in the bottom right-hand corner in the same pen I used for the black lines.

Finally, I dated it with May 2022.

Completed Artwork

I’m really happy with how this sketch came out.

I learned that there are quite a lot of intricacies within the flower itself.

Also on the one bloom on the top left for some reason I only had four petals on it and at the last moment I added the fifth petal as I realized it was missing.

I continued to add depth of colour from the pink on the underlying petals to make them recede so that the two main petals, which were lighter, could come forward.

I’m really very happy the way this sketch came out and it’s a great addition to my sketchbook.

Aspiring Artist Activity

Take a flower that you have either in your house or some flowers you bring in from outside.
  • Sketch one or two blooms. You will probably need some greens and then perhaps two or three of the main colour in crayons.
  • Start with a pencil sketch make sure you have a border and make sure you have a horizon.
  • Colour in your plant until you’re happy with it.
  • This should be a fun project.
  • If possible, find out the meaning of the flowers which you have drawn and write a note on the left hand page.

Sharing

You can share your completed artworks with the #ahasketchbook so we can all see what you have drawn.

Thank you so much for being with me today.

Warmly,

Alison

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by | Art for Self-care

Author: Alison Hazel   –   Published: June 2022

Inspiration

As a part of working on my nature journal, last weekend I went down to the beach at the coast in Vancouver. I was there last week but this week I walked further round the promenade and came across the massive inukshuk.

An inukshuk is a figure made of piled stones or boulders constructed to communicate with humans throughout Northern Canada and the Arctic and the arms point the way. The inuksuk may historically have been used for navigation, as a point of reference, a marker for travel routes, fishing places, camps, hunting grounds, places of veneration or to mark a food cache. The inukshuk in Vancouver was designed by Alvin Kanak.

Although it’s not technically a nature sketch, it certainly is outdoorsy enough for me to want to add it to my nature journal. The grey granite rocks themselves were remarkable from which this sculpture was made.

Process

I packed my little travel sketch bag with a sketchbook two pencils and an eraser. I made sure I had my phone so I could take photographs. I also loaded my Starbucks card so I could get a coffee beforehand. I had my hat and sunglasses and off I went.

I also took my transit pass which is critical for bus rides in Vancouver. I caught the bus down Davie Street to English Bay alighting at Denman Street. From there I walked back along the promenade.

The inukshuk is slightly further down from where I was the previous week when I was drawing the Canada Geese and you can check out that video here. And by the way, I noticed there’s this massive barge that beached itself about 100 meters further south from the inukshuk position. I’ll probably go and do that sketch next time so do lookout for that.

inukshuk-vancouver

Field Sketch

I took my little field notebook with me and a 2H and a 2B pencil as well but I didn’t use it. 

Inukshuk East Face

I decided to sketch the inukshuk monument from the front which is facing west so the ocean is behind it. This is generally the virw most people see as they come down the promenade at the waterfront.

inukshuk-east-face

Inukshuk South Face

I then moved around so that I was looking at the south face of the monument but facing north. I decided to draw this side view as well which really doesn’t show you much at all.

You can’t tell by this drawing whether this is an inukshuk or not, but the rocks were super interesting. I knew I wanted to create a pen and ink and grayscale ink drawing, so this was the perfect subject.

inukshuk-south-face

Inukshuk West Face

I went around to the back of it facing inland. This is the west view that you would see if you were on a ship coming into the harbor. I drew the west face of this sculpture which you can see here. 

inukshuk-west-face

Inukshuk North Face

Finally, I moved round to the north facing side (looking south) of the sculpture and drew again the very vertical slimness of this sculpture.

inukshuk-north-face

Photographs

In all I did four full sketches trying to pay close attention to the stone, to the shading under the massive blocks to understanding how these rocks are formed. This time I made sure to take photographs of each of these sides of the sculpture so that I have them when I go home as reference photos.

In the past I’ve been reminiscent doing this and I’ve ended up getting home and not quite having all the images I needed. I also took quite a bit of B-roll video to show you exactly where the sea is. We are right on the coast and that the inukshuk is quite a huge tourist attraction as well.

Studio Sketch

The next day, back in my studio, I got out my sketchbook and lightly sketched out the main image that I wanted to do for this inukshuk. My plan is to draw it in pencil then then pen lines and then use black ink to wash for the grey scales on these stones.

Pencil Sketch

I took a bit of time laying out this drawing because although it’s basically just stones, it was important to get it right because the boulders balance on each other. I spent quite a bit of time doing that and I also put edges on some of the chamfered sides of these massive stones.

I added a little bit of the garden below the sculpture to give it some context and form within the page. I then decided to add the sea behind it, because it basically is a naturescape and that’s what I’m going for here.

inukshuk-pencil-sketch

Black Outlines

I took my 0.3mm black pen and went over the main outside lines of this drawing. I took my time here and tried to get it as accurate as I could as this will form the structure of this drawing.

When I was happy with the outlines, I took an eraser and removed all of the pencil lines. You must eliminate the pencil lines because once you put the ink wash on it can’t be removed.

inukshuk-black-outlines

Ink Wash

I use Winsor and Newton black Indian ink which is both permanent and waterproof. In my palette I’ve got the main black ink in the one well and then the well below has water.

I’m trying to mix it two parts water to one part ink, so one drop of ink to two drops of water to make a light grey. I go down thinning and thinning and filling the wells until I’ve got the very lightest grey at the bottom.

My plan here is to put the lightest ink on the page first and then work up to the darker inks. The reason you want to do the lighter inks first is because ink is unforgiving, and you cannot lighten afterwards but you can always darken. This is something I’ve learned so there’s a tip for you.

inukshuk-ink-wash

Mid Grey

I moved onto my next lightest grey and added some shades and shadows to the stonework. I continued on slowly and carefully building up the grey stone to the darkest shadows. I didn’t use plain black on these deep shadows. I diluted dark grey from the black ink.

inukshuk-mid-grey

Dark Grey

Between each of the different shades of grey I let the ink dry thoroughly. I made sure to have a very thin paintbrush because I did want to have good control over the ink on this drawing. In the past the ink has run away from me and I was trying to avoid that.

inukshuk-dark-grey

Gardens

To colour in the greenery in the gardens below this statue, I mixed some super light grey. I painted some of the bushes with this colour. For the shade under I added an absolute dash of black to give a darker colour to these bushes.

The Sea and Sky

For the sea I took even lighter grey and watered it down to give a light wash depicting the sea. I left the very pale sky as the white paper.

Black Pen

I went back over and added some extra black pen where I felt it was required it just to sharpen up the image. I signed it in the bottom right-hand corner with the pen. I was using watercolor paper, however, it still did buckle, so I will put it under some heavy books to flatten it out.

Vancouver Nature Map

I created my Vancouver Nature Map to show where I was when I made the sketches in my Perpetual Nature Journal. This time I was further down the coast from the Canada Geese from last time. In time, I hope It becomes a record of my nature journaling in my local area.

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.

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Painting My Flower Press Cover – Ink Art

Painting My Flower Press Cover – Ink Art

by | Art for Self-care

Author: Alison Hazel   –   Published: June 2022

Inspiration

In the first week of May I discovered the YouTube channel Daily Nature Journal and I was inspired to start a nature journal. Alex showed some pressed flowers that he was using in his nature journal and I was so interested, I decided to order a flower press for myself from Amazon. I plan to keep my flower press for years and eventually hand it down to my daughters as a family heirloom.

Unboxing Flower Press

I chose a flower press from Berstuk.co.uk. This flower press is made with plywood, not compressed chip board, and brass bolts not mild steel (which will eventually rust) brass does not rust. You can get the same flower press which I purchased on this LINK.

The flower press came in a box, with instructions and included all the bolts, wing nuts and washers you need. There is a front wooden panel with a flower outline painted on and a plain back panel. You also get cardboard and blotting paper cut to size with chamfered corners.

How to Use a Flower Press

This flower press comes with cardboard and blotting paper. You make a sandwich of cardboard, blotting paper, flowers, blotting paper, cardboard and repeat. You can have multiple sandwiches in the press. I hope to start pressing flowers soon.

Ink Colors

The colored inks I’m using are from Windsor and Newton. I recently got these inks and I’m enjoying learning to work with them.

Green

The apple green is quite bright and needs to be toned down with a little yellow.

Yellow

I chose canary yellow and this is used to mellow the green for the leaves. I also used the yellow for the centre of the flowers.

Red

The red is called deep red. I thin the red down to make it more pink.

Gold

I so often use gold in my artworks that it seemed quite natural to do so here as well. Although I had not thought of doing so until the end.

Process

First, I wiped the front panel with a damp kitchen towel to remove and dust or sawdust. Starting with the green I thinned it with water three to one and added a little yellow. This makes an olive green. I painted this on one side of a few leaves.

Next, I mixed more green and yellow and the second mix is slightly different to the first mix. I continue to paint the leaves with a few green and yellow mixes. I painted the center of the flower with yellow.

For the petals I took intense red and watered it down a little differently for each petal to give the flower some depth. Finally, I added a dash of gold ink here and there for highlights.

Heirloom

I let it dry overnight. I may varnish it later. I plan to keep it in the family like a family heirloom and pass it along to my daughters for their pleasure.

Aspiring Artist Activity

When you get your flower press paint the cover as follows:

  • Mix green and yellow ink for the leaves.
  • Mix yellow for the inside of the bloom.
  • Mix a tihn pink for the flower petals.
  • Add a touch of gold to bring your flower press to life.

Share

Share your completed flower press cover with the hashtag #AHAflowerpress so we can all see what you have created.

 

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.

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Perpetual Nature Journal – Canada Geese – Ink

Perpetual Nature Journal – Canada Geese – Ink

by | Art for Self-care

This week I went to the beach where the protected waters of English Bay laps desultorily at the coast in Vancouver. 

Just behind the foreshore and promenade is a well manicured strip of parkland comprising grass and flowers to enhance the nature beauty of the area. 

It is here that the Canada geese gather or is that flock? 

How many do you need for a flock?

Field Sketchbook

I had my travel field notes sketch journal and a pencil and the. 

The plan was to draw the sea, but I did quite a few sketches of the geese. 

Here they are swimming in the sea.

I’m not very good at drawing people and animals,so I thought it would be a challenge to sketch some geese for my new perpetual nature journal. 

In ink

Here are some pencil sketches I did on location at English Bay in Vancouver. 

Studio Sketch

Next, when I got home,I looked at more free images from the web of geese. 

I sat down in my creator studio and attempted to draw the geese again.

I tried to sketch a few poses. 

After three attempts I did one in my perpetual nature journal. 

Pencil Sketch

First the pencil sketch. I’m using a 2H hard pencil and drawing lightly. 

The back feathers have a beige look with white curved edges.

I tried to replicate this with my pen.

Pen

Next I went over the outlines with a black pen. 

It is the Faber Castell Pitt Artist pen in a 0.1mm nib. 

Black Ink

Then it got out my black waterproof Indian ink from Windsor and Newton.

I painted the neck, beak and legs making sure to keep the cheeks white. The legs have knobbly knees and duck feet.

Gold Ink

As I wanted to try out my gold ink, and I do love a bit of bling on my artworks. 

With a very thin brush I painted the back feathers in with shimmer.

Yellow Ink

For the soft underbelly I wanted a light taupe beige. 

I’d decided to water down some canary yellow ink with a minuscule dash of black.  

This was very thin and created a light beige.

I painted the underside of the fowl to add some dimension to the body.

Green Ink

For the background grass I blended apple green ink with sunshine yellow and thinned it with water.

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Naming the Birds

I wrote the Latin name for these birds Branta canadensis underneath and also Canada Geese.

Vancouver Nature Map

On a separate piece of paper I drew the map of Vancouver and the surrounding 10km where I live. 

The plan is to add a little icon of each Natur Journal sketch on the map in the place where I drew the image.

This will grow in the future as I really get into nature journaling.

Finished Artwork

I really enjoyed creating this nature drawing in ink in my Perpetual Nature Journal.

I’ve only started nature journaling earlier this month and so far I’m loving it.

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Perpetual Nature Journal 🌱 Setup and Cover Page

Perpetual Nature Journal 🌱 Setup and Cover Page

by | Art for Self-care

Inspiration

The idea of having a Perpetual Nature Journal which is different to a normal nature journal is that rather than starting at the front and working towards the back, depending on where I went and what I saw, I will be focusing on one or two nature features each month.

Then I can revisit the month next year at the same time.

You can start a Perpetual Nature Journal at any time of the year.

I’m starting mine in May 2022 and therefore my first entries will be in the May spread.

I won’t be filling the whole page I’ll just add one or two items in this month’s spread and then move on to June, July and August.

Later, when May comes around next year, I can come back to the May spreads and add something else.

Monthly Divisions

I decided to create a Perpetual nature journal which is one that goes on and on year after year.

I happened to have this sketchbook on my shelf which I had not used.

It is Fabriano with forty-eight pages which gives us twenty-four spreads well actually twenty-three whole spreads and two half spreads, with one half spread at the front, and one at the end.

I decided to give each month of the year, from January to November two spreads and December has one and a half spreads.

A spread is an open two pages.

I counted through and put little tabs out where each new month begins.

Philosophy

I chose to work this way for two reasons.

The first is because I watched the artist Minnie Small where she says in her sketchbooks she doesn’t start at the beginning and work to the end, instead she opens the journal at a random page and does a sketch in it there and then.

In this way when you do flip through the actual sketchbook there’s not this concentrated development of your style.

Instead, each drawing is randomly nestled in amongst everything else you’ve ever done.

In this way it’s a more a cohesive look at the type of work you’re creating as an artist.

Secondly, I took inspiration from Alex Boon of The Daily Nature Journal who has a beautiful nature journal, sourcing content from his local area, which I wanted to try for myself.

After I divided the journal the way I wanted it, with spreads for each month, I then turned my attention to the inside cover page.

Cover Page Design

I spent many days working out:

  • Whether I wanted to try nature journaling in the first place, and if so, how was I going to set up a journal?
  • Did I need to get another journal or not?
  • I didn’t want to buy anymore art supplies, so I dug around and found a Fabriano sketchbook which had not been used.

Naming the Journal

I thought that I wanted to call it “Nature Journal” (with the vanishing point on the word nature.)

To start with I did a sketch on my iPad with Procreate to lay out what I was thinking of as many ideas were percolating in my head.

I created this quick design just using a pencil brush in Procreate.

This is what I’m going to use as the guide for my Perpetual nature journal inside cover page.

Pencil Sketch

In my nature journal I drew some guidelines and wrote out the words “Nature” and “Journal” first lightly with a 2H pencil.

Then I went over with an ink pen which I think is the Faber Castell Artist Pitt pen 0.5mm, but you can use what you have at hand.

Pencil Crayon

I use Faber Castell Polychromas colored pencils.

I chose to color the two greens, because it’s nature.

The word “Nature” is a green called Olive Green Yellowish, and the word “Journal” is Juniper Green.

I did think afterwards I could have used markers, which would have made it a more vibrant cover page, and I may develop it into richer colors later.

Border

Then I turned to the border and decided to draw a 10mm, or half an inch, border around the page.

I just did this freehand and then I colored that in as well in the darker green.

It’s at this point I realized I hadn’t got the word “Perpetual” in, so I drew a couple of light guidelines and wrote the word “Perpetual” at the top.

Now it reads “Perpetual Nature Journal.”

On a side note, I lined up the word “Perpetual” to start in line with the left of the word “Nature” and its top to the “e” at the end of “Nature.”

In this way I believe it’s balanced within the page and aesthetically appealing.

I then went over the word “Perpetual” with a pen as well and finally erased all the pencil lines.

Completed

This is where my cover page is now.

I do envisage adding bits and pieces as I draw more stuff during the month.

I will add more to the front page, but at this point I just wanted to get it sorted out, so I could begin to use my Perpetual Nature Journal.

Reflection

I’ve never had a nature journal before and I think it’s going to be interesting book to work on.

It’s another sketchbook in my growing shelf of sketchbooks, as I’ve come to realize that one sketchbook is not the answer, because you do benefit from having multiple sketchbooks, and I’ll be doing a video about that soon.

I love the idea of the Perpetual-ness of this type of sketch book.

Let me know, in the comments below, if you have a Perpetual Nature Journal and how you lay it out or even whether you keep a Perpetual Journal or a Nature Journal or a Perpetual Anything journal.

I’d love to hear.

Love,

Alison

Aspiring Artist Activity – Create Your Perpetual Nature Journal 🌱

Create your own Perpetual Nature Journal which in time, will become a treasured family keepsake that you can share with your children and grandchildren.

  • Find a blank sketchbook with at least 12 spreads (one for each month of the year.)
  • Label each month lightly in pencil or with a Post-it note.
  • Create some inner cover art with the words, “Perpetual Nature Journal.”
  • Find the current month and draw something found from nature in your garden or local area. This could be flowers, leaves, berries, birds or insects.
  • Continue each month to add a small sketch or painting to your Perpetual Nature Journal.
Grid Art Journal Page Setup

Grid Art Journal Page Setup

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Grid Art Journal Page Setup and Flip Through This time I'm sharing with you some of the types of things that I've been putting in my grod art journal pages, as a hobby artist. I believe this will inspire you to get started. I'll show you how to set up a grid art...

Seasons of Art: Spring

Seasons of Art: Spring

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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...

Sketchbook African Violet Ink Wash

Sketchbook African Violet Ink Wash

by | Art for Self-care

Sketching

This weekend I had planned to go to the beach.

It’s a short bus ride from my home and very pleasant to spend time there on one of my precious days off.

Unfortunately, it continued to rain which seemed to be set in for the whole day.

My original idea was to go to the coast and do some sketching of the shore, the seaside, and seascapes.

I’m particularly interested in the pebbles and what is brought up on the beach by the high tide.

Objects such as shells and seaweed are always interesting things to draw.

However, I decided to stay at home because of the incessant downpour.

African Violet

I have a little African Violet plant that I received around Christmas when it was first in bloom.

I’ve managed to keep this plant alive and even though the first flowers faded and went.

Now five months later in May I finally have the second bloom of glorious violet flowers.

The houseplant is quite a bit bigger now and the petals are larger and more prolific.

I decided that this little plant would be my nature sketch for today which I will do at home in my creator studio.

Not being able to visit the beach to do some sketching this weekend home sketching is the compromise.

Border

In my Leuchtturm A5 sketchbook, I start with a border on my page, even if I don’t stick to it, because it does help to align the image.

Pencil Sketch

Using a 2H pencil I sketched lightly to layout the subject and ensure that the main petals were slightly off center in my composition.

I added a few of the leaves for balance and drew some of them over the border which I thought would be an interesting thing to do.

Black Pen

I went over the sketch with a Faber Castell Artist Pitt 0.3mm pen in black and firmed up the shapes and main details of the plant.

Although the petals are smooth and don’t have much texture the leaves themselves are quite deeply veined.

Upon close inspection I realized how the curves were happening on these leaves even though they are quite furry leaves, they are still somewhat raised and pillow-like where the veins run.

I drew many of the veins on the leaves with the pen.

I could have drawn more leaves, but it seemed overwhelming and as there are plenty of leaves on the plant than there are flowers.

I didn’t want the greenery to overshadow the lovely purple blooms which are the main reason for the drawing in the first place.

Ink Wash

I had recently been watching a YouTube channel by Alex at The Daily Nature Journal about using botanical inks in his drawings and this inspired me to dig out some of my inks.

Not that I have botanical inks (not yet), I have normal inks, but I did have one bottle of Purple Mojo ink from Private Reserve ink company which I’ve had for years.

I dug out this old inkpot, shook it up and got out my palette.

I took a regular paint brush and dipped it in water first and put some water on my palette just a few drops because I was going to dilute the ink down.

It was serendipitous that I happened to have purple ink and I was drawing an African Violet. How convenient is that?

With a wet paintbrush I dipped into the ink and strained quite a bit of it off against the top of the bottle and then ran the ink into the water pool on my palette.

I mixed up the water and ink which dissolves immediately. The water thinned the ink down which is what I was going for.

Ink is not like paint where you must work the pigment, inks dilute rapidly.

To dry paper, I washed the purple ink onto my violet petals. I did end up with quite a few hard edges and thought that I perhaps could have wet the paper beforehand, but I kept going.

I painted a first light coat on all the petals and let it dry a little bit.

I applied a second coat of the same consistency of ink wash over the petals as well.

I let the second coat dry.

Finally, I came back with some stronger ink, straight out of the inkpot, and added a few dimensional shadows to the petals for interest.

I let the ink thoroughly dry before I moved on, but I have to say that with working with ink gets on all your fingers. It stains everywhere and I had to stop and do some washing up of my hands and the palette and brush before I went any further.

Markers

Ideally, I would have done the leaves in green ink, if I had any, but I didn’t, so I turned to my Faber Castell Pitt Artist Brush Pens.

I started running the Warm Grey I around the edges of the leaves because they are much lighter at the edges and I did that for all the leaves.

Next, I took my May Green 170 and colored in some of the main bodies of the leaves.

It’s quite a bright green, so I was a little scared of that, but it turned out well in the end.

The second green I used was called Earth Green 172 and with this I brought more shadows and was running along the edges of the veins and enhancing the puffiness of these leaves.

I tried to work quickly with these Faber Castell Artist Brush Pens because the longer you leave them on the page the darker the color will become.

I went round all the leaves adding the darker shadows to them.

The fourth colour I added to the leaves with a light Warm Grey I 270.

I used it to blend the edges which had the light cream out into the mid green.

I just softened the color down a bit as the leaves seemed a little bit like a hedera helix leaf which has lighter edges and African Violet leaves are really not white at all on the edges, they are just lighter.

I continued a little bit further with the Earth Green just adding finer points along the ridges of the veins on the leaves until I felt I was happy with the work.

The little middle parts of the flowers which are super bright yellow I just added a few dots of Cadmium Yellow 107 in there.

I could have left those areas slightly larger as they did seem to be overwhelmed and crowded out by the purple ink

Background

Finally, I added a light Ivory 103 into the main background of the drawing excluding the border.

I felt this soft color lifted the image slightly without overpowering the plant itself.

I had considered creating the background in yellow to highlight the golden bits in the middle of the petals, but I felt it would be too harsh on such a delicate drawing.

Conclusion

I’m quite pleased with how this sketch turned out.

It was a challenge to work with the ink because you really must work swiftly.

In future drawings I will probably consider combining perhaps a purple and a blue ink to get different colours or something like that.

I do have other inks but they are metallics like silver and gold.

I do not have a red, green or yellow ink which I think I might need to purchase soon.

So, does that signal another trip to my local art store? Yaay!

Have a creative day.

Love,

Alison

Aspiring Artist Activity

  • Create a simple sketch of a flower that you have in your home or garden.
  • Practice using inks and thin them down.
  • Try to use one or more colored inks on your drawing.
  • You may use markers, colored pencils or even watercolor for the rest.
  • Get creative.

Share

Show your work on social with the hashtag #AHAinkviolets, so we can see what you create.

Grid Art Journal Page Setup

Grid Art Journal Page Setup

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Grid Art Journal Page Setup and Flip Through This time I'm sharing with you some of the types of things that I've been putting in my grod art journal pages, as a hobby artist. I believe this will inspire you to get started. I'll show you how to set up a grid art...

Grid Art Journal Page Setup

Grid Art Journal Page Setup

by |

Grid Art Journal Page Setup and Flip Through This time I'm sharing with you some of the types of things that I've been putting in my grod art journal pages, as a hobby artist. I believe this will inspire you to get started. I'll show you how to set up a grid art...

Grid Art Journal Page Setup

Grid Art Journal Page Setup

by |

Grid Art Journal Page Setup and Flip Through This time I'm sharing with you some of the types of things that I've been putting in my grod art journal pages, as a hobby artist. I believe this will inspire you to get started. I'll show you how to set up a grid art...

How to Draw a Fibonacci Shell – Sketchbook Art

How to Draw a Fibonacci Shell – Sketchbook Art

by | Art for Self-care

Drawing The Fibonacci Shell

Fibonacci Sequence

I’ve always been interested in symbols and patterns and particularly the patterns found in nature. The work we are about to draw is one of those natural patterns that pops up all over the place.

The Fibonacci sequence is 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21… and continues. The numeric pattern is created when the previous two numbers are added together to make the third number. So, 1 + 1 = 2, 1 + 2 = 3, 2 + 3 = 5 and so on.

The Plant Kingdom

The Presence of Fibonacci Numbers in Nature

The Fibonacci sequence, a captivating mathematical pattern, manifests itself prominently in the natural world. One notable illustration of this sequence is observed in the intricate designs found in sunflower heads.

 

Sunflower Heads

Upon closer observation, the arrangement of seeds on the head of a sunflower reveals a remarkable adherence to the Fibonacci sequence. The seeds are organized in mesmerizing whorls that spiral out in a manner consistent with this numerical pattern.

 

Spiral Symmetry

The Fibonacci sequence is renowned for its characteristic spiral symmetry, and this phenomenon is vividly demonstrated in the sunflower’s seed distribution. The whorls expand outward in a mesmerizing spiral, following the numerical sequence with precision.

Mathematical Harmony in Nature

This natural manifestation of the Fibonacci sequence in sunflowers underscores the profound connection between mathematics and the organic world. The inherent order and harmony found in these patterns contribute to the aesthetic beauty and structural integrity of sunflower heads, showcasing the intricate design embedded in the fabric of nature.

 

Functional Significance

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the Fibonacci sequence in sunflower heads is believed to have functional significance. The arrangement optimizes the packing of seeds, ensuring efficient distribution and maximizing the sunflower’s reproductive potential. This mathematical precision serves as a testament to the evolutionary adaptations that enhance the plant’s survival and reproduction.

The prevalence of Fibonacci patterns in sunflowers extends beyond individual plants to impact broader ecosystem dynamics. As sunflowers play a vital role in various ecosystems, their adherence to mathematical principles influences the ecological interactions and relationships within their habitats.

The presence of the Fibonacci sequence in sunflowers also carries symbolic significance. It serves as a visual representation of order, balance, and mathematical elegance in the natural world, reinforcing the idea that mathematical principles underlie the beauty and functionality of diverse life forms.

 

Pineapple

Another example of the Fibonacci sequence in plants is found on a pineapple where knobby things cycle up one way with eight spirals and the other way with thirteen spirals called interlocking helices.

These are just examples of how the Fibonacci numbers come through in the plant world. In essence, the observation of Fibonacci numbers in sunflower heads and pineapples offers a captivating glimpse into the symbiotic relationship between mathematics and nature. It invites us to appreciate the precision and sophistication embedded in the seemingly simple aspects of the natural world, revealing the underlying harmony that governs the intricacies of life.

 

The Animal Kingdom

Nautilus Shell

A captivating illustration of the widespread occurrence of the Fibonacci sequence in the animal kingdom unfolds in the elegant spirals of the Nautilus shell. This seafaring creature, characterized by its distinctive shell, provides a striking example of mathematical precision as it meticulously follows the Fibonacci pattern in its growth and chamber arrangement.

The Nautilus, with its spiral shell, serves as a living testament to the intrinsic connection between mathematics and the natural world. Each chamber in the Nautilus shell expands in a precise sequence dictated by the Fibonacci numbers, resulting in a visually mesmerizing pattern that reflects the inherent order woven into the fabric of nature.

 

Personal Connection and Collection

I possess a small yet meaningful shell collection, prominently featuring a Nautilus shell. Acquired during a vacation in Mozambique, this particular specimen holds a special place in my collection.

The intricate chambers and the adherence to the Fibonacci sequence in its structure serve as a tangible reminder of the mathematical elegance present in even the smallest fragments of the natural realm.

 

Nautilus Shell

Artistic Inspiration

This Nautilus shell, residing in my collection, has become the muse for a captivating sketchbook piece that we embark upon together today. The delicate curves, precise spirals, and the harmonious proportions dictated by the Fibonacci sequence provide rich inspiration for an artistic exploration that bridges the realms of science and creativity.

 

Drawing the Nautilus Shell

Through this artistic endeavor, we delve into the symbiotic relationship between art and nature, allowing the Fibonacci-inspired sketch to capture the essence of the Nautilus shell’s beauty. This creative process not only celebrates the wonders of the natural world but also serves as a means to express the harmony and balance inherent in the mathematical principles echoed by the Nautilus.

The Nautilus shell’s adherence to the Fibonacci sequence extends beyond aesthetic beauty; it holds scientific significance. The mathematical precision observed in its growth pattern serves functional purposes, aiding in buoyancy control and optimal navigation through ocean depths.

Starting on this artistic journey inspired by the Nautilus shell invites us to explore the connections between mathematics, nature, and creative expression.

It is a celebration of the intricate beauty found in the animal kingdom and a testament to the awe-inspiring wonders that unfold when science and art intersect.

 

Supplies

I’m listing the art supplies I used to create this drawing, but I always urge you to use anything that you have at hand. You do not have to go out and get these supplies. You will probably have plenty of pens and papers in your home with which you can draw this sketch.

 

 

You Have What You Need

Don’t feel that you have to have all of this equipment and if you don’t you can’t do it. Use the supplies that you have to hand. You are an artist that’s why you are here. Get your stuff out and let’s get started.

 

Drawing the Grid

We are taking the two numbers five and eight from the Fibonacci sequence. We are going to draw a rectangle with that is eight blocks wide by five blocks deep. It will depend on the size of your paper, but in my sketchbook, I drew a rectangle that was actually 2 x 8 which is 16 centimeters wide and 2 x 5 which is 10 centimeters deep.

If you are using inches, it might be easier to draw your box 8 inches by 5 inches or any combination of those numbers. When you have your rectangle centred on your page it’s time to draw the grid. Divide your rectangle into eight columns wide and five rows deep.

Drawing the Blocks

Look at my diagram to see how to further divide up your blocks. On the left-hand side draw a thicker line after five columns. Now looking on the right-hand part, which is now 3 columns wide, draw a thicker line 3 rows down.

From the bottom right corner draw a thicker line two rows over and two rows up. Finally divide the last two into one cube each. Keep looking at the block diagram to make sure that you are dividing your rectangle into the squares correctly.

 

Drawing the Curves

When drawing the lines with your compass make sure to press lightly. You just want the line to be a guide we are not engraving on the page. The pencil I have in my compass is a 2H pencil. Make sure the tip of the compass point and the tip of the pencil are at the same place (when the compass is closed) before you start.

 

Steps

  • With your pencil compass place the point at the origin position shown by the red dot and draw two quarter circles over the one cube blocks.
  • Move your compass point to the origin position marked with the dot and draw a curve two blocks wide as shown.
  • Move your compass point to the third origin position shown and draw a curved line over three blocks.
  • Move your compass point into the final five block origin position and draw an arc five blocks wide as shown.

Number 1 Block

See below.

Number 2 Block

See below.

Number 3 Block

See below.

Number 5 Block

See below.

Dividing Into Segments

Now we are going to divide each of the number blocks one, two, three and five into segments (like an orange) to indicate the growth of the shell.

 

Number One Blocks

The number one blocks do not get divided as they are just one.

Number Two Blocks

The number two block division is from the origin point (where we put the compass in) draw a line at 45 degrees dividing the number two block into two segments.

Number Three Blocks

Considering the three blocks, place your protractor crosshairs at the origin point (where you put your compass point in) for the number three blocks, remember to reference the drawing.

We’re going to divide the number three block into three, so that will be 90-degrees divided by three will result in 30-degrees per segment. Make a light mark at 30-degrees from the horizontal and 60-degrees from the horizontal on your page. With a ruler, join the origin point for the number three blocks with the 30-degree and 60-degree mark lightly in pencil. Do not extend the line past the curve.

Number 5 Blocks

We are going to divide the number five blocks into five segments. Place your protractor cross hairs at the origin point for the number five block. To divide 90-degrees by five each segment will be 18-degrees wide. Counting up from the horizontal, make a light mark at 18-degrees and then one at 36-degrees (2 x 18 = 36). 

Next, counting left from the vertical, make a light mark at 18-degrees and one at 36-degrees. Take your ruler and lightly draw a line from the origin point to the marks you have just made. You will draw four lines here thus dividing the five block into five segments. Do not draw these lines past the curve of the shell.

 

Erase Marks

Lightly erase any pencil marks that are now unneeded and unnecessary before you start to color. I also used a kneadable eraser and lifted quite a bit of the graphite from the page just leaving faint lines there as a guide.

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Coloring the Shell

I chose to colour my Fibonacci shell in tones of yellow and the background in tones of blue. Yellow and blue is always a great color combination to use in artwork and you can see this to great effect in Van Gogh’s “Starry, Starry Night” painting.

Take your time as this is the fun part. Color in the background with different colors of blue. Relax and color in each little segment withing each block carefully. There will be many triangles and slivers of block now. Finally, I went over with a heavy black pen and redrew the curve of the Fibonacci shell and the artwork outline.

 

Completed

Voila, and there is your completed sketch. It is a fascinating shape as the Fibonacci shell continues to spiral outwards from the centre point. This shape resonates with us as it is part of the natural world.

 

What Not to Do

When I first started drawing the Fibonacci shell, I couldn’t get it quite right because it’s quite a tricky pattern. I tried several times, over a few days, to divide the shell because I wanted to you to see the striations and stripes on the shell which is how the actual Nautilus shell looks.

Now I’m going to show you my first few original efforts, so if for some reason you do make a botch, you will be happy knowing that it happens to everyone. 

These first two drawings are examples of what not to do when trying to draw the Fibonacci shell. The third one is correct.

 

fibonacci-shell

Save this pin to read later.

Below is the correct one.

Aspiring Artist Activity

In your sketchbook, please draw the Fibonacci shell by doing the following:

Aspiring Artist Activity

In your sketchbook, please draw the Fibonacci shell by doing the following:

 

  • Measure the blocks carefully.
  • Draw the curves carefully.
  • Divide the segments carefully.
  • Colour in and embellish your artwork as you see fit.

 

Share

Share your artworks on social with the hashtag #AHAFibonacci.

 

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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Monday’s Child Poem – Digital Art Time-lapse

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by | Art for Self-care

Reference

I am referencing Emma H Baldwin MFA Emily Carr university, Vancouver on the website PoemAnalysis.com where she says that this poem was first recorded by A.E. Bray’s Traditions of Devonshire published in 1838.

Thank you, Emma.

Monday’s Child Poem

Monday’s child is fair of face,

Tuesday’s child is full of grace,

Wednesday’s child is full of woe,

Thursday’s Child has far to go,

Friday’s Child is loving and giving,

Saturday’s Child worked hard for a living

And the child that is born on the Sabbath day

Is bonnie and blithe and good and gay.

Inspiration

When I was a young girl growing up in the 60s the poem Mondays Child everybody knew it.

We learned it along with all the other nursery rhymes of the day.

They say that things you learn when you are very young you can recall easily when you are older and this is very true.

Seven

I’ve always been fascinated with numbers and the number seven pops up in many areas the first one that comes to mind is the seven colours of the rainbow and of course the one we’re working with her the seven days of the week.

It seems that there are seven days in the week because it they are related the one month cycle of the Moon which is around 28 to 29 days.

Seven Days of the Week

We all know that there are seven days in the week I always understood that Sunday was the first day of the week and I certainly use my calendars in this format.

However, in Monday’s Child poem it starts on a Monday and builds up to the Sabbath which is Sunday.

What Day Were You Born On?

As a kid this poem had everyone scrambling to find out what day they were born on as some days are clearly more fun, or desirable, than others.

I was delighted to discover that I was born on a Tuesday which apparently makes me full of grace.

My father was born on a Saturday and yes, he did work hard for a living all of his life.

Creating the Monday’s Child Digital Artwork

Seven segments

First, I divided the page into seven segments by drawing three lines as follows:

  • The first line is from the bottom left up towards the top right.
  • The second line is from the bottom right up towards the top left.
  • The third line is middle left swooping down and then ending on middle right.

This creates a wobbly triangle in the middle.

I used the same method to divide the page on my neurographic art basics drawing.

Day’s Layout

I decided to layout each day starting from the top left for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thursday is in the middle space.

Then going back to the lower left for Friday.

Saturday is on the lower right.

Right at the center bottom is Sunday.

Monday

“Monday’s child is fair of face,”

To be fair of face implies that the child has an open and smiling countenance.

For this drawing I did a happy child waving and smiling.

Tuesday

“Tuesday’s child is full of grace,”

To be full of grace means that you move well have poise and balance.

For this drawing I did an ice skater twirling and looking elegant and graceful.

Wednesday

“Wednesday’s child is full of woe,”

To be full of woe means that you have troubles or cry a lot or have many challenges.

For this drawing, I drew a child having a meltdown, shedding a tear and being a little frustrated.

Thursday

“Thursday’s Child has far to go,”

To have far to go means that you either have a very long journey of life or you have a lot to accomplish this child is likely to keep going all the time. For this drawing I drew a kid with a backpack starting along a path that has a journey going over the mountain.

Here I think the journey is more important than the destination.

Friday

“Friday’s Child is loving and giving,”

To be loving and giving sounds like a perfect child.

It suggests the child gives back more than they receive and probably is grateful for everything they have including their family.

For this drawing I drew a child giving the gift of an artwork to their mother to stick on the fridge.

This child looks like they have the gift of giving which will benefit them throughout their life.

Saturday

“Saturday’s Child works hard for a living,”

To work hard for a living means what it says that a lot of effort is expended to earn the money to live on.

It suggests that this person may be a workaholic but has a great work ethic as well and they probably never take a sick day.

This child looks like they’re going to be busy with lots of activities in their life.

For this drawing I drew a child raking the leaves and working in the garden.

Sunday

“And the child that is born on the Sabbath day is bonnie and blithe, and good and gay.”

To be bonnie means to be attractive.

Being blithe suggests an easy going and somewhat casual indifference to life.

To be good and gay is someone who may be the life and soul of the party.

This child looks like they’re going to be easy-going and welcomed everywhere they go.

For this drawing I drew a happy welcoming and perhaps even stylish person who everybody loves.

Aspiring Artist Activity

The Monday’s Child poem would be a great addition to any child’s nursery.

You could create re-create this drawing on paper and hang it in a frame on the nursery or you could do a digital version as I did.

This would be a great artpiece to do with your children.

  • On a plain piece of paper draw three lines that result in a wobbly triangle in the middle and seven segments in all.
  • Starting on Monday write the words of the poem in the segment.
  • Draw a small artwork or doodle that reflects the meaning of these words as you see them.
  • Colour in and embellishments as you see fit.
  • Complete the other six days of the week.
  • Sign and date your artwork in the lower right-hand corner.
  • Frame and hang on the nursery wall.

Share

Share your completed artwork on social with the hashtag #AHAMondaysChild, or send me a copy and I’ll add it to the gallery at the bottom of this post.

Get this Artwork

I decided to put this artwork onto greetings cards and posters and if you’re interested you can get them at Redbubble on this link

Love,

Alison (Tuesday’s Child)

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