Sparks of inspiration September ’24
Some good things to share in September
The summer season is gradually drawing to a close, but I am still holding onto the sunny days and plentiful outdoor activities, including sketching outside.
I think end of summer is a perfect time to start slowly coming back to your regular routines, having a reassessment of your plans and goals and also starting something new and exciting in preparation for the darker months.
Here are some lovely things that inspired me recently:
Be inspired
In which I share profound realisation - Louise Fletcher. A very inspiring piece on finding your why and following your own threads.
Feeling into Your Art - Bibby Gignilliat - The Art2Life Podcast. I love Bibby’s art and she is a delightful person. Her journey of becoming a prolific and successful artist is a story really worth hearing for those who, like me, started creating art later in life after experiencing criticism in childhood.
Art process
Benefits of sketching regularly - Liz Steel. A very good article about how a regular practice helps us to stay consistent and how we should focus on the practice, not on the outcomes!
Bound: 15 beautiful bookbinding projects - Rachel Hazell. I am an absolute fan of handmade art journals and in we are always looking for new ideas in our sketching group with
. This seems like a great book to explore various alternatives!
On art business
Why blogging isn’t dead - Marian Parsons. A really really good piece of writing from Marian. It is a practical and objective view on why blogging can (and should) be an essential part of your business. I think this is a very positive message about how we’re actually much more in control when we prioritise our own platforms instead of curating content on social media.
The Mid-Year Wake-Up Call: Getting Clear on Your Creative Goals - The Laura Horn Art Podcast. Some practical advice on staying on track with your goals without being overwhelmed. I do think this method equally applies to art, business and life goals.
On composition
In a recent post I shared three ways of approaching composition and I decided to supplement the information in the post with additional sources devoted to the topic. Both are very comprehensive and provide very clear examples - for abstract and representational artists.
21 Abstract Art Compositions with Examples - Culture Frontier.
A Comprehensive Guide To Composition For Artists - Draw Paint Academy.
Art supplies
Understanding the Differences Between Heavy Body, Soft Body, and Fluid Acrylic Paints - Chuck Black. I have a love hate relationship with acrylics and they don’t always work for me the way I want them to, which is partly because I am still figuring out what do I really want from them. This article concisely explains the differences between various types of acrylics and what you can achieve using them, thus, you can decide which type is better for you, depending on what results you expect.
Student Grade vs. Artist Grade/Professional Grade Watercolor Paint - Greenleaf and Blueberry. This year I started actively upgrading a lot of my art supplies and I find that this article on watercolour is very comprehensive and helpful. The thing is - upgrading really does make a difference, but it’s important to understand the specific characteristics of paint as well as your own goals to make sound decisions when choosing paints.
I hope you found something useful and inspiring for yourself!
Thank you for reading and being here! Feel free to share this post with an art friend and I’ll be glad to read a comment from you!
Until next time!
Lisa