Things That Changed Other Things: Molly :)

This is another image I created for The Sketchbook Project. It's an homage to Molly, my former dog :) She is still alive and well, but lives with my former roommate as she belonged to him first. Anyway...having a dog definitely changed things, and for the better. People often say having a dog is like having a kid. I have no kids, so I have no idea if this is true, but I enjoyed caring for her...Also, it did up the level of responsibility a bit, which I didn't mind at all-- and in fact, kind of liked. I think the best thing about having a dog is/was unconditional love. She is a sweet and, loving girl, and always happy to see people. It's too bad humans aren't more like that...

Another Page from The Sketchbook Project :)

OH man, I just realized I have to put this sketchbook in the mail in less than a month! Uh oh...I think I need to make less detailed sketches at this point so I can actually finish it on time. Wait, have I done one about procrastination yet?!?! I think I need to...

Anyway, back to the theme of the sketchbook: "things that change other things"...this sketch is about moving into my own apartment. I haven't really had my own place in 3.5 years, so getting a "room of my own" so to speak has definitely changed things....I wasn't sure how it would work out, what I would find-- hence the question mark, keys, clouds, etc....but my gut instinct told me it was the right thing to do :)

And sure enough it has changed other things-- doing more art, reading more, I started swimming again (I'm only 5 minutes from the YMCA)!, and generally focusing on what I need to do. I think moving out of the city has really helped with that. It is peaceful out here with lots of trees! It's interesting how a geographic switch can make all the difference.

Breaking Out of the Box...

Or at least attempting too...This is page 6 in my sketchbook, for "The Sketchbook Project."

I'm kind of a perfectionist (to say the least)...let us just say it holds me back. If I can't do it perfectly, or in the very least-- exceptionally well-- I might not want to do it at all...or I procrastinate...this has effected me in most aspects of my life, especially artistically. I put off projects, I take FOREVER on them...etc...you get the picture :) There have been times though when I had "happy little mistakes," and had to try something else...times where I played, experimented, and created something cool...these times when I broke out of the box changed things, and changed things for the better...

In this post I have also included a mixed media piece called "strength," which is based on the tarot card Strength. This is really the first REALLY mixed media piece I did. And how did it happen? I tore the darn painting! There was a 3 inch tear near the top of the painting so I had to collage over it to cover it up. And what happened? It turned out cooler than it probably would have in the first place! And then after this I started doing a bit more mixed media, as opposed to strictly watercolor, etc...breaking out of the box can be very, very good!!! I need to keep reminding myself of that :)

The Sketchbook Project-- Page 10

Wow-- I just realized I have a lot more pages to fill by January! As the title of this post so astutely explains, this is page 10...with the theme being "Things that Changed Other things."...words are powerful (pretty common knowledge)...and what I'm trying to get at here (probably pretty obvious huh)? is that the words not spoken, are sometimes even more powerful-- shutting doors, opening others, etc....Not speaking what's on your mind can just as powerfully influence the future as not doing so. I can think of way to many examples of this in my own life! (so it seemed to be appropriate to include it in the project :) It was done in mixed media-- collage, pencil, watercolor, and gouache.

The Sketchbook Project: Page 6...

On the theme "things that changed other things"...I have not yet decided whether or not I will call this one "Peasant Girl" or "The Talk"...I know I will do a larger version later, so perhaps each one will have it's own name...

It was created in pen and ink and was done on watercolor paper. (I'm going to adhere it to page 6 in my sketchbook :)

The Sketchbook Project...Theme: Things That Changed Other Things...

This is the first page in my sketchbook, for the Sketchbook Project in Brooklyn NY. (I just love creating art based on themes)!

It's appropriate that the "moving away page" be the first page. Moving from WI to Savannah, GA really did change everything. I began to focus on my art, and began to let go of the expectations of others. I joined Etsy, I started a blog, I got a studio, etc...(this instead of working crappy jobs that robbed me of my soul)...When I moved to Savannah I really became the starving artist, instead of the starving group home worker or floral desinger...fine, honest livings, but not very fulfilling to an oddball such as myself...

This is a fun project-- I'll keep posting pics on the theme "things that changed other things"