What does Nine Consecutive Years of Daily Art Look Like?
This is year nine! All 365 days.
Every year since I have embarked on this 365 day art making journey, I mark the passing of another year with a college of images, all created from that year.
If you’re not familiar with my story on how I came back to my art after a ten year absence and depression, you can catch up here.
Creating and sharing these images are a way for me to track my daily creative habit, and celebrate my wins.
I’ve also recorded a Creative Chats podcast episode of nine insights I have gained through my nine years of daily art making. You can take a listen here.
If you’re interested in establishing your own creative consistency, I’d love to have you join us in our free facebook group Daily Creative Habit!
And now…. Here’s what all 9 years together looks like!
I’ve been sharing my art for free everyday for the past 9 years and will continue to do so. If you’ve been enjoying it and feel like tossing in a few coins in the ol’ tip jar, you can do so below :)
What Does Year Five of 365 Days of Daily Art Look Like?
I just passed another year of 365 daily art making!
This makes FIVE consecutive years in a row without missing a day and approximately 750 pieces. (Most days I created more than one piece) This process has taught me so much about myself, my craft and my process. I even created an online course to help you get started on your own journey! You can read more about the course here or sign up for instant access here. In today's world, everyone wants to be an overnight success. No one wants to hear that you have to put consistent time into your craft, but the truth is, this is the only way to keep growing and excelling.
I just passed another year of 365 daily art making!
This makes FIVE consecutive years in a row without missing a day and approximately 750 pieces. (Most days I created more than one piece) This process has taught me so much about myself, my craft and my process. I even created an online course to help you get started on your own journey! You can read more about the course here or sign up for instant access here. In today's world, everyone wants to be an overnight success. No one wants to hear that you have to put consistent time into your craft, but the truth is, this is the only way to keep growing and excelling.
In the five years, I have experimented with different types of media, subject matters and styles, before settling into my own. If you follow me on social media, you see my daily posts. You may have seen that I have incorporated something else into my daily art making - YOU! I choose most of my inspiration from photos that show up in my Instagram feed. It's given me the opportunity to surprise and delight many people, when I tag them in my art based on their post. I've gotten to know some new friends through this as well. And that's the biggest win for me - when I can create art that creates connections as well.
So thank you to all of you who have been following along, and even commissioning / purchasing my art through these past 5 years of daily art making. I hope you enjoy my art and daily posts. If you have, can I ask a favor in return? Would you consider becoming part of my email list and even consider purchasing / commissioning some art? I would love to take our connection to the next level!
What art of mine have you enjoyed most? Leave me a comment. I'd love to know! Thanks for being a part of my artists' journey.
My Secrets to Creating Mixed Media Art
Have you ever wished you could peek over an artists shoulder to watch them work? Ever wondered about the process or tools & supplies used? Or wished for a peek into an artist's working studio space? Lean in closer for some secrets!
Well, I recently had the opportunity to participate in a Facebook Live broadcast where I did just that, as well as completed a live demonstration finishing a mixed media pet portrait.
See how it went from this...
...to this! Watch the video below!
And although it will live on in the archives over at the Vango Art Facebook page, I thought it would be great to share with all of you who frequent my blog.
While you might not have the benefit of watching it live, you can still ask me any questions you might have. Just leave your questions in the comment section below!
Like the final piece? It's called "Van Gogh's Dog" and is a mixed media piece on 11 x 9 paper. It's available for purchase.
It's Bigger.
I was recently listening to a Burning questions video by designer and art thought leader, James Victore. Something that he talks about on a regular basis is the importance of “saying something”. Having an opinion that matters.
One of the things about having an opinion, and saying something through work that matters, is that you need to know yourself, before you can really share yourself. It sounds elementary but it's true.
And how do you get to know yourself? Time. Effort. Miles. You have to keep showing up. Process. Think. Discover. There are no quick routes. The goal isn't in the destination but in the road traveled. And on this journey you not only discover more of who you are, what your passions and abilities are, you'll also discover that maybe, just maybe, the things you thought you wanted (the things you pleaded and prayed and begged for) weren't the things you really wanted after all. Sometimes not getting what you want is actually the best thing. Because over time you realize that there's something better. More true to who you are. And you didn't settle for Good when Best was just ahead on your journey.
That word, Journey. That's a word that I've been thinking about a lot lately. My journey as an artist. Where I’ve been. What I’ve seen and experienced. What I have to share.
I saw this quote on Instagram the other day from Leonardo Da Vinci (I'm pretty sure it wasn't his account...): "The First step toward getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are."
“The First step toward getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.”
At this point in my journey, do I want to keep striving to create great art? Yes, but it's bigger than that. Bigger than Pet Portraits. Bigger than Pop Culture Art. Bigger than Graphic Design. Bigger than 100 Day Projects and 365 daily art making practices. Bigger. Bigger. Bigger.
What is it then? What's bigger than all of that? It’s ME. My life, insights, the way I see the world - my Journey. It's seeking to be a help and an inspiration to others. And currently, learning to embrace writing so that I might blog, or speak, or maybe even write a book about my journey and experiences (the thought of that sounds crazy to me, but maybe that's proof that I sound be leaning into it). So I'm doing my best to push my fears aside. I'm keeping my eyes and ears open for opportunities. Part of that is starting to blog again.
So here’s your invitation: to walk alongside me. As we travel together, I’ll let you in on what I’ve learned and what I’m thinking about. And hope it encourages you. And maybe, in turn, you will share with someone else.
Meet me here on Wednesdays!
Is there something about my journey as an artist you would like to know?
Getting Schooled by Kool and The Gang
You're at a wedding. Or family party. Suddenly that sound starts. Everyone on the dance floor. Now. Because Kool and the Gang knows how to celebrate.
The other day I was talking with a fellow artist friend saying how hard it is to remember to celebrate. I paused for a moment wondering why that is.
You're at a wedding. Or family party. Suddenly that sound starts. Everyone on the dance floor. Now. Because Kool and the Gang knows how to celebrate.
The other day I was talking with a fellow artist friend saying how hard it is to remember to celebrate. I paused for a moment wondering why that is.
You see, when you live constantly in the tension of what you want to see realized and where you actually are, it creates intense drive (or depression, but that's another post for another day). And that drive and hunger, while good at propelling you forward, is terrible for remembering to stop and celebrate. Because the hungry voice says, "Who has time to celebrate? Look at how much more has to be done."
The problem is that if we don't stop and celebrate, we'll feel a constant sense of never measuring up. We forget that there are great things that have and are happening today. Because we let the demands of tomorrow overshadow them.
Call it a strive for excellence. Call it hunger to achieve. Call it what you want, but unless we balance it with celebration, we can collapse under the weight and pressure.
Celebrating causes you to be thankful. Grateful. Joyful. And it can help you remember why you're doing what you're in the first place.
Write a list of the things that are going right. Tell a friend about breakthroughs you've had this week (no matter how small they may seem). Reread that encouraging email or Facebook comment about your work.
Are you starting to feel it?
Yahoo! This is your celebration!
Celebrate good times! Come on!
Well, Kool and the Gang are calling me to the dance floor. It's time to celebrate!
How I found my "Signature Style"
This year I was determined to open my pool early and get ahead of the curve. But after a long hard winter that caved in my pool cover, the bottom of my pool was stacked up with leaves. I did what I could to scoop them out, but I started to get impatient. So I did what any red blooded impatient male would do, I dumped a bunch of chemicals in it hoping to clear things up. Then I added more. And some more. But it got worse. I couldn't see a thing.
Against my pride, I took a sample to the local pool place expecting a pricey remedy, but a remedy none the less. What I got was "Keep blindly scooping and vacuuming leaves". I couldn't add any more chemicals. It was off the charts already in chlorine. So I have been slowly, inch by inch, hour by hour, blindly moving forward, hoping that clarity will come the next morning.
If you've ever been a part of discussions with artists when talking about a "signature style" and you don't feel you have one, it might feel like you're poking around on the bottom of a green pool searching for the answers. Honestly, we all want the magic chemical to bring clarity. Or we want to go to the experts to have them tell us the answers.
But in the search for a signature style, the answer is the same I got for my pool: show up everyday and put the work in, sometimes blindly.
There are no shortcuts to finding your style. No one is going to do it for you. You aren't born with it. You DISCOVER it.
I embarked upon 2 years (and into my third currently) of 365 daily drawings / paintings. This journey was priceless. Was it hard work? yes. Did I feel like skipping some days? Yes. But I pushed on. And something clicked. It happened. Somewhere through the course of showing up and working consistently - my style emerged.
Perhaps in your journey, you are desperately wanting to discover your signature style. You've been reading, searching, hoping maybe today will be the day. If I can offer any word of encouragement from my own journey - just keep showing up and doing the work. Play. Discover. Experiment. Don't be so critical of yourself. Don't restrain yourself so much.
Maybe you're like me. You need to work in time bound projects. Do a thirty day series of drawings or paintings of a certain subject. Then do another thirty days. Or take on a 100 Day Project. Do it with some friends. If you feel like you don't have any local artists to connect with join some Facebook groups or other artist groups online. The truth is, if you want it, you'll figure it out.
Stop trying to dump chemicals in, or seeking the counsel of the experts. Roll up your sleeves and dive in. Now excuse me, I have to take another pass at cleaning my pool. Here's to clarity!
Sketchclub video: Drawing my Daughter
This time around, I'm going to show you my process in an app for the iPad called Sketchclub. One of the great features of Sketchclub is the ability to add layers and gives you a host of options for brushes and pens. I combine some of my analog drawing techniques with some of my photoshop design background. The result is a very fluid, organic process and feel that takes advantage of the tech side as well. Hope you enjoy this recording straight from Sketchclub itself. https://youtu.be/xIYaRU_VUFM
Are you for Hire?
Let's face it, we all have our fair share of work that is uncreative. Pushing pixels. Work that doesn't tap into our full potential. Work that's dictated by someone else. And honestly it can leave us feeling rather flat (and frustrated).
If I had one pearl of wisdom to share with the next generation of artists (or maybe some in this generation too), it would be to hire yourself. Yes, take yourself on as a pro bono client. Every day.
Now before you start slinging the excuses (trust me i've used them all), understand that you NEED to do work that maters to you. Work that pleases you. That's where the good stuff comes from. Your voice. Your style.
You might not be in a place where you can only do this, but that's not the point. The point here is to take steps to create work that matters by hiring yourself, then keep rehiring. Become your own best client.
Wish you could do a certain type of work that you're currently not hired to do? No problem. Hire yourself. Your portfolio of work doesn't display your true abilities or interests? Hire yourself.
If you need to, set up a contract. Spell out hours & expectations. Are you someone who feels like they need permission? Then hear me - YOU HAVE PERMISSION! You know yourself and how you operate and what you need to do to get around the internal nay-saying. Do what you need to. Trust me. Something in your soul will come alive again. And when your soul is alive, it affects all of what you do and how you do it.
So what are you waiting for? Go HIRE YOURSELF!
Stand on a Ledge
Previously, I posted about my first two of "3 rules of creating" - #1 Show Up and Work, #2 Dare to be Stupid, And now for my 3rd and final rule...
#3 Stand on a Ledge
Last year, while on a missions trip to Nicaragua, I faced a fear of mine. Everyone wanted to go zip-lining. I'm really afraid of heights. But instead of letting my fear dictate what set of memories this trip would hold, I decided to push past and literally stand on the ledge. The experience was terrifying (height + speed + uncertain safety regulations in a foreign country = gulp). I don't remember the last time my body was that physically wracked with terror. But on this side of it, I can say I did it. And I have a few photos even. I will NEVER forget the experience. And it's highly unlikely that I will repeat this. But I faced my fear.
As artists, we all have those looming fears too. The ones that stop us, divert us, cause us to choose another route, or just plain procrastinate or give up. That's why I've listed standing on a ledge as my number three rule. It's only on the edge looking over to what may seem like certain death do we gain a new perspective, even if it's an uncomfortable one. And some of our most interesting art can come from uncomfortable places. Because it's real. And relatable. Or it's in pushing into those places where we cross a barrier that's been holding us back. We take new ground. And in the process prove to ourselves we can actually do it.
"Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it." ~ Judy Blume
I've got a few things even right now that I need to crawl out on the ledge with. I feel the paralyzing presence of fear. Want to know one of them? I am doing a 4 foot by 4 foot live painting during my church's worship service. It was one of those things that when i was asked I immediately had several excuses: My comfort zone in painting is 11 x 14 inches usually. I've never painted like that in public. What if it looks crappy when I'm done and I have 200 plus people stating at me & my art scratching their heads. But that's why I knew this was a "ledge" moment. So I said yes. And then I'd just figure it out as I go. (I'll let you know how it goes..)
What's that thing you need to bring out on the ledge? If you keep it in it's safe confines, the only certainty is more of the same of what you've already experienced. Go on. Crawl out there. And watch that first step. It may be a doozy, but it's also the first step into something larger.
30 Paintings in 30 Days Complete Project
Here's a look at the 30 days all together in one collage. Enjoy!
30 in 30: Day 30
Day 30 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @popesaintvictor
Original Instagram photo:
100 Day iPhone Sketch:
30 in 30 day painting:
Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.
30 in 30: Day 29
Day 29 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @bammerjoy
Original Instagram photo:
100 Day iPhone Sketch:
30 in 30 day painting:
Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.
30 in 30: Day 28
Day 28 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @kwick
Original Instagram photo:
100 Day iPhone Sketch:
30 in 30 day painting:
Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.
30 in 30: Day 27
Day 27 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @_cherishthemoment
Original Instagram photo:
100 Day iPhone Sketch:
30 in 30 day painting:
Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.
30 in 30: Day 26
Day 26 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @mediapeople
Original Instagram photo:
100 Day iPhone Sketch:
30 in 30 day painting:
Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.
30 in 30: Day 25
Day 25 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @pamelaroserodriguez
Original Instagram photo:
100 Day iPhone Sketch:
30 in 30 day painting:
Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.
30 in 30: Day 24
Day 24 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @emiliapare
Original Instagram photo:
100 Day iPhone Sketch:
30 in 30 day painting:
Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.
30 in 30: Day 23
Day 23 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @heredes
Original Instagram photo:
100 Day iPhone Sketch:
30 in 30 day painting:
Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.
30 in 30: Day 22
Day 22 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @mrs_kier
Original Instagram photo:
100 Day iPhone Sketch:
30 in 30 day painting:
Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.