Drawing – Page 2 – 40 'fore Forty

Day 167

When I heard the car start up and hubby pulled away, headed for work, I KNEW it was time to be awake. I’m not sure how hubby managed to do his morning without making noise.

Once I was up, I jumped straight into a workout. It’s nice to be back to working out. I didn’t push too hard because I still have a cough lingering but I did workout for 30 minutes.

Next it was time for French. A big shout out to MJ Seal for commenting on yesterday’s post in French. I was excited when I knew what he had said without the help of Google translate. That was the inspiration I needed. I finished the ‘Family 2’ topic and did a few practice runs. Overall it was a solid practice. The next topic is ‘Restaurant’. I will start that next week.

I did the Doodlewash – September 2019 prompt; 14. Buttons. I wanted to draw a doll with button eyes but found it hard to find a picture to reference. I took inspiration from this doll on Pinterest. I sketched the doll sitting in what I felt was a natural position for a doll.

All challenge drawings can be found here…
Doodlewash – September 2019 on Three Peas, One Pod

After lunch I got my guitar out and did some practising. I don’t think I’ll be able to play bar chords anytime soon, so I’m thankful for artists who write in the key of G. One great three chord song is by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – I Need Never Get Old.

Half way through the practice I decided I needed a pick. I didn’t want to get out from under the blanket to grab one from the guitar case, so I grabbed the closest thing possible, a tiny toy of ‘Primo English ham’. It worked well.

It’s Tuesday so that means it’s new Happy List Day. Most of the list was easy (recycled from last week). The purpose of the list is to do things that will make me feel happier if I do them. There is no punishment or bad feels for not doing the list. It is a happy list after all.

Happy List for the week ending 22 September 2019.

Make gold in WoW for sub
Paint
Start a knitting project
Write an ‘About Me’ page on 4440
Draw, 5 days
Write, 2 days
Play guitar, 3 days
Watch 1 world movie
Massage legs, 2 days
Drink 2 bottles of water, 5 days

It was a fairly productive day. I just need to work on things a little faster, so I can stuff more creativity into the awake hours.

I hope your day has been productive and peaceful.

Tilly

Day 166

We went to bed a bit late last night and all woke pretty late. I woke first and started the day with a couple of episodes of Good Mythical Morning.

Once hubby had rolled out of bed, we had a coffee and I sent him off to the store with a clothes shopping list. This is the first time I’ve had new clothes in years. Wifey funded the shopping spree, she is the best!!

I did the Doodlewash – September 2019 prompt; 13. Skin. I wasn’t sure how to tackle this topic. I don’t have the pencils for doing human skin yet and I’m loving colour too much to go back to lead only.

My next thought was snakeskin. While searching for the right snake, I happened upon a strawberry poison dart frog. I just loved the colours, so I tried that instead.

That was about all there was to my day. I have a smile on my face.

Today I reached 200 followers. I’d like to say a special thank you to all of you. Whether you comment, like or just briefly browse my posts, I appreciate the fact you are a part of my world. It has been very encouraging while making some big life changes. It’s also made my little world feel so much bigger. You are the best. Thank you at least 200 times!

I hope your world is filled with smiles. Big hugs if it isn’t.

Tilly

Day 165

I woke first and watched some Youtube videos. It was a nice start to a pretty relaxing day. The rest of the family woke around 9.30 am and I did the usual Sunday stuff in World of Warcraft until about 1 pm.

I started the afternoon with an art supplies shopping trip…online. There’ll be new paints, brushes, pencils, pens and a couple of fun art projects on their way soon. It’s very exciting. I’m really looking forward to using watercolour.

I did another Doodlewash – September 2019 prompt; 12. Laptop. I used a laptop photo on Pinterest as my inspiration. It wasn’t my favourite thing to draw.

That was my day. I hope your Sunday is relaxed, creative and blessed.

Tilly

Day 164

I had a fairly decent sleep and was ready to dive back into the art world… with colour.

After a slightly chocolatey coffee I started on the Doodlewash – September 2019 prompt; 10. Fruit. I found a neat drawing of a watermelon on Pinterest and made my version. I think mine is a little more rough around the edges but I had so much fun watching it develop. I used dark green, light green, red and black pencils.

While I was drawing I watched a ‘world movie’ called Mary and Max. I think it only qualifies as a world movie because it was on the world movie channel. It was based on a true story of an 8 year old girl in Australia becoming pen pals with a 44 year old man from New York. It follows their life long journey dealing with life as outcasts. It was moving.

After lunch I worked on another Doodlewash – September 2019 prompt; 11. Leaves. I am slightly obsessed with all things tropical, so I tackled a Monstera leaf. I used dark green, light green and dark blue pencils.

I took a break from drawing because the next Doodlewash prompt seems too hard. Can someone do it for me?

Instead I picked up my guitar and continued my practice of the song ‘Dearly Departed.’ I’m getting much closer to having it right. (As right as I can without being able to play some of the chords.)

After guitar practice, I did about 30 minutes of French. It was a fantastique practice. I worked through the ‘family 2’ topic and it was easy. Then I thought I might try some timed practice runs and had three perfect attempts. I even got questions about student/studying right.

That’s about it for the day. I feel weirdly disappointed and I’m not sure why.

I hope you’ve had a day filled with bright colours, beautiful songs and big smiles.

Happy weekend.

Tilly

Day 163

Okay, let’s not talk about my sleep last night or the two hours that I had my eyes shut, as I like to call it. Around 5.30 am I just gave up. I grumpily got out of bed and flopped down onto the sofa. What could I even do so early in the morning, with everyone still asleep?

French! Tu as raison. I had another encouraging lesson. There were only a couple of times where I just blatantly forgot what I was doing but mostly, I was parler français. The French got me through to about 6.20 am and I repeat, what could I even do with everyone still asleep?

Knitting! I said that I would start a knitting project today so what better time to do it. I put on a song by Shakey Graves and started on hubby’s fingerless gloves. I’ve done the starting ribbing and the first few lines of the first colour. I didn’t start the second colour at the time.

It was just before 8 am when a friend asked if I would do some stuff in WoW, so, I did. My morning had already been rather productive, so why not relax a little. I spent about an hour doing the social.

When the clock struck 9 am I knew it was time to draw. I started work on the Doodlewash – September 2019 prompt; 8. Feathers. Today I would work in colour. Wifey had picked up some simple colour pencils on last nights shopping trip and I took them for a test run.

I have become so used to working in lead that I wasn’t even sure where to start with the colouring. I’d done a very rough outline of the general shape and then got my colour on. The colours are vibrant. My design… needs work. I’m looking forward to more colour creativity.

I did a little housework, had some lunch and then did the next Doodlewash – September 2019 prompt; 9. Keys. I really enjoyed the last time I sketched a skeleton key, so I went for the same again. I found a reference picture and worked in lead and colour.

After drawing number two, I did a little more work on the knitting project. I think it’s wrong again. I think I needed to change colours on a different row. Oh well. Here is my daymare, enjoy.

While listening to Shakey Graves – Dearly Departed, earlier this morning, I tracked down the chords. I pulled out my favourite guitar (I learned to play on it when I was in my teens) and spent about an hour trying to play the song. My fingers are in a world of hurt. I forgot how sensitive fingertips become after playing guitar. It was fun though. I will definitely be adding more instrument playing to my to do list.

You can find the chords here or you can check out the song on Youtube.

This has been the biggest post I’ve done (I think.) It feels it. I’ll wrap it up even though it’s only 5.30 pm. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow for any more creative, even if I do it today.

I hope your day has been overflowing with creativity and joy. I also hope you have the most wonderful dreams the next time you sleep.

Tilly

Day 162

Hubby tip-toed off to work early and I had a glorious sleep in. I got out of bed just after 9 am and took my sweet time getting to the day.

First on the agenda was a French lesson. I spent about 30 minutes learning simple words. This topic is adding new things like my, his, happy, intelligent, amusing but a lot of the words are ones I’ve already learned. J’aime ce sujet.

Next it was time to do the Doodlewash – September 2019 prompt; 7. Flowers. I found a reference picture from Bright Craft – 25 Flower Drawings & Information Ideas. I was enjoying some conversation and finished the sketch before I had even noticed.

I spent the bulk of the afternoon working on a weekly food plan. It’s going to be a very healthy and variety filled week in the kitchen.

I started doing a food plan at the beginning of the year so I could increase our healthy food intake while decreasing how much we spend. It worked. The past few months I’ve been slacking off because it usually takes a couple of hours and I want to spend that time doing other things. It felt good getting back on the healthy food track.

I had some fantastic and encouraging conversation with wifey today. We talked about how long it takes for something to become a habit. There’s many ideas on the matter; from 3 weeks to months. I’ve passed the 3 week mark on a number of things and passed the 4 month point on others.

Looking back I don’t remember a point where I thought this is a habit now. The thing I remember is feeling proud of myself for doing things consistently. I impressed myself. Before I started I wasn’t sure if I could. Then suddenly, I had.

I think the important thing when trying to form a new habit is to set yourself some realistic goals. For example; doing the ‘new thing’ three times a week for a month. By proving to yourself that you can do it, it makes it much easier to keep doing it, then you have yourself a habit. It also makes you want to achieve more in other areas. At least, that is what happened for me.

I’ve had another successful day of working on my happy list. Tomorrow I will start work on a new knitting project. Even though winter and the AFL football season is over, I’m going to knit hubby a pair of fingerless gloves in his teams colours. Seeing I’m in a wordy mood, I might also work on my About Me page. There’s an interesting-ish story coming, I promise.

If you’ve made it this far, you are a trooper. Thanks for reading the post and thank you for your support. I hope your world is filled with smiles, love and creativity. You’re an amazing person.

Tilly

Day 161

I woke up at a normalish time and was committed to having a normalish day.

Not long after hubby twirled off to work, I sat down to work on French. I started a new set of ‘family’ words. This topic has been pretty easy so far. I haven’t had my normal feeling of doom while starting this topic. Je suis contente.

Next on my to do list was the Doodlewash – September 2019 prompt; 6. Pets. I decided to try sketching a picture of my Homer dog from when he was a puppy. I drew the outline, then had lunch. I wasn’t sure how to fill in the details, so I pondered. Eventually I just went for it and it actually looks like him, so I’m happy.

I had some pretty intense and unusual shoulder/neck pain, so I got a nap in the afternoon. I did manage to get a couple of other things done from my happy list when I woke, so the week is heading in the right direction.

I hope you’re having an amazing week filled with creativity and joy.

Tilly

Day 158

I woke up around 8 am and sat down for quiet conversation with wifey. She beamed at me as I started my ‘gamer rant’ about upcoming mythic dungeons in WoW. I started playing the game because of her not long after we met and I couldn’t stand the game. I definitely wasn’t a ‘gamer’. Now, I kinda am (even if I deny it ’til I’m blue in the face.)

My morning was spent running dungeons and for the most part, it was painful and unpleasant. It’s a special kind of torture I put myself through every week. I’m hanging in there because I know that soon I’ll have some great people to play with. Also hanging in there for the healer. We’ve been doing this for about 3 years now, every Sunday.

Once I’d set childish things aside, I pulled out my pencil to tackle the Doodlewash – September 2019 prompt; 4. Pen. I found a fountain pen reference picture and got to it. This was my first attempt at a close up hand and for the most part, I’m happy with it. I know how I would do it better if I did it again.

As soon as I had finished and taken the photo of the pen drawing, I picked up my pencil again to tackle the next prompt; 5. Cup. I knew exactly what cup I wanted to draw and I hope this flamingo tea set finds its way into my home at some point. It’s so amazing!!!

I finished the day with a smooth French practice run and a movie. It’s time for bed.

I hope you have sweet dreams the next time you’re in dreamland.

Tilly

Day 157

I slept past alarm o’clock for another day. I’m enjoying the extra sleep. My head is still stuffy and I’m well and truly over it.

I’m not sure how long I pondered the day over coffee but it was longer than I should. I tried to art shop again and didn’t get anywhere. I’m the worst at shopping. This is just one of many areas in my life that is really starting to bring me down. Why is art supply shopping so difficult?

By lunchtime I had to bribe myself to get some actual work done (I’m such a child) but it was enough motivation to get onto the second prompt from the Doodlewash – September 2019 event; 2. Cloth. I used a reference picture on Artist Network.

I wasn’t very happy with my attempt at cloth, so I moved onto the next prompt; 3. Shoes. I was going to draw a pair of converse sneakers but only one would fit (from the reference picture I used.) Converse are my favourite shoes, so I really loved this sketch.

I finished the day with a little French. I’m sure if someone French heard me speaking they’d find it comical at best. In a house filled with very English speakers, I sound dangerously French and I like it.

J’espère que vous avez un week-end fantastique rempli de bonheur.
(I hope you have a fantastic weekend filled with happiness.)

Tilly

Day 155

I’ve been going to bed later than I should be. By the time midnight creeps around, I simply don’t want to. When I do get into bed, I just lay there, thinking. Eventually I fall asleep, sleep isn’t too terrible but I know it’s not enough.

When the 7 am alarm rang, I crawled out of bed and curled up on the sofa, almost ready to start my day. I’m feeling better than yesterday. A couple of days and I should be feeling back to normal. I hope.

French was first on the agenda. It was another solid practice run.

Even though I’m late (again), I’ve decided to participate in the Doodlewash – September 2019 event. I will be doing solo prompts this time around and will be starting with lead. I should get some colour pencils before it ends. I’ll try and catch up in the next day or two.

The first prompt; light bulb. I took my inspiration from this lovely cluster of bulbs.

This month I’m also going to focus on sketching all things human…. and maybe some animals. I attempted to sketch eyes today. I used basic guides I had found on Pinterest.

I spent most of the afternoon watching Stranger Things and browsing drawing stuff on Pinterest. I’m enjoying my return to art. Think I might try painting soon. Plus, I’m going to teach wifey how to knit. Fun stuff ahead.

I hope your day has been eye opening and pleasant.

Tilly