AEDM: Day 11

AEDM 2010
Art & Soul Prompts by Kate
November 11
Learn to see: See art everywhere and in everything
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Muddy water

Digital Photography

AEDM: Day 10

I'm deviating from my planned prompt for today...not because it's not worth doing, but I'm feeling a bit distracted by something else.


Today I'm creating a layout for a discussion I'll be holding on my grief journey and the art I've done in the last 10 months. I'll be giving it Sunday morning, but I panic waiting til the last minute for things like this, so I'm hard at work on it. I've included the links to the pieces I'll be displaying and talking about though :)

Tears - oil 

Left Behind - watercolor 

Sumi-E painting 

The Weight of it all - watercoolor 

Disconnected - watercolor 

Untitled - watercolor 

My children - acrylics 

Sketchbook Project 2010 : Great Hopes and Massive Failures - watercolor 

AEDM: Day 8 & 9

AEDM 2010
Art & Soul Prompts by Kate
November 8
Stay grounded: Plant deep roots and reach for the sky.

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Pencil

This is a bit of a cop out...trees are an obvious direction for a prompt like this. I wasn't feeling particularly out-of-the-box inspired yesterday, so this simple and quick sketch is all I have. Perhaps this will simmer in my creative juices and I'll later have a better image for this prompt.

AEDM 2010
Art & Soul Prompts by Kate
November 9
Be grateful: Have gratitude for one thing a day.

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"Blankets"

Markers

This one was done rather hurriedly. But I am quite grateful for the people who have made us various blankets, and given them as gifts. During the cooler months, we have them all over the apartment, and love burying ourselves in them. Sometimes you can find our little gray feline snuggled up under one with me while I crochet or read :)

AEDM: Day 7

AEDM 2010
Art & Soul Prompts by Kate
November 7
Plant good seeds: Repeat daily positive affirmations.
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Positive Affirmations

Pencil

AEDM: Day 6

AEDM 2010
Art & Soul Prompts by Kate
November 6
Pay attention to detail: Notice the beauty around you daily.

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Pencil

I drew this from a picture I took 3 years ago. There actually isn't that much more to the picture...no more to the face or other surrounding detail. We were on our way to grad school in California, and I wanted to try and take some fancy photo of the reflection of our drive in my sunglasses. I lucked out (I'm not a professional photographer by any means)!

I liked the mirror-like detail of our road in the sunglasses, which you might not be able to see so well since this was such a quick sketch.

AEDM: Day 5

AEDM 2010
Art & Soul Prompts by Kate
November 5
Be a student: Study nature.
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Kansas Autumn

Pencil and Marker

It's getting colder, and the leaves are mostly changed and fallen. As I drove out in the country today, I saw some trees stubbornly holding on to their top-most leaves. Their beauty time had passed, and no one is ready to take photos of them now. There are no wild flowers, or even "pretty" weeds. Everything is preparing for winter...turning brown and dying.

Everything except the winter wheat. It has sprouted...bright and green. It's waiting for the cold weather. For the freeze, rain or a light layer of snow. It then goes dormant, and will continue growing in the spring to later be harvested later in the summer. 

The stark contrast of brown, neutral colors to the green sprouting was my study for this AEDM prompt. Thanks Kate!

AEDM: Day 4

AEDM 2010
Art & Soul Prompts by Kate
November 4
Send love: Make someone a handmade card.
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Image for card

5x3.5

Markers on Watercolor paper

AEDM: Day 3

AEDM 2010
Art & Soul Prompts by Kate
November 3
Reflect: Take time daily to remember and appreciate yourself.
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AEDM: Day 2

AEDM 2010
Art & Soul Prompts by Kate
November 2
Take another look: Change your perspective.
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My tentative perspective of the world these past 10 months.

Still working on changing it.

AEDM : Day 1

AEDM 2010
Art & Soul Prompts by Kate

November 1

Be mindful: Become completely present in what you are doing. Let that action alone anchor you in every passing moment.

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Below is my anchored moment for the day...the eye.

Sketchbook Project & AEDM

Here are the last 3 spreads for my sketchbook project. Like I've said before, I'm not sure the flow and unity of the entire thing is the best, but I feel good about completing this project. I've scanned all the images, and will probably post a link with them all gathered together when I get time :)

Sketchbook pages 23-28

Watercolor/Pen

And as today is officially Nov. 1, here is the sketchbook I made for Art Every Day Month (AEDM). I used the moleksine paper from the sketchbook took out for the rebinding for the Sketchbook Project, a file folder for the covers, and collaged magazine pieces for the design.

Art Every Day Month Preparation

After signing up for Art Every Day Month (AEDM), I knew I needed to come up with a game plan in order to stay on track. I've been a bit lax on my Creative Every Day goal, and didn't want this to fall to the wayside too. Though as Leah is so good at repeating, there is no pressure or guilt - it's just meant to be a freeing experience to do what you can and get in touch with the creative in you.


So, as I brainstormed what I might use as a prompt for each day of November, I remembered a blog I've been following: Art & Soul by Kate. I love the simple ideas she presents in association with healthy living, having self confidence, and no apologies for a focus on art in your life. I contacted her, to see if I would be able to use 30 of her prompts to help in my AEDM journey, and she was very encouraging and is allowing me to do so. I'm quite excited, and below is my plan for the month of November!! 


AEDM 2010
Art & Soul Prompts by Kate
(Links to Kate's original posts will be posted with my artwork. Text below is from Kate's blog.)


How to be an Artist...
1. Be mindful: Become completely present in what you are doing. Let that action alone anchor you in every passing moment.
2. Take another look: Change your perspective.
3. Reflect: Take time daily to remember and appreciate yourself.
4. Send love: Make someone a handmade card.
5. Be a student: Study nature.
6. Pay attention to detail: Notice the beauty around you daily.
7. Plant good seeds: Repeat daily positive affirmations.
8. Stay grounded: Plant deep roots and reach for the sky.
9. Be grateful: Have gratitude for one thing a day.
10. Learn to see: See art everywhere and in everything.
11. Serve humanity: Let your art be your service to the world.
12. Change your thoughts: Break free from an old belief or thought pattern about who you think you should be.
13. Challenge identity: Let go of who you think you are, to allow the possibility of your true self to shine through.
14. Feel first - think later
15. Re-define: Your vocabulary, your thoughts, your days.
16. Be quiet: Practice silence.
17. Receive: Watch the sunset and give gratitude for all you've received from it in this day.
18. Breathe: Stop. Check in, breathe.
19. Be your work: Let a little bit of you shine through everything that you do.
20. Take a hike, or a walk or a drive: Taking time to reconnect with nature will refresh and inspire you, while taking you out of the confines of your usual home, space, or state of mind.
21. Let it grow: Nuture life - plant a flower, tree, garden
22. Take the plunge: Dive in.
23. Honor the child within: Never lose your sense of awe.
24. Appreciate: Rejoice in the successes of others.
25. Surrender: Open your heart to possibility.
26. Respect your elders: There are many who have traveled before us.
27. Trust: Trust and depend on others.
28. Keep your chin up: Maintain a positive mental attitude.
29. Be present
30. Create your space: Create a room or space (literally) for your art in your life.


I'm excited about the mindset of the prompts...a spurring of positivity each day. I can't say my grief won't still show through, but it will challenge me to have a moment in the day where I focus on something besides baby death and my fears.


I've created and bound a sketchbook for AEDM 2010 and will post the day after as I am able (with U.S. Thanksgiving possibly delaying some postings). I did not bind any watercolor paper, so I'm going to try and focus on another medium for the month. I hope to use mainly pen and pencil and maybe some markers...it's good to be stretched :)


Wish me luck, and if you are able to participate I look forward to seeing what you do! And to the many of those who are doing NaNoWriMo , wishing you many good ideas! What I love about these challenges is the that it's not about perfection or "who is better". It's about creativity and getting comfortable with your craft and yourself... Banning the critic and just allowing yourself to learn and grow without guilt. Or that's my take on them :)  Wishing you all a creative November!!

October: Day 29 & Art Every Day Month

Day 29 - hopes, dreams, and plans for the next 365 days
Ideally our hope is to bring Simon home with us sometime in January or February. 
Our dream would be to find a more permanent place to settle down...a place to call our own.
Plans...we kinda fly by the seat of our pants.
We really just are taking a day at a time.
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And just as I finish up The Sketchbook Project, I decide to sign up for another project - Creative Everyday's Leah has a challenge every November called Art Every Day Month (AEDM). 


I'm glad with how my sketchbook turned out...I think. I wasn't all that smart - I kinda just dove into it without much of a plan, so I wonder if it flows all that well. But you know what? The point wasn't for it to be stressful, and I'm so very glad I did it. Check out the cities that all the sketchbooks will tour, and if it's near you, be sure to stop by and check it out! Let me know if you do, as I probably won't be able to catch the tour.


Anyways, AEDM is a challenge to do something creative every day of November. I have an idea of what I want to do to massage my creative brain muscles, and will divulge that closer to November 1st when I have it fully figured out :) Oh, and I challenge you to do it too!