Doodley Doo - Week 2

The second challenge for Doodley Doo

was Flamingo Summer

I believe this was the quickest sketch I've ever done

I'm starting to feel more comfortable drawing "people"

I've let myself relax a bit on proper anatomy

and fingers - oh how I hate fingers!

I'm not as pleased with the coloring

I think I would like to try this one again in water color

I've not done too much water colors

but I think I might like it and it would help create a softer look

Nikki of Liefgeal submitted this darling drawing

I thought it was rather amusing that we both incorporated

a girl into the theme

Nikki shares on her blog about coming from an artistic family

but struggling to find her own style

I'm really thrilled that she has joined the challenges

I know we will both grow a tun

I think drawing is no different than learning to play the guitar

sure there are natural talents

but most of us have to dedicate our selves to learning bit by bit

I really struggle with inspiration and confidence

when it comes to art

I think it is only now that I am even beginning to really embrace my own style

and feel comfortable with my work and ideas

I just finished this series of robots for a friend

it was a commission started over 2 and a half years ago!

The issue really wasn't about procrastination

but rather finding the right frames

believe it or not

But when I started the project I was really into drawing robots

you might say they were my muse

robots and elephants that is ^^

but as time passed so did my style and my muses

so when it came to finishing these up I really had to stretch

out of my comfort zone- so to speak

but in the end I'm really happy with them

and so is my friend! Which counts more than anything else!

The different robots represent

all the things that define who my friend is

and the things he loves

The Interior Designer robot is my favorite

many of you probably don't know this

but Interior Design is what I majored in

It's funny to think about really

because as soon as I graduated I kind of ran the other way

as fast as I could!

It just wasn't what I had expected

and I really struggled with who I was as an individual and an artist

in the very formal, commercial driven curriculum

My instructors didn't know what to think of me

and because they didn't take my work serious

I didn't take myself serious

I tried really hard however to be as true to myself as possible

I knew that I didn't want to follow the line drawn for me

and so my work was loose and conceptual

and for the most part - whenever I could

I would design for children

Many of my projects were inspired by robots

my senior project was a learning center

based on the adventures of a robot and his dog

I passed this class with a C

and I was so happy for it

I had survived!

For my portfolio show I showed none of my school work

instead I showed what I had at that time of drawings and such

going through the program made me realize that being an artist

is about following your heart

not the bottom line

you can't change yourself as an artist to please others

your work might be salable but it may not

~

I still have a lot of growing to do as an artist

but I'm no longer scared to try

~

So if you have been holding yourself back

I hope you will join me in practicing your skills

and maybe even learning who you are as an artist!