In A Planner Choosing Frenzy

 I thought it would be easier than this.

Always seems I am doing it this way and I should have learned by now.  The year flies by and the next thing I know, it's December.  Where did December come from?  Meaning, wow I didn't realize how time was flying.  And now that means a new year is about to begin and I need to be organized and ready.  My husband calls me a Type-A Wannabe.  He's not wrong.  I create this facade that I am organized.  It gives me comfort and a sense that I might be in control.  I figure this is my way of  being somewhat prepared when life starts coming at me from all directions.

Perfect timing and I made time for it!

Earlier in December, I joined in a free workshop on Facebook, Soul Smile.  It was hosted by Alice Sheridan and Megan Woodward Johnson.  Such a blessing!  For the past few years, I had to choose what I could make time for and many times missed out on art opportunities.  Excitedly, I joined in with other artists and we shared how we have weathered the months of 2021.  We found we had so many shared thoughts and emotions.  For quite a while I have missed having interaction with other artists and the social distancing has made it a challenge to fill that void.  We talked a bit about how we all organize our creative work time.  There was mention of bullet journals and The Maker's Yearbook, The Get To Work Book, The Legend Planner, and Dingbat Planner.

So that's where I realized it's past time for me and the planner choosing process.

[This is a lengthy post and so giving you fair warning now...it's just that I have SO much to tell you.  I can't leave any of it out.  It's all really good!  And there are many photos to show along with the tell.]

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A bit of a side note here:

I was already familiar with Alice Sheridan.  She and Louise Fletcher host a podcast, Art Juice.  I began listening before the the pandemic.  As I worked my then job as a nanny, I would do laundry and tidy the kitchen with a podcast playing that is art related.  Art Juice quickly became my favorite.  And then when the pandemic had us all closed up in our homes for months, I listened then also and found a connection to similar struggles.  I had a hard time creating art for quite a few months in 2020.

If you haven't hear this podcast before, give Art Juice a listen.  I highly recommend it for creatives!  Maybe you'll feel like you've just had a cup of tea and a great visit with a couple of artist friends.

The pandemic has taken its toll on all of us.  As a creative, I found it a feat to recapture my energy and drive again.  I figured out that I needed to get a grip on the stress and anxiety levels.  I understood that creating art should be one of my ways of handling the emotions and thoughts that were giving me a tough time.  Through some spiritual battling, taking care of myself and remembering how to grow strong again...I was able to see better days full of hope and joy.

I am stronger and more grounded than I have been in a long, long time.  There should be months of creating ahead of me and yet I know life is unpredictable.  Just when I think it's all smooth from here on out, there will be some event or circumstance that shakes it all up for weeks or longer.

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Above:  the Eccolo planner I picked up from TJ Maxx last year.  I love the cork cover so much.  I also loved using it because it's a manageable size for me.  Dimensions are 5.25" by 7.5" for reference.

It's up to me to make creating time a priority.

Instead of feeling cheated because there are no blocks of time left over in my schedule, I do something very different now.  Back then, I begrudgingly gave up my precious art making time for family appointments and commitments.  I hated that I felt upset and wanted to blame everyone else for not letting me make art.  Then I realized how that could change.  There is always time for both family/personal commitments and creative art time.  Always.  What matters is HOW I approach it.  I made a simple and effective change to how I handle my schedule.  

Below:  The notecard "Wake up and be awesome" came in an order (from where I do not remember) BUT I have been clipping it in my planner to be a fun reminder each morning.

Block it off now before life crowds in.

I began using a highlighter, a pen, and my planner to block out several hours per day for art.  I would plan out several weeks at a time.  With a list of what I would like to do, I would make a highlighter colored box outline and then write in what I planned to do.  If nothing else, it would just say, "Art" or "Paint" and then that time was reserved ahead of time.  I built the schedule of appointments around those blocks of art time.  I planned to have time already reserved BEFORE all the other appointments.

Below:  My new 2022 cover with a leather-like cover in a soft tan color.

I guess I should add here that what is necessary is to NOT cancel that creative art time.

Unless it's a serious emergency, which can happen, keep that time commitment to creating as precious.  Because it is more valuable and beneficial than anyone could really know.  No need to prove it as important.  Just matter of fact, make it a new practice to schedule creative pursuits.

Limited Edition Winter Miniatures

This was the orginal post; same information was posted on Instagram and Facebook at the end of December 2021.

Limited edition watercolor miniatures in a winter theme.  More information on my Facebook and Instagram.  I am excited to offer these in dimensions roughly 3" by 4" all originals painted in watercolors.  Contact me through messenger to claim.  $15 each.  I plan to begin shipping next week.  

The photo shows these miniature originals while still in progress.  I am limiting the number to a total of 30 pieces.  Thank you to those who have already claimed!  I am so excited about finishing these and shipping them off soon.

• Facebook:  ChristySheeler-Artist

• Instagram:  christysheeler.artist

As I was painting to develop an idea for a winter landscape, a bigger idea formed in my mind.  The amazing and colorful sunsets of winter plus birds perched in the bare branches, and then add snowy drifts that catch the light and cast long shadows.  This was the beginning.  Later, I chose some evergreens to complement the scene.  As I wrote my notes and mixed pigments on the palette, a bold idea came to me.  What if I painted a number of these little winter paintings and offered them to be purchased and shipped within a ten day to two week window of time?

On a spontaneous whim, I boldly went to Instagram and Facebook with this idea.  I felt foolish.  Crazy how that happens when I step out of my comfort zone.  I reassured myself that if there were no "takers" I can just use these for gift with purchase tags.  Nothing to lose, right?  

I had enough to offer just under a total of 30 minature watercolor artworks.  That very same evening after feeling like a fool, the messages began coming in!  To my heartfelt delight, there are dear friends out there (maybe you are one of them) that will jump at the opportunity to have one of my artworks.  Too precious for words, that's what I think of all of you.  Thank you for being with me on this adventure.  When the offer ended, I had just a couple miniatures remaining...and they will maybe go into a future mini winter edition.  The messages I have gotten from those of you who purchased bring a smile to my face even now.

I felt that this orginal post didn't really do the Winter Minis 2021 justice.  So all of this has been edited after the fact to share more detail about this super enjoyable first run.  Now, I am excited to share that there will be more seasonal miniature artwork to come!  I am working through ideas for Spring Minis 2022.  I am sure there will be trees and birds.  Those two subjects seem to be a must for me.  But thinking that big blue skies with fluffy clouds and a few bitty dandelions will be sneaking in, too.

I will be giving my mailing list friends the first dibs at claiming a mini in the Spring Minis 2022.  Are you on that mailing list?  Over on my website, christysheeler.com  you can sign up to be included with my new announcements.  Then, I will take the announcement to Instagram and Facebook.

So, if you joined me for this edition of seasonal minis, thank you very much!  And if you are new to the seasonal minis, please consider purchasing one when they become available.  I will post here and in all the places I share as well.  If nothing else, shoot me an email with Seasonal Art Minis in the description and I will take care of getting you on my mailing list.

Stay warm everyone!

-Christy

  

Coming Back To Art Full Time

My process and path:  My return to creating again.

The end of August marked the end of my part time job of nannying.  It was part time in that I was working full time about 6 months out of the year.  From March to August, my art making was not in full swing but I painted in the pockets of available free time.  I enjoyed that job very much yet missed this pursuit even more.  The Carpenter family continues to be close to my heart and we'll be friends that are more like family for many more years to come.

With other things that were happening in my personal life and family needs being our top priority, I didn't jump right into art creating right away.  In fact, I felt rusty and awkward about the painting sessions in September.  As frustrated as I felt with the results, I knew it was important to keep showing up to paint.  The easy thing would be to not show up because it might not end with a masterpiece.  Instead, I chose to push forward and give myself permission to be unhappy with whatever my brush and I made that day.  Sometimes the time spent painting is just for my own self care, not because I need to have a painting to sell.  I don't ever want to be driven by the goal of selling.  That creates so much pressure that intimidates and stifles me creatively.  When the painting time feels like nothing came of it from an bystander's perspective, I face that head on.  Brush it off and come back tomorrow.  And with time, it all started to come back to me.  I continue picking up my brush.

I have been painting on a regular basis but before August I was not always rested and able to spend several hours painting in one sitting.  Some paintings I love and others have brought me frustration.  That's just how this goes.  Many of my paintings have been 5" x 7" sizes because they are more manageable in short spurts of time.  They can easily be finished in one or two sittings.  I don't lose my momentum and vision when working in pockets of time.  And so for that reason, it's much harder when the paper is larger.  I have two large paintings in process right now that are not pleasing me, not what I want, and I don't know what to do next.  I keep telling myself to relax and not let that define me.

So, my beginning stages of getting comfortable in the art room again took a round about path.  With work projects in the garden and back yard to be completed before winter makes its arrival, I brought in quite a few potted plants.  There are green onions and a variety of herbs.  My spinach and lettuce are not doing well and I believe that is lack of sufficient lighting.  Our days are shorter now and my lights need replacing most likely.  Long winters in Montana are easier to handle when there's some plants growing here in my space.

I moved my main painting location back to a previous work table.  It's closer to the center of the room which will be warmer during the winter months.  Funny how this feels more comfortable for me and I am glad I made the change.  I am sensitive about what clutter is bothering me and tackle those areas a little at a time.  I am structuring this space so it is primed for creative atmosphere, like I can come to this space that has a spa like atmosphere.  I am making decisions for designing a sanctuary for creativity.

I have so much space for storage and it seems to be overflowing with stuff.  I felt so overwhelmed and anxious in the room that it was very obvious this needed to be overhauled in a big way.  I went through under table shelves and boxes.  I emptied out cupboards and chose what to get rid of to make room for what supplies are a higher priority to my art creating process.  There are still a few piles to go through but it's much more manageable now.

In reality, I would just rather keep showing up and doing nothing else but paint more art.  The stacks of new artwork need to be given time and focus though.  I am getting more organized with my planning so that projects are being tackled in the most effective way.  Paintings are getting pressed under weight of heavy books to remove the paper's buckling.  Inventory spreadsheets are being readied for titles to come soon.  I am looking at the weather for best sunshine to help with photographing artwork for the website.  Large sheets of watercolor paper is soon to be cut into dimensions I enjoy most.  Those smaller sheets of watercolor paper will be taped to boards so they are ready to grab for new paintings.

I have been aware in the past that my best time for painting is mid morning.  I might do a bit of light housework before but I need to be cautious not to come to my paint sessions already worn out.  That only brings frustration much sooner.  If there is vacuuming to be done, it should be done late afternoon because that activity is so hard on my arms and wrists.  I am becoming so much more aware of bringing my freshest self to painting time.

As I move into fall and winter months, I am focusing on creating a routine of good habits for pursuit of art.  I am being gentle and patient with myself.  I fight the feeling that I should be catching up to where fulltime artists are at this time of year with their promoting and selling.  A frustrated and anxious artist will not be happy in the creating and the art will reflect this as well.  So, I take each day with its goals and tasks and remind myself to be patient.  I am choosing to enjoy the journey and love that I have the time available to be here.  I am hopeful and excited.

Yesterday, I sat down to write here not knowing what I would have to say.  It happens like this so often.  And yet somehow I find the words for what I want to say.  I do love sharing what happens here in the art room and along the scenic drives to finding art reference photograph.  I look forward to living this way, being my everyday experience and soaking up owning my identity as an artist.  It was difficult to be away from this so much though I didn't express it as often as I felt it.  My mind loves the thought of creating my interpretation of what I have seen and felt as it relates to nature.  I have a feeling that more change is coming my way with how I hold the brush and fill the page and I am in love with that more than I can say.  In fact, we have plans in motion for making weekend getaways to the mountains a regular habit.  Spring of 2022, I will be able to share more about that exciting development.  I am dreaming of plein air painting and travel art supplies getting much more use!

Thank you for taking time out of your day to join me here.  This is my creative journey as an artist.  I have more to bring and share here.  I won't make a promise to be here each week.  I hope that happens but life has a way of bringing detours.  As it is possible, I do have a goal of posting on Thursdays for whatever reason.  I have been organizing my photos into online albums and that has helped me realize there is plenty of material for new blog posts.  More progressive posts to come, meaning I will share the completed artwork with photos taken along its journey and a few photos of the place that inspired me to paint it in the first place.  If that excites you, stay tuned!  

-Christy

She must make art.

What A Warm Up Can Become

The Warm Ups Have Multiplied!

What to do with all these littles?!  Previously, I shared The Value of Beginning with a Warm Up...reasons for this and how I go about my warm up process in my daily painting sessions.  (I've linked the title if you're curious to read it later.)  There's so much gained in this way of transitioning into a creative mindset.  I have chosen to make my warm ups quite small at about 2 1/2" by 3 1/2" though the size varies.  There are several uses for these small artworks.  

Once I realized the difference daily warm ups make, I was no longer faced with so much resistance to create.  The little warm ups began to accumulate quickly.  The pressure to perform is lessened so these small beginnings have a greater chance of being something worth keeping.  Today, I am sharing 3 ways to use the warm up paintings that have accumulated over time.

3 Ways To Use Your Warm Ups

1.  Shop for some lovely little frames and put little warm up artwork on display.

I have found my favorite places to shop for frames to be Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx, and Michaels.  Hobby Lobby offers frames in sizes for the smallest artwork at a discount that makes them very affordable.  Artwork of this size fits perfectly on a dresser, side table, or shelf and can be changed out with other artwork so easily.  It's amazing to me how much a painting feels "real" once it's in a frame.  Offering these to customers on a tight budget is a great idea.  The artwork by an artist they love is now an option!  An artist can gift this small framed artwork as a thank you to anyone who has shown generosity in support of their art business.

2.  Create a note card with extra artistic flair.

Over time, I have gathered a supply of blank cards and envelopes from Michaels and Hobby Lobby.  My favorite choice is the brown kraft paper style rather than white cardstock.  A stash of washi tape, rubber stamps, and twine make the project options limitless.  Using your choice of tape to attach the artwork, the finished note card will be ready to send off to a friend.  If you should find the washi tape doesn't hold well enough, use a piece of 3m scrapbooking double-stick tape to attach the watercolor paper to the card.  You can decide whether you want the artwork to be easily removed to be displayed in a frame by the recipient.  This is the little gift I enjoy sending off to those who purchase my original artwork.  I often write a little personal note on the back of the brown tag or card; I describe the piece on the front, whether it's a trimming from a larger artwork or a warm up.  Wrap it in a little cellophane sleeve with a business card and include it with the artwork.

These little tokens of creative expression can be such a special treat to gift to others.  The time it takes to put one together and the supplies can be very minimal.  The impact in contrast, very touching and special.  How much more personalized could these be?

3.  Use the warm up as a planning stage for artwork projects

I have so many sketchbooks.  I am afraid to count them.  I buy them with good intentions but avoid using them.  I don't really know why but hopefully, one day, I will overcome this avoidance.  Sketchbooks are great for planning with quick sketches but the paper in most is not the right weight for watercolor washes.  I have one small one that I have used; Reflexions Aqua Watercolor Spiral Sketch Book by Creative Mark is the one I enjoy using especially in my travel art kit.  I purchased it from Jerry's Artarama years ago.  I should have bought up a stack of them in varying sizes.  If you have a recommendation for a watercolor paper sketchbook you love, please add to the comments below!  I mention sketchbooks because I needed a solution to planning for beginning new artwork projects.

Whether the surface is a small scrap of watercolor paper or a page in a sketchbook, these quick watercolor studies help with planning out composition, color choices, values, and much more.  I love using my small sketchbooks when on location.  

These thumbnail sketches are similar, though not really warm ups.  They are smaller and quicker to complete.  The process still results in miniatures that can be trimmed and used for other projects.  Bristol (smooth) was the surface used for these.

Here is my larger sketchbook, lighter weight like a drawing paper, maybe 50-60 lb. weight for thickness.  It can take light watercolor washes, but will buckle when wet.  I like it for the size of pages and the sketchbook design.  It has a thick cover and the spiral binding is easy to flip through.

It's important to experiment with a variety of weights of papers and surfaces.  The final work won't have the same touch when working from one surface and then on heavier weight watercolor paper.  It's been a while since I painted on hot press watercolor paper.  Hot press watercolor paper is very smooth.  I have been using cold press for many years and that's my preference; its medium textured surface has more tooth for dry brush techniques.

It can take a little while to switch into art-creating-mindset.  My warm up time helps me transition from other life concerns into this place of expression. So, with this in mind, I am finding that these smaller artworks can help me work through my ideas for compositions and color combinations.  As I paint, I work through my options for light and shadows, pigments to use, and where there might be challenges in my plan.  These finished warm ups can be a general guide for going on to begin a larger artwork with less hesitancy.

I hope you've found some new and helpful ideas for using the little warm ups, the scraps, the left overs that get set aside.  These may seem insignificant but reimagined, they can be beautiful in their own way.

Christy

-She must make art.

  

The Value of Beginning with a Warm Up

Why start with a warm up?

Is it hard for you to just begin once you have come to your creative space?  Do you find it a challenge to switch gears and forget distractions?  I am right there with you.  How often I found myself avoiding the start because I knew my head and heart weren't in it.  I was afraid of messing up an artwork in progress.  The artist inside knows when the creative flow has come to the surface.  Turning off the rest of life's worries isn't easily done.  Let me describe to you how I have found my way with warm ups in the creative painting process.

This change in my creative process has made such a big difference and that's why it's today's topic.  The experience of making something with your own two hands is unlike anything else.  I want that for anyone else who has interest to seek it out.  Ready?  Let's get to it!

There are many days that I have good intentions to go make art but something inside me resists in a big way.  It's not easy to sit down and just make the art happen on paper.  Maybe a few smaller and easier steps to make the transition would help me on a regular basis.  While taking an online course, I came to see how a warm up can be very beneficial.  

For me, I begin with turning on lights and music and then sitting down at my painting table.  I have trimmed watercolor paper into various sizes but there's a stack of 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" papers ready to go.  This is like stretching before exercise.  I spray down my watercolor palette and let the pigments soften.  Taking a small piece of watercolor paper, no sketching necessary, I pick up a brush and begin to doodle in watercolor.  Play.  Explore.  No big pressure.  No expectations.  I apply the brushstrokes of colors, letting them flow and merge.  It's just loosening the creative energy and detaching the cares of the day.  Spatter.  Spritz with water.  Scrape back lighter marks with a palette knife.

Don't like it or still not in that creative mindset?  Set it aside.  Start another.  These small bits of watercolor paper are not a big loss.  Maybe it takes me three or four tries and then I realize the switch in my spirit and mind has happened.  Some days, I only do the warm ups and feel that is enough...maybe it's not happening right then.  That's okay.  Go take a 15 minute break, drink some water, switch up the music, light a candle...then come back and give it another go.

What I have found is this way of beginning my creative practice has helped me to move from the easier expectations of warming up to other artworks in progress.  It may seem that artists just come to the easel and throw some paint around and the painting appears magically.  It's not like that for me.  Usually a painting is on pause because I don't have sure prompting about the next moves to finish it.  And that pressure of finishing is heavy.  Even more so when there are up to ten or twelve artworks in progress sitting off to the side, waiting in the wings.

There's a lot going on from eye to brain to hand to brush to paper.  The time spent in a few warm up exercises can help your creative mind get back in touch with what you want to say on paper.  Strengthen the motions and the familiarity with the brush on paper.  Let yourself move further from all the other responsibilities of life and go into this art making space.

Now, in the past, my painting style was so tight and realistic.  Not that this was a bad thing in any way.  There are so many talented individuals whose work is very lifelike and detailed in an amazing way.  For me personally, I was weary of the whole process and was yearning for a way to break out of it and work more intuitively.  I had forgotten how to play and felt the need for a reference photo in order to begin the painting process.  This resulted in me avoiding the process of beginning...it was daunting.

This change of mindset, recognizing that I need to give myself time and patience in starting my painting time has helped me in a big way.  Less pressure and more intuition.  My energy is more adventurous and less judgmental.  I have given myself the opportunity to explore.

So with all these little warm ups stacking up, what could we do with them?  In the upcoming blog post, as a follow-up, I will be sharing what these warm ups can become.  I have some ideas to share in which these warm ups can be helpful in additional ways.  Stay tuned!

Christy

-She must make art.

P.S.

Along the way, in the last ten plus years, I have found other artists that inspire my creative spirit.  There have been so many and I will credit them as often as possible.  Angela Fehr is one of the most recent artists that I am excited to share today.  She has a generous heart for teaching with a manner that is non-intimidating, relaxing, welcoming, and accepting.  I might have come across her through Facebook and then YouTube.  I found her tutorials so knowledgeable and open minded that even if I wasn't in a season of painting regularly, I just enjoyed watching her paint with watercolors.

Angela Fehr offers so much for watercolor artists.  She shares inspiration on Facebook and Instagram,  has a very active Facebook group Angela Fehr Watercolor Workshop, a YouTube channel and now has the Fearless Artist Community.  Through her online course Watercolor Jumpstart, (which is free!) it was amazing how quickly I could transition to loose and fresh watercolor technique.  I would like to one day take more workshops from her because her tips help me develop my skills further.

Waterfalls & Rivers Collection Now Available

 

New artwork is now available!  The recurring theme in these pieces - water.  The year 2020 did not make it possible for many of us to travel as much as normal.  Not much about 2020 was normal.  As I sorted through art reference photos, my mind transported me to the locations I love most.  We were able to venture out with a few day trips close to home.  Being in the landscape is best but painting these landscapes was also a delight.

Here's a small preview of some of the collection:

Interested in seeing the rest of the collection?  These and a few more available on my website linked here.  Be sure to subscribe to my mailing list when you are there.  Those who subscribe receive my updates first.  

More artwork coming soon!

Christy

-She must make art.