General

The 100 Day Project was so much fun! In case you missed my recap of what I gleaned from doing 100 paintings in 100 days, check it out here.
I’m hosting an exhibit of the watercolor paintings I did for the project this Friday. My friend Alix Christian also did 100 watercolor paintings and she’s hosting our show in her art studio.
The show is one night only, so if you’re in Colorado, be sure to come check it out!

Details

Friday, August 14th only
5:30 – 8:30 pm
4593 N. Broadway, C-105
Boulder, Colorado
The studio is in a cluster of art studios behind the shops facing the street. Can’t wait to see you there!

If I were the book fairy giving out books this year, here’s what I would want everyone to have:

The Lotus and the Lily by Janet Conner I already recommended this, but now that I have completed the process, I am blown away. The book invites readers to create a mandala at the end of the process. I cannot tell you how potent that was for me. I am deeply moved by what emerged. I cannot wait to see how it all plays out in 2015!
Whatever You Are, Be a Good One by Lisa Congdon  This is a great gift book for yourself or anyone in your life. My favorite illustrator Lisa Congdon hand lettered quotations by famous people for her blog. Chronicle Books made it into a lovely book.
Finally, because everyone needs a good notebook, check out Moleskine’s Dotted Notebook! At the art store the other day, I spotted this from a distance and knew I needed it. It’s got a dot grid pattern on the pages, which I love. I will be using this notebook to plot my big creative project next year.
What’s your short stack of books that you would give this year? Three bookish items. Share your three favorite gift books in a comment below.

I’m in a weird place with my art making. I know I want to advance, but I don’t even know where I’m going. I’m okay with that, but I also am impatient to feel the kind of progress I crave. How to feel focused and challenged?
When I find myself floundering, or frustrated, or wanting more satisfaction with my art making, I turn to my tried and true structure: art school curriculum.
My current areas of study include:

• drawing (always on the roster)
• painting (ditto above)
• visual storytelling – illustration + text
• hand lettering

I crave assignments and challenges. So I’ve designed a blend of projects and classes for April, May and June, to give me the kind of focus I need. My Original Impulse work is really busy. I’ve got a large, important project I am working on for the next six months in addition to my coaching, teaching and writing. So it’s necessary to devise boundaries to work on my art.

 
Sound familiar? Your work life and other obligations will almost always be more pressing than your creative work. You have to carve out time.

My coursework

Koosje Koene teaches art online from her studio in Amsterdam. I recently took Draw it Like it’s Hot – a food drawing class. And I am in the middle of her Character Drawing class.
Hand Lettering course with Sean Wes – I’ve been waiting for this for awhile and am excited to start. I’m doing the Master level class and am so excited to learn more about how to do hand lettering and how to do it on a professional level.
Life Drawing sessions at RedLine Gallery

Projects – Map Making

There are three maps I want to make:
They Draw and Travel and Uppercase map contest – the creative and curious places in my neighborhood. I’m excited to look at a one-mile radius of my home in Denver and map the fun stuff.
My Faves – Boulder and Paris – as part of my Capture the Wow Excursions this year, I want to make maps of my favorite places.
This course of study is as exciting as it is daunting. Wish me luck!