30 Days of Pattern

Hi there. How are you?

I've always liked to follow the rules. Just ask my parents! I'd flip on my Dad if he drove over the speed limit. When I was 12, I called my parents to pick me up from a sleepover because they were watching an "R" rated movie. There's no way you'd catch my 11 year old self ordering off of the 10 and under kid's menu. Same with movies. I would not let my parents buy me a ticket at the children's price if I was too old. I could go on and on...As an adult, I still like rules, but I know when it's OK to break them.

Drawing patterns makes perfect sense for my rule-following sensibility. To make a pattern, you come up with a line or shape and then create rules on how you will arrange them in a space. In pattern-making, there are limits. There is repeat. I like that. I usually find pattern drawing very relaxing and I often work on these at night when we're watching TV.

Sketchbook Pattern Drawings: Day 1-6

30 Days of Pattern

I didn't set out to draw a pattern a day. I just sort of fell into the "pattern". (Ha!) I didn't want to come out and make it a "thing" either....What if I didn't stick with it? Just earlier this year I challenged myself to do an Every Other Day Sketch, and lost steam after day 45. I just decided to draw in my sketchbook every day, and post it online. I'm excited about all the things I've made.

You'll notice that some of the earliest daily drawings are really more just doodles than patterns. (Maybe I should I allow myself to do that again when I have no-idea days or when patterns just aren't flowing for me?) I was just interested in the process and it was less about the finished product. And as I keep realizing, my drawing/making/creating flows best when I am relaxed and don't put too much pressure on myself.

Sketchbook Pattern Drawings - Day 7-18

Positive Feedback

After posting the first few drawings of this series on Instagram and Facebook, I got lots of positive feedback. Those kind words encouraged me to keep going. I quickly blew through a sketchbook and the Pilot pens I had on hand and had to buy more.

Sketchbook Pattern Drawings Day 19-24

Coloring Book in the Works

I've had so many people request that I turn these drawings into a coloring book. Well friends, you spoke and I finally listened! I am in the process of vectorizing the most "colorable" of these pattern drawings. 

Sketchbook Pattern Drawings Day 25-30

What do You Want to Color?

Well friends, that's all for now. Is there one of these drawings I've posted that you'd particularly like to see in my coloring book? Leave a comment and let me know! Ta-Ta for now.

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The Every Other Day Sketch - Day 9-16

Hi there. How are you? 

I'm happy to be back here and giving you a glimpse of my sketches for the last few weeks. As my loyal readers know, I have challenged myself to complete a drawing in my sketchbook every other day of 2015. See the whole lot of them here or follow me on Instagram to see them as soon as they are completed.

There are some good drawings in this group, some not so good. I'm just glad I'm keeping up the practice even though things have been busy and my focus has been drawn elsewhere. Yahoo for sticking with my 2105 goals/resolutions!

 

Have you stuck with your 2015 goals/resolutions? What motivates you to keep going? Do share!

Until next time. Ta-ta!

The Every Other Day Sketch 2015 - Days 3 & 4

Hi there. How are you?

I'm proud to report that I have been keeping up with my Every Other Day Sketch practice.  (I'm actually a little ahead of the game and already have my next 2 sketches in the bag!) I think I can sustain this project throughout the year. Yes!

I actually drew this sketch in the vertical format. But now as I look at it, I'm liking it better as a horizontal.

I'm totally loving Day 4. It's elegant and has a nice flow and shape.  I was so jazzed about this one that I even tried to start a larger version of this drawing on a piece of cradled hardboard, but it's just not the same. I found myself freezing freezing up when I left my sketchbook. "This one has to be good so that someone buys it," says my brain. My work suffers when that happens. I'll have to get over that anxiety and fast as my first art fair of the year is in early May!

Until I can loosen up a little more, I will continue to sketch away in my sketchbook. Thank you for stopping by and seeing what I'm up to.

Until next time. Ta-Ta!