Art/Work – Life – Balance

Now that I’ve spent a whole weekend with this motto and listened to two talks (by Jennifer K. Mann and Kirby Larson), I want to share some of my notes and thoughts with you on this topic.

• Acknowledge that your Art = Work.
• Your Work matters.
• Harvest “hidden pockets of time” (Mann), for example, while you’re commuting, at night, when your kids take a nap, …
• Try to find useful things (like information/ inspiration/ people/ material/…) everywhere you go
• Make your art/work portable so you can work everywhere! I try to carry a sketch pad with me at all times, and most of us are never without their smartphone, with which you can take pictures, take notes, do research,…
• Be aware of your needs, self-care is important!
• Keep a journal (whatever works best for you, a notepad, sketchpad, a digital note file on your smartphone, even Instagram is a journal!)
• Look for memories and experiences in your life that are worth being told and shared
• Engage friends and family to get some fresh ideas/ inspiration/help you get the time you need
• Establish (good) habits/rituals/routines, that help you start the day/your work  (like making tea or taking a deep breath, easy things. If you already have a habit you can try to add a new one to that)
• Enter competitions and take classes, be brave and learn! I submit to “draw this!” by the SCBWI every month and I’m always looking for opportunities.
• Disregard advise that doesn’t feel right or that doesn’t work for you.
• Life happens, be attentive! Everything has its time.
• Find someone that supports you (this can be family & friends, but it can also be a critique group/partner, fellow artists, …)
• Make it easy on yourself, let go of a clean house – it’s not worth it if it stops you from creating
• Build connections! Go to conferences, workshops, events, … talk to people and stay in touch
• “Don’t be afraid to make crap!” (Larson), in art quantity makes quality, you will always learn something (even if you draw the same apple a 100 times)
• Be a “Flaneur”, that is “a part of this world, but apart” (Larson), observe your surroundings, take notes of things you see without analyzing them
• Stop thinking, start creating
• DON’T QUIT !

In short: be good to yourself and others and never give up.

Don’t Quit!

Keep creating!

Corinna

 

 

 

 

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Welcome Wacom!

Yesterday my new and very first graphic tablet was delivered!
It’s a Wacom Intuos Pro – Paper Edition.

 

(I also thought about getting an iPad Pro, but the $$$ was a factor that needed to be considered.)

I’ve never worked with a graphic tablet before, so I’m sure I will need some time to adjust and even more trial and error, but I am sure it’s going to be a lot of fun! So far it’s meeting all my expectations and I’m looking forward to playing around with it some more and then create digital art on/with it!! It is even easier than I expected to draw on the tablet and see what I’m doing on the screen.

Right now I’m using the free program Krita, which works very well for me. I just need some time to figure out where I can find the different tools, how they work and so on. I’m very curious to see what I will do with this and I like trying out all the possibilities!

If you have any recommendations for brushes, tutorials, or other things I need to know or try; please let me know!

The Journey Begins

Welcome to my page!

I’m a creative mind in a crazy world full of undiscovered experiences. I want to share my passion for art and the ways I’m expressing myself through my own art. This page will give you the opportunity to see my portfolio, but also have a look behind the easel. Next to my work with watercolors, oil paints, acrylics, and other materials you will find my thoughts, my emotions, and experiences.

I’m looking forward to explore & create,

Corinna

“Creativity takes courage.” — Henri Matisse