Welcome!
On most Wednesdays, check this blog for a strategy, process, or reflection for illustration with the iPad app ProCreate or Affinity Designer. This Wednesday Wrap Up shares a slow week for art — a quick review and a look at recent uploads to Red Bubble and Spoonflower.
Review
A Year Ago, An Unused Design — see photo above
About a year ago I was playing around with “trailing vine” patterns. One was a bold and bright design with sunflowers, oxalis, and butterflies on a bright blue sky background. I didn’t do anything with it — it was so bright and I couldn’t tell if the design repeated in a good way– flowing.
Last week I picked up my new glasses, and wouldn’t you know it, the eye doctors don’t always provide a new case anymore.
So I searched around for a way to print a design on a case and found one at Bags of Love, which is part of Contrado. By the time I found my way to glasses cases, I didn’t realize I was in the UK until the email verification arrived. I wanted something bold and beautiful and so my trailing sunflowers with butterflies became the design on the case I orderd.
And my order arrived today from London! I ordered it on August 23rd and it’s already here — in five days! That’s way faster than any POD in the United States, and the shipping was fair, instead of outrageous like some places– especially since I didn’t even know my glasses case was crossing the Atlantic Ocean! And it looks awesome on my glasses case with cleaning cloth– don’t you think?
So hang on to your art– you never know when it’s the perfect thing!
This Past Week
For three weeks I’ve been playing around with the gouache florals from Jennifer Nichols of Leila and Po Studio [affiliate link] and her recent “Live Lesson” “Flowy Fall Color-Changing Gouache Pattern” on YouTube; we learned about her new Procreate gouache brushes, ways to change their settings for using secondary colors, and how to make a quick scatter pattern. The canvas, brushes, and palette are available in the private Creative Journey community [affiliate link]. I’ve been playing with the brushes and pattern making, which I wrote about here: Journey in Autumn Florals. You can download my palette swatch for Procreate from that post.
This week’s gouache art:
And My Shops
Recently I was explaining to a former colleague what I am doing in my retirement — making art, especially surface design patterns. Before I finished explaining about it, my colleague interrupted me with, “Are you making any money?”
It took me by surprise because I’m just delighted I’m creating art and sharing it with the world.
There’s lots of ways to be as a person, and some people express their deep appreciation in different ways. But one of the ways that I believe people express their appreciation to the rest of humanity is to make something wonderful and put it out there. And you never meet the people, you never shake their hands, you never hear their story or tell yours. But somehow in the act of making something with a great deal of care and love, something’s transmitted there. And it’s a way of expressing to the rest of our species, our deep appreciation.
Steve Jobs — 9to5mac
I’ve never been an “artist,” but I’ve been creative. And with the iPad I can “two finger undo” as needed! Procreate makes creating art doable for people like me with slightly shakey hands and still learning, and I love the preciseness of Affinity Designer. The whole experience since 2016 has been a journey of creativity and learning through art and with amazing artists sharing their techniques and strategies.
Do I make money with my art? In my mind, that’s a bonus, because art is for sharing.Occasionally, I put out a “promo” for something I’ve added to a shop, but mostly I’m simply putting it out there and if someone likes it, all the better.
As a fact though, I’ve made bits and pieces of money for occasional sales at Spoonflower and Red Bubble or Society6. I’ve created art on request at Spoonflower and for a blogger. I’ve given away a LOT of art as gifts to family and friends. I’ve helped make people’s day. And that is the best thing.
So today, I’ve added a few things to Red Bubble and Spoonflower. I’m putting it out there for others to enjoy, be inspired, or may purchase, but the main thing is to make art and share it with the world to make it a bit better [and sometimes make a point]. Note: the Spoonflower link in each image is the same– to the Wildflowers Collection.
Spoonflower
Spoonflower
Spoonflower
Spoonflower
Click an image to view the item in Red Bubble.
Go for it!
So if you’ve been hesitant to share your art– go for it! Start a shop. If you have any questions, just ask! I’d be glad to help with what I know.
You’re welcome to follow this blog for art inspiration. We can share with #warmup4art to enjoy our work together! I look forward to your sharing and find me at @42Sheri, on Mastodon Sheri42, on Flickr teach.eagle Sheri 42.
So, That’s a wrap for this week’s art. Thank you for stopping by!
I wonder, if I draw a line... 