Building a Practice
Until Summer Break Starts lol
I spent this week trying to paint every day. I’m trying to loosen up my painting and figure out a process that works for me. So far the process looks like working really hard on a painting all morning, hating it, painting over it and then trying it again and liking it. This is a fine process but I want to utilize my sketchbook to work out colors and layouts. I want to learn to take my time.
I tried this hack that I mentioned a few newsletters ago of getting Lowes to cut a masonite board into a bunch of different pieces for you. It didn’t really work out. I will not be doing it again. Lowes only made some of the cuts and I was left with a bunch of boards with raggedy edges made on our old table saw. But I’m still using them to make some experimental paintings. The cheap material doesn't feel precious which is sort of liberating. I’ve been posting them on instagram. Some of them I love, some of them I don’t. But I’m building up my painting muscles, exercising my eyeballs and learning some things. I’m also having some fun. I love making goofy creatures, I love playing with color. It’s great when you’re able to delight in something you’ve made.
It feels good to be building a creative practice. Something I sit down to every day. It’s fun to make things just because I think it would be delightful. Adding googly eyes to sea creatures is its own reward. I’m not sure what to do with the paintings yet. Should I sell them? Should I keep them? Should I make a collection and then sell them? Do the people care about raggedy edges? TBD
Thanks for following along friends.
Things worth sharing:
I started making this weird little t-shirt shop a few weeks ago. I’m curious about print on demand, so I thought I’d play around. I love the t-shirts from Katie Kimmel and Banquet Atelier, but neither of them had a cottage cheese t-shirt, so I thought I’d make my own. What else do you think I should add?
I’m a little obsessed with the painter Sandi Hester. She’s my new painting guru. This podcast interview with her is pure gold.
Elliott and I found a rock tumbler at the thrift store and 3 weeks later we have our first shiny polished rocks! It was fun to watch the transformation. Highly recommend if your kid is a rock enthusiast.
Loved this planter post. One of the ideas they share is to bring a paper template of your planter to give you an idea of how many plants you will need.
I think I might join my first patreon. I love the illustrator Emma Carlisle and she has monthly sketch sessions that I would really really love to attend. Curious if you support anyone on patreon or if there are newsletters that are so good you’re willing to pay for them.
My Shop: phillycornerstore.bigcartel.com
E-mail: halestormenator@gmail.com