Painting

Paint Regularly

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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I’ve been missing watercolor lately. I’ve been busy doing other creative things: working in ink for InkTober, and playing around on the iPad with a stylus pen in Adobe Sketch and Adobe Draw.

When I finally sat down with my paints the other day it wasn’t easy. But I’ve learned not to give up, and as I worked I started having some success and was inspired to pull out two unfinished paintings. I went from struggling to learning to painting with confidence.

It had been 2 weeks since I last painted – way too much time! It reminded me of getting back into running after my third child was born. I was running once a week (and doing yoga and other things the other days). I realized that running once a week wasn’t enough. Every time I ran, I felt like I was starting over. It’s similar with painting, drawing, or any craft. The more you do it, the more your skills and confidence build. When too much time passes you start to lose those same things you worked so hard to build up.

So here’s to a more regular painting schedule. 🙂

Creating a scene

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

Scarecrow

Now I don’t mean going to a party and ending up with a lampshade on your head! What I mean by “creating a scene” is I’m aspiring to create illustrations that have depth to them. In the past my illustrations and paintings have focused on a single object.

I created the scarecrow on my iPad using Adobe Sketch for the first time. (I’ve been practicing with Adobe Draw). Although I didn’t end up using the more Photoshop-like brushes. I’m still trying to get the apps linked to my desktop. It would be awesome to draw on the iPad and then be able to open the drawing in Illustrator or Photoshop to refine. And I think I had a breakthrough. 😀

A new painting on an old watercolor wash

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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This morning I came across a couple of one color washes I painted a couple of years ago. The watercolor washes were backgrounds for a product photo shoot for a client’s Etsy page. I decided I would reuse the washes.
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I thought it would be interesting to use one as the background of a painting. I selected the yellow one and pulled up a photo on my phone that I had taken several weeks ago. At the time, I was out for a run and I was passing an old house surrounded by hedges. I thought it would be a good reference photo if I decided to do any haunted house paintings this year.
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I started by drawing in pen and ink on the yellow. Then I painted the hedges and the trees, and then some of the other areas. Lastly the details on the house. I decided not to turn the house into a haunted house because as it turns out, the house had a secret of it’s own. Not even a week after I took the photo, my husband said to me, “Did you hear about the house in town with the pigeons? They found 350 pigeons living inside the house. The house didn’t even have running water.” I knew right away it was the house I had taken the photo of.

I decided to paint the house the way I saw it. No extra spooky details. Just an old house hidden by overgrown hedges.

Finally a quiet house :)

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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The kids are back at school and the house is quiet. It’s the perfect time to get back to painting. Once I set up, I accomplished a lot in a short amount of time.

I took a unfinished painting – a wash of colors – and added a lighthouse. And I started a painting of a little girl at the beach. Looking forward to much more painting time this fall! 😀

Playing around with Adobe Draw

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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Today at the pool I pulled out my iPad and a stylus pen and drew a tree, followed by people in the pool. I’ve used Adobe Draw twice before and it’s something I want to do more of.

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Previously my digital illustration was done by pointing and clicking the mouse in Adobe Illustrator on the desktop. Although I’ve wanted to do more digital drawing, sitting at the computer feels like work, so I usually end up with pen and sketch pad instead.

Earlier in the summer, I notice a scribbly line in notes and started drawing with my finger. After that I read about an artist that uses Adobe Draw and thought, “I need that!” Then I saw a stylus at my mom’s house and ordered one for myself.

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Adobe Draw is awesome because you can work in layers like Illustrator. I haven’t even gotten to the point of opening files from Adobe Draw in Illustrator (to refine them), but I’m under the impression that you can do that, and that they’ll be vector files.

Drawing on the iPad is so quick, compared to traditional materials. Although there are things I’d like to do that I’m still figuring out. I plan on playing around more with this. 😀

“Paint quick and don’t overwork it” (note to self)

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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There is inspiration everywhere you look at the beach – the sand, sea, and sky. Lately I’ve been noticing the endless supply of figures – in all shapes and sizes. Occasionally I’ll pull out a small sketchbook, but usually I take photos to draw later.

The female lifeguard caught my eye, because that was me 30 years ago! I’m trying to work fast and loose. This is the type of painting that paralyzes me. Afraid to ruin it, I take forever, and if I finish, it looks stiff and lifeless. So, my goal is to push through and finish today whatever the result.

https://instagram.com/p/BI8jgf6B8cs/

Going with the flow

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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I ordered new watercolor pads in the 8″ x 8″ size I love. Somehow I ended up with 12″ x 12″. Of course I could return them, but I thought maybe I’d give it a try. Maybe I’m ready for a change? The 8″ x  8″ was starting to seem small and a bit restrictive.

This morning I started doing my normal ink work in my sketchbook, intent on filling the page with starfish. After one starfish, I stopped and grabbed the 12″ x 12″. So much more room to repeat shapes! So far I’ve painted some of the starfish and parts of the sandy background.

I’m loving the 12″ x 12″! The final product will be such a substantial size. It’s funny how we work in a certain way, develop habits, but one thing can set us on a new path, new work habits.

Painting the Beach

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

beachandshells
After painting a few flowers, I wanted a new subject. The beach is my favorite place. I’m always trying to paint it but struggle to really capture it – the shadows and waves in the water, the changing color of the sand. When I put too much detail in the water it just doesn’t look right. When I work quicker and looser it looks better, but seems to be missing something. After a few attempts at painting the beach, I needed a new subject (again). Right in front of me were shells we collected at the beach. Ah! Still the beach, but now I’m zooming in on the details. This one was fun and I like how it came out.

A Creative Kickstart

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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World Watercolor Month has given me the creative kick in the butt I needed to get back to painting. I’ve dabbled a little in drawing and painting recently but most of my creative energy has been focused elsewhere – Specifically on growing my web design and social media marketing business.

Once I heard that Charlie from doodlewash got July officially named World Watercolor Month, I knew painting would be my focus for the month. It’s funny how we may want to do something like focus on painting or our health, but it takes outside influences to get us to make it happen.

The day before the start, I prepped paper by taping it down onto several boards. I walked around our garden taking photos for inspiration and reference. My goal is to paint every day, not necessarily have a final piece to post – just paint every day. It’s not too late to join in! Learn more about World Watercolor Month here.