Watercolor

A Creative Kickstart

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

workspace echinacea
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.

A Bee in the Garden

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

bee
Only for my friend Charlie at doodlewash.com would I risk my life to take photos of this bee to paint. Just kidding, I’ve been told these bees aren’t the stinging kind. Of course I snapped the photo at the beginning of June with Charlie’s theme of a nature doodlewash in mind, but waited ’til the last day of the month to finish and post. I do need a deadline to get things finished!

World Watercolor Month starts tomorrow! Watch the trailer here.

Spaghetti & Meatballs

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

meatballs
On Friday, after posting my limes, Charlie at doodlewash.com reminded me that I was “invited” to dinner. Here is an excerpt of Charlie’s original invitation:

“I’m inviting all of you over for dinner, because seriously, how cool would that be? During the month, if at any time you’d like to come to the party, just “bring over” a lovely doodlewash of something delicious to eat or drink by using the hashtag – #DoodlewashDinner.”

But how could I bring limes to dinner?! I couldn’t, so instead I made a favorite in our house – spaghetti and meatballs. Grab a fork and enjoy. And a big thank you to our host Charlie!

 

Time to Paint

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

gerberadaisiesp
It feels really good to have time to paint and draw after vacation (and the time before it – shopping, prepping, and packing). I spent time Sunday starting several paintings. For me, it’s the starting that’s hard, once I have a painting “in the works” it’s easy to pull it out and work on it (unless I let too much time pass).
bike

The three paintings were very different. You’d never guess I started them all at the same time, but they did have something in common. Before I started painting I turned to my Camera Roll on my phone for inspiration. All three were inspired by recent photos I took, or in one case, a photo I spotted on Instagram (that I took a screen capture of).
rooster

The orange gerbera daisies (my favorite flowers) were outside of the supermarket. The rooster roams around outside of my son’s friend’s neighbor’s house. Who knew you could find a rooster this close to NYC? The vintage bicycle with the lilacs was posted on Instagram by Kathleen @fadedcharmliving.
gerbera roosterpic fadedcharm

I’m trying to paint more. I had gotten away from it a bit. Not that long ago, I painted in this square size so frequently I put all the painting together and took a photo. My goal is to create another grouping of square paintings. I have a ways to go!
8inchpaintings

This is what a good morning looks like.

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

creativemorning
I’m back on track with my creative resolution. I decided on the habits that will keep me creative and successful, and I’m keeping to them, until they truly become habits and I do them without even thinking. I’m working in my sketchbook every morning. Once a week I’m starting the day by painting. It’s such a good feeling to start the day this way. My mind is less cluttered when this is the first thing I work on. It changes my outlook for the entire day.

I had no idea what I was going to work on, as I set up, and taped down my paper. My son’s lacrosse magazine happen to be lying around, and I thought it would be interesting to work with a dry brush – to just capture the shapes and movement. That one little spark of an idea and I was off. I was in the groove. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this way. For the last month or so, when I did paint I was somewhat uninspired.

I really liked how it came out. It felt different for me.

lacrosse

A home for my cupcake painting

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

 The one negative to painting and drawing a lot, is that those paintings and drawings pile up. I do hang some of them up, but most end up in a drawer. Good thing I don’t work on canvas that much. 

So when a friend said “I want it!” in response to my cupcake post on Instagram, I said, “It’s yours!” It’s nice that this painting has a home and isn’t stuck in a drawer.

Painting with color

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

Today I decided to paint with lots of bright cheery colors. I’ve been creating all weekend and thinking about what to post. Sometimes, when too much time has past, I overthink what to write about. It’s usually a case of too many ideas! I complicate things. So to simplify – this is what I’m painting right now. 🙂

New Year, New Banner

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

2016banner
I thought it would be appropriate to design a banner that better represented what I do. So, why not a sketch of my painting setup? I’ve kept my bear in there, on the can holding the brushes. If you are wondering what’s with the bear – read my about page.

The New Year, has given me a recharge. I’m more committed to being creative than I was at the start (of 2014). I’m excited to pursue all the different things I’m interested in (painting, illustration, surface design, animation). I’m trying to doodle in my sketchbook every day. I ask myself for only 5 minutes. Even on the busiest days, I can spare that right? It’s relaxing, and it allows me time to come up with ideas. I usually do it early in the morning, while I wait for the kids to get ready. It puts me in a creative mindset for the day. And because of that, I usually end up creating later in the day.

Hope your New Year is off to a creative start too!