Sketch

First posts and first creative goals

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

Sketchbook

Inspired by other bloggers I’m revisiting my earliest posts.

My first post 12/30/13: Happy New Year!

“This year I’m taking my New Year’s resolution to a new level. I’m holding myself accountable, by making a commitment to blog about my progress. In the past I’ve been great in the ideas department, not as good in the follow through! But this time, I hope to draw, paint and create my way through 2014! Join me on the journey so you can witness the successes (and failures) and maybe we’ll both learn a thing or two on the way!”

My second post and a goal: Filling the Sketchbook
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“I plan on filling this sketch book. Although it is a bit daunting! I like saving all my old sketchbooks and looking through them. I even keep drawings that I am embarrassed by. They show me how far I’ve come. I look at old sketches with a fresh perspective and know what is “off.” Sometimes I look at a sketch and proudly think, “I did that?” As I thumb through, I am reminded of projects I was interested in. I can add some of those  to my list for the coming year.”

Present day…
Working in that sketchbook became an important part of my weekly creative practice, and it was a turning point when I started painting in it. I remembered how much I love watercolor! Unfortunately the paper in this sketchbook wasn’t made for adding paint. So when I found the Canson Mix Media sketchbook – that I still use today – I was thrilled. Love the thick bright white pages! In three years I’ve filled at least 8 sketchbooks! Goal reached, and then some!

Did you read:
Does Your Astrological Sign Affect Your Creativity?

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Christmas Lights

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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Day 16 in the Christmas countdown. These big lights remind me of when I was little. I remember my dad would have the strings of lights strewn across the living room, trying to find the one bad bulb that was affecting the whole string. Nowadays I think I’d chuck them and buy a new set. 😂

Join me in the Christmas countdown. Draw/paint – any medium is welcome! Tag adventmcr when posting.

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Christmas Pajamas and Cookies for Santa

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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Day 15 of the Christmas countdown. It’s freezing today. I wish I had a pair of footie pajamas to keep me warm! I made a last minute change to today’s prompt because I had cookies on the list twice. Hope I didn’t mess anyone up. So I included cookies in my painting too. I was simply going to have the girl in her Christmas pjs but then decided to add cookies for Santa, which led to a tree, which led to a snowy window. These things sometimes have a mind of their own. 😄

This prompt turned out to be a fun one. You have got to see what Marion and Teri each created. Just click their names to see.

Hope everyone is staying warm tonight!

Draw/paint along! Tag adventmcr when posting.

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InkTober recap

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

Participating in InkTober was a great motivator. I got into the habit of working daily which was great. I didn’t follow the prompts but worked on what inspired me. I held off on adding Watercolor to my ink sketches, but towards the end I gave in. And purely by chance I got to meet the creator of InkTober Jake Parker!

I felt so good about doing all 31 days that this month I’m following the World Watercolor Group’s prompts. I’m glad to be back using Watercolor. Of course I’m still adding in some ink too!

Here are my favorites:

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Painting potatoes and donuts

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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Today’s painting prompt is potatoes. My parents’ parents were born in Ireland, so my mom made a lot of potatoes when I was growing up. I hated them, but I think the only food I liked were sugar cereal and candy so that isn’t saying much. I used to hide my food at dinner to make it seem like I ate. One time I pretended to drink my milk but actually was spitting my mashed potatoes into the milk. I put my unfinished milk glass in the refrigerator. Later my mom made tea and went to pour a little of my milk into her cup, but out plopped my mashed potatoes. I have come to like potatoes but rarely make mashed. Most holidays I ask my mom to bring hers.

Yesterday’s prompt was donuts. I like them much better! 😄

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The story behind a painting

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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I’m participating in World Watercolor Group’s November daily painting prompts. I worked in my sketchbook all through October for InkTober, so I thought the prompts would motivate me to continue.

As I posted my “croissants” on November 1st, I thought about Charlie O’Shields’ (the founder of World Watercolor Group) posts. Charlie seems to always tell a story about his “doodlewashes.” They often make me laugh and make me think of stories of my own. Here’s what I posted on the 1st:

“In the spirit of Charlie the founder of the World Watercolor Group, here’s a story to go with my croissant. In my early 20s my friend and I were backpacking in Europe and went to a small town in the south of France. At an outdoor cafe I ordered a croissant. With my New York accent it sounded more like “crescent.” The waiter insisted we pronounce it correctly before he would bring them. If I remember correctly croissant is pronounce more like qua-sant. It wasn’t a bad lesson for me. At the time I honestly thought everyone must speak some English. By the way the waiter in Czechoslovakia didn’t speak any. We had no idea what we were ordering when we pointed to the menu. Imagine how happy we were when we found the McDonalds!”

Today as I was catching up on yesterday’s painting, I was sneaking some of my son’s Halloween candy. It was totally ironic that today’s prompt is sugar candies.

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I recently interviewed Charlie O’Shields. Check it our here.

If you want to particpate in the World Watercolor Group’s November prompts you can see them here. Be sure to tell the story. 😉

Happy Halloween!

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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I remember when the kids were so little, I worried they would wobble off the porch when someone opened the door for them. After 15 years of trick or treating, this was the first year that even the youngest didn’t need me to tag along. Not only did I stay home, but it was my oldest who gave out the candy.

Today is the final day of InkTober. I’m very proud of my consecutive 31 days of drawing in ink. The challenge really helped motivate me. All 31 drawings are posted on my Instagram @eileenmckenna.

What are you going to be for Halloween?

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

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This sketch (for InkTober) was done using as reference a photo of my kids from several Halloweens ago. When I was a kid I loved dressing up. “What are you going to be?” we asked each other.

Looking back I loved the creativity of a handmade costume or hand “pieced” together costume – I didn’t sew. We didn’t have catalogs of costumes arriving at our door like there are now. One year I was a spider. I stuffed black tights and hung them from my waist as my spider legs. A few years ago I saw something similar for sale in a catalog!

I still dress up and piece together a costume from this or that. Last year I was Cruella Deville. The year before that I was Little Red Riding Hood. I still don’t know what I’ll be this year. So…what are you going to be?!

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