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Writing a checklist to help you achieve your Creative Goals

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

watercolorinkleaves
I’ve learned so much since starting my creative resolution in 2014. About how important setting a goal is. But, not only do we have to set a goal, we need to outline the tasks that will get us there.

My 2014 creative resolution, or goal, was very simply to “be creative.” Early on I wrote (and adapted as I went on) a “weekly checklist” or a set of tasks that would help me achieve my goal. They were:

My 2014 Weekly Checklist:

  • 3 pencil sketches – “5 minute sketches”
  • 1 watercolor
  • 1 acrylic
  • illustration (children’s book illustration style)

As the year went on I added things like “figure drawing” to my list, and, as I focusted more on watercolor, acrylic painting moved to my monthly list.

My 2014 Monthly Checklist:

  • learn a new technique (from a video, book, etc.)
  • 1 acrylic painting
  • “other” project (furniture, wood, etc.)

My 2015 creative resolution or goal was to “continue my creative journey.” Right from the start of 2015 I wrote a list of things I have always wanted to try. Some of these things were one time “tries,” while others I incorporated into my checklist (see the last three items).

My 2015 Checklist:

  • Try one thing from “the list” each month
  • Create almost daily (and post on Instagram)
  • Paint with watercolor at least once a week
  • Doodle with ink almost daily
  • Design a pattern a month
  • Practice hand lettering at least once a month

As the new year gets closer and closer, I’m excited to set a new goal, a new creative resolution. I’ve grown so much, I can’t wait to see what 2016 brings! 🙂

 

A Sunset and Gouache Paints

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

watercolorsunset
I’ve wanted to try gouache paints for a long time. Since reading about Illustrators who used them, and having no idea what they were. [Gouache paints are opaque watercolors.*] Two months ago I bought a little box of paints to try, but still hadn’t opened them! The other day on a whim, I decided to give them a try.
gouache

I’d heard gouache were like watercolor, but thicker, and can create more saturated colors. I was inspired by the sunset after a storm recently (see the photo below), so it seemed the perfect time to try them out.
sunsetphoto

I’m not sure I needed to, but I used “India Ink” for the trees. I wanted as dark a black as I could get. In retrospect, I should have at least tested the gouache black to see if it could achieve this. I love the richness of the colors the gouache paints gave me!

Gouache description, courtesy of Blick:
Gouache is an opaque watercolor paint. Whereas transparent watercolors allow you to see the “white” of the paper below the paint, gouache can be applied in solid colors. This allows an artist to paint in layers from dark to light.
Gouache dries to a matte finish, which makes it easy to scan or reproduce electronically, since there is no glossy shine. Designer’s Gouache traditionally offers colors blended from a number of pigments, but some lines of Artist’s Gouache offer single-pigment colors. Student Gouache will have working characteristics similar to Designer’s Gouache, but with lower pigment concentration, less expensive formulas, and a smaller range of colors.

Six tips on developing your own illustration style

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

I’m writing this post because I would have loved to come across this information 1, 2, 3, even 5 years ago. There is plenty of information out there are on learning how to draw and paint, on techniques, and even on cartooning, but not much on how to develop your own drawing, illustration, or painting style. I now know why there isn’t a lot out there. It’s because…the recipe to developing your own style has three key ingredients: YOU, TIME, and WORK

6 Tips on Developing your own Illustration Style

If you are committed to finding your style – whether it be painting, illustration, or another medium, here is what you need to do:

  • Make time to draw (or paint) several times a week – even for a few minutes
  • Be open to inspiration all around you (take lots of photos)
  • Create work that is personal to you
  • Take notice of artists, whose styles you like, and try out elements of their style that speak to you. Watch videos of how other artists work and try out any part of their process that interests you
  • Experiment with different tools – paper, pens, pencils, paints, etc. – until you find the ones that you are most comfortable with. My favorites – Canson multimedia sketchbook, Uniball Signo Pen, and Van Gogh watercolor paints. See more of my favorites here.
  • Periodically look at your work (as objectively as possible) to make note of what is emerging as “your” style. You’ll notice milestones along the way.

As you try things you pick up from other artists, these techniques will either stick or won’t, as you continue working. And you’ll naturally modify and adapt these techniques to become your own. If you are putting in the time and working almost daily on your craft, your style will start to emerge. But, style isn’t a fixed thing, a final destination, it’s always evolving, as you put the time and work into your craft. And it’s worth it. 🙂

Read “The 11 art supplies I can’t paint without!”
11 Art Supplies I can't paint without

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Thinking of a Summer Project

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

memorialday
Memorial Day, the unofficial start of Summer! As I figure out what my kids will do to keep busy this Summer, I realize I need a Summer project too! And it comes at a good time for me. I could use a jolt of motivation. As I look back on all the things I wanted to try in 2015, I’m proud to say I’ve tackled most of these items.

My list for 2015:

  1. Linocut. 
  2. Lettering. Did online workshop
  3. Online workshops. See lettering above.
  4. Painting on dark paper. Used with lino.
  5. Doodling. Have filled a whole sketchbook in the shortest time to date!
  6. Video. Have done short ones on Instagram. But, still on my list! Would like to play more with stop motion.
  7. Patterns. Have created one a month.
  8. Maps. Haven’t done much with this.
  9. Digital Brushes. Have been working digitally.
  10. Watercolor Parties. Have painted with friends.

 

Some were great to try, like lino, but another craft to learn – which takes time! Other items on my list, like patterns – I’m even more into, than when I started the year. I feel like this is progress. That I can try new things, eliminate some, and decide to pursue others further.

Last year my Summer project was drawing figures. Last Summer I created my first watercolor/ink piece – in the style that I feel like is me. Let’s see what this Summer brings!

Happy March! Time to pull out your green!

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

shamrock1
I’m planning another Instagram art series and I’d like you to join in the fun! The theme is St. Patrick’s Day. Include #mcrstpatricksday in your Instagram post. Join me for a day or all 17 days (March 1 – 17th).  It will be fun!

I had a great time last month posting Valentine’s Day art for 14 days. Working within the same theme was really interesting. You really explore the theme as the days go by, and you come up with different ideas. I used several different mediums: watercolor, watercolor and ink, scanned doodles from my sketchbook and painted them in Photoshop, created a pattern, and a linocut.

Hope to see you on Instagram! Look for me: mycreativeresolution 🙂

10 ways to keep your New Year’s Resolution

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

newyearsres

  1. Make a resolution you want to keep, not one you think you should keep.
  2. Clearly define your resolution, so you know the steps you have to take to “keep it.”
  3. Be realistic. You can build on your resolution over time. If your resolution is running – don’t expect to run a marathon the first week of January. But you can expect to build up to a 5k over the course of the year.
  4. Keep visual reminders around. I left my sketchbook on my night stand. Every time I saw it, I remembered I wanted to fill it.
  5. Spend money to motivate you. Throughout the year, I buy new art supplies and I feel guilty if I don’t use them!
  6. Keep a journal or blog to keep track of your progress. You’ll enjoy reading old entries and seeing how far you’ve come. Blogging greatly motivated me to finish my creative projects. I felt I owed it to anyone reading!
  7. Schedule time to do the things necessary to keeping your resolution. If it’s “eat healthy” you need to make time to shop and prepare healthy meals.
  8. Tell people, especially the supportive ones! The more people you tell, the more accountable you will feel.
  9. Celebrate the milestones – 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, a year!
  10. Don’t stop at a year. If it is a resolution worth keeping, continue after the year is out and build on it. I am more excited about my creative resolution 2015, then I was 2014!

My Creative Resolution – a year in review.

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

chart
As the first anniversary of My Creative Resolution approaches, I decided to look back and see what I worked on this year – what mediums I choose. It was surprising to me that during the first two months I painted with acrylics. I think it was something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I even pulled out old unfinished canvases and finished them!

After two months, I was getting a little bored with my sketchbook and I pulled out my watercolors. Well, that changed everything! I started focusing more and more on watercolor. I had a history and some knowledge with watercolor. I added to that by watching videos and absorbing ideas and techniques from other artists online. I was having fun with it and was more and more liking my results. For too long I was working on crappy paper, but eventually I bought the right stuff!

Eight months in and I decided to paint cards for the swim coaches. To make the cards whimsical I added ink to the cards. When I draw in pencil, I tend to have a scratchy (lots of lines) style. In the past whenever I tried pen and ink I thought I had to draw one perfect deliberate line. (This stressed me out.) This time I scratched away (with the ink pen) and was happy with the results!

After that, I started adding ink to a lot of my watercolors. My favorite, surprising result, was when I took two outtakes and attacked them with a pen. I liked them better than the original painting!

For a long time I wanted to know what my style was – especially when I was trying to illustrate a children’s book. I scoured the internet for the answer – how do you develop/choose a style? Now I know that the answer is simple – time. Take the time to practice and try different things and your style will come out. The longer you work at it, the more it will evolve.

Even though I’ve almost reached the one year mark in My Creative Resolution, I have no intention of stopping! I am so happy with the results – the result of pushing myself to keep at it. I can’t wait to see where this journey will continue to take me, where I’ll be in six months or in another year. My original creative resolution was to draw, paint and create. I left open the possibility that I might be sanding and refinishing furniture, making signs, drawing or painting. BTW there are STILL a few pieces waiting in the garage to be refinished! Maybe in 2015?