illustration

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!

10 things I want to try in 2015 and links to those who inspire me!

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

linocutsupplies
I can’t wait for 2015! (my creative resolution.2) There are so many things I am excited to try! The above image is the Christmas present I bought myself (see item #1).

Things I want to try in 2015:

  1. Linocut. It seems like a lot of work but the results are awesome! I am inspired by Andrea Lauren who I follow on Instagram (@inkprintrepeat). Check out her nutcracker – amazing!
  2. Lettering (“modern calligraphy”). I’d like to continue practicing my lettering. I follow @illustrationbyj on Instagram. She recommended Tombow markers which are awesome!
  3. Online workshops. There is so many resources online and I’d like to take advantage of them. I’m thinking about this workshop on modern calligraphy.
  4. Painting on dark paper. I love this look and I want to try it – check out my pinterest board to see!
  5. Doodling, especially flowers and wreaths. I’m so inspired by @kristinnohe on Instagram. She fills her journals with beautiful doodles.
  6. Video! I love seeing the progression of a project, which is why I often show my steps. I’d love to show you this in video form.
  7. Patterns. I’ve wanted to try this for awhile. I am inspired by glizadesign.com.
  8. Maps. I’d love to create a whimsical map. I love Linzie Hunter’s style.
  9. Digital Brushes. I am a Graphic Designer and don’t often like to mix my art with my computer work, but maybe it’s time?! There is so much cool stuff you can do.
  10. Watercolor Parties. Friends, watercolor, a glass of wine – what could be more fun?!


What new thing are you excited to try this year?

Mom’s present has entered the ugly phase. Can it recover?

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

ugly

The picture below is what fear looks like. The pressure is on, as I mentioned in a recent post. I want to add ink, but I’m afraid I’ll ruin the painting. Once the ink is on, it can’t be erased. So I do a couple of practice benches and go for it. Immediately I regret it, but I keep working. I continue to add benches. Did I mention I hate working in perspective? The benches look more like Chinese characters, but I keep going. I add ink to the boards of the boardwalk. I was terrified to add the lightpost. It’s too tall – maybe I can use a mat to crop it out and lower it? I add more detail to the benches and they start to look less like Chinese and more like benches.

Fear:
scared
Where I started from:
start

Where I am now:
After I soften the water (by wetting the watercolor pencil) I start to think, maybe I can get this to work. I have to keep working at it. Mom’s Christmas present may be a little late! Next steps – add watercolor to the benches and shadows. Add the rail.

boardwalk4

 

 

Christmas Diorama – in progress

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

diorama1
I haven’t forgotten about my Christmas diorama project. I’m learning that (like anything worth doing) it isn’t a quick, easy thing.

I’m using a tea box and realizing I need to cover every side – inside and out.
diorama2a

Unfortunately the craft tape thingy isn’t strong enough and is showing through the vellum. I’m also realizing that all the corners need to be tight or it looks sloppy. Or I need to trim all the corners and edges in garland. And my watercolor background and sides buckled a bit and aren’t flat.
diorama2c

I started with a “floor” that I tried to mimic real wood. Then I realized the carolers were outside, so I created a cobble stone look.
diorama2b

I think the depth of my box is too large for the pieces I have. I need to add more elements to it or cut the box.

I often think very literally. I created a sky and cobble stone floor for the carolers. Maybe I should try to change my thinking and use Christmas patterns for the inside sides or background.
diorama3

It’s a work in progress. I’m hoping to have a finished diorama to show you by Christmas Eve!

 

What I’ve learned in the 2nd half of 2014 (about myself and art)

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

joy
At the 6 month mark of My Creative Resolution I wrote a post entitled “What I’ve learned about art (and myself).” As I sat down to write this, I reread that post, and I realized a lot of those items are still the important things I’ve learned this year. But I do have a few items to add. Those “6 month” items were mostly about art. The items I am writing now, are what I’ve learned about myself.

  • I love working square
  • I love adding ink. This is so surprising to me! I used to think adding all those lines seems so tedious, but I’ve found – you get into a zone.
  • Watercolor portraits – soften the edges so the skin doesn’t look blotchy.
  • I love being creative. I love having a project in the works, or ideas for new projects, or both!
  • I’m affected by the seasons. I can’t help being inspired by what is around me, whether it’s Spring flowers, Fall leaves, Winter’s evergreen trees, or a day at the beach.
  • I like being spontaneous and working on what inspires me in the moment. I found my weekly checklist to be too much after a while.
  • In the past I was frustrated with wanting to develop a style. Now, I’m embracing the journey. I’m in no rush, and I’m having fun doing it.
  • I’m no closer to selling and I’m not sure selling is for me. I don’t want to be filling orders or creating sellable things. I want to create what I’m inspired to create.
  • I love blogging – see more below.

What I love about blogging:

  • It motivates me to create.
  • I love working on new projects. Each new idea sparks more and more ideas.
  • I enjoy writing.
  • I like thinking about my process – what worked, what didn’t, what was a happy accident, or a mistake to learn from.
  • I love the community and feedback.
  • I’m inspired by and learn from other bloggers and I am honored when someone says I do that for them.

I am bursting at the seams with ideas for making My Creative Resolution better, for me and you, in 2015. I hope you’ll join me as my creative journey continues. 🙂

Winter

| Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

skitrail
I’m really happy with how the sky turned out – although the salt wasn’t working as well as last time. I had to try it several times – I think the painting wasn’t wet enough. Some of the salt is stuck on there for good. It adds a bit of sparkle! Maybe I let it dry too long?

My Steps:
The underpainting.
skitrail1
Adding ink.
skitrail3
One of the attempts with the salt.
skitrail4