Inspired by …a little spontaneous expression

For Illustration Friday
Illustration Friday is a weekly illustration challenge. A topic is posted every Friday on the Illustration Friday site. Then participants have all week to come up with their own interpretation. Anyone is free to join, regardless of skill or experience – just draw!!

This weeks challenge ~ Puzzled.

The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science ~ Erich Fromm

Playing with a bit of spontaneous expression for this challenge. A bit of spontaneous mark-making, mindless scribbling if you will, with ink on paper.

Lets see what happens…

Add more marks, obliterate others (its only paint!) discover shapes, follow your intuition..explore.
 Add some color..

A color paint chip that has been pegged up on my inspiration board for some time now. Colors I would not usually use, but am intrigued by.

Recipe ~ alizarian crimson, yellow oxide, carbon black, titan buff and titanium white.
(ok…I know there is no yellow in the chip, but I just happen to have some slowly drying out on my palette so thought.. waste not..why not?)

A little spontaneous expression for you!

I can imagine you may be a bit puzzled as to how this all fits into the topic “puzzled”

Well, for me, this whole idea of spontaneous drawing ~ intuitive painting ~ is really just a matter of putting together the pieces of a puzzle. You have your marks, your shapes and your colors. Play with them ~ Move your paper around, discover shapes, add more marks  take away (paint over!) those that are not working. Follow your intuition. It either fits or is doesn’t!

A perfect quick and dirty art journal exercise. Challenge yourself with new colors and  new marks. Be free and most importantly be prepared to possibly discover something new and fantastic!

I am off to find more info on this topic so that I can expand on this topic at a later date. If you have any interesting links on intuitive painting, expressive drawing, spontanous expression…I would love to have a read. This intuitive road to creation definitely intrigues me!

Until next week…

Inspired by…surface pattern design

Kind of where I am at right now….

Patiently waiting for April to roll around, bringing with it the  start of my new online class

The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design.

I am asked by many who are willing to listen to me….  The what??

This will give you an idea…

Wallpaper, clothing, home accessories, my favorite coffee cup from Anthropologie….if you look around you will start to notice print and pattern everywhere!

Someone has to design it…. I am ready to learn.

Heres a little blurb  about Rachel Taylor and her course. Maybe it is something that would interest you too?

Thriving surface pattern designer Rachael Taylor will guide you along this exciting path from developing your signature style to putting a collection together, and from protecting your work to monetising your designs. With a rich combination of design inspiration, practical advice, demonstrations, creative exercises, resources and interviews with leading industry practitioners, this is the go-to guide for anyone wanting to develop their design skills and break into the industry.

Module 1: Designing your way (5 weeks Apr 23-May 26)

Module 2: Creating your professional identity (5 weeks June 18-July 21)

Module 3: Monetizing your designs (5 weeks September 3- October 6)*

You can do one or all three modules. I signed up for the whole meal deal. I like to jump in…

Truth be told I am a perpetual student, happiest when learning.  I love the daily inspiration it provides. The challenge it presents. The barrage of new ideas and dreams it creates.

Ahh more sleepless nights to come~ too much excitement  ….It is very hard being me.

So until my time arrives, I have started sketching in my journal, collecting inspirational color combinations and playing with design on my computer. My inspiration board is filling up!

For now that is all I have…

Have a fabulous weekend!