Art based resolutions reviewed and revised for 2011

Blue doors, Souq Waqif. Pen & Watercolour A5 ©Sue Pownall 2010

I had a few loose art-based resolutions for 2010 and looking at people's review of goals and non-goals I found it hard to decide whether to write more specific goals or to go for new loose ones. I do need some sort of direction, however all I knew was that my art is to be my priority in the new year. Maybe that's enough?!

Fiat Plant Sketch.Pen & ink A5 ©Sue Pownall 2010

So my 2010's art-based resolutions were:

1. To manage my time better and not spend creative time on the internet.

Khalifa's House Gate, Omdurman.Pen & ink 400x200mm  ©Sue Pownall 2010.

hmm failed on the cutting internet time, in fact it probably increased as the art community I follow increased. Furthermore, it has actually proved to provide inspiration from websites like the Urban Sketchers on flickr with their weekly sketching theme, Virtual Paintout with a monthly place to paint, Illustration Friday another weekly theme, EDM with it's fabulous community and weekly challenges, all found online. Maybe not such a bad thing IF the themes and challenges are taken up? 

15th Street Mosque, Khartoum.Pen & ink  400x200mm ©Sue Pownall 2010.

2. To do what I love, concentrating on my pen & ink work.

I was very successful in doing this, especially as I even had 3 drawings hung in an exhibition.

Monarch Butterfly.Pen & ink  100x100mm ©Sue Pownall 2010

3. To do lots more quick, immediate sketching.

I sketched so much that I have been listed in the Directory as a sketchbook artist.

Sketch: My foot, May.Pen & ink A5 ©Sue Pownall 2010.

2010

Over and above these very loose goals I achieved so much more. I have developed a community of artist friends, both online and face-to-face, which has helped keep me motivated and provided inspiration. Furthermore, I have had the pleasure of meeting up and sketching with several fabulous artists and this is something I wish to do more of in the future. 

To improve my drawing skills, I continued attending life-drawing classes whenever I had the opportunity, and had great fun at the Dr Sketchy's event in London, even though my results weren't so great. I also attended the Ken Kempley watercolour workshop, which was great fun and I hope to repeat it in the summer.  

My passion for my art has been reignited since I started this blog in Sept 09, but mainly throughout 2010, so much so that I do not leave the house without a sketchbook and pen, although it is used only a few times a week. I also always carry a camera to snap shots of potential subjects.

Marsh dawn. Watercolour A4 ©Sue Pownall 2010

 2011

As I said at the beginning of this post my priority this year is my art. Yesterday, coming across Chris Brogan and his My 3 words for 2011, this is basically 3 words on which you pin your goals, I found it easy to think of my three words: focus, creativity, happiness. So with possibility of changes I think this year's art resolutions are:

1. To focus my life, my thoughts, my dreams on my art and market myself as much as I can. (You may have noticed the change from blogging and commenting using travelingsuep to my full name, which is the first step I have made.) I will be setting up a facebook page this week to get my finished work out there, but I will  continue to blog and post my sketches here as normal. 

I am thinking about printing postcards and/or gift cards - several people have commented on the blue doors at the top of this post. I have already started carrying photos of my work to hand out or show when opportunities arise. 

Finally, I may develop and deliver some workshops as pen & ink is a skill that is not often addressed on courses.

2. As last year, my creative outlet will remain pen & ink as well as regular sketching. I plan for a minimum of 1 finished piece a month (SMART goal as any more would be unrealistic) ready to try to get hung in a gallery or exhibition and to update the facebook page.

3. Happiness will come from following my dreams and continuing to interact with wonderful artistic people. 

Thank you to all of you who follow my work, take the time to comment, and who have encouraged and inspired me throughout 2010.

Dr Sketchy's : Life drawing & burlesque!

Khandie Kissea in first session. 10 mins.

Over on Inklings, I read Catriona's post on Dr Sketchy and saw her fab drawings (check them out here). Two days later, feeling very nervous as I hate going to pubs alone, I signed up for an event at The Old Queen's Head, Islington. Yesterday, several weeks later, I was so nervous as I travelled up to London to attend. As Lisa advised in a post on Wanderlust Women's Travel Dreams, I had on my lipstick, dressed for success, and also carted up my A3 block of cartridge paper, various pens and pencils.

My table at breaktime, with 2nd G&T.

First stop, the bar for Dutch courage (why do we call it that?) then I chose a small table near a couple of friendly looking lads. Honestly, I don't know why I was nervous, as really it wasn't like going into a pub solo, but was joining a group of like-minded people for some drawing and fun, which the afternoon was.

Kiki drawn with eyes shut.

Peggy (Margaret Sterner Cox) would have liked the warm up as we had to do a blind-contour of the hostess Kiki Kaboom, who was a real character and directed us throughout the session. After the break we had to do a blind drawing of Kiki! After the warm up we then did some very short poses, and after each we had to hold up our results. The longest poses all afternoon were only 10 minutes and there where lots of challenges to add to our drawings, should we wish. I just drew what I saw - very unimaginatively.  

Displaying sketches - the brown paper is mine.

After the break, we had a burlesque-style performance by our model, which I did a few scribbles of. Then after drawing Kiki with our eyes-shut, Lieutenant Luke posed for us. At the end of the afternoon, after a joint pose between the two models, there were prizes for the best drawings. The prizes went mainly for originality. I felt all my drawings had been tight and too small for the paper - my most successful was my drawing done with my eyes shut.

Lieutenant Luke

Julie, Kiki, Khandie, & Luke.

Edit: I forgot the link for Dr Sketchy here.