Do you like to do end of the year reflections for your creative process? If so, what habits/systems/rituals did you decide to take forward with you into the next year and what did you decide to toss out? I looked back on where I had been the past 3 years in my art journey.
I am so happy that I learnt three new media, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign. Indesign helped me make those beautiful art pdf guides that I had shared with you previously. It was fun putting all the ideas that were jostling around in my head into a visual format and writing them down. Teaching art is highly rewarding. That was the time I started taking my art business seriously.
I also knew I wanted to make something other just realistic pieces, though I was not entirely sure what, I ended up making several abstract pieces in photoshop which I am really proud of. They helped me improve my compositions and color design. I have now come to love making digital art, though in the beginning it was awkward and the results not so satisfying.
Something else I had tried my hand at and hope to continue, is creating surface pattern designs. I had pursued several books on decorative art but didn’t know how to go about it in a practical way till I decided to push a little bit harder recently. Discovering patterns in geometry and in nature is very exciting for me. How about you? Do you try to incorporate designs in your works? If so, do you think, your practice has improved your ability to design and compose your paintings better? I think mine has.
Subjectwise, birds and animals have been challenging in terms of understanding their anatomy, and in landscapes I have strived to create mood and atmosphere.
In the end, I think no creative act is wasted nor does any creative impulse mislead or set you on a wrong track. Sometimes its hard to be still and listen to that quiet voice, its natural to feel very unsure of what you are doing but each step shows you what the next step should be. I am happy I did listen. Hope to do more of nature journaling and more about protecting our native species of flora and fauna. What are your goals for the new year? Wish you a happy new year and hope you find success in all your creative ventures.
Watercolor Journal 