2024 Review – Art
As usual, here is my end-of-year review. As before, I’ve separated out the art from the rest, as there is so much, and even so, this post is going to be very long!
Online art course
The most important art activity this year has been my participation in the year-long DrawAwesome course run by Phil, a totally brilliant art teacher. I have dedicated a separate post to this as there is too much material to go into this general review. I actually began it in November 2023 but the bulk of it has been during 2024. I completed it just in time for the year’s end, which is very satisfying.
Other art
Much of this has been a spin-off from the art course, as I have honed my skills in various media.
I cannot link to everything or I’d be here forever. If you want further info on any of the following art work, you can use the search box at the top of the page, or trawl through the 2024 archive, or click on categories or tags (these will cover the entire history of the blog though).
Drawing
I bought a few small sketchbooks and have done some random drawings in them. Most of these were done with graphite pencil but some with ink pens, or pen and watercolour wash, and later, coloured pencils. I followed various YouTube videos and other online sites for inspiration and references.
This fun drawing was done for a friend on the art forum who is always drawing things like traffic cones and wheelie bins, and making portraits of her feet. She and I have quite a running joke going about the traffic cones so I did this specially for her and sent her the original.
Painting – watercolour
Adventures in negative watercolour painting:
I am planning to bind these negative watercolours into a small book.
Negative stencilling with watercolours – my only attempt so far.
Experiments with teabag stains
Over the years I have made quite a lot of art with teabag stains. I think I invented this technique. I lay out used teabags to dry on watercolour paper and they leave beautiful stains, which you can then doodle on if you want. Rummaging through my watercolour paper scrap box this year, I found a small stack of unidentified paper with a slightly waxy-feeling surface to it. When I tried drying teabags on this, the stain bled and spread rapidly. Initially I thought this was going to be a failure, but as I experimented further, I got some fascinating results.
I soon discovered that I could get some lovely effects by layering – adding another teabag onto an already dried stain. I had to keep an eye on this so that the layered stains didn’t bleed out too far and lose the effect.
The edges are almost fractal-like at times. Fascinating.
A little later, I discovered some extraordinary blue teabags from Sri Lanka so I ordered a pack. The tea itself is utterly tasteless but the colour is fantastic, and the stains on the paper were gorgeous too. These stains were done on Japanese calligraphy paper.
I found I was able to get subtly different coloured stains with different teas – green tea, rooibos, etc. I made some pickled red onion and the vinegar was a fabulous pink colour. I dropped some of this onto the paper to create some interesting stains, and for some extraordinary reason it turned green as it dried.
I haven’t done anything as yet with any of these stains. It was an interesting experiment.
Talking of stains, for several weeks I left this square china dish which I’d been using as a watercolour palette, because it looked so fantastic. I wanted to transfer the stains onto paper. I tried this with damp kitchen paper but it didn’t work, unfortunately. I could always use the photo to produce digital background papers, though.
Times table art
When you have as many crazy ecclectic interests as me, you get some pretty unusual stuff coming up in your YouTube feed. I’m interested in fractals, the Fibonacci series and the golden rectangle amongst other things, and one day this really fun mathematician’s channel came up. Although I don’t understand most of what he says about the maths, he has some really cool animations to illustrate his talks, and one day he came up with a beautiful way to illustrate the times tables in graphic form. These shapes look like the thread and nail pictures that were all the rage back in the 1970s. I spent a long time perfecting the technique of drawing the grids and scanned and digitised them for future use.
For me, these were obviously crying out to be foundations for further art work. So far I have only done two.
I have plans for further drawings on this theme.
Mixed media
A wedding anniversary card for my hubby, which he said was a work of art, not a card, and should be framed, so I did!
It was an assemblage of nine collage fragments each based on a teabag. Multiple layers, multiple techniques, multiple materials. It was a tremendously fun project to make.
At the same time as getting this mixed media piece framed, I also had my “Gold Fold” digital art piece professionally printed and framed, and I am very thrilled with the result.
Collage fragments with applied teabags – the collage strips were downloaded from the Graphics Fairy Premium Membership site, to which I subscribe. I followed one of their tutorials to learn to do this. They are gloriously grungey and will come in useful for lots of projects.
New art materials
Pens
This is one of several glass pens that I bought. I haven’t had a chance to get going with these yet. I bought a pen holder and various nibs as well for dip pen work and hope to pursue this further in the coming year, along with a calligraphy course I have purchased.
Ink pens for drawing – I have quite a few different ones but bought this set for the art course.
Coloured pencils
I bought this set of Faber Castell Polychromos for the art course, recommended by the teacher. They are oil based.
I also purchased this set of 72 Amazon Basics coloured pencils, recommended by numerous artists online. Incredibly good value, relatively hard wax-based pencils, very good quality. I’ve done quite a bit of work with them. Their only disadvantage is that they are not available open stock.
I also bought another zipped case for these, the same as the case I bought for my original Derwent Coloursoft pencils (I am not so keen on these very soft wax based pencils but they have their uses mostly for backgrounds).
Also for the course, I bought a set of Faber Castel pastel pencils.
Paints
Although I have a small watercolour set (brand unknown, had since childhood), and a cheap Amazon set I bought a couple of years ago, my hubby gave me this spare paint box. I have added further pans, and also he has given me a whole lot of watercolour tubes. I’m using this set almost exclusively now.
This year I also bought a couple of sets of Japanese Kuretake watercolours. These paints in the Art Nouveau collection are almost like a cross between watercolour and gouache. Gorgeous vibrant colours which are quite opaque when used thickly.
These graphite colours are gorgeously muted and grungey. I am very thrilled with both of these purchases.
Studio equipment
I bought this floor-standing ring light with an anglepoise-type mount, but couldn’t work it when floor standing. One of the great disadvantages of my completely fitted studio is that I can’t put a lamp behind the work surface, as one would be able to with a free-standing table. I therefore removed the centre section of the stand and inserted the top into the heavy base and put this on the work surface, where it works pretty well. It has a holder for a phone for photography and video, and a remote shutter control which is handy.
When I signed up for a paid-for scanning app (Photomyne) I got a free gift from Amazon – a clamp-on table mounted phone holder. I also bought a magnetic phone holder which is a lot easier to set up than the clamp type, and a light which clips onto its cold shoe attachment on top. These will all be useful tools for photography and video.
Stencils from Ali Express
A large selection of really cheap stencils for my stash – a couple of examples.
Proportional divider
This reproduction antique drawing aid comes in a polished wooden box. This is to replace the useless cheap plastic one I bought originally. This new one is a real treasure.
Drawing paper
Neenah Bristol Vellum drawing paper – half-ream, laser printer friendly. Also, US letter size which I much prefer to A4 as I consider the proportions to be more aesthetically pleasing. This paper is already proving really useful for combined digital and coloured pencil/graphite work.
Table easel
This has an adjustable inclined top and a storage drawer beneath. It’s been very handy throughout the online art course as I’ve worked on my lap on the recliner while following Phil’s videos on the TV screen.
Helix angle and circle maker
This drawing device is useful as a protractor and for drawing circles.
Rolling rulers
I haven’t really got to grips with these yet, as they don’t seem to work quite as expected.
I have subsequently bought a drawing board which I think will be much better than these, anyway. Useful for drawing grids and parallel lines.
Colour wheel
This has two components, both with revolving elements. Although I’m pretty good on colour theory these days, there are some useful features on this, including the values chart and various colour scheme aids.
Art inspiration
I have found some very interesting things during the year which have sparked my imagination as inspiration for possible art work. Many of these appear in the kitchen as I am preparing food, such as the following – amazing patterns and textures in ordinary things! This red onion reminds me of a pagoda.
More red onion patterns and shapes.
Interesting textures on a mushroom.
Sliced off lettuce stalks. Like stars!
Other textures and patterns from everyday things:
Paper packaging mesh:
Interesting mesh from some fruit packaging.
I bought a macro attachment for my phone camera this year and took some interesting photos of everyday things. Definitely some creative inspiration from these, such as this macro photo of some bread.
I’ve signed up for a course on pattern design. I see patterns or the potential for them everywhere, and I think some of my quirky vegetables may come in handy!
Books
Miniature “Bible”
This is a miniature book I made to celebrate my 40th anniversary of becoming a Christian this year. It’s a miniature “Bible” will mediaeval art inside, from a digital download site online – lots of covers and pages to choose from, and instructions for embellishment and so on.
Art inspiration book
This was given to me by my hubby for my birthday.
Packed with inspiration – hand-made paints, work of specialist artists and designers, a wealth of colour. A book to drool over!
Vintage book
This is a very dilapidated old book, given to me by my hubby for the anniversary of our first meeting. It’s full of stories and illustrations of an uplifting nature from the Victorian period. I am in two minds as to whether to attempt to repair this book, or to cannibalise it for art.
Oriental-style interactive album
This book remains a UFO (UnFinished Object) I’m afraid. I’d hoped to finish it this year. Only a couple of pages to go! I’ve made some interesting pop-ups and interactive elements for it.
The page on the left is a puzzle page. Each square is a flap that lifts up to expose another whole picture underneath. The flaps are held closed with magnets. Nothing interactive on the right-hand page.
Cherry blossom page with pop-up.
This particular UFO is high on the list to complete. There are a lot of bits and pieces associated with its construction lying about in the studio which need to be tidied away.
Embroidery
The second of two Victorian-style aprons made from my grandmother’s old linen bedsheets remains another UFO. Towards the end of the year I have resurrected the embroidery on the bib and pockets. These photos were taken in the middle of the year, and since then, I have completed the bib embroidery and almost completed the first pocket. The completed project will be one for 2025.
Crochet
Another long-standing UFO is my Persian Tiles crochet throw. I get the urge every now and then to work on it a bit more, and then it goes back in the bag for another few months! This coming year, I am determined to finish it.
Here’s Ruby helping me get a move on.
Conclusion and future plans
I think that pretty much sums up my art for the year, along with the drawing course work which is detailed separately. It’s been a productive year. However, too many UFOs remain UFOs and in the coming year I am planning to have a blitz on these and try and clear the decks a bit in the studio.
Studio tidying
Talking of the studio, when I’m not using it regularly, it turns into a dumping ground and rapidly becomes very untidy. I’ve done all the course work on my lap from the comfort of the recliner in the sitting room, so that I could watch the tutorial videos on the TV screen. There hasn’t been much time for serious studio work so it is now in a state of great untidiness.
It was the same in the middle of the year, when I did have a blitz.
It’s funny how a mess seems to generate itself with no effort, but tidying up is a great deal of work! Maybe a New Year resolution for 2025 should be to attempt to keep my studio tidy and workable!
Online courses
I have so enjoyed the DrawAwesome course that I felt a sense of bereavement when it was finished. It has given me a taste for more courses. I therefore signed up for a year’s subscription to Domestika, which runs all sorts of creative courses. These are shorter than the year-long drawing course and I’ve chosen quite a selection. These are:
- Modern Watercolour Techniques
- Interactive Pop-Up Books: Create a Paper World
- Pop-Up Book Creation (by the same teacher)
- Pet Portraits in Coloured Pencils
- Drawing from Observation for Beginners
- English Calligrahy from A to Z
- Inside a Creative Notebook: Explore your Illustration Process
- Introduction to DaVinci Resolve for Video Editing
- Creative Patterns for Graphic Design
- Introduction to Hebrew Calligraphy
- The Art of Mandala Drawing: Create Geometric Patterns
- Introduction to Islamic Art: Create Biomorphic Patterns
- Botanical Sketchbooking: A Meditative Approach
- Creative Watercolour Sketching for Beginners
Quite an ecclectic selection, I think you’ll agree! There’s a common-ish theme, though – perfecting my watercolour skills, pattern, calligraphy, pop-up and interactive books. These are all subjects I enjoy, and feel I could benefit from further professional teaching. The DrawAwesome course has been a tremendous kick-start for me and has given me the confidence to try many things in the expectation that I shall succeed with flying colours!
Different from the other courses I have chosen, the DaVinci video editing course is going to be very useful. I recently downloaded this free video editing software which is incredible. I have never encountered anything like this, let alone free, for Windows – it is easily compatible with Adobe Premier and Final Cut Pro (Mac only). It is very feature-rich and there’s a lot to learn about the interface and how to achieve many different effects. The Domestika course is very comprehensive and should be useful to refer back to when necessary.
It’s going to be an exciting year.
