Inspire Create Exercise 27 - 26 Jul 2012

Inspire Create Exercise 27 - 26 Jul 2012

Aloha everyone, wow! I am so enjoying these drawing exercises and hope you are finding they help! I also love seeing you post pics of your drawing exercises here on Inspire Create, it's lovely, it's exciting, it's refreshing and inspiring!! Kee up the great work! Am so proud of you!!

Are you ready to try drawing something a little bit different from the fruit we've been working on and round shapes? I think it's time we had a go at a something like............a tissue box!

Tissue boxes are easy enough to find in most homes and are great practice for us. So find your tissues and watch this little time-lapse video for some inspiration!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uWE0uFcG1E&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Don't be afraid to use your ruler in this exercise, you can position the tissue box to any angle you like, and if you find that the tissue itself is too difficult that's ok, it's mainly the box, the perspective and the shading that we are looking to hone. The added tissue popping out the top is of a higher difficulty level, so that's an additional optional challenge.

In our other drawing exercises, I've impressed upon you how important your observation skills are, and so for this exercise, you need a little time to set up your tissue box and make sure there is good enough light so that you have adequate dark shadows and nice bright highlights. If not, you might like to employ some artificial light to add more light and shadow.

As in the other exercises, I would encourage you to sit a while and take in what you see once you've set up your tissue box study. Also take a digital photo of it. Add a ruler to your pencils and erasers, you might find it very helpful for this exercise. Write down on a note pad, the things you notice.

Ask yourself (and write this down)

. Where light and shade is?
. How many surfaces can you see?
. Does the tissue cast a shadow?
. Where is the shadow underneath the tissue box?
. How does the light play on the surface of the tissue box? Is it dappled light coming from outside your window, or is it hard unnatural light from a source inside like your dining room light, or some other additional light source.
. Look at the perspective. With your ruler it can help to lay it over the imaginary lines, to show you how the perspective works. I find this helps me.

Tip 1:

It can help to also study your digital photograph of the tissue box as I do, as it helps to see it more as an 'object' I think, rather than the 'tissue box'. The mind plays tricks and 'thinks' it knows what it sees, or what to expect... but sometimes that's not such a good thing....with observation we really need to let go of our preconceived ideas and sometimes we have to trick out subconscious into it...I find the digital photograph helps me to let go of the idea that it's anything at all, but just a shape, with contours, shadows and highlights, and we are merely recording what we see.

Tip 2:

Sleep on it! It can be helpful for your brain, to give it time to digest the new information you've given it, what you've seen and recorded in your note book and the image of the digital tissue box, etc. While we are sleeping, our brain makes new connections while we are in resting phase, that you couldn't otherwise make without sleep. I trust that this really helps. Why not try it and see, it can't hurt and might assist you.

Tip 3: if you become frustrated at any time, take a few steps back, have a break and do something else. Come back to it when you feel refreshed.

.......
I have never drawn a tissue box before myself, let alone attempted a tissue, lol, so this is a first perhaps for many of us.

Ok everyone, have a wonderful day today and start thinking about how and when you can find some time to try this little exercise.....

Please feel free and more than welcome to post images of your artwork relating to the exercises, on Facebook Inspire Create page here is the link http://www.facebook.com/KarinTaylorInspireCreate

NB: The creative exercises archived here are available for anyone who wants more inspiration and creative expression in their lives. There is no limit on how often you particpate, how many exercises you do, or what order you do them in. They are an extension of my book "Beyond the Stick Figure: hope and encouragement for anyone who has ever wanted to be creative"

NB: Please note that this blog is only being used as an archive/storage/resource facility for Inspire Create with artist Karin Taylor on Facebook. It exists to help people find all the creative exercises I have posted on Facebook more easily. To engage and interact, to join in the fun, please join us at Facebook @Inspire Create with artist Karin Taylor and please post your contributions, creations and artwork on Facebook rather than this blog. Thank you and aloha, Karin

Inspire Create Exercise 27 - 20 Jul 2012

Inspire Create Exercise 27 - 20 Jul 2012

Today's exercise is a little more challenging, but I get the feeling some of you are eager to draw and practice your skills of observation. So here is an exercise that is really really fun. It will test you, because you have to put aside what you think a cup of coffee/tea looks like from above. Instead you have to really concentrate on forgetting what you think you see, in order to really see. You will need to look for the following things that will be really important to give your work that 'real' look.

I think that sometimes we rush too much, so I'll break this exercise into 2 parts for you to get the maximum benefit from it.

Part 1

1. Grab a piece of paper and a pen.

2. Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee or a cold drink if you prefer.

3. Place your drink on the floor.

4. Observe it from directly above.

5. Take a digital photo of it, so that you can also see it through the camera lens, not sure why this helps, but it does.

6. Write down all your observations. Where is the light reflecting? Does the liquid all look the same colour or are their variations, what are they, where are they. Around the edge of the liquid, notice whether it's lighter there. Just above the liquid in the outer rim, what do you see, lighter or darker? Where are the 'lines'...you will need to make those marks later, so it's good to observe. In my picture, given as reference, you can see there are up to 5 circles. The saucer, the outer rim of the cup (with shadow grounded in).. the inner rim of the cup. The outer rim of liquid and just inside of that is a bit of a circular creamy white reflection.

7. Notice colour, and variations in colour, even if what you are using is white, there will be variations.

8. Look for the shadows, they will become very important in bringing your drawing or painting to life.

9. Notice if there are any bubbles or sweat beads on the surface or liquid splased up the sides and whether there is any reflection there also.

Write down everything you see (remember to take a photo of it and study that also) then sleep on it. Over night, you are letting what you've learned about the object, make connections in your brain through your subconscious, these connections are made without your knowledge, so hopefully you will be better equipped the following day to initiate your drawing, than you were the day before.

Part 2

1. Grab your pencils, an eraser and some paper.

2. Make a fresh drink if necessary and place it on the ground to study.

3. Hopefully, today, with the benefit of studying this yesterday and sleeping on it, you will feel more confident to begin.

4. It can help if you use another glass or cup or saucer to draw your circles. So locate whatever you need and draw your circles in.

5. Make sure you have your digital photo handy, the one you took yesterday, and take another digital photo, to help you 'notice' things you might not see with just your eyes on the object. The digital photo is another representation of what you are viewing and gives your eyes and brain some help and assitance.

6. Draw what you see, not what you think you see. lol...there's a big difference!!

7. Post pictures of your efforts on FB Inspire Create Page for us all to admire, if you feel comfortable doing so. We'd love to see what you come up with. This is a more difficult exercise perhaps than the pear, but it uses the same principle, simple observation. This is about developing your skills of observation, nothing more, so no need for perfection, no need for it to look magnifico....just an earnest try at this, and it will develop you as an artist.. hugs from me, you can do it!! Just try...and if you find that you become too frustrated, leave it for another day and do not repeat DO NOt be hard on yourself, this is a higher level of difficulty, but I thought that I'd put it out there so you could challenge yourselves if you so desired.

Alternative

As an alternative, if you find this exercise too difficult, find something else around your home, something with an aesthetic you enjoy, and try sketching that. Once I sketched the ceiling fan, great fun! You might like to try sketching a cushion or another ceramic object. It's interesting to try and draw things from different angles too.

Additional Challenge extension

After you have accomplished the drawing of the teacup/coffee mug, from directly above it, you might like to attempt another study of this, from another angle. A different angle might be to place it on the table, and view it as you would when you are drinking your coffee from sitting on a chair or with a friend. This time you can do everything you did before, without the benefit of drawing your circles with the aid of the objects, because they will be more of an oval shape now. That is much more difficult, but still worthwhile if you want to challenge yourself more!

Have fun with this exercise!! Don't stress, and put it away if you become overly flustered or frustrated. Enjoy the process and drink coffee along the way and spoil yourself. This is meant to be enjoyable, and I don't want you to be pulling your hair out. ok...aloha :))

http://www.redbubble.com/people/karin/works/7487408-coffee-break?c=4513-wellbeing

Inspire Create Exercise 26 - 16 Jul 2012

Inspire Create Exercise 26 - 16 Jul 2012

For our next exercise, we are going to draw a piece of fruit and here is the link that is going to take you through each step:

Here's the link to the Easy Drawing Lesson from Drawsketch:

http://drawsketch.about.com/od/learntodraw/ss/easy-drawing-lesson.htm

When you are done drawing your piece of fruit, or other object you've chosen, please upload it at Inspire Create on Facebook for us to all admire if you feel comfortable doing that.

Where to upload your images of your drawings? You can upload them to share with myself and others particpating @ Inspire Create with artist Karin Taylor (on Facebook)

http://www.facebook.com/KarinTaylorInspireCreate

These drawing lessons we do, are simply there to challenge us to become more observant. There are no real rules...but there are tips and hints in the tutorial you might find helpful to follow.

NB: The creative exercises archived here are available for anyone who wants more inspiration and creative expression in their lives. There is no limit on how often you particpate, how many exercises you do, or what order you do them in. They are an extension of my book "Beyond the Stick Figure: hope and encouragement for anyone who has ever wanted to be creative"

NB: Please note that this blog is only being used as an archive/storage/resource facility for Inspire Create with artist Karin Taylor on Facebook. It exists to help people find all the creative exercises I have posted on Facebook more easily. To engage and interact, to join in the fun, please join us at Facebook @Inspire Create with artist Karin Taylor and please post your contributions, creations and artwork on Facebook rather than this blog. Thank you and aloha, Karin

Inspire Create Exercise 25 - 12 Jul 2012

Inspire Create Exercise 25 - 12 Jul 2012

How often do we really look and see? Today's exercise is about just that. We are going to observe some part of our own body and have a go at drawing it.

I am really interested in eyes right now, the contours, etc. So I am thinking I'll study my own eye and try drawing that. I think my eye will be quite a lot different to the imagined eyes I usually draw on my girls. So it should be fun. You might like to draw a part of the body that is different to mine.

Tips and Hints:

1. Sometimes, it can help if you take a photo of that part of your body as another reference to help, as it can be difficult observing in the mirror whilst trying to draw.

2. Use good lighting, to define outlines and try to ensure there is some shadow and highlight, which will also help you define things.

3. When you observe this part of your body, what shapes do you perceive? It can help if you draw very lightly, a series of shapes, for instance, your fingers are small sausages. Your palm is a round circle...overlap them slightly. Imagine your eyes are orbs, not flat...this will help you shade them and see them come to life.

4. Don't become disheartened. If you do get frustrated, sleep on it and try again the next day. often, during our sleep, problems resolve themselves without you having to do anything more.

5. Look at google for other examples of drawings of that part of the body and for tutorials that might help.

6. Here are some tute's for you:

http://www.drawspace.com/lessons/

http://www.drawspace.com/lessons/h/focus-on-people

http://www.drawspace.com/lessons/u/faces-figures

Please post images of your 'body parts' here (if you feel comfortable doing that) :)) and have a wonderful aloha day!

NB: The creative exercises archived here are available for anyone who wants more inspiration and creative expression in their lives. There is no limit on how often you particpate, how many exercises you do, or what order you do them in. They are an extension of my book "Beyond the Stick Figure: hope and encouragement for anyone who has ever wanted to be creative"

NB: Please note that this blog is only being used as an archive/storage/resource facility for Inspire Create with artist Karin Taylor on Facebook. It exists to help people find all the creative exercises I have posted on Facebook more easily. To engage and interact, to join in the fun, please join us at Facebook @Inspire Create with artist Karin Taylor and please post your contributions, creations and artwork on Facebook rather than this blog. Thank you and aloha, Karin

Inspire Create Exercise 24- 10 Jul 2012

Inspire Create Exercise 24- 10 Jul 2012

We are going to try some creative exercises from Benoit Phillipe who has most kindly made available his free 36 page eBook of practical exercises for Artists and everyone else. Which just means that these exercises are not just for those who consider themselves to be Artists...anyone at any level or age can participate. Phillipe is my kinda guy. He has my kind of attitude and beliefs about art, ie, that creativity is for everyone!

So let's begin, with the exercise entitled "Matisse's Scissors" on page 26. Click on the link and use the arrow on the right hand side to click through to page 26 for instructions. This is going to be good fun! I like this exercise, because it's quite different from anything we've done before and I really think children will have fun with this exercise too. You could vary the idea, by using paper from magazines and/or newspaper...the main idea though is to create something from cutting up bits of paper and glueing them down. This should take you into a creative space for a while and give you the benefit of some downtime in that place, where relief from the hassles and worries of today will be left behind for a little while. Enjoy the journey (hugs) and I'll look forward to seeing your new creations! Post them here for us all to admire (if you feel comfortable doing so)

http://www.slideshare.net/MyFrenchEasel/creative-exercises-for-artists

NB: The creative exercises archived here are available for anyone who wants more inspiration and creative expression in their lives. There is no limit on how often you particpate, how many exercises you do, or what order you do them in. They are an extension of my book "Beyond the Stick Figure: hope and encouragement for anyone who has ever wanted to be creative"

NB: Please note that this blog is only being used as an archive/storage/resource facility for Inspire Create with artist Karin Taylor on Facebook. It exists to help people find all the creative exercises I have posted on Facebook more easily. To engage and interact, to join in the fun, please join us at Facebook @Inspire Create with artist Karin Taylor and please post your contributions, creations and artwork on Facebook rather than this blog. Thank you and aloha, Karin

Inspire Create: Creative Exercise 23 - 4 Jul 2012

Inspire Create: Creative Exercise 23 - 4 Jul 2012

Firstly welcome to all our lovely newcomers, and a wishing everyone a very happy 4th July!

Todays inspiration is "fairy couture". A while ago I started saving used teabags and drying them out in the sunshine so that I could use them for different creative projects. One day, an idea was seeded, which was inspired by paper dolls and how we used to dress up paper dolls in dresses and handbags and shoes (which were also made of paper, the paper dolls came with their own unique wardrobe sets). I loved these as a girl and still am fascinated by them. A friend of mine (Christine Jones) also gave me a beautiful book full of fairy couture which was just the best eye candy ever. So it wasn't going to be long, before I wanted to try to create my own tiny garments. To show you what I did with my used teabags, I've attached my image below called "Teabag Couture" along with some other links to fabulous tiny handmade fairy attire.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Fairy-Atelier/164473346950204?ref=ts
http://www.etsy.com/listing/89576831/fairy-gown-for-alysiana-the-woodland
http://campcactus.blogspot.com.au/2009/09/new-fairy-couture.html

So, today's creative exercise is for us to create our own piece of fairy couture, using your imagination, found objects, bits and pieces from the garden, petals, twigs, fabrics, tulle...tiny jewellery findings, whatever you can gather to create something that you can photograph and post! It's meant to be fun, and hopefully you'll get lost in the creative process and simply enjoy. Sorry about this exercise not being so boy friendly, but the boys are welcome to participate, you might like to create a tiny superhero outfit, or some elf or gnome or goblin couture! It's meant to be fun, so don't get too caught up with it having to be perfect, the main thing is to get lost in the creativity activity for a while and emerge feeling good and fulfilled! Post images of your fairy couture on Facebook at Inspire Create with artist Karin Taylor.

NB: The creative exercises archived here are available for anyone who wants more inspiration and creative expression in their lives. There is no limit on how often you particpate, how many exercises you do, or what order you do them in. They are an extension of my book "Beyond the Stick Figure: hope and encouragement for anyone who has ever wanted to be creative"

NB: Please note that this blog is only being used as an archive/storage/resource facility for Inspire Create with artist Karin Taylor on Facebook. It exists to help people find all the creative exercises I have posted on Facebook more easily. To engage and interact, to join in the fun, please join us at Facebook @Inspire Create with artist Karin Taylor and please post your contributions, creations and artwork on Facebook rather than this blog. Thank you and aloha, Karin

Inspire Create: Creative Exercise 22 Mon 2 Jul 2012

Inspire Create: Creative Exercise 22 Mon 2 Jul 2012

Today's Inspiration is Tommy, the Dancing Man of Byron Bay. Tommy (Thomas Franklink - see video in a separate post below to be inspired by Tommy too) has inspired me to "make a little music" because music is good for the soul and makes the heart glad....something that's always welcome!

Because music is such a wonderful remedy for everything, there are many different ways we can take part, something for everyone.

a) Dance wild like Tommy, dance like a your drifting in a breeze, dance like your swimming in the sea, dance like a brightly coloured bumble bee! Or create a special memory with your kids, make up a dance together and give it a name.

Dance and be free, put the music on and close your eyes and do a little dance...if that's all you have time for, that's all you need to do to feel the benefit of music.

b) Make up a playlist of your favourite songs to be played as you jump in the car, or when you arrive home from work.. Make it a themed playlist. For example, you might need a relaxing playlist for the bath after work. A revitalising playlist for travelling to work in the morning to fire you up for the day. You could make a playlist for bedtime that relaxes you, such as meditation music. Post your playlists here for us to enjoy (we might find some new music we like through you!)

b) Making a musical instrument:

"Make a Little Music" was the thought that crossed my mind for today's exercise, and I've posted a couple of Martha Stewart videos below to help us along. It's not all that difficult to create a makeshift musical instrument, so I thought we could either give that a try, or try some other music related fun. When I was young we would make mini guitars from a matchbox with rubber bands wound around it.

Making Musical Instruments Part 1
http://www.marthastewart.com/247855/making-musical-instruments-pt-1

Making Musical Instruments Part 2
http://www.marthastewart.com/252010/making-musical-instruments-pt-2

We love it when you post pictures of whatever creations you make, and would love to see your makeshift musical instruments posted here on Facebook!

c)

i) Writing a poem to some music or/
ii) Writing a song:

I like writing poetry to music that inspires me, as I've mentioned before in a previous challenge. Music not only sets the mood and the tone, but can be very helpful in setting a rythm for your poem. Or you could write a poem with a view to turning it into a song. Kids can do this too. It's a twist on a poem, because when you begin to think of it as a song, you might want to think of it slightly different and add a chorus or repeat words.

It's not all that hard to write a song really. First you might like to think about something you feel passionate about, and listen to some music to get you in the mood. It ccan't hurt to give it a try, so off you go and give it a whirl and see what you come up with, we would love it if you post your poems written to music, or songs right here for us to enjoy. Don't forget to enlist the help of your children, because sometimes when you are in a silly mood, inspiration is not far behind!!! Letting down your defences and being silly is good for the soul!

d) Learning to play an instrument:

Think about learning a new musical instrument, even if we are adults, there may be some part of us that yearns to learn. I would love to learn the piano. I can play the trumpet and the guitar but would love to learn the violin and the harmonica and maybe even the ukelele and the banjo. Do you have a long hidden passion for learning something new? Would you like to pick up where you left off from, when you were a child learning a musical instrument? Now might be the time to think about investing some time in that direction. The making of music in any sense, is a bonus for life. Learning to read music is a great foundation on which we can build.

Making Musical Instruments, Pt. 2 -- Crafts

www.marthastewart.com

Watch Marthastewart's Making Musical Instruments, Pt. 2 Video. See