Author: Autumn

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 4

The Mug of your Wildest Dreams!

Draw your favorite mug again, but this time add a little something more! What I mean by this is for you to add brilliant and fantastical features to your mug that would make it that much more special. 

  • Would you add wings so that it could fly to wherever you are? 
  • Maybe it would have arms and could take notes or write your novel as you sip in luxury.
  • Maybe you would change the size or design.
  • Or, just maybe it’s actually the mug you wanted for a present but didn’t get! Draw it!
  • Better yet, maybe the mug wouldn’t change but where you sip from it would!

Add any features from your imagination that would improve upon your favorite mug! Have fun. Be creative. And make it fantastic! Maybe think: What would a kid want to be added to a mug? (They don’t limit themselves as we adults do!)

Please share if you feel brave. I can’t wait to see what features or powers your mug has gained overnight.

In creative adventures,

Autumn

 

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Storidoodles

Sunday Storidoodle #2

Mustard and His Grand Plan!

“But I’m just a little mouse,” Mustard said to his reflection in the shiny toaster. “What significant act could I do?”

Mustard had a lot of doubt from years of others transferring their doubts onto him. But despite carrying the weight of the doubting thoughts, he was equally optimistic and, thankfully, a little stubborn. “There has to be something!”

Mustard always wanted to be someone who did a big act despite his size and his species. He tried picking up the drums (acorn shells and other bits & bobs for a kit) so that he could be a big-time rockstar, but it just allowed the house cat to know exactly where he was at all times. And for a mouse, that really isn’t a great idea. 

He let that idea go.

As he nibbled on the page of a tasty poetry book, he thought that maybe his big act could be writing. So, he found some spilled ketchup missed by the human of the house and dipped his tail into it. At worst, he could always lick away the ketchup and delight in its tangy flavor. But his optimism inspired him to use the red sauce to write his first word.

“Wait a minute!” said Mustard, with his tail a centimeter from the blank page. “I don’t know how to write!”

While licking his tail clean, he decided to add ‘learning to write’ to the mental list of future studies.

You see, Mustard wasn’t a very patient creature and, although he loved to learn, he didn’t want to take the time to learn something in order to do some big act or some grand gesture to make his name known. His list of things to learn was actually a rather long list, indeed.

But, dear reader, if you just make a list of things you want to learn or do and never start one, well, you end up with nothing but a condiment on your tail or maybe not even that.

To continue…

While on another hike around the house, he found a cozy basket of laundry. And it was in that pile of cloth he came up with his greatest idea yet. 

He chewed and tore and tied until he made the perfect cape and mask for himself. 

“I will be a Super Mouse Hero!” Mustard declared. “The first one of its kind.” (Shhh! Don’t tell him about Mighty Mouse, yet! Let him have his moment.)

And as he tightened his mask and smoothed out his cape, he struck a confident superhero pose in the beam of sunlight that filtered through the window. 

A note to the reader:

At present, Mustard is so caught up in wearing the mask and the cape that he has momentarily forgotten about the importance of wanting to do some big act. As of right now, wearing a cool cape and mask seems to be quite satisfying for him. Therefore, the Storidoodle ends here for now.

I will be sure to let you know if the newness of a cape and mask wears off for Mustard and he gets back to chasing his big dream. However, maybe he has actually found his dream, after all. 

-Autumn the Storidoodler

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Day 3 – Sketchbook Challenge

Draw your favorite mug!

Place your mug on a flat surface. You will want to see it from a static angle, so that you can get a sense of how it sits in space. 

Notice in this picture that there are shadows and highlights. See if you can incorporate those into your sketch by using the following ideas:

  • Use a different color to shade in the shadows.
  • Try using lines or hatching.
  • If you are using a pencil, smudge those areas with your finger. 
  • Or, use more pressure with your drawing tool, unless it is a pen or marker. (Pressure can damage the nib.)
  • Below you will see how I use lines to create shadows and volume in this simple line drawing. 

Just remember to experiment and play. Don’t be too hard on yourself and don’t compare your work with another person’s work. The best thing to do is to compare your work with your own over time to see your growth! It’s your personal journey.

Have fun! 

Oh! I almost forgot the best part– After you complete your sketch, fill your mug with your favorite beverage. Savor every sip and swallow. 

Feel free to share your work and ask questions along the way. 

In creative adventures,

Autumn














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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 2

Hope you alleviated some possible jitters by doodling a word in your sketchbook and no longer is it a book with blank pages. After Day 1, you have declared you are serious and you are going to make some marks! Those trees will not go to waste. 

Here we go for Day 2: Draw your art supplies!

Draw what you are using in your sketchbook to mark the page. These supplies can be the “right-now” supplies or ones you intend to use later on. Or, Heck! You can draw ones that you are too afraid to use, the ones that you find intimidating. Add some horns and pointy teeth to those ones. 

Draw them once, twice, or multiple times until you you fill the page. Sometimes, by repeating one thing, you can make a pretty cool pattern on the page that you may want to improve upon for a finished art piece later on. 

You never know what ideas and finished art pieces can come from simply keeping a sketchbook. 

Remember, please feel free to comment on this post or in the Facebook group your work, questions, or A-HA! moments.

Happy drawing!

Autumn

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 1

Here’s to new beginnings and creative challenges!

I’m excited and nervous about this sketchbook challenge. How about you? 

I’m excited because I love creative challenges, and I know that if I commit to a sketch a day for the next 31 days, growth will happen.

I’m nervous because, well, I must commit to it. I need the discipline to make sure I carve out time in my day to make a sketch. I don’t want this to be something I’m excited about in the beginning – and start off with a bang – to only fizzle out once I hit the middle of the month. So, let’s help each other to not let that happen. Shall we?

So, for the challenge…

You can sketch anything you like or take my suggestions. I won’t be giving a lot of instruction on technique or anything else, but I will give you some ideas of what to sketch. And, I will definitely give you encouragement and tips along the way. Feel free to reach out with questions as you work. I’m here. 

Here we go!

Day One: Pick a word for the year. My husband and I do this every new year. It’s a word to inspire, to work toward, to invite more of its examples and evidence in our lives throughout the year. 

My word: Discipline. 

I need to be more disciplined in order for my art business to grow. And, I most definitely want it to grow. Once my teaching year resumes, I get incredibly busy. My days are

 long and it becomes easy to neglect my creative side and my little sprouting art business. So, this year, I’m making it a priority. And, it will take discipline!

Now back to you:

Step one: Pick your word.

Step two: Doodle it onto the first page of your sketchbook. 

You can make it a fancy script. Or, big and bold. Maybe add flowers sprouting from it. Duplicate the word several times. Write it in different scripts. Fill the page or make it stand it out with a lot of white space around it. But Do Have Fun! 

If you would like, please share your word. Or, share the page. I would love to see your wonderful new year words!

Your friend in creative adventures,

Autumn

Categories
January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge Eve

It’s December 31st. Not only New Year’s Eve but the eve of our sketchbook challenge. Let’s prepare, shall we?

Step 1: Grab your sketchbook. Open to the first page. Sign it and date it! You can choose to date it for December 31st, 2020, or January 1st, 2021.

Step 2: Set an intention and write it down. What do you want to get out of this challenge? What do you hope for? Make it relevant and meaningful to you. You don’t need to share this intention with anyone. And, you can keep it short. For me, I want to get better at drawing with pencil and ink. More specifically, I want to improve my line drawings.

Some other ideas for intentions:

I want to jumpstart my creativity.

I want to practice how to trust my creative voice.

I want to start a daily sketching habit.

I hope to overcome my negative self-talk about my abilities as an artist by drawing every day despite myself. (Yep!)

Your intention for taking on this sketchbook challenge can be as personal or general as you want. But, do set an intention. Give this practice purpose so that when or if someone were to ask WHY you can answer perfectly. 

Bonus Step 3: After signing, dating, and writing down your intention, doodle around it!

Bonus Step 4: Maybe decorate the cover with stickers.

If you are so inclined to share your why, please comment below or on my Art Journaling with Autumn Facebook Group (You can still join this group). I would love to hear some of your reasons for doing this with me.

Autumn

Categories
January Sketchbook Challenge

Art Supplies

So many art supplies to choose from…Yes, there sure are! 

I suggest keeping things simple. I believe in the inspirational powers of limitation. You don’t need the fanciest of supplies out there to get started and to make art. If you think you do, then, I will tell you right now, that’s just an excuse. And you don’t need another excuse to keep you from creating.

Now later on, you might want to splurge on quality watercolor paper or an expensive ink pen that delivers precise lines in just the right way. I won’t tell you that you won’t notice a difference in the end result. You will, especially when it comes to watercolor paper. But, for the every day sketching and learning, you don’t need to shell out the hard-earned coin for anything special. 

For the month of January, I will be limiting myself to the use of pencil and ink pen. My intention is to get better with line drawings, so I will be using this 31-day challenge to practice with only these tools. I imagine that after 31 days of drawing daily with pencil and pen, I should learn something knew and gain a bit more control of using them. 

So, when it comes to choosing art supplies for this challenge, think about limiting yourself. Maybe you will do 31 days of drawing with colored pencils or maybe even using crayons. Perhaps you want to have the option of combining a few items to see what you can do. And then there are those who don’t need to limit themselves at all. 

Go for it. But whatever you choose for supplies, make it something that is meaningful for you. Choose something that you are curious about using.

I would love to hear in the comments what supplies you will choose during this month!

– Autumn

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January Sketchbook Challenge

January Sketchbook Challenge

With a new year, often times comes a want for new habits and growth. For me, I have a pretty long list of goals I would like to target in the year 2021. But, I will start with the 31-Day January Sketchbook Challenge for now. 

To answer what it is, watch the video below. 

As a quick note, I plan to keep things simple and use limited supplies–such as a pencil or ink pen and a smaller sketchbook (I’ll post what I will use soon). But you can decide what supplies you wish to use!

Oh! And as a supply option, I forgot to mention crayons! Don’t forget the beauty of drawing with crayons. Hope you will join me!

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Storidoodles

Introducing Sunday Storidoodles!

Each Sunday I will be posting a little Storidoodle!

What is a Storidoodle?

Well, it’s a little doodle from my sketchbook paired with a little story/anecdote to go with it. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy creating them. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss one!

Here is the first one!

Mortimer and his Big Dream!

Mortimer was waiting for the day that he would hear from the agency. He must have taken thousands of selfies in order to settle on the perfect headshot to submit to the modeling agency. Each day he hopped to the mailbox, eagerly checking to see if his ears would be chosen as the model for next year’s chocolate bunnies. He is still waiting as I write this.

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Uncategorized

Monster Drawing Rally V

I had a blast participating at the Portland Art Museum’s Monster Drawing Rally V! It was a fantastic evening for a terrific cause: supporting their youth and school programs!

Here’s a peek at what the night was like for myself and attendees:

I had only one hour to make some of my signature wonky Burdz. Each of the three sold just after their completion but that doesn’t mean I can’t make more!

I want to create a Burd especially for you, so I’m offering a limited-time Monster Draw special:

I’ll create a unique, one-of-a-kind burd just for you at the rate of $35 + $5 shipping.

Email me at WriteAutumn@gmail.com if you are interested!

Thank you for supporting the arts!

– Autumn