2009 - Draw It Yourself

Happy New Year! Today we celebrate a couple milestones and get ready to set goals for next year. Today starts my 7th month blogging, and sometime today I will have reached 100,000 hits on my blog counter. Thanks to all my loyal blog readers! I couldn't have had so much success without you. As we look ahead to 2009 now is the time to set some goals...

I'd like to introduce you to a new label that you'll be seeing more of in the upcoming year. Don't be afraid, I'm only trying to help you become a better artist and teach you fun little things you can do yourself.

This is my little DIY label. When you see this symbol it will be for techniques that you draw or doodle yourself.

Don't get scared of the DIY label! I know that many of you who follow this blog are stampers, and you keep telling yourself that you are NOT artistic. That's thinking negative thoughts and that's not going to help you in the New Year. Think Positive thoughts!

Anyone who colors is an artist. You are all crafty and artistic in your own way. For those of you who have been following this blog for a while and trying my techniques as I show them, you are already noticing that you feel more artistic. I see you at workshops and you tell me how much your coloring has improved and you thank me for showing you how to color creatively. My goal with this blog when I started it was to teach not just how to use Copic stuff correctly but to also teach you basic art techniques.

This year I challenge you to step outside your comfort zone and...
Doodle! Draw! and of course Color!

Look at my happy 2009. Ignore that I drew the whole thing, just notice the little swirls I added with a colored multiliner. ANY of you can draw a swirl. Instead of cutting out a cute patterned paper every time, try drawing small repeating patterns like my swirls. Don't be afraid to change what's already made. You don't have to take a workshop before you try something new, just try it on your own.

Take a stamp or image that someone gives you and doodle on it. If the picture needs a clump of grass, draw your own. Take the plunge and color with one of my more challenging techniques. Whatever you do, do something you haven't done before.

If you make a mistake it doesn't matter because in art there are no mistakes, only learning opportunities.

We'll be using a lot more multiliners, Spica pens, and colored multiliners this year to give your pictures a unique personality. You can use a colored pencil, watercolors, or whatever you're comfortable with, just try something on your own.

In 2009 I urge you think creatively and don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Anyone who read this post and instantly thought "Oh, I would never draw it myself." YOU are the exact people who need to stop saying NEVER and just try it. Trust me - it won't hurt.