The Ebb + Flow of Artmaking

Does it ever seem like every other artist around you has such consistent and impeccable output, both in their studio and their social medias, while you struggle to make art on a regular basis and sometimes let your social medias go quiet for weeks or even months on end??

Don't worry.. you are not alone.

Resources:

https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/ebb+and+flow

https://www.irisbarzen.com/cycles-of-productivity/

https://evernote.com/blog/the-most-and-least-productive-hours-in-a-day/

Sara Tepes vid: https://youtu.be/erK8FhVOZ-U

My lovely iceberg landscapes were painted using Himi brand gouache on thick watercolor paper.

Reference Images:

https://pixabay.com/

2.5.2023

How to Support Your Favorite Artists (Besides Buying Art!)

Aloha artists and art lovers! If you are like me you love the feeling of supporting your fave artists and small creators, but sometimes we are on a tight budget (or let’s face, could never begin to afford allll the art that tickles our fancy!) and need to find other productive ways to show them we care!

Well luckily for all of us there are actually a number of ways you can show your support that cost absolutely nothing, or at least nothing more than you would have spent anyway on things you need.

7 Ways to Support Artists (other than buying art!)

1. Bring friends to our openings and exhibitions (even if it’s a small one!) to introduce then to out art in a meaningful way.

2. Talk us up if you hear of any artistic opportunities or gigs, or if you hear a friend or family member is looking for original or custom artwork.

3. Forward us artistic opportunities you happen upon or that come across your radar, even if there’s no firsthand connection.

4. Sign up for our newsletters and be active on our social media posts. The more meaningful the comments, the better :)

5. Share our work (with credit) on your socials occasionally.

6. Suggest our art, prints, or merch as gifts in conversation with others just like you would suggest a retail store if you hear someone saying they are looking for “the perfect item.”

7. Purchase products from companies that sponsor us through ads or product placement as it really helps show that we are great creators to work with who have audiences that buy.

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And if you'd like to support this small artist, here are some links to do so: Thank you so much for being so generous with your time!🎨💖

Need new art supplies? Any purchase through my Blick link helps a lot!

Find me on Instagram

Sign up for my newsletter

Here's my Skillshare link that includes a free month trial

Prints and original art is available in my Shop

👉And just sharing my YouTube vids with someone you think would like them is a ginormous help! Thank you!!

12.4.2022

[blank canvas image credit: Angela Roma from Pexels]

Ask an Artist 10 :: College Student Edition

Whether or not you're going or have been to art college, many new artists have the same general questions so today I wanted to answer three that my own students have asked me regularly over my first two years of teaching at a collegiate level. It has felt really good to be able to impart a little solid advice onto the bright young minds I have the pleasure of being around weekly, and I wanted to pass just a few gems onto you that can apply to pretty much anyone seeking a creative career path.

If you find some insight today, check out the full 'Ask an Artist' playlist for all kinds of simple yet actionable advice going all the way back to my days in Hawai'i.

Top Three Questions My College Students Ask..

1. Do I have to invest in fine art materials or is it ok to just buy the student (or big box) grade? Honestly, unless you have read really great reviews otherwise, you should avoid the cheap super low grade/ big box brand art supplies. They are so poorly made (think low pigment, scratchy chalk or charcoal/ plastic-y pencils, etc) that they literally hinder your ability to make quality artwork. And if you are able to pull something decent out of them - you would have certainly done better with better supplies. Art supplies you purchase in college or early on can sometimes last you a long time so better to spend a little bit more on some medium-low brands than than the bottom of the barrel.

2. What should I do first once I graduate? If you can possibley set up something in a creative career before having graduated, then awesome! But that certainly is not the case for all, soo.. before all else, just make sure you have a job that covers your bare bills (even if it’s not in the ‘arts field’ of your dreams yet) in no more than about 30 hours a week so you still have the time and energy to pursue artistic ventures in town and online that will put you closer to your ultimate goals. Don’t worry if a job (or even volunteer position) in the arts is too small when starting off, just do you very best and opportunities will grow!

3. What’s the best general advice for getting clients or employment as a professional artist? You need to be not only skilled as an artist, but skilled as people-person. Enthusiasm counts!! You need to show your clients that you share their vision and can’t wait to work on their commission. You need to show your boss that you are excited about the next big project and can’t wait to brainstorm ideas and show up with all your best work. And definitely, always have your work finished on time, on budget, and on point. Let the folks around you see that you are not only a highly trained artist, but are fun easy, and enjoyable to work with, and you will be practically guaranteed enough work to keep you full!

11.6.2022

10 Lessons Learned from a Lifelong Artist

Sometimes we wish we could go back in time and give advice to ourselves as a younger artist, such as words of encouragement or tips to start growing an audience right out of art school.

Today I've got a video for you sharing advice that my younger artist self would have loved to get a little earlier than I actually did, which may be right on time for your art journey now!

No two art careers ever look exactly the same, but if you'd like some guidance navigating your own personal artistic journey, pop over to my website and check out all the different (and surprisingly affordable!) mentorship opportunities I have available for you.

In a nutshell…

1. Gallery representation is far from the only way to make it as an artist

2. Begin building up your own name recognition as soon as possible

3. Create your own collaborative events or happenings

4. Learn skills like marketing and bookkeeping

5. Be your own best advocate - get excited about your artwork!

6. Only take advice from other successful creatives on the path you wish to take

7. Say 'yes!' to as many artistic opportunities as possible

8. Be active in your local artistic community

9. Build up other digital skills to showcase your work in the best ways possible

10. Never stop learning and honing your skills - seek outside help when you need it!

And when you are ready for a little outside help of your own, check out the variety of mentorship packages I offer to assist in any stage along your artistic journey.

6.6.2021

How to Deal with Procrastination as an Artist

...and not let it kill your productivity! Dealing with procrastination as an artist can feel really defeating. It's like, 'I love what I do, so why is it so hard to make myself do it?!'

Oftentimes we tend to procrastinate when the task at hand seems either really boring, or scarily daunting, so today I'm going to give you some real tips you can start applying to your own art and art biz practice to not only be more productive, but to give yourself a little self-care in the process.

Don’t let yourself live like this hilarious quote… get good at LIMITING your procrastination :)

“Do I struggle with procrastination? Nope I am really good at it.”

Tips for dealing with procrastination as an artist include:

• Listen to your body and give yourself permission for a little downtime before getting right to work. Sometimes we can procrastinate because we are tired and our brains just don’t feel like functioning at full throttle so it will make us lethargic and prone to watching or scrolling because those are sedentary, mind-numbing activities. If you really need to, take a 20-30 minute nap first and then you’ll feel refreshed to work.

• Conversely, maybe a 20-30 walk will help you wake up a bit more. Getting your blood flowing and your body moving with some deep breaths of fresh air is an excellent way to wake up - and don’t miss this opportunity for brainstorming! You’re much better off saving the music for later to use this refreshing time at hand to think about, plan, and get inspired for your next project.

• Get rid of visual distractions. Put away anything like games or toys, or even laundry or other chores that make it too easy to walk away from some of the more boring tasks we have to do for our small businesses. Sometimes even leaving your house with your laptop to sit at a coffee shop or park bench is a fantastic way to give yourself only the one task at hand to deal with - this is a trick I use often to help me concentrate on writing for blogs, newsletters, and emails.

• Learn to tell the difference between educating yourself and procrastinating. It can be easy to watch a million YouTube videos or take a million classes, but at a certain point you need to go ahead and get your hands dirty. The best way to learn is by hands-on practice, so in life, in general, you should never stop learning. However don’t let instruction take the place of actual application.

• Write a list! Have a list of what you need to get done, then break it into smaller, more manageable tasks that you list out on your daily planner. (Check out the video for tips on how I use a list to turn ginormous daunting projects into bite-size pieces that are far less intimidating to complete.

• Do the easy small tasks that you can first. The momentum of checking things off the list will encourage you to keep going. Always realize that any big task can be broken down into much smaller steps

• Break your work time into small manageable chunks. Sometimes I set a timer for only 45 minutes and give myself a 20 minute break after that much work. Surprisingly two or three sessions like this in a day will yield far greater work than you could have imagined!

• Sometimes it helps to have a goal written up someplace where you will see it all of the time. Attaching something to your cork board or a piece of painters tape across the top of your laptop reminding you of your biggest goal can be a huge inspiration in the fight against procrastination.

Let me know in the comments here or on YouTube if you would be interested in a video about how to effectively write and manage your ‘To Do’ list!

Resources:

How to Paint a Skull in Oil

Yes, this Puma Skull 3D oil painting is for sale here.

4.11.2021

How to Get Better at Drawing :: Ask an Artist 6

So a really common question I get from people is a pretty general one, ‘how can I get better at drawing?’ And while the number one answer of course is to practice, I think very often people aren’t sure quite how to practice or how best to use their time practicing drawing. Today I’m going to share some of my best tips for getting better at drawing for beginner or intermediate artists that you can apply to any art practice.

Once you focus in on what areas you need to improve on and make a consistent habit to practice, I’m sure you will be delighted by just how quickly progress will come to you.

Here’s my How to Draw Hands workshop if you’d really like to take things to the next level.

You definitely do not need any special materials in order to improve your drawing skills, but below are just a few items I like to use. If you purchase anything through my special links it helps support this channel so thank you very much!

White Conte Pencil

2B Pencil

4B Woodless Pencil

Mono Zero Eraser

Kneaded Eraser

9x12 Toned Grey Sketchbook

White Chalk Pencil

Parisian Blue Carbothello Pastel

Steel Grey Carbothello Pastel Pencil

Canson Me Tienes Paper in Steel Grey

Find this model, Diana, on Instagram if you’d like to use her poses in your own work at whatever donation you can afford:)

2.28.2021

How to Get Over the Fear of Sharing Your Art

Are you afraid to show your art online? Facing and overcoming your fear of sharing art is important in order to grow as an artist and creator. Even though the risks of sharing art online (such as no likes/comments or someone stealing your idea), the benefits of sharing artwork online far outweigh them.

Everyone has to start somewhere, and no one is great off the bat, so take today's artist tips to help you break out of your shell and begin to share your gift with the world!

Resources:

How to Photograph Artwork Using Natural Light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSQJWVlTDvg&t=2s

How I create my figure drawings: https://youtu.be/qUcnWwKL59g https://youtu.be/OlMi5izeBaM

Original drawings available in my Shop

If you would like more info on getting your own handmade-with-love toned (or white) paper sketchbook pop over here to be kept in the loop for my next sketchbook release.

Croquis Cafe Figure Resources (18+): https://modelindexdatabase.smugmug.com/

My Drawing Supplies (any purchase helps to support my channel, thanks!)

Kneaded Eraser: https://bit.ly/2VC4qBB

Map Eraser: https://bit.ly/2wgzoop

Mono Zero Eraser: https://bit.ly/3885Fej

White Chalk Pencil: https://bit.ly/3d3COLh

Steel Grey Carbothello Pastel Pencil: https://bit.ly/2YIvbED

Deep Purple Carbothello Pastel Pencil: https://bit.ly/2XTkGPk

Raw Umber Carbothello Pastel Pencil: https://bit.ly/30zLfL8

6.12.2020

Coronavirus :: Artist Tips for a Global Pandemic

Well folks, I would have to say we are pretty much smack dab in the middle of the most uncertain of times... who would have thought that the biggest enemy of 2020 is shaping up to be human contact?!

The good news is that you are absolutely not alone and so many other artists are having to brave and navigate this strange new COVID-19 world right along with you. You know I've firmly believed that we can all work together as artists to come up and now it's imperative we do so to rise above as well.

You've got this. I promise.

Go learn some new skills! Free Skillshare membership for two months here!

Get 20% off my entire Shop while supporting this lil Bird:) Use code PANDEMIC

Helpful Resources:

https://www.varsitytutors.com/

https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2019/11/online-tutoring-jobs.html

https://www.fiverr.com

https://onairvideo.com/model-index

Own Your Instagram for Artists: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEiBtAnS58WG2Mz2vPsOkSp1IYMGld_a7

Real time painting of part of this hand: https://youtu.be/8kfUf7CnjWI

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Yep, I'm available for art mentoring via webcam! I'm happy to help fellow up-and-coming artists with anything from technique to small business advice, as well as with perfecting your portfolio or thesis. **See my lower pandemic rates**

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Art supplies purchased through these links help support my channel:):)

Golden Taklon Brush Set: https://bit.ly/2JiEfIH

Canvas Pad: https://bit.ly/2UM5C3c

Titanium White: https://bit.ly/2Uqiugo

Naples Yellow: https://bit.ly/2UKShbB

Yellow Ochre: https://bit.ly/2vTIlE8

Cadmium Orange: https://bit.ly/3dAtRdl

Napthol Red: https://bit.ly/2WO7DP7

Burnt Sienna: https://bit.ly/39qVu5s

Raw Umber: https://bit.ly/2xrsAF5

Turquoise: https://bit.ly/2QQ84EU

Payne's Grey: https://bit.ly/3arumV1

3.28.2020

5 Things NOT to Say to Artists

…And how to make sure you’re not saying them!!

Hi-ya folks I sure did have fun making today’s vid for you! It’s a lil silly, but I’m sure my artist pals know exactly what I’m talking about and have gotten most if not all of these sayings tossed their way.

Feel free to share this vid in a sweetly passive, yet hopeful, step towards politely telling your friends and fam the 411 on how their "artist advice" can sometimes come off...

But if you’re the one who has accidentally made an art comment faux pas in the past… fear not! We artists are not here to hold grudges, we are here to learn and grow together! So we all good folks, and forever onward you’ll know just how to communicate your appreciation of our works all the more sensitively

Has anyone else ever said anything that seemed complimentary but kind of was not about your art? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

3.13.2020

Ask an Artist 3 :: Entering Art Contests + Ventilating for Oil Paint

You've got questions, and ya Birdie's got answers.. Enjoy this figure drawing demo while I answer two questions asked by my lovely YT viewers.

This original drawing along with many others are available for purchase in my shop.

Materials:

(Any purchases through my special links helps to support this channel - thank you!)

Prussian Blue Stablilo Carbothello

White Chalk Pencil

Pencil Extender

Kneaded Eraser

Map Eraser

Mono Zero Eraser

For more info on getting your own handmade-with-love toned (or white) paper sketchbook pop over here to be kept in the loop for my next sketchbook release.

If you've got a question for me, please feel free to leave it in the comments! I super appreciate my viewers reaching out to me:)

2.29.2020