Where Inspiration Comes From

Would you believe me if I told you that this drawing was inspired by an oil spot in a parking lot?!?

While walking through a parking lot after a storm last week, I came across a perfectly circular, perfectly beautiful oil spot on the wet pavement.  (Yes, I'm the crazy lady that stops in the middle of the road to take photos of the ground!)

The rainbow spot reminded me of the sharpie tie-dyed t-shirts that I had just helped Tyler's class make at their year end party.  That made me wonder if I might be able to re-create the same effect on paper.  So, after an unsuccessful attempt using sharpie markers, rubbing alcohol, and index cards, I pulled out my water soluble markers and started to play....

There is tremendous joy to be found in experimenting with supplies in new ways!  In the end, it turned out that the simple combination of water soluble markers and a spray bottle filled with water created some pretty remarkable results.

And to think, it all started after seeing an oil spot!  
It just goes to show how important it is to keep your eyes open, because...

Inspiration is everywhere!

A Colorful Train Of Thought

This week, the colors for The Summer of Color were pink and orange.  Even though I don't use those colors all that often, I had a lot of fun with them...  They even led me on a 
"If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" type adventure!
Here is how it went:

If you give an artist a color (or three),
she will create a flower...

After she paints her flower,
she will want to put them in someone's hair...

The girl with flowers in her hair
will make the artist think of butterflies...

The butterfly will remind her of the pinks and orange
she started with...

And if she paints with those colors,
She'll want a few more!

(I can't wait to see what next week's colors are...)

Warning: This Post Is A Bit Bananas...

If you read my first index card a day post, then you may have noticed a feast of fruit and vegetable puns.  I know that some people think puns are corny, but I love them!  If you love them too, then I will happily take all of the credit for the smorgasbord of silly.  But, if puns aren't your thing, then you can blame my dear friend Tracey Fletcher King for my current buffet of bad taste!  (Just kidding Tracey!)  It isn't her fault...  I just can't seem to help myself when it comes to wordplay... It's a sickness, really.

If you haven't already heard, Tracey is teaching an online class called Delicious Paint, and it is every bit as delectable as it sounds!  (The course is full, so I'm sorry to tempt you... But you can take heart in the fact that I'm quite sure this won't be the last chance to have her as a teacher.)

I carrot believe how much olive Tracey's take on teaching...  Her lessons are a masterful medley of appetizing approaches and tasty techniques.  I have bean berry peased with her dill-ightful methods.  I think it goes without saying that I'm having a grape time!  

Seriously though, Tracey has amazing talent and generously shares her knowledge with her students.  If you get a chance to take a class from her in the future, I highly recommend it.  (Don't hold my crummy comedy against her, that's all me... I just love to yam it up!)

Orange you glad you made it to the end of this post?!?  
(Thanks for pearing with me!)

Colorful Index Cards, Solicited (and Unsolicited) Advice, Semi-Serious Reflection, And Other Miscellaneous Carp...

If you are still reading after that long (and somewhat obnoxious) title, I would like to commend you on your bravery!

I am feeling chatty and a little bit silly today, so I'm not quite sure what is going to spill out into this post, but you may want to grab yourself a beverage and get comfortable!

Consider yourself warned...

Recently I did a video interview for Alexandra MacVean's upcoming Blogging e-course, and ever since I've been doing a whole lot of navel gazing, as they say...

What I've come up with is that creating is an essential part of my being.  I've been making stuff for as long as I can remember, and sharing in one form or another has always been a vital part of the process.  I am a much happier person when I have regular studio time, and my blog is a great place to connect with wonderful like-minded souls such as yourself.

That's not to say that "following my bliss" is always a blissful pursuit.  As a matter of fact, I am often frustrated by some of the carp I create... 

It's very easy to get caught up in what everybody else is doing...  Things sure do look good for other people on the internet.  The thing is, I create a lot of carp... Honestly, some days I feel like it's all carp.  But, I'm pretty sure that all of those "other people" that are sharing the bright and shiny parts of their lives are dealing with their fair share of carp too... And, if they tell you otherwise... Well then, they're full of carp.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't feel bad about my carp, and I hope you don't feel bad about yours either...  Because there are some gems sprinkled in there too, and the only way to get to them is to make LOTS of stuff.

The important thing is to just keep going, keep creating, keep following your bliss no matter how much carp you create in the process.  Because it really is true...

All's whale that ends whale.


All of the artwork in this post was created using colors for the first week of The Summer of Color.



Using index cards for Daisy Yellow's Index Card A Day Challenge.

  If you would like to see all of the index cards I've created up to this point, please click here.  

(Or, you can see my daily postings on Instagram.)

Oh, How I Love This Challenge!

Daisy Yellow's Index Card A Day Challenge has officially started, and I couldn't be happier!  Creating a daily drawing or painting on an index card is liberating...  It's a chance to play without having to worry about any specific goal or the finished product.
I'm having a blast!

So without further ado, here are the cards I've created so far...

Kristin Dudish     icad #1

Kristin Dudish     icad #2

Kristin Dudish     icad #3

Kristin Dudish     icad #4

Kristin Dudish     icad #5
(National Donut Day)

Kristin Dudish     icad #6

Kristin Dudish     icad #7

Kristin Dudish     icad #8  

Kristin Dudish     icad #9

If you're interested in seeing my daily progress, I've been posting them to my Instagram account.

One Week...

ICAD 2012:  #1: "National Doughnut Day"

Until Daisy Yellow's Index Card A Day Challenge starts!
(I can't wait!)

ICAD 2012:  #12: "Modigliani's Nest"

I've taken a breather from the blog while I've been moving into and organizing a new studio.  (Expect a future post about that!)  Now that (most of) the boxes are unpacked, and (most of) my supplies are organized, I'm ready to jump back into blogging!

ICAD 2013:  #21 "Rapscallion"
(rapscallion: \rap-'skal-yen\ : noun: rascal, scamp, ne'er-do-well)

What better way to throw myself back into the thick of it than with a daily challenge?!?  I love the simplicity of the ICAD challenge... All you need is a stack of index cards and some sort of mark making tool or tools.  It doesn't get much easier than that!

ICAD 2012:  #55 "Creativi Tea"

Sometimes my cards were silly (okay... most of the time!), sometimes they were simple, and sometimes they were a little more elaborate...  But, whatever they turned out to be, it was a great way to play everyday!

ICAD 2012:  #14 "Songbird"

I have a stack of fresh index cards and I'm ready to go...
Do you want to join me?!?

ICAD 2012:  #33, #34, #35  "Rainbow Giraffe)

If you would like to see all of my past index cards,

please click here. 

Happy 4th Birthday/Anniversary/Blogoversary PPF!

Wow... Four years!  How did that happen?!?

When EVA and I started Paint Party Friday four years ago, we knew we wanted to create a site where painters from around the world could "get together".  We hoped it would become a supportive and encouraging community for like-minded artists... What we didn't expect is how many partyers would show up each week, and how many meaningful friendships would be made...  To say we're thrilled is an understatement!

I knew I was going to create a party portrait painting for the PPF blog, but since we invited everyone to create self portraits for the celebration, I thought maybe I should create a separate one for my own blog.  I was in a strange mood today, and that led to a strange self-portrait...

I'd like to end this post by giving thanks to my wonderful PPF partner, EVA... Thank you for your continued dedication, your creativity, your support, your encouragement, and your friendship!

And, to all of my PPF friends... Thank you for helping to make the Paint Party Friday blog such a fun place to visit, for sharing your amazing artwork, and for keeping us inspired week after week!