Introducing: The Shallow End

Hello February!

This year I thought I would shake up the blog a little bit. I really like offering a second post for the month, but I don’t quite work fast enough to regularly post a sketchbook tour.

When I do have a sketchbook or project to share, that will stay at the mid-month post. But for the months that I don’t, I’ll be offering instead my usual blog post content, which is usually a deep dive into a single topic that’s on my mind…

So what happens on the 1st? Well, The Shallow End — an informal newsletter of sorts, including behind the scenes of what I’ve been working on, inspired by, and any upcoming events (you never know!).

I’m really excited about this format, since I think it will allow me to share a bit more about myself but also more about my art too! I hope you enjoy it!

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Over the holidays, I was really focused on stepping back and building a habit of sketching regularly. Normally I just sort of “doodled” at best. So, for January, I tried to get back into the rhythm of regularly making art, while still keeping up the sketching practice… and I’ve found it hard to do both well!

I seem to be okay with spending the day in my sketchbook with a pencil practicing skills I want to develop. OR I can grab my favorite art supplies and drawing board, and spend the day engrossed in a new illustration. The thought of doing both in the same day is weirdly intimidating. But I’m trying…

I did create a new watercolor piece in January — The Winter Night. I really want to focus on physical media this year — so, mainly watercolor, ink, and colored pencils. This means I’m also challenging myself to work from specific color palettes. I’m used to sort of winging it and making adjustments when I color pieces digitally. But physical media is much less forgiving in that regard so it’s forcing me to plan ahead… good practice in color theory, I guess!

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In other news, I’m so sad The Good Place is over. I’m writing this just before the series finale, and I’m not ready. In case I haven’t mentioned it recently, I did my undergrad in Philosophy, and focused on Ethics. So it was great to see a comedy mention and even discuss ethics seriously. It was amazing. And honestly I think the show was funny anyway, even if I that hadn’t been my background. But after Thursday, I guess I’m back to not using my degree anymore. Haha. 😉

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I started a reading goal for 2020 — stop buying new books. I have so many already that I haven’t read so I curated them into a reading list for the year. I’m also trying to be better about using the library, since they offer ebooks now too.

I’m currently reading Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke. It’s one I’ve owned for a while but couldn’t get into previously. But as a huge Jane Austen fan, I’m back at it. I’m only a handful of chapters into it, but it’s starting to pick up, and I’m definitely intrigued by the lore and use of magic in the Regency era. It’s a cool concept, I guess I’m just waiting for a more exciting character to show up…But so far, no idea what’s going to happen!

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Speaking of books, that’s definitely where I’m finding a lot of inspiration for my art right now. I’ve recently become a fan of Art Books. You know, the big, luxurious, full-color coffee table books filled with amazing art and the stories behind it? I knew there were books for the greats — Van Gogh, da Vinci, etc. But I’m learning it’s more common now for contemporary artists to offer art books too!

I stocked up on a few over Christmas, and I can already tell this new obsession will be my downfall, since they are kind of expensive — so I’m glad I’m sticking to free books otherwise. Oof!

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What book are you reading right now? Are you mourning The Good Place too? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for joining me at The Shallow End!