A quote by Joel Arthur Barker
I am getting a little closer to sorting my artistic life out. Yesterday I got about ¼ of my artwork back from school. Who knows where the rest of it has gone. It is so weird to look at it. It doesn’t look as if it belongs to me… its like some other persons work. What it does show me is that I can do it… but that I clearly enjoy doing illustration more. I am on the road to getting my stuff online for people to have a look at and possibly commission me to make up a personalised unique drawing for them. I am waiting to get some of my stuff which has been spread over the UK and South Africa so that I can get on with it. Its difficult to feel creative when one is stuck in a job they detest. Detest is a strong word but that is certainly how I feel. This weekend I will push myself into starting a new project. I have some good ideas. I am also going to get myself a mini sketchbook to take around with me and jot down ideas and drawings as they come to me!
For now, nothing much has changed but I will push myself and I will get there!
Wednesday 25 February 2009
Wednesday 11 February 2009
A Second Start
"One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries." - A.A. Milne
Working in an office 9 - 5 every day has its ... disadvantages... But it also has its advantages, one of those being a wandering imagination. At 24 years old I have decided to forget all about practicalities and focus on what I am passionate about and what I am good at. If I can sit in an office all day and feel suffocated I know its time for me to get out.
I have been drawing since I was about three years old. At first I had hundreds of ideas but I didn’t believe I had the ability or talent to make them come to life. I would plead with my mother to pencil out whatever I could think of. My imagination was limitless. This wasn’t confined to drawing either. I used to ask for the most obscure and elaborate birthday gifts. My poor mother. She would search and search until she came up with something that was even remotely close to my request as possible. One year I remember I asked for a swimming costume with Mickey and Mini Mouse on a boat in the ocean and a charm bracelet with two lovebirds kissing with a heart between their beaks. Amazingly she came up with a swimming costume with Mickey and Mini Mouse windsurfing and a necklace with two lovebirds – no heart. She made such a huge effort to quench my insatiable imagination. One day, however, when I asked her to draw me a story I had thought up she said to me: “Claudie, I think it is time for you to try and do it yourself. You will never know whether or not you can do it unless you try”. Well I wasn’t too happy at that point but I had no choice, she wasn’t going to do it for me any longer. That is when I started drawing and I didn’t stop. I didn’t stop for hours on end. Old scientific reports, speeches and print outs of my fathers were my canvas and I relished every last sheet.
Of course one grows up and has other interests, hobbies and responsibilities. I guess my drawing has been neglected for years but every now and again, when a special occasion comes up – a birthday, Christmas, anniversary, Valentines day – I collect my pencil, paints and brushes and begin to work. Although I probably wouldn’t call it work. I absolutely love drawing and I particularly love it when it makes people feel happy and special.
My mother passed away eight years ago. She was a collector of my drawings and she was always very supportive of my passion. As a freelance illustrator my mom had plenty of contacts in the publishing industry. She used to show me some of her favourite illustrators work and I was always fascinated by it. Her faith in me meant even more in light of her professional abilities as a successful freelance editor. I am only coming to realise now how important my art is to me and that I can’t just forget about it. I know she wouldn’t want me to either.
Working in an office 9 - 5 every day has its ... disadvantages... But it also has its advantages, one of those being a wandering imagination. At 24 years old I have decided to forget all about practicalities and focus on what I am passionate about and what I am good at. If I can sit in an office all day and feel suffocated I know its time for me to get out.
I have been drawing since I was about three years old. At first I had hundreds of ideas but I didn’t believe I had the ability or talent to make them come to life. I would plead with my mother to pencil out whatever I could think of. My imagination was limitless. This wasn’t confined to drawing either. I used to ask for the most obscure and elaborate birthday gifts. My poor mother. She would search and search until she came up with something that was even remotely close to my request as possible. One year I remember I asked for a swimming costume with Mickey and Mini Mouse on a boat in the ocean and a charm bracelet with two lovebirds kissing with a heart between their beaks. Amazingly she came up with a swimming costume with Mickey and Mini Mouse windsurfing and a necklace with two lovebirds – no heart. She made such a huge effort to quench my insatiable imagination. One day, however, when I asked her to draw me a story I had thought up she said to me: “Claudie, I think it is time for you to try and do it yourself. You will never know whether or not you can do it unless you try”. Well I wasn’t too happy at that point but I had no choice, she wasn’t going to do it for me any longer. That is when I started drawing and I didn’t stop. I didn’t stop for hours on end. Old scientific reports, speeches and print outs of my fathers were my canvas and I relished every last sheet.
Of course one grows up and has other interests, hobbies and responsibilities. I guess my drawing has been neglected for years but every now and again, when a special occasion comes up – a birthday, Christmas, anniversary, Valentines day – I collect my pencil, paints and brushes and begin to work. Although I probably wouldn’t call it work. I absolutely love drawing and I particularly love it when it makes people feel happy and special.
My mother passed away eight years ago. She was a collector of my drawings and she was always very supportive of my passion. As a freelance illustrator my mom had plenty of contacts in the publishing industry. She used to show me some of her favourite illustrators work and I was always fascinated by it. Her faith in me meant even more in light of her professional abilities as a successful freelance editor. I am only coming to realise now how important my art is to me and that I can’t just forget about it. I know she wouldn’t want me to either.
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