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I find the best way to combat my fears is with gratitude.
This watercolor painting is based on a sketch I did during the "21 Day Challenge" earlier this year. I finally finished the illustrations for "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids", and I am taking a little break before I have to begin all of the paintings for the "Little Black Ant at Park Street" book. You can now pre-order the yoga book by clicking the button I created on the right-hand column of my blog. It will take you to the author's website.
Between being on vacation and returning to a mountain of assignments, I slacked off on doing my 15 minute-a-day exercise. This is not good thing. For me, at least.
I think it's true that you lose your train of thought, your connection to the creative stream, if you don't dip in to it every day. And what's amazing is that it only takes a small amount of time! But you need to make that time. It's so much harder to start again once you've stopped. I wonder how it works for others.
The funny thing is, my "day" job-- making illustrated maps-- is a creative one. And then there are assorted other projects I'm plugging away at. So it's not as if I'm not doing anything creative all day.
I guess it's the time to let my mind ramble-- to play, practice, toss out new ideas-- that I crave. Ooh, do I get crabby without it! It keeps me moving forward. Any thoughts?
©Kathleen Rietz
I finally got around to adding color to this sketch I had made during the 21 Day Challenge (scroll down the main page to see my sketch). Many people forget about our soldiers serving in the Middle East and all over the rest of the world. But for little kids who have to endure another summer without their parent, they have not forgotten. This little girl is watching summer fireworks outside her bedroom window and missing her dad. The baseball under her bed symbolizes a time when he was home to play ball with her. Her little kitty keeps her company for times when she needs someone to listen. And the photo on her wall was taken on the day her father was preparing to deploy. She remembers her father telling her to be brave and that he would be home soon. She manages a smile in the photo. But now it has been 18 months.
©Kathleen Rietz
I was tagged by both Alicia Padron and Andi Butler to post about my typical day. Well, I honestly do not have a typical day. It's sort of sad, now that I think about it. I would love to inject a little routine back into my life. There was a time when I made a really decent living frelancing, so I had freetime and worktime and balance in my life. Now I am pretty much all about work. I just finished up my second semester of teaching art at The Community School of the Arts at Wheaton College. Now I am teaching a 6 week course there called "The Art of the Sketchbook". That will take me through June, at which time I may take a 6 week intensive Adobe Illustrator class for myself at the local college here near my town. I really need to learn Illustrator. I work 2 afternoons per week at a chiropractic clinic, where I get free treatments, which is good because my back is so lousy and my insurance does not cover chiropractic. Plus, it gets me out of the house and I like helping others heal and manage their pain. The work I do has a direct and immediate impact on the lives of others, something I do not get to see much with my art. I also know that my smiling face may be the only smile a person gets all day, so I make sure I get to know each patient and give them a smile. Some evenings I get home and hit the gym, if I have the energy, which ends up being twice a week now (I often get home somewhere between 7 and 9). Usually have dinner around 10 or 11 at night. Then I stay up and check email and blogs and I get to work on my art projects, typically until around 4 or even 5am. On days I am not working outside the house, I am able to work all day, unless there are errands to run, and I do love the days I can work without interruption. I do make sure I take time to walk my dog, pretty much every day. Sometimes we go sit in a park. It is good for both of us. I often run into neighbors while I am out walking, so I chat with them a while. I also try to find time to do at least one new illustration for my website/portfolio each week, and update my website and other portfolio sites at least once a week. If I get to bed early (before 2:30am), I may watch a little Animal Planet or Food Network. I love to cook and I make nearly all of my meals from scratch. I get great ideas from Food Network. I also try to make sure I have time for the important people in my life every week, even if it is at odd hours. They seem to understand.
©Kathleen Rietz
When I get some time again I will create some animal samples. Very short sketch tonite. Still recovering from the ebola virus thing I have had for the past week. Yeeeccchh..
©Kathleen Rietz
I love carefree summer days that make me forget about my worries. Looking forward to celebrating summer!
©Kathleen Rietz
couldn't help myself...this little guy is too cute.
©Kathleen Rietz
All of these blooming trees - apple, cherry blossom, lilac - are beautiful but deadly for me. My allergies got so bad last week, I could feel it all settling into my lungs. By Thursday I was beginning to think there was something more going on than just my seasonal allergies. On Friday I was diagnosed with bronchitis and given a heavy dose of antibiotics, and bed rest followed all weekend. Last night I managed to drag myself to the first session of the new 6 week class I am teaching at the Community School of the Arts at Wheaton College, called "The Art of the Sketchbook". Today I still feel...uh...sick as a dog. But I did manage a little sketching time. Enjoy.
©Kathleen Rietz
for Alicia : )
A little ballerina must have a lot of flexability in order to create the wide stance needed to perform a "grande jette".
I took a little hiatus from Illustration Friday in order to concentrate on other challenges, but last night's sketch seems to fit the theme this week. And...I've missed sharing! Hello everyone!
©Kathleen Rietz
I love ballet. So much so that I lost track of time on this drawing session. I vacillated in and out of dance throughout my life, then went back to ballet in my 30's until too many injuries and a crooked back made me retire my slippers to the back of a drawer, which I rediscovered while cleaning out that drawer last week. I still daydream of going back...
Read the rest of this post
©Kathleen Rietz
This took longer than 15 minutes, obviously, but I need to start taking some of these sketches to color so I can fill in the gaps in my portfolio.
©Kathleen Rietz
I tried another pose that seems sort of challenging to me. Sometimes we lose the fullness of form when we try to draw a person lying flat on the ground.....and I think the foreshortening of crossing one leg over the other can also be challenging. But this is such a relaxed pose. Can you tell how much I am longing for summer??
©Katleen Rietz
Tonite I challenged myself to draw a child in a scrunched position, and to give that child glasses. I sometimes think proportions can be tough in a pose like this, and glasses can look comical if one is not careful. Overall, I am pleased with the sketch, although I admit I fussed with some shading and the spade and watering can for a while and it took me longer than 15 minutes. I sort of liked it before I added all of the rendering. It had a really nice spontaneity to it.
©Kathleen Rietz
Not sure how I went from Day 9 1/2 to Day 13 in my last post....but here is day 10. :)
©Kathleen Rietz
I am taking a quick trip to see my brother downstate. He just bought a new house. I'll be back soon..
©Kathleen Rietz
Two things I struggle to draw in my whimsical style are babies and men. So here's a shot. Facing my fears.
I struggle with finding the appropriate size for babies, and making men look masculine yet friendly. I welcome constructive suggestions or feedback.
"Life is short, art is long. Get the habit."
-Danny Gregory, The Creative License
Well, I've fallen off the boat for a bit. I missed two days of my 15 minute writing on Friday and Saturday. Call it the feast or famine lifestyle of a freelancer, but of course after I committed to this challenge the work started pouring in. And last week I got a huge map commission that will keep me swamped through the end of May.
But have no fear, I'm still in it. The thing is, I'm actually in it for life, not just the 21 days. (I'll bet most of the other participating artists are, too.) Because on days I don't get to the writing, I still at least scribble in my journal. Here are pages from yesterday:
I was thinking about simplified expressions, and then my brain started to go into graphic designer mode, thinking about shapes and balance on the page. Why was I thinking this? I'm not quite sure! Maybe it was the subconscious kicking in, having to do with things I've been reading and thinking about lately.
I hesitated to post these, because I was really tired and they felt like nonsense pages. But it's all in the spirit of sharing, right?
By:
Kathleen Rietz,
on 5/5/2008
Blog:
Kathleen Rietz
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©Kathleen Rietz
Ooops - I missed a few days. Oh, the life of a freelance artist can take its toll. The first quarter of this year was so dreadfullly slow. I spent much of it pushing myself to draw every day, experiment, stretch my vision as an artist....and it seems to be paying off right now. Much of what is happening in my professional life I need to keep quiet about for the moment. But this lifestyle - especially in this current economy - is feast or famine. So I missed a few days because I took some time for myself to recover from overlapping deadlines last week. I made it into the gym, saw friends, walked the dog and planted a tree. These simple joys inspired today's post, which is an ode to Winnie the Pooh.
Here are three Halloween pictures, Myrlynn, a Myrlynn card for you, and the Halloween Moon. Click images to view larger. Hope you have a great Halloween. :-D
These are sketches, hand drawn on paper, but I added the moon on the computer.
I find the best way to combat my fears is with gratitude. 
I love the beautiful and thankful look on her face. Thinking people are usually thankful people. She is just gorgeous! Great work.
It's beautiful Kate.... :o)
She is so sweet and beautiful Kate! perfect work =)
This is so beautiful and charming, I love the message about being positive too! :)
Love the simplicity of the picture yet it conveys soo much. I look at the illustration and wonder what the story is surrounding it.
very well done.
Hi Kathleen...wonderful post and it is so true...gratitude is very important....I always wake up and think of all the wonder in our lives and never go to bed without thinking about everything I am grateful for...
Have a wonderful day!!! and congrats on getting the ABCs of Yoga illustrations all finished!!!
Hugs
Diana
I love this Kate. You are right about gratitude being a great way to conquer fear. Thank for sharing.
During these trying times in our economy, I keep reminding myself of
2 Timothy 1:7.
Thanks Kate!! I didn't know about the facebook clause! Phyllis posted all in detail. I removed the Page. Better safe than sorry.
Thanks girl!!! Talking about gratitude, right hee, hee ;o)
Congrats on getting your book project finished (and for having a break! Especially during the holidays!)(This is me trying to be grateful for work, even through December. :-)
Dear Kate,
The first thing that struck me is how this sweet little girl's face is lined up with your sweet face ;) Two peas, wouldn't you say?
Congrats on getting a huge project under your belt. You deserve a break! I'm going to order the book for myself and for my niece's children who refer to me as Auntie Lolo.
I hope my books arrived. If not, any day now!
XX
Congratulations on finishing your book. Your work is so wonderful! Awards are waiting for you on my blog :o) Merry Christmas!