This 100 Day Challenge is flying by!  It's been so great to commit to a daily rhythm of drawing.

Some days I know what animal I want to draw right away.  I've been inspired by one of Ransom's books, or an animal we saw at the zoo, or a friend mentioned their favorite animal to me. 

Today was not one of those days.  I put Ransom down for a nap and then plopped down with my iPad and started scrolling through animal pictures on Pinterest.  I decided to narrow it down to farm animals... then I thought how I haven't ever done a cow ... then I saw a picture of a Highland Cow...  Yep, that's the one.  The cutest kind of cow there is.

Ryan and I saw some a few years back when we were on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

(Do you think they even appreciate the view?)

Man, that was one of my favorite trips.

Anywho, here's mine.

At first I regretted adding any color and was afraid it got lost behind all the brown, but now I think it turned out alright. Maybe sometime I'll go back and beef up the background (ha, did you catch that unintentional pun?).

And here we are in Scotland again, so fashionable in our mosquito nets. (Because of all the midges)

It's been awhile since I've added anything new to my Print on Demand shops (i.e. Society6, TeePublic, Redbubble ), because I've been so focused on other projects. This week though I decided it was about time and so I scanned and edited this lovely little design.

It is inspired by John 15:5. "“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  --> The whole idea of practicing the presence of God, of living out of his strength and not my own.

I don't really talk about my faith much on this blog, and it really doesn't show up much in my art either. But it's such a core part of who I am.  I often wonder if/how to express that here and in my art.

There is just so much cheesy Christian art in the world.  That makes me hesitant. Also, I don't want to just try and get sales by creating something Jesus-y -- using God's name in vain i.e. for my own benefit.

I'll at least say it on this post.

I follow Jesus.  I put my hope in him.  My identity as a daughter of God is above all my other identities -- as a wife, mother, artist, etc.  It's the one thing about me that will never change.

So I strive to abide in him everyday, and to create habits in my life that cause me to turn my thoughts and actions towards him and his way of life -- which I believe to be the best way to live. (I'm reading a good book about that -- The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard )

So yeah, that why "abide." 

And then cherry blossoms are pretty.

And if you just like the cherry blossoms but don't care much about the word, I used my fancy computer skills for you.

It's Wednesday, so here I am writing a blog post. 

Hello!  

I made this commitment back in March -- to post weekly -- and it's still going strong.   I'm going to go ahead pat myself on the back for that. I think I skipped a week once since then, but that's actually way better than I thought I'd be doing.

Today -- since I'm not sure what else to bring you -- I thought I'd share a few artists I really dig. I've pulled these images from their social media feeds and linked back so you can check it out for yourself as well.

First is Sandra Dieckmann.  I've been following her for awhile, even before I really feel I found my own artistic "voice". You can see how she has influenced me a bit, with her fun patterning and playful animals. (see her on Facebook and Instagram)

I also really enjoy following Michiko on Instagram.  She has such fun geometric patterns.

Also, I love the art of Yardia.  She's also based in the Great Pacific Northwest. Her work is so charming and inviting. (Here's her Instagram)

So there is some eye candy for ya.  There are many other artists who inspire me, but I'll save those for another week.

I thought I'd pop in and give you a progress report on my bug coloring book. I feel like I have enough bugs drawn now - 12 - and so I'm working on editing my drawings.  I've scanned them and am going through the pain-staking process of cleaning them up.  For instance, right now I'm in the middle of combing through my dragonfly drawing.  See this leaf....

And now it's a bit less messy (still working on it).

I'm not going for perfection.  Like I mentioned in my last post, I kind of like the human-element of a little bit of imperfection in my art.  My goal is just less messy.  Even so, I can see myself dragging my feet on this step and taking forever just because the next steps are more intimidating...

• Create a cover (probably a title would be important as well)
• Write/create an introduction page
• Put it all together as a PDF

Those are the next few steps, after I finish the editing bit. Then I am self-publishing this book through CreateSpace (not sure if I've mentioned that yet).

Someone asked me the other day which bug was my favorite.  I was stumped in the moment, but I think now it's either the moth or the spider

One thing I've learned about myself in the past year is that I can be a perfectionist.  I've never been a neat-freak and have always thought of myself as pretty laid back, so this came to me as a surprise, but I am also a very harsh critic of myself, and I love structure and routine (and that was a very long sentence, speaking of being a self-critic...).  Even though I am not a neat-freak, there are certain things in my life that I want do the right way and will beat myself up internally if I don't.

There are a couple of ways I've noticed this show up in my art process and artistic style.

I've mentioned this before, but I used to take for-ev-or to complete a drawing.  Part of that is because it was so detailed, but I believe another large part of it is that I wanted to keep working until it felt just right -- something I could be super proud of. I put a lot of pressure on each artwork.

There definitely is a time for that -- to take your time and be thorough and thoughtful -- but I don't want that to be my default, or to feel trapped by my expectations.

Challenging myself to draw quickly, like in the 100 Day Project, has really helped me shake free of that. Now, since I know that I don't have to take months to complete a drawing, each project feels like less pressure.   Every work of art isn't a masterpiece that I'm going to sell countless prints of.  That's ok.  It's ok to just be ok sometimes. What's important is to keep moving.

As far as my style, my love of structure shows up in that I like to create rules for myself within an artwork, such as in choosing shapes and colors.  You can see that in my most recent zendala.

I settled on a few keys shapes when I was drawing and then repeated them in different sizes and combinations. Then I settled on a color scheme and stuck to it.

I've found creating some sort of structure for myself frees me up. I'm not so overwhelmed by all the possibilities.  It's also fun because then it becomes something of a challenge -- to create a design that's interesting with limited elements.  Constraints that enable (that was the title of an article that I read in grad school).

(You'd think I'd also obsess over having straight lines and perfect symmetry, but nope. I actually perfect the wobbly and human-ness of impercision)

I've never really had the typical fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants artist personality.  I'm all about schedules and being on time (by that I mean 5 minutes early) and following the instruction manual.

There are lots of ways to be an artist.

I'm a big fan of process pics.  I've taken quite a few recently while drawing my animals for the 100 Day Project and have held them back from social media.  Let's dump them all onto this post, shall we? 

Many of these pictures I took at the point of thinking "This one really isn't turning out well..." But I kept going and by the end was moderately pleased with the drawings.  I've thought that enough times to know that I just need to keep pushing forward and things often (not always) turn out better than I think they will.

So I'll post the process pic(s) followed by the finished sketch. (Click on the thumbnails to view bigger.)  Here we go!

That was fun, huh? 

You can see sometimes I start with pencil, other times I go straight to ink.  It depends on my mood -- if I feel confident and/or pressed for time I forego the pencil sketch.

I'm really enjoying the 100 Day Project this year (unlike last year). I hope to turn some of these sketches into bigger, more polished drawings at some point.

Ransom and I got a zoo membership. so I have a never-ending source of inspiration. 

What's your favorite animal to see at the zoo?  Mine currently are the seals and mountain goats.

I've been posting a lot of drawings on Instagram lately, mostly of animals.  This post I wanted to highlight another frequent player in my sketchbook -- zendalas. 

The word is a hybrid of Zentangle and mandala.  Zentangle is a type of drawing that involves the use of structured patterns, while a mandala is an intricate circular symbol from Hinduism and Buddhism that represents the universe.  I just draw mine for fun and relaxation, so I'm going to use the word zendala rather than mandala.

I pretty much always have a zendala going in my sketchbook. I work on them when we're watching TV or hanging out with Ransom in the living room. Here are a few that are in my current sketchbook (which is almost full thanks to the 100 Day Project).

Lately I'm digging the ones that fill up the whole page the most.  Much  more dramatic.

You should try drawing some yourself!  You just start in the middle and grow from there, adding shapes and lines and dots and bumps and whatever you feel like.  I rarely finish drawing one in one sitting. No rush.

Don't worry about being precise, mine certainly aren't.  I've found that the more detail you add, the more it appears precise. I suppose our eyes get distracted by all the pretty shapes.

A while back I painted some zendalas all smooshed together.  Then I ordered it as a laptop case from my Society6 shop (I use the case for my iPad, not a laptop.  Not that that is important...).  I think it turned our rather lovely.

This post is going to be me talking to myself about getting on a schedule. It’s pretty much just for my own benefit, but I’m letting you in on my internal conversation ...

I have four ongoing projects right now. 

1. 100 Day Project I have already written a lot about this, but I am drawing an animal every day for 100 days. I post these drawings to my Facebook and Instagram (@laurakatherin) accounts , so make sure you are following!

2. Bug Coloring Book I've also written a bit about this.  For over a year I've been having this as a goal, and it's GOING to happen.  Even if I only sell two copies, I want to get this printed. 

3. Art Licensing If you don't know, art licensing involves renting out your images to manufacturers who then create products (pillows, plates, journals, anything really) using that image and you get royalties. I think my work would do well with licensing, I just need to know how to go about it. So I'm taking an e-course from Laura C. George to learn the biz -- the lingo, how to pitch to manufacturers, how to negotiate a contract. I'm excited about this!

4. Children's Book One of my good friends has written a children's book and asked me to illustrate it.  I only have a few sketches so far, but this is also something I've never done so I'm excited to learn as I go.

So that's kind of a lot. I'm trying to work a little bit on each project each week, but that doesn't always happen. It all depends on nap-length and my motivation. Lately I’m least motivated about the coloring book, because I think I’m now on the editing/formatting part, which I’m more intimidated by.

I'm thinking of making a weekly schedule, one I can loosely stick to and that will hopefully make me feel more structured. I do love structure, which I know is not very artist-like of me. Here’s what I’m thinking...

• ​I work on the 100 Day Project every day, so that is already set up, and Mondays I like to leave open since Ryan has Mondays off.
• Tuesday: Art Licensing (work on the e-course and/or any to-dos that brings up)
• Wednesday: Blog/Website
• Thursday: Bug Coloring Book
• Friday: Children’s Book

So that doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll work on said project on that day. Just that if I do end up having time to devote to my art business, that is how I will focus my efforts.

You can see already I’m off schedule because its Thursday and I’m blogging.... that’s because yesterday was a crap nap for Ransom and I still want to get a post in this week.

So that is a loose schedule. I’m talking to myself here, because I know my tendencies. I don’t want to introduce any new guilt into my life for not sticking to my made up schedule. But it is nice to have goals and structure.

Alright, I’ve gotten to the end of this blog post and Ransom is still napping... (knock on wood). Let see what else can get done!

I’m trucking along on this 100 day project. Today is day nine (only 91 to go!). I picked up an animal book in the children’s section of the library for inspiration.

I love progress pics. You can never get it back — how it looked before. I often forget to take them with these quick drawings.

My own baby bear is fighting off a yucky cold and is being pretty cuddly and pathetic today.

I think I’m done drawing bugs for my coloring book — for the moment at least (I’ve said this before). Now I need to focus on editing my bug drawings and formatting my coloring book. I plan on self-publishing through CreateSpace. My goal is to get it all done this year, and who knows, perhaps start working on a new one.

I’ve been feeling pretty energized with my art lately. Making these little commitments — blogging every week and drawing an animal everyday — have helped. I have a couple of other projects I’m working on as well, but that’s enough updates for one blog post.

Is there any particular animal you’d like to see me draw in the next 91 days?

I have loads of inspiration on the bottom shelf of our living room bookshelf. That’s where Ransom’s picture books live. For instance, the reason I drew the crocodile ...

Excited to see where this challenge takes me!