my YouTube channel ...

After much 'over thinking' about this... I decided to dive straight in and learn by doing the thing.

I was surprised to discover that having something 'to create for' has actually made me create more! So already this is a great outcome... and what I was seeking was connection and a place to share in a more quiet, real and hopefully encouraging way.. about the artist life/journey ... and what goes on behind the making of the art.

This 'Sketchbook Freedom' video has received the most view of all I've uploaded thus far... little did I realise when I began adding weekly vlogs, with just 68 followers... that many more than that would actually see my video.
I truly desire to keep making the videos like 'it doesn't matter'... but doing them the best I can.
Being open, honest, real... and hopefully this is helpful to the viewer.

Listening to a 'SneakyArt' podcast interview of Sandi Hester.. with Nishant Jain was one of the first times I'd heard of 'Urban Sketching' and made the connection that OH... that could be a thing where I live??? ... sure enough, the very next day I went to a gallery opening and met an artist named Shelley Harkness... who I'd only seen on instagram up until then... and Shelley told me she had been to URBAN SKETCHING that very morning!!
I absolutely LOVE synchronicty.

I had a whole day to myself at home... and made these two paintings on paper and had the best time! Recording the process to share made me think a bit about what I was doing and learning as I was going ... I seem to be on a quest to paint MORE LOOSE... ha!

These four were a true delight to see arrive on my boards... I had been doing several loose floral/leafy ones on paper.. and decided to treat four cradle panel boards as though they were 'just paper'. These were the results... and I discuss the process of them in Vlog 5.

I realised I get a bit ashamed of the mess I sometimes find myself creating in... so I chatted about this a bit as I was in the middle of what I truly hoped was a bit clean out... it wasn't ... it's still quite 'busy' in my studio space.

I've been hugely inspired by the way Sandi Hester puts together her vlogs and videos, I haven't watched too many others so as not to 'compare and despair', but I did find her joy and freedom an absolute delight... watching a few of her vid's tipped me over the edge towards thinking - "OK, If I can just be myself and do this thing... I'm willing to give it a go."

I felt a bit disappointed with this one... only because I am not entirely certain I love the finished painting... it could be another work in progress at a later date.  So... I posted it anyway in the awareness of Process not Perfection!

That's a quick update of all of the Vlogs til now... I thought I might start adding the notes I send in my emails about the vlogs to my blog... so they are here for me to look back on as much as anything.. and again... if they're helpful to you. Even better!

bye for now,

with heart,
​Denise

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