Day 5 - 60 minutes or less daily artwork

I am really starting to enjoy my commitment to drawing something every day. I started this drawing and it really took off. I like where this is going, and I find that my ideas for the children's story that I am planning are becoming clearer through drawing.

Day 4 - 60 minutes or less daily artwork

Not much to show today. But, in keeping with my idea that this is an exercise to help me towards illustrating better, this works. Two cockatoos. I wonder what he is saying to her.

Day 3 - 60 minutes or less daily artwork

I had no idea where I was going with this drawing. I started with the little girl and it went on from there. Good practice again for illustrating.

The Madiba Effect

During this busy time of year I am trying to find quiet spaces in my life.  Making time to enjoy the sound of the rain, and there has been a lot of rain of late.  All day long we are bombarded with noise, whether it be the radio in the office, the traffic outside or the TV when we get home.  I need the quiet to allow my mind to think and process the day.

Something that has been occupying my mind a lot is the recent passing of our beloved Nelson Mandela. I recall our rather irrational fear of this man and what would happen to us all (white South Africans) once he was set free.I remember the confusion in my mind once he was released at how he seemed to creep into the hearts of our nation. His genuine love for each and everyone won us over.

Then one day in 1999, after a company lunch in Johannesburg we noticed several uniformed men with rather large firearms and in the midst of them was a smiling Nelson Mandela. We had all moved out the way and expected him to just go by. But he stopped, reached out his hand to shake mine, greeted me and asked how I was and if I had enjoyed my lunch, smiled, wished me well and went on to greet my co-workers who I was with.

I was overcome with all sorts of emotions. I had just held the hand of the great Nelson Mandela and spoken with him. This is hard to describe, but he had a sort of aura or energy field around him, and once it touches your life it leaves some of that energy with you.

His effect was that of a bright candle passing by and lighting your little candle with his flame. It does not take away any of his brightness, instead it leaves behind it a trail of light. Some flames continue burning for years, some go on to light others and some flames will just burn out.

I hope that the unity South Africa is feeling now will continue and that each and every one of us will go on to spread a little light and love as Tata Madiba would’ve wanted us to do.

South Africa is a beautiful country and South Africans are amazing people. When we stand together, anything is possible. So let’s stand together in love and light and live out Madiba's legacy!

R.I.P.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
1918 - 2013

Lunch Break Sketching

I call myself a part time artist because I paint and draw in my spare time.  I work fulltime as a graphic designer, which at least gives me a creative outlet. I spend my days creating email adverts, magazine ads, business cards, flyers and banners, etc.

From time to time I go through a phase where painting only when I'm at home is not enough and I find myself drawing or doodling on whatever piece of blank paper is on my desk.

For my lunchtime yesterday I went to the Mugg & Bean coffee shop not too far from my office, with my small sketchbook in hand.  It is amazing how fast that hour passes when you are drawing.  It was quite challenging to draw someone who is not posing, they move around and shift position all the time.  I really need to do this more often.

So as the coffee cup coaster says:- Do what you LOVE, LOVE what you do.

A Fresh Start

My blog has been very quiet over the last few months as has been my painting.  All over body aches and stiffness, blurred vision and extreme exhaustion forced me to lay down my paint brushes.  Fibromyalgia is a very lonely disease, people don't know what to say to you when they see you limping and hear you stuttering and stammering as you battle to make a complete sentence.  Cold weather aggravates the Fibromyalgia aches and pains, so I am very thankful that we are now moving into our warm season here in the Southern hemisphere.

Over the last six weeks I have been taking supplements that have improved my mobility to a degree, so I am preparing to paint once again.

In the mean time I have been looking into ways to sell my artwork on cards, posters, clothing etc.  So I have just opened a Zazzle shop.  It's still new to me so I am still trying to figure out the design and settings.  It would be a nice outlet for my smaller drawings and possibly even some of my digital drawings.

I turned one of my drawings into a mouse pad, I quite like it.  See the link below. 

Wiseman Mouse Pad from Zazzle.com

Wiseman by artbyvee
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Till next time.  Take care.

Vanessa

Little Sisters

Blogging is quite enjoyable and each day, before doing anything else on my computer, I first have to go see who's written or painted or photographed something new.  But the best part is joining a network and I have to share this one.  It's a group in facebook called Bloggers Network and you get to share your ideas and posts in this group.  There's a lovely interaction between members of the group and it seems to be one of the best ways to get your blog noticed.

Now, to get to what my blog's about.  A while ago I was asked to do a portrait in pencil from a photograph of these two little girls.  Their father ordered it as a birthday gift for their mother.