“There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.”
— Louis L’Amour.
This year’s #100dayproject is all about the doodle for me.
It’s my meditation, my therapy, my escape from the noise of my thoughts. For 100 days this year I’m sharing these little mark making experiments with time lapse videos and a bit of wordage about my process.
This Tiny Book is part of the #TinyBookCollective from Hope Fitzgerald over on Instagram. Check out her posts to see more itsy weeny books like this, and find out how to take part.
Colors & doodles from me, words from Marianne Williamson:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually,
who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened
about shrinking so that other people
won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest
the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us;
it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.”
This Tiny Book is part of the#TinyBookCollective from Hope Fitzgerald over on Instagram. Check out her posts to see more itsy weeny books like this, and find out how to take part.
If you’d like to be first to see the latest projects I’m working on & exclusive insights into the thoughts behind the splashy doodles, hop onto my email list for monthly-ish updates direct to your inbox:
In my latest newsletter (going out later today) I share more about getting through un-creativity; what’s on the horizon for my next projects. And my latest flip-though video.
If you haven’t already, hop aboard the news-list here 🙂
Gradually I’m recombobulating after an unplanned summer-long sabbatical.
It all began with slipping away from social media, from blogging, and from the digital mayhem of click-baity distraction.
Then it spilled over into my creative practice, as I set down one project after another, anything creative that felt more should do than a giddy-excited-to-play.
It was the accumulated exhaustion of someone who’s spent a life time rushing and bustling and keeping too may plans spinning. Driven by poorly reasoned logic, no time to question my motives.
The only kind of making that lit up my heart was sewing, so that’s what I did, day after day, until the lull passed.
This is a wall hanging I began making years ago. On and off I’ll pick it up, spend my spare time stitching away, then it goes back in a box and sits for a while longer.
This was the only creative outlet that’s sparked anything in my soul of late.
Then, as suddenly as all the ideas dried up, one at a time, they began to sneak back.
Beginning with some new textile projects and spilling into a bundle of new art journal/sketchbook ideas, it feels like that part of me that thrives on making and doing has come back to life. As the un-hibernation process is picking up momentum, one idea is feeding into the next. I’m feeling more like me again.
art journal spread inspired by Alisa Burke
A little bit of what’s on my creative horizon!
In my latest newsletter (going out later today) I share more about getting through these lumpy few weeks of un-creativity; what’s on the horizon for my next projects. And you can be first to see my latest flip-though video of the project that set off all that’s going on now. Yay!
If you haven’t already, hop aboard the news-list here
“Soul Food” Book Launch Blog Tour & Giveaway. A few years ago I took a year long online course called IGNITE… This is where I first met artist and writer Carol Lowell. I was entranced as I watched Carol’s idea for a book ‘Soul Food’ blossom and take shape.
“Soul Food” Book Launch Blog Tour & Giveaway
A few years ago I took a year long online course called IGNITE run by the lovely Connie Solera of Dirty Footprint Studio, the following year I was invited to return as a peer mentor to the new students through their year of learning and discovery.
In these two years I met some wonderful, inspiring, creative women from around the world, who have become great friends.
This is where I first met artist and writer Carol Lowell. I was entranced as I watched Carol’s idea for a book ‘Soul Food’ blossom and take shape. So I’m super excited to announce her book’s publication, and to have her as my guest to tell you more about it.
Thanks for hosting me, Mixy! I’m excited to share with you and your audience my new book “Soul Food”, the contest and Free Book Offer that goes along with my upcoming book launch March 26, 27, 28 on amazon.ca, amazon.com and, for International orders, on my website!
Colour!!!
It is a passion of mine, and most of the artists I know. We all have our favourite colours that we are drawn to time and again, yet every colour tells and inspires a story all its own.
Rainbows
When I was a kid, settling on a favourite colour was way too limiting. So I chose rainbows! And the collection of rainbow items began … pillows and bedding, mugs and stationery … even a pair of denim overalls (does this date me?). The magic in nature where light refracted through raindrops, or crystals, creating this wonder of colour made my heart swell. It still does!
Our natural world brings so many treasures and delights … feasts for our eyes! But we need to create time and stillness to be aware of all the magic that not only surrounds us, but is within us.
A Journey of Self Discovery – Using Colour
In my book, “Soul Food” I wanted to support people, whether they are artists or not, to create a daily practice that allows them to know themselves better and to get in touch with their hearts. Having fun playing with colour is a key to following your heart.
Choosing Full Colour
When I created my book, Soul Food, I knew from the start that I wanted it to be in full colour … to welcome the participants. It is just too yummy in full colour!!
As a self-published author/artist, the cost of 312 pages of full colour was pretty massive. But I would not compromise, and so I followed my heart and did what I knew in my heart mattered. The pages of Soul Food, that welcome and encourage the mark-making of the book’s owner, bringing their own sense of colour, is just what this book is for. The journey of discovery is as unique as each one of us. And each Soul Food book, will uniquely reflect its owner.
Mixy loves colour too!
Her year-long online course, Twelvty, confirms her dedication and understanding of colour. She encourages and inspires her own version of self discovery through the deep-dive into colour. And Mixy’s various feasts for the eyes are so yummy too! I am grateful to be participating on this journey with her and other creative souls.
May bringing colour into your daily life inspire you, bring pleasures and even, perhaps, make your heart swell. This is just some of the magic available to us when we pay attention!
With love and best wishes,
About “Soul Food”
Soul Food is a 90 Day Journey of Self Discovery While Building Nourishing Habits
Soul Food is an interactive “play book” to help establish heart-centred habits in a gentle and positive way.
The first 30 days focuses attention on gratitudes, doing something you love, your Top 3 Priorities for the day, as well as some mandala colouring to help relax and rejuvenate you.
The next 30 days expands the practice by adding body and health focus, as well as a beginning meditation practice.
From there, the final 30 days builds another layer of your foundational practice by adding daily journaling prompts to take you even further inward for some soul reflection. Towards the final days, you have the opportunity to create your own mandala designs.
Each month, as you gradually and progressively build on the previous month’s groundwork, you can easily deepen your communication within. You will discover your soul voice that is as unique as you are.
After 90 days, you will have created a daily practice that suits you, your interests, and your schedule. Each book will become as unique as the person working through it and making their marks. Most important of all is who you will become while on this journey!!
I am a mixed-media artist, author, life coach, quilter, photographer, book maker, wife, mom and explorer who lives in North Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Through the regular practice of creative endeavours and connecting to our spirit, I know that we can embrace and live our best life… through the expression of our unique gifts… our soul voice. It is my desire to help others find that voice and to give it strength, courage and love.
As someone who loves to gather and to share, I live by the mottos “The More, The Merrier” and “The More We Give, The More We Receive”.
My greatest passions are my family, the discovery of new things, and living with an adventurous spirit. I love to encourage others to find what makes their heart sing and to live from that soul-centred place… a place I try to always reside.
Win a copy of “Soul Food”
I’ve set up a bunch of ways for you to enter my contest inside Rafflecopter.
The more times you enter, the better chance you have of winning 1 of the 3 free copies of “Soul Food”. When you purchase a copy of “Soul Food” during the book launch dates of March 26, 27, 28, you will be sent a copy of my eBook “Meditative Mandala Making”! This is a companion book to “Soul Food” and walks you through the process of making your own mandalas.
I posted this image on Instagram recently, with the question: what color do you think this painting is? (clue: it isn’t actually grey!)
I posted this image on Instagram recently, with the question: what color do you think this painting is?(clue: it isn’t actually grey!)
At the time I write this to you, no one has guessed. So the challenge remains open: what color do you think it is?
Comment below, or email me your answer, the first person who guesses the color wins ahalf price place in my upcoming color adventure: TWELVTY 2018.Just £48 instead of the usual £97. Lawks!!
Which leads me to the next part of this post, speaking of color adventures:
a Gift for you: “TWELVTY XTRA”
While I was busy in researching color for the TWELVTY program, there was one aspect I came back to with each color, with increasing fascination, the way that colors behave (and misbehave) in each other’s company.
It really lit up my imagination.
So much so, I wanted to share some of the magic I uncovered with you. So I’ve created a mini ecourse all about color combining.
What happens:
Every day for one week I’ll send a chapter in the story of color combining.
The story is illustrated with paintings created using only 2 or 3 colors.
I’m looking at combinations you might not have explored before, to open up new ideas.
We’ll investigate the mood and memories attached to the colors.
I’ll show you exclusive video demonstrations of the process I use to make them.
I’ll share some insights I picked up along the way in my adventure around the color wheel.
All this is for FREE – for YOU!
Whatever your creative field – be it painting, art journaling, photography – home decoration or cake decoration – digital, textile, film or fashion – there’s something here for you!
Sign up here and I’ll email you as soon as it’s available later in the month:
Your email is utterly safe to me. I’ll send you a little welcome note with my ebook all about color. You’re welcome to unsubscribe at any time.
Color is an integral part to all types of creativity, it influences our moods and emotions, it’s linked with memories, and it’s everywhere! As we tune our eyes in to notice it, life becomes brighter and more vibrant.
What is TWELVTY?
TWEVLTY is an online program all about color.
How much is it to join TWELVTY?
A full year of color is yours for just £97, or 3 monthly instalments of £33. Click here to Join now!
What happens in TWELVTY?
You learn about the meaning of color – its application and use, the meanings and symbolism each color has throughout history and around the world.
You get access to a wealth of knowledge and resources to enhance your use of color in your own creative practice.
Color is an integral part of creativity, influencing our moods and emotions, linked with our memories, and it’s everywhere!As we tune our eyes in to notice it,life becomes brighter and more vibrant.
Who is TWELVTY for?
Whatever your creative interests, as a hobbyist, a professional, an educator, if you’re curious to learn, the resources in TWELVTY are sure to enrich your understanding of color. In each step around the color wheel, we dive deep into each color’s meanings, how it’s used, and how it features in our lives.
What is the color wheel?
The color wheel is the roadmap to our adventure
We’re using the 12 part color wheel, it looks like this:
Comprising: 3 Primaries:Yellow, Red & Blue; 3 Secondaries:Green, Violet & Orange. (Made by mixing each pair of primaries) 6 Tertiaries:Yellow-Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Violet, Red-Violet, Red-Orange & Yellow-Orange. (Made by mixing a primary with it’s nearest neighbouring secondary)
Primary & Secondary colors are separated by the ‘in between’ Tertiary colors
The tertiary colors, the in-between colors, sit in between the primary & secondary from which they are made. The difference between these and their neighbours is subtle – they are not quite one or the other.
Some choose to skip over the tertiary colors and just use the primary and secondary colors for a simplified TWELVTY.
You can opt to take a rest in between to spend some extra time in Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Red & Orange, and still have all the resources for the tertiaries to revisit any time.
How long is the program? How much time will I need?
The program runs throughout 2018.
Beginning in January with a bird’s eye view of the color wheel to see the territory we’re going to explore, then preparing for the adventure ahead.
The steps around the color wheel take place March through November.Starting with Yellow we step around the wheel one color at a time, spending 3 weeks in each color. In the first part of each segment I share the resources I’ve gathered together for you; the second part is all about the creative process, working in just this one color!
For each 3-week section you’ll want to allow an hour or two to read and look through the ebook, guides and resources in the first part. In the second part you’ll need the about the same amount of time to review the process material. How much time you spend in the creative section is your call.
Of course,the more you put in, the more you get out, as with any learning experience.
My aim is to make TWELVTY as much fun as possible, I’ll give you prompts and ideas to play with at the start of the color, we have photo challenges and games to play through the year as well, so there will always be plenty to choose from.
There’s a guided project that runs throughout the program. In each segment I’ll show you what I’m making, playing with different mixed media techniques including collage, mark making with paint, print, ink, drawing and doodles, some stitching and textile elements, we might even dye some paper! Lots of ideas!
At the end of the individual color segments we have time to reflect on the process, consolidate what we’ve made and share what we’ve learned through the experience.
What do we make?
Ooh! I’m glad you asked – this is the new exciting part 😀 We’re making a 3D color wheel!
What’s a 3D color wheel? What’s it for?
Well, I don’t want to totally give the game away, but if you’ve seen my previous 12 color art journals, you’ll know they get decidedly chunky with all the lovely layers of mixed media and collage and stuff.
That’s what inspired the idea. It’s a bit like a mini art journal. But much more fun!
Once it’s complete you can use this to inspire color combinations for future works of art. It’s a place to explore new techniques, so you can refer back to it when you want to find ideas for a new project. You can keep going back and adding to it too!
I keep my 12 color art journals open by my work table in the studio as a source of reference all the time. They’re both jammed full of all kinds of mixed media, doodles, collage, and experimental techniques and a constant source of ideas to springboard into new projects from. What we’re gonna make in TWELVTY 2018 is like this – only WAY BETTER!!!
What if I don’t want to make a color wheel?
Totally cool. (Although you might change your mind when you see what fun we’re having…)
Seriously, you’ll get loads from TWELVTY without making a color wheel. The core reason for TWELVTY is to have fun, and bring more color into the world around us. If you only used the ebook and online resources, joined the photo challenges, or just hang in the background watching what other folks are making, you’ll still get really good value from the program.
The way TWELVTY is designed, you can take any of the elements and fit them into your own creative practice. You might choose to take on a totally different 12 color project instead!
What else could I do in TWELVTY?
Well, you might like to make a regular art journal, with single coloured spreads for each segment. I’ve done this twice already (I’ll share my pages & the process from each as we go along – but I’ve got flip throughs in my youTubes over here).I love both these books! A few of the TWELVTY 2017 group have made art journals and they are all fabulous.
You might want to do something totally different and make a 12 part body of art work featuring each color. This could be
A series of photographs or drawings.
You could make a vlog about each color, showing where you find it and how it makes you feel.
You could write a poem inspired by thoughts on each color
Or paint a landscape through the seasons and times of day showing color changes.
Really – anything you can do in color you can do in TWELVTY! how about cake decorating? I’d love if you made 12 cakes through TWELVTY, iced them in the 12 colors and showed us photos!
This year we had a Twelveteer make a prayer flag in each color, and these are just awesome! I strongly encourage you to find a process you want to explore in different colors 🙂
Color is everywhere: the ONLY LIMIT is your imagination!
What do I need for TWELVTY?
Is there an art supplies list? Do I have to get loads of new stuff?
I’m a big proponent of using what we already have.Firstly so we don’t get freaked out with the expense/bewildering variety of art supplies. Mainly cos I like the way it stretches the creative muscle to be inventive.
I use a range of different paints and media which I’ve spent a lifetime collecting. I also use a load of recycled and reclaimed materials – scraps of paper and card, old magazines and junk mail, offcuts of fabric and trimmings… packaging I don’t want to end up in landfill often winds its way into my art!
There’ll be a comprehensive list of suggestedsupplies in the welcome pack, and I’ll explain how we’ll use them so you can make up your mind if you need to get anything extra.
The minimumyou’ll need to play along is some paper, and the three primary colors: yellow, red & blue. This can be acrylic paint, craft paint, poster paint, watercolor, or it could be crayons or markers, or coloured paper to collage, any combination of these.
(That said, if you’re asking permission to run around the art store squealing Woohoo – new project – gotta get me all the new colors!! And it’s not gonna get you in trouble with the grown ups in your life or your bank account then go right ahead!)
Is there anything else you’re still wondering about? In my giddy excitement did I forget to answer your question? Comment below or message me if there’s anything else you’d like to know!
To be first to hear about my colorful antics and get discounts on courses like TWELVTY , just hop onto my email list right here.
(and I’ll send you my ebook A Year full of Color as a thank you for joining)
Your email is utterly safe to me. I’ll sing it to sleep when it lands with me, and bring it tea when it wakes up.
What’s really beautiful, is within the group of creatives brought together by TWELVTY, there’s such a diversity of talent and such a fabulous range of expression. When you take a subject like color which can be applied to most every medium, it translates such variety of techniques and media and manifests a constant source of inspiration
The What & The Where
Throughout 2017 I’ve been running an online program called TWELVTYin which we explore the color wheel one month and one color at a time. It’s been a fantastic journey (which isn’t over yet: we still have orange-yellow left to explore)
What’s really beautiful, is within the group of creatives brought together by TWELVTY, there’s such a diversity of talent & range of expression.
From painters to weavers, textile artists, photographers, mixed media creatives and writers. Between us we are much more than the sum of our parts.
When you take a subject like color which can be applied to most every medium, it translates such variety of techniques and media and manifests a constant source of inspiration:
I see that embroidery and it inspires an idea for a photo series;I see this painting and the idea for a video starts to come to life. The drawing which tells a story, inspires a song or a poem.
Ideas are cross-pollinating all over the place!!
When I set out on this adventure at the beginning of the year, I really thought it would be a one-off. But so much has surprised me along the way.TWELVTY soon began to gather momentum, to take on an energy of its own, and it seems like it doesn’t want to end here.
So I’ve made a couple of little tweaks, and I’m excited to present:
TWELVTY 2018: What’s new?
The structure has shifted: Instead of each month dedicated solely to one color, we are quickening the pace of the color steps in order to spend a little more time exploring the territory for our color adventure.
This gives us time at the start of the year to get to take a bird’s eye view, get to know the the color wheel, and gather our colors together.
Then we’ll take each segment of the color wheel in a three week block.
At the end of our journey there will be space to consolidate what we’ve learned, and bring it all together.
As well as all the resources I’ve gathered and curated for each color through this first year of TWELVTY, I’m also planning something new!
Something colorful and fun! Something that will bring joy to your inner kid (or actual kids – this could be a family project)
Each color segment will have a step-by-step illustrated guide where I show you ways I like to play with mixed media. You can use these for inspiration, or your own techniques, as in each color we are going to add to our year long project:To create a 3-D Color Wheel!
This will be a resource you can come back to again and again when you ‘re looking for ideas in your creative practice.
Some lifetimes ago, a sixteen year old version of me failed to get the place in art school that she’d pinned all her early hopes to.
Dismissed by the grown ups who’d repeatedly explained: ‘being an artist isn’t realistic’ led to years floating adrift from my calling.
(They were wrong. And this isn’t what I do, I’ve come to realise, it’s what I am)
Some lifetimes ago, a sixteen year old version of me failed to get the place in art school that she’d pinned all her early hopes to.
Dismissed by the grown ups who’d repeatedly explained: ‘being an artist isn’t realistic’ led to years floating adrift from my calling.
(They were wrong. And this isn’t what I do, I’ve come to realise, it’s what I am)
A few years ago, rattled by some mid-life reminders of mortality,I finally fulfilled my life long ambition. But being an art student was as far as I’d thought this plan through. After spinning around in a self made feedback loop of regret for two decades, while I loved my time at college, I’d completely lost sight of the purpose.
My confusion was confounded when my course was cancelled after the foundation year. Before I’d time to consider my options my personal life fell apart, as a few weeks later my mum died.
Now I was free falling and had to find something to grasp onto, something simple I could rely on to slow the descent.
I needed a project to latch my focus to. I needed a subject I could immerse myself in. It had to be something creative, it had to be something colourful.
It just had to be color.
I hadn’t the bandwidth for anything more complex. I needed colors, but one at a time. No other rules. Just me, a book, and whatever paints and pens and things I had to hand. In just one color. I began with the color I felt most drawn to at the time, which was red-violet, magenta. It was soothing. It was all I had space for.
I took that year, one color at a time, one month at a time.
After another family bereavement a couple of months into my year long color project, I knew I needed some accountability, some way to keep this project afloat.That’s when I started this blog.
By the end of the year I’d created a this whole book full of color.
It’s still with me in my studio as a resource for inspiration – (that’s something I didn’t foresee when I began this project.)
As I showed my book of 12 colors to more of my artist friends, the idea of revisiting a year full of color began to develop. And they wanted in on it too.
So in 2017 I invented “TWELVTY“, a way of sharing the adventure around the color wheel with other creatives as an online program.
It’s been an astonishing journey, (which isn’t over yet) and I’ve learned so much (more on that in another post).
I didn’t expect to run Twelvty as a program with others again after this year – it’s been all consuming and I had other plans for 2018 – but Twelvty has plans for me too, it would appear.
I think it speaks for itself that some of this year’s Twelveteers have already joined up for a second trip around the color wheel in 2018!
There are a limited number of discounted places available to folks on my mailing list. If you aren’t signed up already – what the hey?!! – scoot down to the end of this post to add your email before they’re all swooped up!
“I try to create fantastic things, magical things, things like in a dream. The world needs more fantasy.”
~ Salvador Dali.
100 days: 93-100
“I try to create fantastic things, magical things, things like in a dream. The world needs more fantasy.”
~ Salvador Dali.
100 doodles from 100 photos in my phone.
This is the final instalment of my extended summer project. I set out on this adventure on 1st June and I doodled the last doodle on 25th October. Life got in the way in the middle so it took longer than planned, but I’m so glad I saw it through. This is what the last week of pages look like…
day 93
Day 93 is another quirky animal, one of a pair of china cats in the Brighton Art Museum.
Here’s something I’ve noticed they all have in common: the facial expression that says “c’mon, aren’t you done yet?” Like they got somewhere else to be.
(China Cat Sunflower… You humming along?)
day 94
One of the lessons this project has taught me is that the images that look relatively easy to reproduce are almost always the trickiest. There are ways around this. One of the ways is to crop it down to just one detail, just a corner, or in this case, just one bird.
day 95
These last few days/months (maybe more) reality seems to be sharper and more tense. So a well timed word from Mr Salvador Dali himself seems to fit today.
I got this little clip-on fisheye lens doodad for my phone, this was its first outing, and what could be better to distort than the master of weirdness himself?
day 96
Practice, practice, practice… faces are tricky. The trickiest. The character lies in the lines and the details and something I can’t quite get. Yet. But I am getting closer.
This is is George Morris.
A while back I was scavenging the internets to find out about my family tree. I traced my mum’s mum’s side back 100s of years, but mum’s dad was not so easy. This might or maybe get not be my mum’s dad’s dad. (A long story, not for now). But if I’m right in my research then my great grandad was a jockey in the late 1800s. This photo was a newspaper I found on eBay. I know! The internet is amazing.
day 97
One day last spring, a last minute change of plan meant I had a free afternoon. so I took myself off to London to find the legendary Atlantis art store. I was not disappointed. This is their sign.
day 98
The part of the story where Alice is either to tall to get through the door, or small enough but can’t reach the key. Oh, Alice, I know this feeling so well. I’m there. How did the key get back up on the table? What is going on??
day 99
Time is such a curiously paradoxical thing. This project of 100 drawings feels like it’s been going on forever, in one sense, and yet these final days appeared so suddenly.
Huh? How does that even happen? I’ve literally been keeping count!
But the end was always forever-away right up until page 99. And then suddenly it was almost over. This day was a pyjama day. These are my pyjamas. Seems fitting for the evening of the project.
day 100
The final doodle from phone photos is a mural I found in Barcelona. What are these? Are they fish or are they space aliens? Or alien space fish? Whatever they are, they made a fun end to the book.
So that’s all, folks! I’ve learned so much in doing this. I’ll tell you more about the surprising lessons soon, but that’s for another day.
If you missed the previous parts, you can find them here:
Well, I don’t want to totally give the game away, but if you’ve seen my previous 
Mixy's Art Blog 