(Old apartment setup (~2017). We were in the habit of hanging works in progress throughout the house to make sure we worked on them more.)

I lightly referenced this in a post last year but to create a better outlined post, these are a small handful of the blog focal points that I want to be working on and posting about once we’ve moved. I’m still wrapping my head around the fact we’ll be across the country in about 10 days.

(Many of these lists will grow, this is just off the top of my head)

Art/Craft Resource Lists and DIY Tutorials

Paper making (both from recycled papers and how to prepare and use natural fibers)
Making your own pigments for inks, watercolor, gouache (and for dying clothes)
Creating your own dip pens and brushes
Clothing Patterns and ideas for sewing (along with other resources for stitching and embroidery)
Weaving with natural and recycled fibers
DIY clays for sculpting/etc.

Self Sustainability, Ethical Land Stewardship, and Community Building Resources

Create navigation posts for resource lists and links
Book Reviews/Suggestions
Posts w/ focus on native/indigenous plants and other beneficial flora/fauna
Seed (and food) sharing and swaps for edible plants and herbs

Local and Online Community Resources

A long overdue general Links Out/Resource page
Local Indigenous and BIPOC Businesses, Groups, and Resources
Local Queer Businesses, Groups, and Resources
General Local Small Business Spotlights
Spotlights on local community events

Behavioral

Book Reviews, Discussion, and Suggestions about animal behavior and mutually beneficial ecosystems
Book Reviews and discussion about mindfulness practices, neuroplasticity, healing from trauma, meditation and trance, somatic work, and general (healthy) behavioral work/modification

Personal Journals/Projects

Food Posts (and sometimes recipes)
Hike Posts (W/ Pictures of Flora & Fauna)
Art/Craft Projects and Plans
Blueprints for long-term goals
Possible blog for fiction (18+?)

I’ve been thinking about ways to both motivate myself and push my creativity lately. In the past when I’ve committed to doing a sketch daily, I’ve varied in what my expectations were. What I’ve learned at this point is that outside of the parameter of creating something, I do best when I treat everything else as suggestions that are available to help me if I want them.

The idea I’m working with currently is when I want to, I can have different focal points throughout the week to keep myself practiced in different ways.

Suggested ideas so far are:

draw an animal (try something you haven’t done before!)
draw something you see in front of you
draw a portrait from photo reference (or of someone in front of you)
make something colorful
make something abstract
draw a background/landscape/scenery
draw flowers from reference
make a page of thumbnails for brainstorming bigger drawings/paintings
draw from your head (the default)

I’ve been setting up a couple secondary blogs and will be adding them to my navigation bar up top as I start using them (one will be for sketches and works in progress and the other will be a personal trance and meditation journal).

I’m not actually sure when I’ll start rolling with creating art every day (life will be chaotic the next handful of weeks as we pack and prepare to move) but I’m going to do what I can as I’m able for now.

I also have to think about the overlap between posting sketches and work here and on my patreon but that will sort itself out in time.

Thoughts. Lots of things.

Notes for the future

Getting back to making art daily.