Well, my 23 days are up, and I’m on my way to the UK!
If you’ve been following along via Instagram (@amyleesdoherty), you will have seen the almost daily updates.
While the process was really enjoyable, it was a lot of work to do daily, especially while also trying to prepare for a three-month-long international work trip… But we managed!
Sketchbook
This is a collection of some of my favourite pages from this challenge:
Conclusion
I have completed the challenge and my sketchbook!
I allowed myself to experiment. I also managed to let go of perfectionism for this challenge, and while there were some pieces I would rather not see the light of day, I believe I have completed the book without sacrificing quality. I feel much looser and more confident going into this art trip.
Actively making art daily actually made the admin side of being a professional artist much easier. I found my ideas came faster and were more refined and fleshed out from the get-go.
Key takeaways:
Experiment with mediums as much as possible
Work light to dark when you can
Make a routine to help get into the mindset and form a habit
It’s okay. You don’t have to feel guilty about throwing away that fineliner that’s out of ink and the nib broke off. It had a good life, and now it’s time to move on. Bin it. And don’t panic when you find an identical dead fineliner still in your pencil case; it’s just the art gods having a laugh.
Take yourself back to basics. Do observation drawing and explore your elements and principles. It will help reground you and pull you out of some bad habits you may be forming.
Put a scrap sheet of paper behind the page you’re working on. It’s always the page you don’t expect that bleeds through.
Until next time!
Amy
Amy Lees-Doherty (She/Her)
Contemporary Gold & Silversmith, Artist and Craftsperson
www.instagram.com/amyleesdoherty
I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which I live and work; and pay my respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging.
