Admin Post: Community Check-In for January 2024

[goss]

Today's the last day of January, and we'd love to have you check in and chat with us. How have things been with you this past month?

Did you sign up for or take part in any fandom activities in January, or have you been working on any personal art projects? Are you currently trying to meet a deadline? Feel free to share upcoming art challenges that have got you excited, any frustrations you've been experiencing, possible goals for the next month, and so on.

Our Round-up of entries for Drawing Challenge #61: Goals & Wishes will be posted later this week, and a new monthly art challenge will go up over the weekend. :)

Comments

[amberdreams]

Fandom events are just starting to pick up again now, but mainly signups, which is just as well as I have just received my second sculpture to paint for this year's trails - an Asian elephant again.I've also got a castle (which is more a tower really) coming soon, so I shall be busy for Feb and March!

[mific]

They're kind of like huge, colourful chess pieces!

[amberdreams]

Ha ha yes, they are!

[seleneheart]

Can't wait to see the results!

[minoanmiss]

I for a time turner. I have several sketches for here and no time to edit abd polish them!

[mific]

I know! It's been busy!

[mific]

January's been busy with fandom projects, and I've been wilting a bit in heatwaves downunder (31^C max inside has been the peak so far). There's been a big podfic collaboration project, and the last seasonal SGA fest for which I wrote 3 stories. With all that I only managed three artworks across Dec and Jan for the drawesome challenges: seasons, and goals. My seasonal cards took ages this year, partly as I had competition from gardening, unlike past years, and partly as I was a bit over-ambitious with the detailed designs. I'll do something faster for next year, probably with watercolour washes and texture effects.

[seleneheart]

Ooof, that's hot.

I love your SGA art!

[amberdreams]

Sounds like you achieved a LOT!

[seleneheart]

I have been art-blocked since last August, and the few pieces I did manage to create were unsatisfying and terrible, in my opinion. For the new year, I decided to revert to my art comfort food. Comfort art?

I discovered Zentangles 7 or 8 years ago, and they are what drew me back into making art again after I had dropped it for *years*.

The official Zentangle people are having their 20-year anniversary celebration throughout 2024 and I decided to follow along. I'm working through their videos, trying to be at peace with myself, and give myself grace. Back to the basics.

So far, it's gong well.

[amberdreams]

That's a good idea - theraputic but also getting those creative brain cells firing.

[seleneheart]

It is very theraputic, and I'm less worried about the creativity block.

[goss]

Glad you found a way to get back into drawing by revisiting what brings you enjoyment. :)

And thank you so much for sharing about Zentangle's 20th anniversary celebration - I think their February prompt would be a good idea for our community challenge this month.

[seleneheart]

Awesome! I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but I'm excited to see it as a challenge on this community.