DRAWESOME

1. What was your most challenging artwork to create (or took the longest time)?
The piece I'm currently working on - a pet portrait for a friend. It was originally supposed to be for her birthday (November). I started in September and I'm almost done with it now (January 2025).

Here's the WIP:

*this is a very 'hefty' cat IRL

It's been a struggle because I don't usually work with acrylics except in a 'craft' situation. Like fabric painting or the stool I painted in 2023. Acrylics seem so much more than watercolors - they are messier, need more equipment, and more clean up. I also discovered that they really need an easel if I'm working on canvas. I have a full-sized easel, but no room to put it up, so I bought the tabletop easel shown in the picture for fairly cheap. It's been a big learning curve, and I've had to buy some brushes to make it work, like a grainer for instance. I also watched some tutorials, especially the Art Sherpa because she does lots of animals.

2. What was your easiest artwork to create (or fastest)?
Anything in oil pastels. I did a painting of the aurora borealis (I got to see them!!!) from a pic on my cell phone in a little over an hour, probably.

3. What was your favourite artwork that you made this year?
Probably the stained glass challenge.

4. What was your least favourite artwork that you made this year?
Anything I made before last spring. I had such horrible art block and nothing was coming out well at all.

5. Did you try a new art technique this year? How did it go?
The pet portrait is a new technique, I think. It's actually my second animal painting this year - the first one was a digital painting of a wood duck. I took the lessons I learned on the digital painting and applied it to the cat. Like blocking in colors and then gradually refining details. That process helps me conceptualize the edges, the values, and the volumes, without my brain side-tracking me to obsess about details too soon.

6. Did you learn any new art tips or tricks? (or resource that you found useful)
I learned that mediums are my friend. I've been using glazing medium for the cat painting, and it's really helped me get the effects I wanted. I've always found acrylics to seem 'plastic-y' and the glazing medium prevents that, and it lets me putter a little bit more and think things through without the paint drying out.

The most important tip I got when watching tutorials for the cat, was 'get the eyes right first, and then everything else will be fine.' I think that's absolutely true.

I also learned to prime the canvas with an undercoat (I used burnt sienna). When I painted the stool, I had to gesso it with grey gesso, so that functioned as an undercoat. I wasn't planning to do that because the canvas was already gessoed, but all the videos I watched suggested it.

7. What were your favourite art supplies to use this year? Were any tools or materials new to you?
I tried oil pastels. I had a small set that someone had given me as a gift. When I was at the worst of my art block, I pulled them out and just started scribbling. It was a enough to get me out of my head, and moving forward. I love how casual they are - not requiring much materials or set-up at all. I've done several things with them since, and expanded my palette from the initial set.

8. Did you find a new artist or art style to be inspired by this year? Tell us about it.
I discovered Anna Bucciarelli who is just an amazing watercolorist. I'm in awe of her glazing technique. She has such interesting compositions and a gift with painting wildlife. And also Canada's money?