Even though I've been quite productive lately, this week is a bit of a short one. What's more, there's a distinct lack of doodles and drawings, because I have very little to show for my time as of late. Thankfully though, it's all on account of focusing more intently on a much larger project that we can talk about a little instead.
The photos included here may not be all that exciting for others, but they really make me happy. Mostly because I spent the last week preparing myself for a project that kicked off at the beginning of November. I've mentioned a big project a few times before, but this is it… it's actually happening.
I'll go into more specific detail when it's appropriate to start talking about it, so this is still more of a preamble. However, it's a great example of preparing one's self for the start of a new creative project.
This one will take about eight months to complete (if I've done my sums correctly), which is why I've spent the last month preparing. Most of that has been taken up with research, as there is a focus on a specific theme that requires a level of accuracy and diligence. This is the bit I can't really talk about yet, but it's something I'm super passionate about and have been wanting to do for a long time.
The superficial fun part is that I've also gone shopping for a load of art supplies. I need A LOT of canvas for this project, and in turn that means a lot of paint and tools with which to mix the two. It doesn't matter what you're into, as I'm sure we can all relate to the amount of fun it can be to shop for the tools of your trade.
You might be into DIY/home improvement stuff, so a hardware store is a treasure trove of possibility. You might be into cars and love some time at the scrapyard. Maybe sewing's your thing and pawing over fabrics is a great way to fill your day. Whatever it is, I'm sure that most of us have some little thing that we love doing and mine is exploring art supply stores.
So walking out of the shop the other day with a box full of canvas and a couple of new brushes was an exciting way to set off on this new journey. I followed it up with a good spring clean of my office and the workspace that I intend to use during the first phase. Putting down my drop sheet and organising various paints meant that there was no longer anything standing in the way of getting started.
Thus, I'm heading off on a creative endeavour that will last for a little over half a year. It's a big project and a little intimidating, but it's the most excited I've been for something like this in a while. It sure beats doing commercial work, which has taken up most of my creative energy in recent years (gotta earn a living after all).
I can't wait to share more specifics with you and everyone else when the appropriate time comes. This feels like a beautiful combination of many different passions of mine, so I can't help thinking that I’m onto a good thing.
I'll still be doodling in future weeks, but for now it's time to break the seal and get this project underway. Stay tuned for more details next year!