Come and show me something you're proud of...

[FollowingFlitwick]

I've had a rubbish few weeks (hasn't everyone?!) So today I decided to do something relaxing whilst ds2 was napping. I drew this for my sister's birthday and will probably make it into a card. I haven't drawn in a long time and no longer have my usual art supplies so had to use ds1 crayons
Come and show me something that you're proud of, I'd love to see it or hear about it!

I really admire all this creativity its mind-blowing.. wish I had something to add. Awesome!!!!

@CornishPastyDownUnder

I really admire all this creativity its mind-blowing.. wish I had something to add. Awesome!!!!

Just start something! I promise you can do it, I don’t have any innate creative skill, I’m just persistent and stubborn!

Until I was almost 30 I didn’t do anything creative at all. I dropped art at school as soon as I could because I was the only one in my family who couldn’t draw.

Then I started a bit of knitting and cross stitch, then cake decorating, then crochet... I ended up with a business teaching these things and selling finished item but sadly they aren’t too profitable. Then I started papercutting and with in a year I was designing and selling complex pieces - I worked my arse off in that year but I didn’t have any innate ability.

I was absolutely crap at all these things when I started. You can totally learn any of these things if you’re motivated (well, maybe not drawing as I’ve tried and I’m still useless but going to try the videos suggested upthread!)

Not going to lie, this is what I’m proud of today 🙈 I CAN SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE WASHING BASKET! 🎉🎉🎉

@CornishPastyDownUnder

I really admire all this creativity its mind-blowing.. wish I had something to add. Awesome!!!!

Agree with @SinkGirl, just try some stuff. Youtube is wonderful for free tutorials. Pencil, cotton bud and a rubber are all you need to do a few sketches. Lips and eyes are a good place to start as you know what they look like. Learn the art of blending, shading. And always make your sketch darker than you think it needs to be - then the highlights pop. Then start trying stuff you are interested in (cos lips/eyes are a bit dull) - whether that be still life, flowers, wildlife.

@Yucca77

I've started branching out and trying different mediums with my art.

@julietMadeChutney love your work! Great that you've made Etsy work for you too. I find it quite hard work to get to the top of the listings. Do you do prints on demand of your art or do a big batch of printing to sell? I've struggled to find cost effective printers as well!

Definitely print on demand. My printer chap advised this too.

Majority of my sales in the first month - and only been selling about 5 weeks - were been through friends/family - (them coming to me now me pushing on them - really don't want to be that person). Etsy was like tumbleweed until the last 10 days.

I did ask FB friends to favourite my shop last weekend - and think that helps (affects the algorithms or something).

But a lot is about getting your Etsy shop out there. So finding a market. So when I did my first drawing of our (very pretty) town square/memorial I put it on the local FB page (7k+ members) and got about 10/15 orders from that. Not just of the town pic...but it took people to the Etsy shop. The latest town drawing ^^ I'll post next week (can only post business stuff once a week).

I could do more (insta/twitter etc) to promote it. But I simply don't have the time as I work in a school as well. In addition I have 3 commissions lined up (pet portraits) and another 3 or 4 in the pipeline.

I am mostly enjoying drawing stuff I like and if it sells, great. Nearly hitting the £1K mark in revenue though - so not bad for a hobby.

I am proud of my fused glass work, it has been the thing I have for myself. We are foster carers and a military family so time to ourselves is limited, this is what keeps me sane, I have especially enjoyed making the rainbows this past 12 months. I have sold a fair few in different shapes and sizes and have just loved how symbolic they are right now, most people who bought them asked me to send to friends and family directly, as a way of sending love. It pleases me to see my work used in that way.

Good tips, thank you @julietmadechutney! £1I revenue is amazing!!

*£1k

@flappityflippers1

Not going to lie, this is what I’m proud of today 🙈 I CAN SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE WASHING BASKET! 🎉🎉🎉

You win!

@flappityflippers1

Not going to lie, this is what I’m proud of today 🙈 I CAN SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE WASHING BASKET! 🎉🎉🎉

You Lie! Surely that is impossible! Agree with @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie - you definitely win!

I've set up a little business making and selling hand painted dot art. I'm never going to make my fortunes from it but I'm so proud of what I've achieved. I have anxiety and I'm not very good at promoting myself but I still seem to get orders through and people seem to like my work which is lovely. So yes, I am proud of my dot art work!

It won't let me post my pics

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie (awesome user name btw!)

@JulietMadeChutney

I’m not going to lie, it’s taken WEEKS! I would promise to never let it be that bad again, but it won’t happen 😭

[quote flappityflippers1]@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie (awesome user name btw!)

@JulietMadeChutney

I’m not going to lie, it’s taken WEEKS! I would promise to never let it be that bad again, but it won’t happen 😭[/quote]
Thank you.

Try again

Not as impressive as everyone elses but I've spent the last few days painting cheap frames and making a "Wall of Tat™" © DH 😆

I love that coco! I want lots of stuff on my wall too when we redecorate, I want my living room to have personality and warmth :) what paint did you use for the frames?

Thank you, I just use tester pots, whatever I have lying around. The best is Farrow and Ball, I'm in the process of painting my fire with it.

@JulietMadeChutney

I love this thread. I started drawing in lockdown (last July) having believed I was in the "Cannot Draw For Toffee" camp. I now have a shop on Etsy, 1 commission done and 4 more waiting to be done. I drew this today - I first drew buildings/townscape about 10 days ago. I am super pleased with it.

Juliet I can't believe you were ever in the 'can't draw for toffee group' - that's gorgeous.

@frostymornings

Try again

Love those. Do you have a webpage/Etsy page at all please?. I need some bits to add colour to my bedroom and sitting room and I love those bowls 😍

I'm in awe of all of you with real, practical skills in making things - I love the fused glass, the dot paintings, the sketches from Juliet and Yucca. All I can do is take photos.

I have to say that the art work that impresses me most is the empty laundry basket.

Finished my fire 😀
I love those dotty designs and the fused glass, just beautiful.

@JulietMadeChutney yes but not sure if I'm allowed to post it here, I'll message you😊

@Cocolapew

Finished my fire 😀 I love those dotty designs and the fused glass, just beautiful.

I love the fire! Looks fabulous - did you have to use special paint? I wish I was braver with colour. Especially as that colour is my favourite.

You do need a turquoise hare to go with it! I drew this on Tuesday (to go in my sitting room). Turned out a bit brighter than I wanted though......I am just waiting for some gorgeous cushion covers to arrive and it may still work. I have done a wonderful selection of multicoloured hares to accent our bedroom but DH says he will feel like he is being watched. meany They may still end up on the wall!

Whenever I tell people I 'started spinning' in 2018, nine out of ten times they think I mean something to do with a stationary bicycle. 10% of people know me better than that...