March 2023

Drawing cats escapes me

Drawing Cats:

Start with a circle for the head and an oval for the body. They should overlap slightly.
Start with the circle for the head and add a smaller circle for the snout that also should overlap slightly.
Draw a vertical line and a horizontal line across the center of the head circle. These lines will help you place the cat’s facial features correctly.
For the eyes, draw two almond-shaped ovals along the horizontal line. Leave enough space between the eyes for the cat’s nose.
Below the eyes, draw a small triangle for the nose. Add two small circles inside the triangle for the nostrils.
Add the cat’s whiskers by drawing three to four long, curved lines on each side of the face.
For the ears, draw two triangular shapes on top of the head. Add smaller triangular shapes inside the ears to show the inner ear.
Finally, add some details to the eyes by drawing a smaller oval inside each eye. Shade in the pupils and add some lines around the eyes to show the fur.
Remember to adjust the size and placement of each feature to make your cat’s face look unique. You can also experiment with different shapes and expressions to bring your cat to life.
Connect the head and body with a curved line for the cat’s neck.
Add the legs and paws, using small circles for the joints and rectangles for the paws.
Draw the tail, which can be curved or straight depending on the cat’s pose.
Refine the details, such as the fur texture and patterns, and erase any unnecessary lines.

This is a very basic instruction for drawing cats, but if I use it, I do get an animal that looks quite like a cat. However, it is in the refinement that I seem to lose my cat. These below examples show some improvement, but I am still missing something. Here is a video showing you how to do it:

Any Suggestions?

Cat’s faces express what they are thinking about. I know, many people feel cats are inscrutable, but if you take the time to watch one, you will quickly see them talking with their faces. I think this may be my problem, but I really don’t know how to fix it. Do you have an suggestions? I would love to hear them if you do because I really would like to be able to draw cats!

Here is another tutorial about drawing cats for you. I hope it helps you.

https://easydrawingguides.com/how-to-draw-a-realistic-cat/

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I made pigeons out of cardboard!

My last blog post was about finding an artist who uses regular cardboard to make art, specifically she makes gorgeous pigeons. The artist I am talking about is Cheryl Cochran and I was very inspired by her work, so I decided to see if I could copy some of it to learn how to do it. This is how they turned out:

How it make these pigeons:

I used regular boxing cardboard and it was difficult to cut out, but doable, and Ithink they turned out really great. This was a process and I learned a lot about doing this particular art. They are currently up on my wall by where I am typing right now.

Here is my process:

After finding the piece of cardboard, I drew a pigeon shape on it and cut it out with my knife carefully. Once all the pieces were cut out, I painted them by looking at photos. I used gouache to paint these birds because I like the matte finish it gives and the ease of use. It took no time to dry, which also made this a simply process. I glued the pieces together using Art Glue because it holds well and dries really quickly. I think this went well and I decided to make more birds the next day!

Here are the other birds I have made so far:

These where made with thinner cardboard from the backs of pads of paper and the back of an old desk calendar. They were all made the same way, except instead of painting the chickens, I used colorful paper to cover the bodies. Then I painted the other parts. And I am telling you, I love this. I plan to keep making these forever. They all now reside up on my wall so I can look at them all day. They make me happy.

Why I made pigeons:

In my previous post, I said I was drawn to the pigeons because of my experiences in Germany. Here are some photos that show you what I am talking about: Pigeons were everywhere. Anytime we went somewhere outside, pigeons surrounded us. After a while, you could see that they have a social system and that each bird has a personality. I sat in the center of town at a bench for hours watching these silly birds.

So, this is my post about making art using cardboard, specifically making pigeons from cardboard. I hope you are inspired to try this out because it is really fun. And this is something you can do with children.

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Cardboard can be Used to Make Art

3 Comments / Art, Cardboard Art / admin

Did you know you can use cardboard to make art?

I recently spent time on Pinterest looking at art and artists’ work. You can lose yourself there if you don’t be careful. On Pinterest, I found out that you can make the most beautiful art with only paper, paint, water, scissors, and imagination. I found artists’ works using paper to make paper-mache statues. They were stunning. They were creative and some were funny and others were just beautiful. Then there are artists using paper and scissors to make beautiful birds and beautiful animals; while others use the same tools to make gorgeous collages. Lordy, they are so wonderful.

But my favorite thing I found was an artist who makes pigeons out of cardboard. Yep. Regular, old cardboard can be used to make art. Her work is stunning. She shows these pigeons at art shows around the country and they sell like crazy. Heck, I would buy one if I had a chance to get my hands on one. I will post below some of her work as well as some of the other work I found.

A new way to see Art Supplies:

This all gave me pause to think about art in a new and different way. These artists literally used what they had on hand and turned out the most creative and colorful artworks. Amazing! Now I look at all my recycle with a new eye. It really does get you thinking about ways to use what you have on hand to make art. Now, it seems I have no excuse to put off making art; usually the number one excuse most people make is that I don’t have the supplies I need. Well, now I see that I really don’t need much and if I do need something, I can probably pick it up at the Dollar Store for really cheap. No more excuses.

I have always had an affinity for paper and paper products. My family jokes that I must have been a Druid in a previous life because I worship trees. Although they are probably wrong, I do not think the Druids were wrong. In fact, I think they were onto something with their tree worship.

My Cardboard Art Inspiration

So today, after I finish my house chores, I think I may dive into my recycle and try my hand at making some cardboard birds. They don’t have to be fancy. They are relatively simple shapes. I should be able to do this. I will try to take pictures as I go to post next week for you to see. In the meantime, I want to show you the work that got me started with all of this:

Aren’t they wonderful? I think they remind me of my trip to Germany to visit my daughter and family when they were stationed there. We sat outside in the central courtyard and watched so many different kinds and colors of pigeons. They were like pet cats. They would come up to you and beg for food. We spend hours and hours just watching those silly birds and laughing at them!

Other types of Cardboard Art:

Now I will show you some of the other artists that I found who also make cardboard art:

Aren’t they wonderful and fun? I can’t wait to try my hand at this. I hope you have enjoyed seeing these as much as I have. If you try it, won’t you please show me your work, too? Don’t forget to check out some of my previous posts here.

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Journaling and your Mental Health

Leave a Comment / journaling, self care / admin

In previous posts, I have explored art journaling; ways to do it, why to do it, and what you need to do it. Today, though, I want to focus just on the journaling aspect. Maybe the thought of art journaling is too intimidating or scary. Maybe you have been told all your life that you can’t draw or be creative. If so, then let’s just talk about what journaling can do for you and your health.

There are many ways to keep a journal. The easiest and fastest way to do so is with a cheap lined notebook that you can keep handy. Here is the type I am talking about.

If you have never kept a journal, using something that you don’t consider “precious” is helpful. That way, you can write with abandon and not care if you make a mistake or make a mess. When you are journaling, you want to be able to write without thinking about your supplies, what you are writing, or if what you put on paper is grammatically correct. This is your place to express your feelings and thoughts, so just let them spill out onto your paper. No pressure, no rules, no worry.

Most girls I know have had a diary at some time in their lives. I know I did and I loved to write in mine until my older sister found my diary and read it out loud at the dinner table. It mortified me. I have had difficulty writing down anything personal ever since and I have struggled with feeling safe in my journals. It worked out. I used my journals to learn to trust again and to feel safe again, but it took me a very long time. Even now, as I grow into a senior, I experience moments when writing down my thoughts or feelings gives me a moments pause. It is okay. I just wait for it to pass and go on with my journaling.

Here is an excerpt from an article on the positive effects on your health from journaling:

Why is Journaling Good For You?

Journaling is a widely used non-pharmacological tool for coaching and counseling and the treatment of mental illness. Two forms of journaling are particularly commonplace in psychotherapy (Sohal et al., 2022):

Expressive writing
Typically performed over three or four sessions to access the client’s innermost feelings and thoughts; focusing on the emotional experience than events, people, or objects.
Gratitude journaling
Involving a focus on the positive aspects of life through capturing situations, events, and interactions for which we are grateful.

Keeping a record of personal thoughts and feelings is particularly helpful in supporting mental health by (WebMD.com, 2021):

Reducing anxiety
Breaking away from a nonstop cycle of obsessive thinking and brooding
Improving the awareness and perception of events
Regulating emotions
Encouraging awareness
Boosting physical health

The positive effects of journaling can even be felt when not performed daily – helping the individual better understand their needs and boosting their wellbeing (Tartakovsky, 2022).

Research on Journaling

Studies show that by capturing our thoughts and feelings on paper, “participants often reveal a considerable range and depth of emotional trauma” (Baikie & Wilhelm, 2005, p. 339).

Indeed, while the experience of writing can be upsetting, clients report they find it valuable and meaningful and, ultimately, a valuable part of the acceptance process.

In fact, based on client self-reports, research suggests a wide range of physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits from expressive writing (Baikie & Wilhelm, 2005):

Lowered blood pressure
Improved lung and liver function
Less time spent in hospital
Better moods
Improved psychological wellbeing
Fewer depressive and avoidance symptoms
Reduced stress-related visits to the doctor
Less work absenteeism
Less time out of work following job loss
Higher student grade averages

Not only that, but research into gratitude journaling suggests that “study participants who regularly drew their attention to aspects of their lives that made them feel blessed increased their positivity” (Fredrickson, 2010, p. 187). However, a caveat exists. Recording what makes us feel grateful every day can become monotonous, even zapping positivity. A few days a week may be sufficient.

There are scientific studies to determine the effects of journaling on the body. Some of the findings promote that journaling helps with anxiety and depression, with stress relief, can improve your memory, and may even boost your immunity. Here is an article about that.

When should you journal?

The quick answer is whenever you feel the need. I know that is a non-answer for most of us when we are looking for specifics. So, for us let’s examine when we need to journal.

The best thing is to decide you are going to journal daily (or weekly). Putting it down on your to do list or calendar can help, but if that feels to exposed, just make a mental agreement with yourself that you will journal at a designated rate–either daily or weekly. The next thing is to determine what time of day is the easiest and the best time for you. We all have internal schedules that we have to function around.

I am a morning person, so I would need to journal in the early morning when I have the most energy and my mind is clearest. My children are night owls and would then need to journal later in the evening because that is when they feel more energized and alert. You need to discover when you feel the most alert and clear headed. That may be the time you need to journal. Okay, let’s say that is in the middle of your work day. Bummer. However, journaling can be as simple as a single line, or as complex as you want. It really should not take you very long to write in your journal. If it does, you are thinking about it too hard. Find your time and make it work.

What should you put in a journal?

This is when it gets to be creative. There are so many ways to keep a journal that you may need to try them all out to see what works best for you. It may turn out that different types of journaling will work for you at different times during the week. I use many types of journaling throughout my week. It just depends on what my thoughts are and what is happening around me.

Let’s look at types of journaling:

Brain Dump Journaling:

The first type is called a “Brain Dump” and it is exactly what you think it is. You sit down and just put every thought in your head down on paper without any worry of thought about it. This type of journaling is good to get things out of your head and out of your way. I find that this type of journaling works for me when my inner critic starts to interfere with what I want to do. If I just pour out all the negative things my critic is saying to me onto paper, I can see it for what it is and move past it. You may find this type of journaling is helpful for you to get negative thoughts out in the open so you can see that they are just that, negative thoughts, and have no power over you.

Bullet Journaling:

The second type is call “Bullet Journaling” and there are many articles and videos available to you to explore this type. Basically, bullet journaling helps you to focus on tasks you need to get done without applying pressure on yourself. This type of journal helps you get or stay organized; it helps you set and keep your goals; it allows customization to meet your needs and not the needs of anyone else. It is a combination of lists and writing, as well as doodling and stickers. This allows both catharsis and progress in your day and also allows for some creativity on your part, but not quite like an art journal.

Gratitude Journaling:

The next type of journal is called a “Gratitude journal” and the focus here is to write about all the good things you have in your life and around you. Things that make you happy and things you truly are grateful for. This type of journal is beneficial for depression and anxiety because it removes the dark glasses and lets you focus on the light around you in your life. This journal can be as structured or unstructured as you want. Some people simply write one line a day to show that every day has something to be grateful for.

Diary type Journaling:

Another type of journal is the diary type of journal where you simply write about your day and all the things that happened to you as well as your thoughts and feelings related to those things. I find this type of journal is the hardest for me to keep because of my trust/safety issues. Because of this, I try to include this type of journaling interspersed in my weekly output.

Creativity Journaling:

There is a creativity journal where you write poetry, songs, doodle, draw as ways to express your feelings. This one is the closest to an art journal as you get. I think that if I am going to do this, I might as well be art journaling; but you may not feel that way. It’s okay because there are no rules.

List Journaling:

There is also a type of journal that is just lists. This is a good way to stay on top of things, but I don’t find it as useful personally. You, however, may absolutely love list making and choose to make this a way to journal.

I hope that you take away from this post that journaling is an individual process and can be as simple or as involved as you want it to be. There is no right or wrong way to journal except to not do it at all. Journaling frees your mind and soul, helps your body and makes you feel prepared for whatever life wants to throw at you. I highly encourage you to take this up as a way to execute some form of self-care. In today’s society, we all need to be able to do self-care to destress, control anger, and give us the break to breathe that we need. Journaling will do all of that and more.

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