How Do You Spend Your Time?

Copyright 2009 Valerie Jones

I took this picture the other day of a tree at work.  It was a picture perfect day outside and the reds just shone on this tree.

My question to you today is - “How do you spend your time during the day?”  Are you doing things you want to do, (art for example) or are you spending more time with things  you feel you should do? 

I made a list of 5 things I spend my time doing during the day and as it turns out, they are all things I have to do, work, cook, clean, raise children, and I forgot the other one!  There is no time for creativity.  Oh, I remember the 5th one now.  It is watching television in the evenings.  Watching television isn’t something I have to do.  It’s what I do to wind down after a hurried and flurried day of constant activity.  I usually draw while watching TV, so it’s not a total loss of time.

I’d like to hear if you spend your day in a creative way…

Commission Finished

Graphite on Strathmore Series 500 Bristol Plate

Copyright Valerie Jones

Word of caution – Don’t finish a piece of artwork late at night…it leads to sleep apnea.  That’s what happened to me anyway.  I finished this commissioned piece last night around bedtime.  Well, I had to stay up awhile to wind down!   I’m still only showing a partial of the drawing because it is a gift.  I might show the whole thing in January.  You all will have to remind me.

I really enjoyed working on the Strathmore 500 Bristol Plate drawing paper.  I was able to achieve a realistic texture for the skin.  It also let me erase and re-apply without any differences in the texture of the paper.  The Strathmore Series 300 Bristol Smooth won’t allow much erasing before it messes up the tooth of the paper.  It’s more student grade, so that’s to be expected, I guess.  Also, the Series 500 Bristol Plate is 4-ply.  I like to work with thicker papers because they are easier to control.

I didn’t realize how much of myself was put into this drawing.  After I was done, tons of tasks came to mind that I’d shoved to the back burner.  So, today was a busy, busy day.  I got a lot accomplished, which I am thankful for.

Have a beautiful day!!