Drawing Daily (Ooo look at that fancy alliteration!)

Hello friends! It's been forever and a half since I touched this poor abandoned website, but never fear, I'm back! And with a lot of changes too. In the last, about 2 months?, it feels a little like nothing really happened on the art front until the past week or so. To be fair, I did draw occasionally here and there, but I never actually sat down to really put my heart into it properly you know? I guess I could say that I was overwhelmed with school and projects and everything else in between, but honestly, if I were to be reallyyyy honest with myself, maybe I just didn't have the heart in it.

With the whole Covid-19 thingy overshadowing the past year and a half, my overseas art school plans are looking pretty bleak. In fact, coming to face with my A levels and university selection soon, in general, I have been rather... eh. Like, yes, I've spent such a long time planning everything out and working full steam ahead for my plan and my goals and my dreams and my life and, now it's finally here, everything seems to be slowly melting down. Saying that it's falling apart would be too dramatic, it's more like wet sand, or mud, slowly mushing out of shape as I hurtle towards it. I think I'm beginning to realise chasing your dreams isn't a one time thing. It changes as time goes along and being able to accept that and alter your plans where need be is being flexible and brave. Because the whole point is to chase down happiness. You won't find that in chasing something that may no longer be what you want.

These two months past, and more even, I have been figuring out myself. Even now, I'm on a journey to realise what I want to be. It's a work in progress, but hey aren't we all? For now, I am finally ready to make a little sense of this crazy and turn my gaze to the outside world again. Before, I was empty. I didn't know what I want, what I am capable of, who I am. Without that, questioning my entire purpose and ability, I could not create. I cannot bring myself to create when I don't know what I am creating or why for. Perhaps, that would be reason I turned to words. I devoted myself to writing poetry because that was what suited me, what helped me express myself and discover my inner world better. Now, having been through that, I am more ready to put things down on paper. Excited for the break and given the gift of Home Based Learning, I have more flexibility, more free time and more room to breathe. And so, on April 23rd 2021, I challenged myself to a one-month drawing challenge. It doesn't have to be fancy, it doesn't have to be big. Small, simple, enjoyable. I must create for me. Seek joy and comfort in the process, find back the magic that was mine. The magic of creating that is still mine.

I let loose and let go. Here, you will see the beginnings of my experiments, my fun and my happiness. Here, you see the work of an excited child, because aren't the best things created when you are a child and everything amazed you?

This here is Day 1. I challenged myself to the very thing I feared most (when it comes to drawing at least) portraits! So, if you'd been keeping up with the times, you would know that I already did a portrait challenge a while back. And you would also know that was a bit of a cheat. Ok, not entirely, but to me it was a cheat because it's cartoonified, you don't really have to try hard for realism. And so, this would be the first attempt I dare put out in the world and tadaaaa your first glimpse of the face behind this awesomeness. I wouldn't say it looks entirely like me (so if you're thinking of finding me now, HA good luck with that) still, I added a little extra fun in this one (and mess!) by digging out my old box of glitters and going a little crazy on it. My glue was kinda old too and it was a huge mess but hey, at least I'm not still finding glitter at odd corners of my room so I'll take it. Pink and purple is good fun though! Gotta let out your inner fashionista once in a while ;)

Ah, yes Day 2 was a good one too. I was a little stuck on the subject matter but then I think I was still on my pink-streak so I thought, hey why not a hot pink crocodile eye? So... I did, though it turned out more like a red dragon eye than anything. Here, I used a reference (and to any crocodile enthusiasts, I apologise, I scammed, it's a reference of an alligator's eye, but close enough right?) I didn't follow it as closely as I would have liked, but for what it's worth, it was a cool one and I'm still proud of how it turned out. My first attempt at drawing on brown paper went a little like this, "Wait, where's the yellow? Why is it not turning up? OHHH this white actually works?!" So... yeah, it was cool. Another thing, all these pieces for the challenge are also under an hour (so my phone storage wouldn't explode from all the timelapses) which makes it an easier daily event to upkeep I guess * shrugs *

Tada! Day 3 and 4, my first attempt at actual skyscapes (is that a thing?) Brought on by my lovely cousin's recent obsession with Singapore sunsets, (see, my alliteration is on a rollllll) as well as my own appreciation for the constant unfailing beauty in my life, I stuck my head out and decided to be brave by experimenting with both a new subject matter AND a new(ish) medium, gouache! Honestly, 90% of the time I was painting these, my brain was going, "Abort mission! ABORT!!!" and I kept thinking what a hot mess it was. Stubbornness and pride didn't let me stop though, so I eventually considered them "done" (Ha, more like I was done with them oops...) and I guess they didn't turn out too awful at all. I also realised that my gouache changes colour when it dries so... that explains it I suppose. Bonus discovery? Anyway, these are meant to be bookmark sized (partly also because my brain would implode if I attempted anything bigger so quick) and I had to tape up my paper to my desk, meaning, I had to do them all at one go, otherwise my table is just, you know, majorly occupied, smack bang in the middle. And so... I kinda cheated, skipped a day and did two at once. These took me a little longer, but not more than 2h combined! (So satisfying to take out the tape and see those straight lines by the way)

Day 5, I had another go at the brown paper sketchbook and I figured, it's been a while since I last kept up with my equestrian obsessions, so why not? Fun fact, I used to be a huge fan of everything horses. Because land space is a little tight in a city, of course I never had the chance to hang out with any. However, being the bookworm I am, from all my avid reading, there was a point in time where, theoretically speaking, I could tack up a horse and brush him down perfectly. (Yes, it was an obsession) But regardless, a friend did also mention that I should try drawing a horse next and in my mind, I just knew I wanted to draw a chestnut pony, preferably with a white star or streak down his forehead, so there we go. I had great fun with this one. Awaiting the day I can pet a horse's muzzle again... these gentle giants are my whole LIFE! (Also, look at those lashes? Aren't they absolutely the most beautiful ever?)

There we go, we made it to Day 6 isn't that amazing? This one was a cool one. I was kinda feeling the drag, especially after the (kinda) disastrous skies. Plus, I'm home and generally more available during the holidays, thus been helping out with the dishes every night, which I definitely did not felt like doing that night. Okay, you ask, why do I need to know this? Well, because that's when the magic happened!! I was soaping up the pot and right there in the middle the suds were a sign from the creative heavens. I saw it and somehow, my mind made a connection to whales. I had this crystal clear image for a moment of a whale bursting out of the water with waves around and VIOLA! Inspiration has struck. It as so amazing, I still can't get over it. The only annoying thing was, I guess not a lot of people find it as easy to take a full front shot of a whale splashing out of the ocean so.. references were kinda tough. I made up the background but hey, it was still an awesome one. * splash *

YAY! We survived week one and made it to Day 7!!! * cheers and confetti showers in the background * I did not expect to sweep by this entire challenge so quickly, but I guess the animal streak going on helped it along some. It was definitely fun to try out animals. Even though these drawings were never done with any deep meaning or intent, I think looking back now, apart from just being good practice (and drawing mileage!) they do actually carry their own stories to tell. This one here, came alive because my brother just went, "Will you draw me a raccoon today? No wait, two raccoons!" And I even let him pick the reference (aren't I the best sister ever?) But ohhhh boy, raccoons are hard. They are just this gigantic blob of streaky fur with stubby legs that are actually longer than you think they are?! I struggled with proportions a little here because man their fur patterns are so... vague... I'm not sure how else to put it... but hey, at least it was an... interesting experience heheh. I wasn't entirely too happy with this one, but I suppose it grows on you after a little. Plus, it reminds me a little of my brother and I so, I guess I was right about how every piece has it's own story huh?

Andddd that concludes the first week! I can't even believe I made it this far. Before, I was always the self-proclaimed "slow-poke-type" artist. Even pieces as tiny as these would take me hours at the very least, if not days or even weeks to complete. I would do them over multiple seatings and I mean the word "multiple" in as true a sense as it can mean. Every piece dragged out to forever and honestly, I think it also took the fun out of it. These were quick and decisive, often, I came up with the subject matter as I go along and it surprises me how easy it was to make it a whole week. It doesn't feel so much a chore as a little activity each day to loosen up and have some fun. I'm glad I started this, I don't think myself so much a slow-poke anymore. I suppose it's true as the saying goes that if you could do it once, you would know what you are capable of and what you can do again (ok, maybe this isn't an actual saying, but you know, it kinda sounds like it could be one right?)

Cheers! And keep having fun.

Love, Cuix

P.s. keep a lookout for week two, it's a wild ride... (and yes, I am aware that I'm gonna end up posting this literally after week two is done * smacks face * time lag much?)