How watching sport has inspired me to create more...

20/8/2016

Hello,
Hope you are enjoying the summer?
I am. The past days with the Olympics to follow has provided plenty of reasons to feel inspired and hopeful.

Now it has to be said, I'm not much of a sporty person. I keep active, but am usually happy to do something other than sit and watch sport. Yet this summer has been different. The olympics has got me, I'm hooked.

There's something different about the olympics that captures my imagination and heart. I think it's knowing what it must have taken for each competitor to have reached that moment where they are there, going for gold, knowing that this may be their one hope of achieving it. It's not so much about watching sport, but watching a life's work and goals accomplished, and for the gold medalists it's a dream fulfilled....

It's also knowing that in the four years since the last olympics, each athlete would have dedicated their life to endless hours of practice to reach the point where they are now i.e. in Rio, making the seemingly impossible look effortless.

And there it is, a little word that to me makes all the difference - practice

So strong a word that it compels me get back to my desk and put in a little extra time, because as those olympians prove, it is the only way to achieve great things...

Going with this flow, my sketchbook is seeing lots more action as I doodle and play with line drawings. Patterns are emerging on my screen as I take my sketches onto my computer and mess around with colour and add in elements from previous designs....

I seem to be developing lots more wildlife themed designs. There have been lots of days out with our girls recently, so plenty of chances to see the local countryside up close - that may be why I feel attracted to this as a theme....

Whatever the reason, I'm not thinking too hard about it because to me, the most important thing is it's got me creating and practicing more - which can only be a good thing.

Funny how inspiration can sometimes be found in the most unlikely places.

Hope you have an inspiring week too.

Angie

6 Comments

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Bekki

25/8/2016 05:32:02 pm

I love these new designs Angie. Your sketch of the birds is beautiful. If practice produces these wonderful pieces then keep going! As you said great things don't come by accident but come by practicing our skill. Thank you for the inspirational post. :)

Angie

6/9/2016 01:12:01 pm

Thank you for your lovely comment Bekki. Here's to lots of enjoyable hours practice at the things we love doing best :)

Cath Cowton

19/6/2017 08:01:06 am

Hi Angie, I love your work so much! Such beautiful colours. May I ask what pens you use, and how you get from pen & ink to the finished product? Many thanks!

19/6/2017 09:41:17 am

Hi Cath,

Thanks for your comment. To go from pen and ink to finished product, I scan the drawing into my computer and then add colour and create patterns using adobe illustrator, sometimes adobe photoshop. The images above were done in illustrator. Best wishes, Angie :)

5/7/2017 08:48:43 pm

Thanks so much Angie :-) and what pens do you draw with? What paper is best - for practising and for your final design before scanning in? Thanks!

6/7/2017 09:26:05 am

Hi Cath,
To be honest, any pen is fair game with me as long as the line is crisp and black. You can get great lines from biros and ink pens. A big favourite of mine is the paper mate flair fibre tip (so smooth, easy to draw with and scans really well). I mostly use A4 copier paper for drawing - any smooth bright white paper is fine, so that you get a clean scan. Pilot and Staedtler pigment liners are good too for fine lines and details. It's always good to experiment and find out what works best for you. Best wishes, Angie

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