Sunday, 26 April 2026

CreativeLife update: being a dog parent, changing my mind, and planning something new

 Hey there creative friend!

With the A-to-Z blog challenge ending this week, I for one am grateful that the end of the month is in sight. The past two months have difficult to say the least. I mentioned the struggles with a broken geyser in past posts, but I haven't mentioned losing a dog. She died at home while I was alone and my husband was away. It was hard, but a good friend of mine helped which made the whole event less traumatic for me.

Then two weeks ago, on the eve of my husband having an obligation away from home, our only remaining dog got sick. He had not been himself the whole day, so we decided to take him to the vet. Initial prognosis? Heart failure or poisoning. It was a shock to say the least, but the vet kept him overnight for blood tests and an X-ray. Turns out he contracted pneumonia of all things. Apparently something rare for a dog.

But his heart is fine (very grateful for that) and obviously his blood work was okay otherwise. He stayed at the vet's for three days. I went to visit while hubs was away (we decided he should go after the diagnosis) and then we both visited him when hubs returned home. He came home on the Sunday, and we are being careful to care for him given the nasty weather the past few days, and restricting his physical activities as best we can. He is doing much better, but he is not a young dog so we are still careful to make sure he gets the best care.

Of course, he is loving all the attention, and just wants to play with his ball. 😂💜

What I am learning this week YouTube

I have been contemplating writing a guide book for the Nations of Peace series. I like having my characters appearing in multiple books, although the individual stories are standalone. But in my writer's brain, their stories are one big story happening in episodes. The plan was to write the guide after publication of the 10th novel (which has now happened) and make it available for free. But I changed my mind.

Two newly bound sketchbook/junk journals and embroidery on a piece of card
(as if I don't already have too many sketchbooks 🤦🏼‍♀️ LOL!)

Instead of writing a book, I thought to rather do a blog series about the origin of the characters, the planets where they live, and things like that. Since it is a fiction series, and fantasy, their universe is purely a figment of my imagination. I don't know if it will be of interest to anyone, especially if you haven't read, or plan to read my books, but to me it will be a living history of the novels that I have written, and will write in the future.

The current plan is another ten books, but we'll see how it goes.

I don't know when I will start the blog series, but I am excited about sharing more about the stories and process of writing a series across multiple genres.

There are a few more posts coming in the A-to-Z challenge this week, and then my blogging schedule will revert to the normal one or two per month.

Until next time!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé


Saturday, 25 April 2026

A to Z Blog Challenge: V is for...

 Variety

Variety is the spice of life, but for someone who gets bored quickly, variety in art practice is essential. So I draw, paint (in a variety of mediums), collage, print, and do mixed media work in a variety of styles too.

The coffee grinder is a realistic drawing, while Notes is an abstract/impressionistic painting done in oil. Sun printing is fun, and I still want to do cyanotype sun printing. I used one of the sun printed butterflies in the collage image of post R (for Recycle).

Coffee grinder (carbon graphite)

The same goes for my writing: I write novels and short stories, in different genres from contemporary to science fiction, and fantasy. And also mixed them up, especially in the new Lords of the High Council sub-series which is a mix of action, supernatural, fantasy, science fiction, religion and romance. (Note: my books are adults only)

How do you add variety to your creative activities?

I will have a CreativeLife post on Sunday, and I will be back on with the Letter W on Monday. Until then!
Notes (oil paint)
🇿🇦💜 Linzé

Sun printing (turmeric & alcohol)





 



Friday, 24 April 2026

A to Z Blog Challenge: U is for...

 Ultramarine and other blues

 Blue comes in a variety of pigments, including ultramarine, cobalt, and turquoise. My favourite blue is turquoise, but I use all of them in paintings and drawings.

Blue is considered to be the favourite colour of most people...I am not one of them. 😏

But here are a few blues from watercolour paints, pens, and markers in my art and craft material stash.

What is your favourite colour?

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé


Thursday, 23 April 2026

A to Z Blog Challenge: T is for...

 Tags

 Tags are a fun creative project. Typically used in junk journaling, they are easy, and versatile.

You can decorate the one side and use the other write on, or just leave it blank. We have three monthly creative projects in our art group: lifebook, an art project, and a tag.

Here are a few of my recent tags (they are all 16x8cm).


Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé


Wednesday, 22 April 2026

A to Z Blog Challenge: S is for...

 Share

Today is Earth Day and I am celebrating with tiny paintings towards this planet that we all share.

Sometimes it is frightening to see what people are doing to each other, and the planet, our one and only home.

Whether you think we will colonise another planet in the future or not, until then this is our home. 

Why not do something for our planet today?

Happy Earth Day fellow creative!

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé



 

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

A to Z Blog Challenge: R is for...

 Recycle

 This concept is one of my favourite art things to do...recycling painted paper for collage. I even used randomly painted papers in a painting for a competition two years ago. Since I don't paint portraits, the only type of art that made the finals, my painting didn't get anywhere. But it is still one of my all time favourite abstracts.

I love collage of all types, and will often make tags (a junk journal thing) with collage, and now also have four sketchbooks of various sizes (two really small) exclusively to play with collage.

Until tomorrow!
🇿🇦💜 Linzé
  
A large prompt based collage challenge I did in Dec 2025
(70x50cm)



Monday, 20 April 2026

A to Z Blog Challenge: Q is for...

 Quader

An old Scots word literally meaning “to make something square,” but which can also be used figuratively to mean “to agree with or get along with someone.” (mentalfloss.com)

While I don't think I will be using this word in my writing any time soon, I do find the blog challenge always a good time to learn a new word or two. Q is a letter that definitely lends itself to such a learning opportunity.

Here is a watercolour background and ink doodle drawing I did for #the100dayproject - all square at 11x11cm. 😏🤣

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé


CreativeLife update: being a dog parent, changing my mind, and planning something new

 Hey there creative friend! With the A-to-Z blog challenge ending this week, I for one am grateful that the end of the month is in sight. Th...