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

 Friends

Doing art with friends, is one of the best ways to stay creative. You don't have to paint or draw the same thing; just sharing the process can be great fun and inspiring.

It is one of my favourite things to look forward every week: spending two hours with friends painting or drawing. Since we all decided to take part in Leslie Stroz's 100 tiny paintings in a year, the meetings have become even more fun.

We have a private group, where we share our paintings and support each other, and share ideas to keep going since this is a longer project than what we would normally do.

Tiny painting No 2. 7x7cm - ink and wash

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

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

Experiment

Staying creative is not always easy, and experimenting is often a good idea to keep the creative juices flowing. But not all experiments are successful, as many scientists will attest.

But when it comes to making art, who doesn't love making a mess? So I did. And while the outcome is not a masterpiece, I did like the process: I combined two ideas from two different ladies on YouTube.

I am sharing both my attempts, and will definitely try it again. The crayons for the background didn't work so well, but I will try with artist grade crayons or paint next time.

Until tomorrow!

💜🇿🇦 Linzé

  

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

Drawing

Drawing or sketching? I like both, but drawing is a more time intensive activity. Sketching can be done while waiting for your coffee at your favourite coffee shop. Ofter called urban sketching it can be a quick record of a time or place, whereas a drawing usually requires more time, more attention, and can be a work of art when it is done.

`White ink drawing

Both are fun, and serve to satisfy the urge to create something. So, when I have a bit of time, I like to do a drawing with lots of details and might even add colour with watercolours or coloured pens or pencils.

Sketching on the go? Why not? It is excellent practice to capture a moment (or moments) and takes almost no time on a busy day...just long enough to get a cup of your favourite brew.

There is no post tomorrow, so I will see you again on Monday!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

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

Challenge

Today's post is closer to the theme I chose for the Blog Challenge this month. I have written posts about this before, but this year, I am taking it to a higher level. I am talking about taking part in multiple creative challenges.

This month I am taking part in the following challenges...at the same time! I am worried about not keeping up, but I have to say, it is not as difficult as I thought, once I decided on a plan.

1. The A to Z blog challenge

2. The 100day Project - it started on 22 February

3. Inktober52 - a weekly challenge for the whole year

And I have a novel to edit before it can be published. Not an online challenge like the others, but this book is late, so it needs to get done to get my writing back on schedule for 2026.

Since my weekdays have pretty much the same schedule everyday, I don't sit down to plan time to do this or create that. but multiple challenges made it necessary to plan - at least a bit.

You would think that I don't have to do everything, and you would be right, but I love all of these, so I am pretty much committed. 😏 

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

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

Sketchbook 😉

Sketchbook practice is one of my favourite activities. There is no pressure to produce anything and there are no limits on what you can do or try.

I have several sketchbooks going, but now try to finish one, before starting a new one. With the ones I have currently going, I try to stick to a single (or a primary) medium per sketchbook.

When I do a mixed media page, one medium will dominate the exercise.

There are two exceptions: an A5 landscape sketchbook that I use to plan paintings, and an A4 landscape sketchbook for the challenges of an online art group that I belong to.

A few of my current sketchbooks: water-based marker, gouache, ink and watercolour,
and collage.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

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

Acrylic markers

A favourite medium that recently came on the art scene. I like them because they aer easy to use, and work well acrylic paints, or on paper with water colours.

Versatile and a quick option that doesn't require any preparation to use - aside from shaking the brush pen, depending on the brand you are using.

Acrylic brush marker on an acrylic painted background - a tiny canvas painting made for the 100DayProject.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

CreativeLife update: the100dayproject, and a few more life issues 🤦🏼‍♀️

Hey there creative friend!

I really wished I could tell you that my studio is back in working order, and that I am painting to my heart's content. But as you probably guessed...it hasn't happened yet. How long can it possibly take for the insurance to make a decision? Let me tell you...one month! Yup, it took my husband many hours on the phone and many emails, and getting the complaints department involved. Then more phone calls...yes, even they had to be chased. What a freaking mess!

Acrylic marker on tiny canvas

But I am happy to report that we have the plumbers coming out tomorrow, to install the new geyser and fix the old pipes and stuff. Finally!

It is going to be a long day. Hubs decided to work from home, so that I can go to the lab to work. While I have to finish a report, and prepare for the next test, I already have another job going and I need to go in to finish the tests.

That's how life works for the self-employed 😉 So it's a good thing that I like the work.

You can see a few of my 100dayproject paintings, which I am managing to keep with. I am also writing a novel, and editing another. The editing is going well, and after I consolidate this edit, I have to work through it one final time before the manuscript will be made ready for publication. I am thinking early May. The next goal is to ask my husband to do the cover for me. I know what I want, but I need a Photoshop expert like him, to make it look the way I want.

Watercolour

Acrylic marker - colouring page

My next challenge is getting my car serviced, another expense although this one was planned for. I had to have my driver's license renewed as well, and now I am just waiting to hear from the authorities when it's ready for collection. I was nervous about the process, which we have to do every 5 years, but they were very professional and got the process done super quick.

I enrolled in the A-to-Z blog challenge starting on Wednesday, if you want to check it out. It is a daily post around a theme of my choice.

An if that wasn't enough, I also joined the #100tinytreasures quest. This is not a daily painting, but still making 100 paintings, albeit tiny ones, in one year does require some serious planning and commitment. They are fun though and I have done three already. But more about that next time.

Until next time!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé