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)

 

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

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

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

 

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)

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

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

Planning

Everyone plans their work or other activities in a way that works for them. Whether it is a digital planner or a paper planner. Maybe even both. I prefer a paper planner.

Over the years I have adapted the Bullet Journal method to a style that works for me. No, I don't spend hours decorating the pages, because I need the space for planning everything.

When there is some space left at the end of the month, I will add stickers, washi tape, or stamps to decorate the space. I use a spread for a whole month. Then I can see everything at a single view. I draw a calendar, and a tracker. These are the only 'drawn' items.

I cannot add the individual activities of my work, there are simply too many, so I make a list of the highest level tasks that need to be done per job. I add my logbook (I need this for tax purposes), and then a list of everything else I have to do: pay tax, book a service for my car, etc.

How does it help with dealing with feeling overwhelmed?

Priorities. My work priorities are not in my control, but everything else is. By knowing my priorities, and the number of things I have going on, I can see what must be done by when, and what can be delayed by a day or two.

But I also plan to take breaks. Not hours, because I do take breaks during my workday, but days to relax and forget about my responsibilities. I do this as often as I can, and not when I have to. Something I learned the hard way!

And it is knowing my priorities and taking time off regularly, that has been the most useful to managing that near paralysing feeling of overwhelm.

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

🇿🇦💜 Linzé