Week of October 03: Map making, Wild Turkeys, and Abstract Butterflies

Hello! How've you been? Has the week been good to you and yours? For me, this past week has had it's share of ups and downs, nothing too critical, but still... Here in Canada we are celebrating Thanksgiving so there had to be some time spent planning the meal and deciding how we were going to spend our time. This year we had a small celebration planned, with only myself, my hubby and our two girls in attendance - a very intimate gathering! The weather has been a little hectic this week with warmer than normal temperatures. I'm not sure if it was the change in the weather, or some other factor that resulted in my two separate migraines this past week and completely destroying any chance of productive work. Luckily I am not generally prone to migraines, I only seem to get them a few times a year, but they still tend to be a wrench in the gears of my productive day.

I did manage to get a few things moving along. I worked some more on my map, sketched and painting a wild turkey, and started a textural/abstracted butterfly painting!

My Map for MATS B:

Oh this map! I posted what I had completed last week onto a MATS group on Facebook for feedback and got some really good suggestions for improving it. Take a look at it now!

My latest version of the Kitchener-Waterloo map for MATS B. It's coming along!

I think it's coming along nicely. What I want to work on now is some more textural elements in the background and the lettering. Someone suggested that I print out some fonts that I think might work and handletter those to keep the style I've got going on. I found a few tutorials for lettering with text styles that I'd like to try out, they are both from ChrystalElizabeth, one discussing 5 Tips for Brush Lettering, and the other talks abut Three Different Brush Lettering Styles (click the titles to see the posts).

I am not as happy with my progress on this map as I'd like to be. Being ill for two days, plus the extra I needed to put into my family life, put a distinct crimp in my progress. I am very determined to have this completed this week because I have plans for next week that don't involve MATS at all!! I do have one more assignment to finish the course, but I might start that in November.

Wild Turkey Sketch:

We live very near a small forested trail and recently the city put money into naturalizing some of the channel that runs through it. This past year, we've noticed a definite increase in wildlife and wild plants in the area, one of which is a wild turkey that's been seen roaming the neighbourhood. I managed to grab a picture of it on my phone after taking the girls to school one morning and was very excited to sketch and paint it in my sketchbook!

My illustrated wild turkey in pen and watercolour.

It was so much fun to draw and paint! I don't get to sketch many birds and I'd like to do them more often. Hopefully this will be the first of many!!

Watercolour Texture:

Through my Facebook account I frequently get posts from other artist groups or companies, many of whom have free tutorials or information on how to improve your skills. One that I frequently look at is Artists and Illustrators magazine (link goes to their Facebook page), based in the UK. This past week they had a tutorial that inspired me to follow along, it was their Daily Art Challenge: watercolour texture.

My work so far on a textural/abstracted butterfly.

I was in the mood to do something fun and creative and at the time I hadn't had my migraines yet so I knew I had plenty of time to play. This is about as far as I got. I didn't have the recommended japanese tissue paper so I just used what I had available. I don't believe this will take too much more time to complete, but we'll have to wait and see what I have to spare this week. Unfortunately it isn't high on my to-do list and I have to prioritize my time for more critical projects.

Ah the end of another week! I am looking forward to a more productive week and an end to certain projects! It's going to be much cooler here, definitely fall weather, so it's the perfect time to be indoors and working creatively!

Have a great week, be happy, and stay safe my friend!

Until next time,

Mandy

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