I’m not usually one to pick “hot topics” for my posts. So declaring for the MJ is a child molester camp was a bit bold for The Big Piece of Cake. Particularly since I do waver a bit on the subject. But hey – I wrote it, so it’s now out there. (Do you think it’s a coincidence that I seem to have lost some readers? Yikes.)
Anyway – in honor of my cowardly nature and fear of hate mail, I’m going to take a completely different direction today and tell you something very warm and fuzzy. Rainbows and unicorns all the way – I promise.
Very few people who have met me since I graduated college would know this, but I used to be somewhat of an art chick. Not in the multiple piercings, moody, poetry writing kind of way though. More in the prissy little girl creating pretty little pictures kind of way. I was never destined to be a real artist, like my brother. But I did really enjoy whipping up those pretty little pictures.
For some reason, I was never any good with paint – I always ended up with a big wet mess on the canvas. And my hobbyist attitude didn’t engender the dedication required for mastering that medium. Instead I found my comfort zone with pastels. They’re like crayons for adults. And even better because you can smear them around to correct mistakes.
Once I graduated from college I lost interest in art classes and it’s not like my roommates and I ever sat around crafting together (it was the mid ’90s, and for me the word “craft” conjured up images of old ladies with knitting bags or acrylic nailed DIY enthusiasts with Bedazzlers).
So no more art.
Until last week.
Don’t know what inspired me, but I was at Michael’s trying to find supplies for kid craft projects that my children wouldn’t eat or smear on the walls (easier said than done, I may add). Anyway, I saw a package of charcoal pastels and had a flashback of a life drawing class. Then I looked at the color pastels and thought “maybe…”
I bought both oil pastels (because I had never used them before and was curious) and soft (chalk) pastels. And when my kids went to bed that night, I sat down to see if I still had the touch (if touch means the ability to smear colors on paper to somewhat represent the image I was trying to capture).
I started with the oil pastels. Here is the image I used:
And here is my drawing:
Not that great (and my photography is terrible), but I found the oil pastels really hard to work with. I think they require a bit more precision… I won’t give up on them, but I put them aside for a second try with the good old soft pastels I once knew so well.
This is the image I used:
And here is my drawing:
Big improvement. And pretty! I’m not quitting my day job any time soon (oh wait a minute – I actually DID quit my day job – just not to become an artist). But I will definitely have fun with this.
And isn’t that what hobbies are all about?
What about you? Any childhood pastimes that you’ve recently picked up again?
1. Origin unknown – SORRY, let me know if it’s yours
2. Absolutely Beautiful Things (of course)
your drawing is marvelous! :) btw, i don't really like MJ.. i don't know why, but i know he's a legend!
xx
Wow, those are amazing! I'd say you definitely still have it.
I wasn't all that crafty as a kid. I did dabble, with very limited success, in jewelry making. I also played the flute (quite well) and did try to take that up again a few years ago. Problem was, I was no longer interested in playing classical music but my fairly rigid classical training (and lack of a decent musical ear) left me utterly unable to play the kind of improvisational stuff I wanted to. Between that and the two small kids thing I put it back on the shelf again. I do miss it though. Maybe I'll try again one day. In the meantime though photography is more than filling my need for a creative outlet :).
Love this post! Your pastel art is beautiful and I think that is so awesome you decided to do this on such a whim! It is funny how crafting has now become cool.
Excellent! Was it relaxing? Made your feel enpowered when it was done? If it did, keep creating!
Two hobbies I would like do again is ice skating and cartoon drawing. In my younger years, I was a pretty good cartoonist. I'd like to do it again. I think I will! Thanks Kate!
Hey that's pretty good! I'm impressed. I'd totally frame that second one and put it in my house.
Very good! I love that you chose bright colored images. :)
I haven't picked this up again (yet), but I saw on House on Hill Road's blog that her girls were making string bracelets using embroidery floss. I remember making those for myself and my high school age brother as a kid. Glad you picked up an old, good habit.
those drawings are so lovely!
I've been trying to find my crafty side lately by quilting. my mother recently reminded me that I was in the quilting club in the 5th grade, so apparently I am rekindling a childhood craft! here come more potholders, and soon, a baby quilt to be sent to an orphanage in india!
Fun! And good for you for picking it up again.
I am so NOT crafty/artsy, I really admire people who have that talent.
I was really excited when I saw what Kate was doing the other night. And she seemed so happy to have an artistic outlet. I am so proud of her… and her pictures do not do them justice. Keep it up sweetheart.
I think they're GOOD! You're talented. I'm glad you stumbled back into something you love to do. Now I want to draw…
You are SERIOUSLY talented! Seriously, that is very impressive, good for you for doing this again! You have to continue!
And I can't believe you would lose readers over your MJ post. The beauty of blogging is being able to talk about your feelings and opinions honestly. Even I did not agree with a particular subject, I would never stop following someone! That's just immature, I think… seriously!
Kate I think both are FAB! How fun. I wish I could get back into dancing, but I fear my latest hobby of running has wrecked my knees for that. But it was sooo special to me growing up. Maybe someday!
Kate, you continue to amaze me! Good for you to try your hand at art again. I think your first two attempts are great! Thinking as a decorator and retailer, these are the kind of small and simple but lovely images that women love to buy to put on a little easel among other little treasures on an end table (remember when you used to be able to do that pre-little ones?). Think in terms of a size that can fit in a standard premade frame. Look at Victoria Magazine for romantic images. Strangely enough, I prefer your first picture. I guess it's my decorator self. Also, it tells a story – The comfy chair, the pretty colors… and then your imagination takes off as to how sweet life would be in such a room.
I'm a sucker for images like this that are just little partial scenes of pretty, inviting interiors. Do some more. Remember, I'm a buyer.Love you!
Those drawings look great! I used draw and paint quite a bit when I was a kid – charcoal, oil pastels, watercolor, and oil painting, but when I was about 13 sewing totally took over. I'd like to get back to both of those activities one of these years.
Those are GREAT! You are definitely talented! I think it's great to reconnect with that part of yourself after years :)
This is really lovely! Wow! I'm impressed.
(Don't fret over your MJ post. I can't believe all of the hysteria around his death. Sad? Sure. But provoking this kind of crazy? I don't get it.)
Lovely.
I paint occasionally, but I am overly critical of my work. My husband likes it though.
LOVE THESE! So glad you are getting back into this!
As someone with no talent in that area (and oh, how I wish I had picked some up from my dad, who is an amazing artist), I find what you've done fantastic, and even more fantastic is you're delving back a bit in something you once enjoyed so much.
I used to write a lot when I was young, and have a minor in creative writing, but it's been forever since I've done anything in that area that wouldn't fall under the category of 'blog.'
Great job Kate!
I used to be slightly artistic. I did pencil drawings when I was growing up. I grew out of it and went on to cross-stitch and then hand quilting. I'm always tempted to purchase art supplies when I'm at the craft store.
I draw w/chalk on our back patio and my boys recognize all of the wonderful things i draw for them (cat, teddy bear….you get the idea) and that is the extent of my artistic ability.
Keep drawing & writing -you're talented!!
Very nice!! I have no talent for drawing, painting, etc. So sad.
I used to make jewelry, which was fun, but sometimes maddening because I'm analytical and things had to be JUST RIGHT.
Don't really have a hobby right now, except driving my husband crazy by being on the ineternet.
;-)
Nice! Being creative feels so good, doesn't it?
Keep it up and keep sharing!
oh michaels. i've been there at least once a week for the past 5 weeks. that's what i get for being an arts and crafts teacher this summer.
anyways, i never was very good with oil pastels. i tried very hard though. i always over did the colors and could never get them to do what i wanted, so yours are great in my opinion. drawing is challenging and relaxing all at once, and when you're done, you have something to be proud of.
I miss painting, a former hobby/passion of mine. I have all these paintings hung around the house and they feel like a stranger created them.
Love the drawings!
Kate, those are great! honest to God. I'm so so not crafty as you well know. I went to Michaels and it was about as confusing to me as when I enter Home Depot
Very Impressionistic! Even reminds me of Van Gogh. I feel your pain in creating art. I too was an art girl, however I discovered I was more of an art history girl. Although, if creating, I found I needed a 3-d surface to work with. For me a great piece of art is one you can see three dimensional or walk around.
I think your drawings are beautiful and totally betray your lack of confidence in your medium! In my college quest for my identity, I majored in art for a semester. During that time, my studio drawing professor looked at my portfolio and told me that I had "lots of skill but no creativity." That really hurt when I was used to being told, "oh, you're soo creative!" (I know the people who say that are generally the same people who would have just as much creativity as I do—if not more!—if they only set their mind to exploring it.) That put me back at square one with finding myself.
I always loved to sew, but my sewing machine hasn't seen the light of day in years. Nice fabric is so expensive, and it's far too tough to find the time to actually finish what I start. I used to work for a theatrical costume shop, and I occasionally toy with the idea of seeking out a place like that to re-ignite that creative side. Maybe in 10 years or so!
I'm impressed!!! Despite 4 years of art school, I am still a horrible painter.
I did love clay when I was young, and have been pondering picking that up again. But, I'd have to give up blogging to make time and that's never going to happen! :)
Beautiful pictures, I like them both. I haven't tried pastels yet (I don't need any more hobbies) but they do look fun.
Your pictures are amazing! If I could choose my art, it would be to draw or play the cello. That must be an amazing feeling to be able to do that. I used to get all inspired in Michaels when I was there for kids stuff too. The bad part is I couldn't craft my way out of a paper bag… but it led to me picking up knitting again which I had learned from one of my grandmothers.
you still got it!