The Wonderful Words for This Wednesday are, “Try Something New”
Hi friends! We are INTO December now. I am embracing the Christmas music and festivities now that Thanksgiving is complete. I have strict rules that we hold space for each holiday and don’t rush through them.
So, now that we are officially IN December, it’s ON. Christmas is in full swing here at the Snider’s, which includes most of my art!
Try Something New
Today I want to encourage you to break out of your comfort zone and try something completely new.
Here’s a super easy way to do that: Go to your local library and ask where the art section is located. Grab whatever speaks to you and check it out.
My recent library pics are as pictured:
Yes, yes, I have many here that go right along with all my favorite things like flowers and watercolors but there are a few in there that are WAY outside of my norm.
Take the “Pets” book for instance. It stuck out to me because the little guys and gals on the front were just adorable and full of personality. I cracked it open and the author guides you through step by step how to paint all kinds of pets, even a pig!
I’ve had that book in my basket of library books for a few weeks now, and the other day I decided it was time to play and try something new. It could have had something to do with the fact that I have at least 5 new books on hold right now just waiting for me to pick them up, so I need to return these ones soon. Regardless, I opened that book up and followed a few tutorials and had SO. Much. FUN!
My first one, “Yellow Lab in Socks”, didn’t turn out great….my son said that the dog looked like it was doing ‘the scoot’. Also, the eyes are too big. The important thing, though, is that I had fun and the next one will be better!
Next I picked “Scruffy Terrier” because those guys are just my favorite type of dogs. He turned out adorable. I kinda love him. Then I saw on one page the author had painted a cat peeking into the page. I added him to join my terrier. Darling! Then I realized I had to make it ‘Christmassy’ since it’s December, so I added a string of lights around their paws. Even better!
Alas, the background was kinda boring so I added a little Christmas tree that is ready for the lights. Viola! A Christmas painting! I really love this quirky little painting!
Does this make you want to paint animals or what? If you want to pick up the “Playful Painting PETS” book on Amazon, it is currently less than $10 and would make a great Christmas gift for yourself or somebody else.
(If you use the link provided, I’ll get a very small kick back as an Amazon Associate and the price is the same for you either way. Thank you for your support!)
BONUS
As a bonus from my endeavor to try something new, I’m now finding little dogs to paint all over the place! I received an ORVIS magazine in the mail and found this cutey:
THEN, I found this lovely little scene on the cover of a Wayfair flyer:
I will definitely be painting those two soon!
What’s Next?
Next I’m headed to the library to return these books and get my next 5 or 6 for Christmas Break.
Who knows what fun thing I’ll try next?! I’m drawn right now to mixed media and art journaling so we will see….stay tuned!
What will YOU try that is outside of your comfort zone? A different medium? A different subject? A different substrate? You can bring just one new element in and it adds a whole new flavor to what you are doing and of course you learn new things, which is always good.
Let me know if you get this book and try out some pet paintings! I’d love to compare notes 🙂
Kimberly Snider, Virtuoso, Signing off
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