It has OCCURRED to me...

That the point of a blog is to write something. So I guess I had better write something.

A couple of months ago I got the hare-brained idea that I would start designing printed fabrics using digital art.  Why is this a hare-brained idea? Well...

• I haven't drawn hardly a thing since I graduated from art school nearly 20 years ago.  I was never all that good a drawing anyway.  In fact, it generally made me queasy and gave me a headache.  Not exactly something a sane person would voluntarily engage in.
• I knew absolutely nothing about making digital art.
• I have no money for software, training or equipment.

But why let these little things get in my way?  Fearlessly (or foolishly) I plowed ahead.  Turns out there are a few free drawing programs out there so I downloaded Krita.  And thankfully there are many great educational videos on YouTube.  So off I was on my journey.

In the first few days I alternated between wanting to tear my (very limited) hair out and laughing hysterically at the seemingly random things that kept appearing on my computer screen.  And of course I had help from my friends.  Someone should really invent a touch screen computer that only responds to human touch.  Or maybe my cat is the better artist? Hmmm...

Anyway, I managed to do enough doodling to come up with some designs I actually like - and the beginnings of a fine case of carpal tunnel.  Now I have an inexpensive tablet to save my creaky old wrist.  I assume it works well, but I'm still too seasick from it to tell.  Kind of reminds me of when I first tried to use a mouse.  I was using my boyfriend's computer and it was just infuriating.  It was only after I managed to get the hang of it that he bothered to tell me that his mouse didn't work right.  Argh...

Despite my ignorance, sore wrist and disorientation, I have managed to create some designs I rather like.  Do most of them look like a child drew them?  Yes - and I'm owning that.  It's my style and I like it!  As a child I was embarrassed that I couldn't draw well.  In art school I was frustrated that my work didn't seem to fit in.  I am now old enough to not care.  I'm going to draw what I enjoy and hope that someone else out there likes it.  If you happen to be one of those someones, hop over to my Shop page to find links to where my work is sold!

Thanks