Art Everyday Month - Filling Pages

Sketchbook drawing

Ink and Marker

© Antonia and Imani Ruppert

Filling pages starts with experiences. Boring, mundane experiences. Adventurous, exuberant experiences. They all mean something. 

Filling pages -whether for personal journaling or article writing- means expression of these experiences. You have to have a want - a desire to say something. 

I've been keeping a journal/sketchbook since I was 12 years old. I obviously adore filling pages.

When I opened the sketchbook today, I saw my ten year old's creation(she drew in my book!). I decided to add my own drawing with hers.

Two artists are better than one.

Art Everyday Month - What's Your One Thing?

"Untitled"

Oil and Charcoal on Canvas

30x40

©Antonia Ruppert

Do that one thing first. That's what I learned today. My friend and fellow artist Elaine shared a resource with me- The One Thing - a book by Gary W. Keller and Jay Papasan.

The synopsis from their website- What’s the ONE Thing you can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary? 

That one thing for me was to finish this painting which I started in 2012.  I wanted to finish it to submit it for the Black Creativity 2016 juried exhibition held at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.  I felt like the painting needed revisions. Here is the painting before the revisions: 

"Untitled"

Oil and Charcoal on Canvas

30x40

©Antonia Ruppert 

Thank God I finished it before I left the house today. 

As it turns out, I blew a tire this afternoon. So I spent the day getting roadside assistance and getting my tire fixed. 

Surprisingly, nothing bothered me about how I was spending my time.  I had already completed my most creative work. 

So I ask you - What is your one thing such that by doing it would make your day?

I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.

Also, this painting is currently untitled - but on my Facebook page, I am currently accepting "title" suggestions.  Go there to share your suggestions.

I appreciate you already.

Art Everyday Month - Being Present

Drawing - Being Present
Watercolor and Ink
© Antonia Ruppert

Does a cell phone, which can transport one to game land, music land or social media land, help or hinder one's ability to be present? 

(Do you keep your cell phone dinging with notifications during family dinner)?

Today's art everyday creation is my hand holding my cell phone. I could see my face so I drew that too.

I had my cell phone in hand for a while. I had no desire to do anything with it but listen to some encouragement from Bishop T.D. Jakes and draw.  No surfing, etc.

Today, I chose to be present.

Art Everyday - Day 9 - Mount Shasta

Work in progress. Mount Shasta. © Antonia Ruppert.

Art everyday - day 9: a work in progress. 

For this commissioned painting, I started with a base of acrylic and am starting to add layers of oil on top. While far from being done, I'm loving the way it is shaping up.

More progress soon.