Archives For art

Watercolor Fashion Sketch

Tasra Dawson —  March 6, 2013 — Leave a comment

fashion sketch blue scarf tmdawson1 Watercolor Fashion Sketch Fashions fade, style is eternal.
― Yves Saint-Laurent

Nothing says style to me than a great scarf wrapped well. That’s why I love drawing/sketching/painting scarves in my images. I may be just getting my feet wet again in the art and sketch world, but I can feel the familiar pull of my own style and preferences dictate what I draw.

Favorite part of the entire image… that beautiful blue scarf in all its lovely hues. Find me one of those somewhere!

Today’s drawing: watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons, 300g watercolor paper, paintbrush, PS6. Originally sketched and colored by hand. Imported to Photoshop to add canvas texture and painted highlights and lowlights.

In feature articles , , ,
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Artist Questions – Am I Any Good?

Imahni Dawson —  February 15, 2013 — 4 Comments

childhood sketch art Artist Questions – Am I Any Good?Guest post by someone who makes me question, ponder, and think about things from a new perspective… my daughter.

I often am at a loss when it comes to answering the dreaded question: “So, are you any good?” I think I’m pretty good, but what if they see me in action and think differently? Then I’ll have made myself look poorly skilled and arrogant! On the other hand, if I say I’m not good then they won’t take me seriously. Perhaps the idea of being “any good” is just a game of comparison. Maybe I can only compare my own progress, like the image at the beginning of this article compared with the more recent one below. Continue Reading…

In Challenge , ,
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Seek the Mountain View

Tasra Dawson —  February 10, 2013 — Leave a comment
blue ridge mountain top light Seek the Mountain ViewWhen we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new.
This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb,
and to seek the mountain view.

—Ella Wheeler Wilcox

The Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia may have been what Ella was describing when she spoke of men seeking the mountain view. Women too, by the way. For this weekend, ten brave and restless women have been spurred on to climb, to seek a greater height, and satisfy a craving. The art that will proceed may change the face of the earth. Such is the way of the creative soul.

In Inspire , , ,
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seth godin icarus deception art image Seth Godin Quotes from Icarus Deception

how high will you fly?

It’s the question on the cover of Seth Godin’s new book. It’s a self-proclaimed departure from his other books, a bit more honest, more hard-hitting, in hopes to wake up sleeping artists from their industrial-age induced slumber.

If you’ve read his other books, you’ll love this one.

If you haven’t read his other books, you’ll love this one and the others.

If you don’t think you’re an artist, you need to read this.

If you want to be an artist, you need to read this.

Is that clear as mud?

If you’d like to get regular updates on new DAILY DELIGHT with free wallpapers for desktops and mobile devices, it’s easy to sign up. Would love to have you join us for the journey in 2013!

Posted by Tasra Dawson on January 15, 2013 In Daily Delight , ,
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Move One Step Closer to Creative Action (D229)

Tasra Dawson —  April 17, 2010 — 6 Comments

Stick with me on this one…

Question #1: What is a wheel created for?

Short Answer: to roll, revolve, move around

Long Answer:

  • a circular device that is capable of facilitating movement
  • A wheel, together with an axle overcomes friction by facilitating motion
  • In order for wheels to rotate, a moment needs to be applied to the wheel about its axis, either by way of gravity, or by application of another external force.

tasra365 rusty wheel Move One Step Closer to Creative Action (D229)Question #2: What were you created for?

Short Answer: to make art, produce generosity and expose creativity

Long Answer:

  • ART: You are CAPABLE of facilitating movement and change in yourself and others. You are not stuck in the ground like the wheel above. You do not have mental blocks. You are not limited.
  • GENEROSITY: You, along with a community of others, OVERCOME obstacles and friction by assisting the forward motion of others. Like the quote from The Incredibles… “It’s NOT about YOU.” It’s about US.
  • CREATIVITY: In order for you to expose creativity, you must be willing to TAKE ACTION when external forces give you a nudge… whether it’s attending a workshop, listening to a webinar, or reading a blog. Don’t let those moments pass without moving one step closer to your truly capable, generous, creative self.

What do you think? What steps are you going to take today?

Technical Knowledge & Images: Studied lighting setup, technique and images from Scott Kelby.

In 365 project, feature articles, Month 8: Apr 2010 , , , ,
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Your heART Could Change the World (D184)

Tasra Dawson —  March 3, 2010 — 2 Comments

THE WORLD NEEDS YOU
Whether it’s sharing your vision through photography, your voice through writing, or your experience through creating albums and scrapbooks, what you see, say, and express matters. You never know when something you create or express will be the very thing that another creative soul needs to see or hear at that very moment.

PART OF YOUR WORLD
Today I had one of those moments when I received a message from a reader. I sat back and thanked God for letting me share my heART with you through this blog… and felt sincere gratitude to you for reading, responding and letting me be part of your world.

Here’s the beginning of the message I received…

You probably hear this sort of thing every day, but bear with me for a moment…  I just wanted to let you know that something you wrote had a profound impact on me. Looking back, it wasn’t even something I didn’t know in my own mind, but sometimes, hearing it from someone else makes all the difference. You said that the secret to winning photo contests is… wait for it… entering!

tasra365 slew original paintings 5 Your heART Could Change the World (D184)POWER TO MOVE PEOPLE
The email went on to say how the reader got the courage to enter an online photo contest and was a finalist, which resulted in thousands of people seeing her work and numerous comments and accolades that bolstered her esteem and confirmed that sharing her heART was worth it! At the end of her message, she wrote:

Slowly, my confidence is shifting… I have seen that I have the power to move people with my work, and that is an incredible feeling. I thought you should get to feel it, too.

Messages like these make it all worthwhile—knowing that one more creative person has been encouraged to pursue their passion, reach for their goals, and conquer their fears.

What will you share with the world today? One image? One thought? One experience? I’d love to hear it in the comments and see your confidence shift as you recognize and embrace the unbelievable power you have to move people with your “great work.”

tasra365 slew original paintings 6 Your heART Could Change the World (D184)THE STORY BEHIND TODAY’S IMAGES
Today’s images are of two paintings that my younger brother created as a gift to my son. He envisioned, drew and painted an entire series of 4 rainforest canvas paintings in one weekend. He has a gift, an incredible, amazing, breathtaking gift for art.

He’s working as an engineer. I know he uses his creative mind and vision in the work he does, but I long to see him become the painter and artist I know he could be. It may not be his path, but when he paints and others see his work, they are moved. Yet the world will have to wait to see the beauty he sees.

Don’t make us wait too long for you.

tasra365 slew original paintings Your heART Could Change the World (D184)Image Specs: Shot with 50 mm lens, one Westcott softbox light with daylight balance lights, process in Photoshop with Kubota Actions.
Manual: Page 91
Images: High speed photography images recommended by one of my readers Sandra Marek. Thanks Sandra!

In 365 project, Month 7: Mar 2010 , , , , , , , ,
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D74: God’s Not Finished Yet

Tasra Dawson —  November 13, 2009 — 8 Comments

He was coloring a castle and I asked him if he was a king. His response, “No. God’s not finished yet.” He’s four.

Well, okay. There is no response to that, is there? What if we used that on ourselves? When we make a mistake. When we take a bad picture. When we feel like a failure. When we beat ourselves up. What if we just let it go confidently knowing that God’s not finished yet.

What a relief that would be. Not to say that we shouldn’t do our part or what we need to do. But it certainly does take some pressure off our human shoulders. At least I think so.

What do you think?
tasra365 colors D74: Gods Not Finished Yet

Today’s image is one I thought about taking a few days ago when I spent the morning sharpening colored pencils for my son who was coloring in a fun workbook. I liked all the colors of the pencils when they were lined up next to each other randomly. I also liked how they were all different sizes and colors. Reminded me of our world and creative artists. We can all bring color and light into the world, but we each do it differently and are at various stages in our journey…some starting out, others near the end. Some interesting ideas to ponder.

Manual: Page 131—Camera Specs.

Images: Looked at a gallery of Water Reflections. Very peaceful and calming. I just love the water. Guess it’s the Norwegian blood and native Seattleite in me.

In 365 project, Month 3: Nov '09 , , ,
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D52: Venturing Into the Artist’s Cave

Tasra Dawson —  October 22, 2009 — 16 Comments

Fellow artist. Let me take you on a journey.

Fellow sojourner. Follow me into the artist’s cave and discover a truth that will resonate deep inside your creative soul.

I don’t know what you’re dealing with today on the long journey into your soul and beyond. I can tell you that the view is breathtaking from inside the artist’s cave. Let this image of the inside provide light and shelter along the exquisite path.
tasra365 artist cave D52: Venturing Into the Artists Cave

Surround yourself with beauty. Collect the artifacts of a life fully lived. Stop spending time at the surface—dive into the deep. Live your life inspired. Find the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Show up. Show out. Show off.

You are creative. You are a masterpiece. You are art.

In 365 project, Month 2: Oct '09 , , ,
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Liberate Your Creativity, Part 1

Tasra Dawson —  June 14, 2006 — 3 Comments

Have you ever found yourself at a loss for ideas? Maybe it was a blank scrapbook page staring back at you or a photo that you just couldn’t figure out how to scrap. Most of us find ourselves blocked or uninspired at some point in our creative lives. Drex Davis, president of Scrapbook.com offers some creative solutions for unblocking your inner artist in his blog. But it doesn’t have to be just a scrapbooking block, it could be writing, photography, art, or any other creative endeavor.

I signed up for the challenge two weeks ago and did my first homework assignment, which was to buy a new journal to chart my creative journey. Unfortunately that was as far as I got on my trip. Really it was the easy part, shopping is always fun and doesn’t require any extra energy or insight.

Now I’m ready to get moving on the activities. So this is the first part in the series. I’m going to take 3 lessons at a time and then post my results here. Being the externally motivated person that I am I need the accountability of having to complete the series or suffer the pie-in-the-face feeling of not having kept my word.

If anyone wants to join me, add a comment and we can liberate our creative genius together! Until next time, do some shopping for a new journal!

In RWS blog, solutions , , , , , , , ,
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