creativity

10,000 Drawings That Just Don’t Work

| Whitt’s End Art

A few simple words of encouragement from Thomas Edison who when questioned about his invention the light bulb had this to say, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

I find at times the life of an artist seems like a life of drawing maybe not 10,000 drawings that just don’t live up to our expectations but which lead us to other drawing. Many times we have drawers full of drawing which we may view as failures. I know I used to look at these drawing and shake my head. However I like Edison don’t see them as failed attempts but as stepping stones to those drawings and paintings which I really like.

Each drawing I create leads me to another drawing, then another drawing. I no longer have failures in art but pieces which just didn’t work.

Daily Drawing #141, A Furry Friend

| Whitt’s End Art


While I don’t think it is my forte I love drawing animals. There is something comforting about rendering a likeness of a furry friend.  My fascination with animals started as a child and was partly fueled by my first girl friend who had a red fox as a pet. They kept it in a huge pen on their property and you could actually go in the pen and interact with the fox.

Family trips to my sister’s farm in West Virginia also brought me into contact with many farm animals some of whom were a little ornery like the roosters. Those birds hold a grudge and  will fly at your head when they get mad at you. Nighttime in our neighborhood also brought out lots of raccoons like the one pictured in my drawing entitled, “Raccoon and the Yellow Flower.”

As I grew older and still to this day I have a fascination with animals and as I said they will appear in many of my drawings, especially dogs and cats.I hope you have enjoyed my artwork up until now. Until tomorrow remember we all need to have a little joy in our live, let it be drawing furry friends, or more importantly having the joy of knowing Jesus in your heart.

 

 

Replicate or Recreate, That is the Question

| Whitt’s End Art

When I first started to draw and paint I wanted to be one of those artists who replicated what they saw. You know what I mean. One of those artists whose paintings looks exactly like a photograph. So over the next few years I struggled and put a lot of pressure on myself trying to grasp the secret or making an exact copy of the image before my eyes. Art became more of a chore and less fun. One day I decided replication art was not my cup of tea.

I felt art should be more about re-creation than replication. As an artist I felt the need to recreate what I saw. Right then an there I decided to create paintings and drawing using my frame of reference with a little whimsy thrown in here and there. I leave replication to those artists whose talent rests in creating exact pieces. There is nothing wrong with being exact it just never settled into my temperament. These days I find myself creating a lot more abstract paintings consisting of a little exactness woven into a tapestry of whimsy.

In the end the question for all artists is going to be whether to replicate or recreate? The choice for you is going to be found in your heart

Daily Drawing #140, Life is a Landscape

| Whitt’s End Art

When I survey the landscape of my life I see may empty places I could have filled opportunities not fulfilled. Well enough of the waning philosophic. The drawing today is entitled, “The Mostly Barren Landscape.” It is a study piece for something I plan today later in acrylics. I hope to put the piece on as an extra offering sometime in the future.

While I usually try to write some kind of inspirational epitaph based on situations in my life this time it is a little tougher. You see my landscape (life) has never happened the way I envisioned. I thought when I was a teenager the rough times would be all behind me, back beyond the trees. I was wrong. There are many decisions I have made which I’ve wished I could unmake or get a redo. None of them have been major choice just ones where a second opinion or some advice from others would have been helpful.

So all I can say to anyone reading this is to not go it alone. If you’re in the process of some decision, big or small, first pray about the decision and then seek out wise council. You’ll be glad you did later. Also there will be less crabgrass and weeds growing in the landscape of your life.

Daily Drawing #138, The Circles In Your Life

| Whitt’s End Art

One of my favorite movies is Disney’s The Lion King. One of my favorite songs in the movie is the, “Circle of Life.” The songs deals with the cycle of life, death and then new life again. While I think our linage is renewed and lives on in our children I don’t believe life happens in a circle. We are born, live our lives and then we die. However in life I do believe there are many circles.

Growing up we have our circle of family. the first few years of life we are dependent on our parents and loved one to care for us. They feed us, nurture us, protect us and so much more. As we age we move on to a new circle..friends. Added to the circle of family is our school age friends some of who we spend years with. Friends bring a whole new circle of influence in our lives.. They help to develop our views of the world outside of  what is taught to us by our family. Friends also can lead us to our next circle…work.

Once we are done with school, however many years that takes, we move on to the circle of work. Many times in work we develop a whole new circle outside of family and friends. We have our work friends and our out of work friends who may never meet. Both groups still assert many of their attributes and traits on how we think. Added to all the circles already mentioned are any other circles you may be involved in such as church, a shared hobby etc.

What is important anytime we enter a new circle is not to let the circle influence us in. negative way. We must always be the light which shines out of the circle to the others. So take the time to think about all your circles and determine are they shaping you or you being a light to them.

Daily Art #137 Pika, Pika, Pika Shoo

| Whitt’s End Art

The drawing prompt today was to draw a living thing be it an animal or plant. I usually lean to drawing cats which on another blog I am up to cat drawing #24. I also draw a lot of faces so I didn’t want to go in that direction. In searching for something to draw I found an article about how China is killing of the Pikas. I clicked on the link and to my surprise I found a Pika is a real animal. I sketched one and created my drawing, “The Little Pika is Going Shoo.”

When my son was growing up he watched Pokemon episodes and also collected the toys. One of my favorite characters was the little yellow creature known as Pikachu. The only word he spoke was “Pika” even when he was animated. No pun intended. I was amazed to learn the students at the school where I work still watch Pokemon. I had thought it fizzed out years ago. I guess Pokemon is not a true fad because it seems to have staying power.

There are times in life we get caught up in the fad of the moment. Need I mention Pet Rocks, Cabbage Patch Kids or Beanie Babies. Sadly for some becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is a fad. They rush in whole heartily like people do with fads but somewhere along the line things change and the luster of the moment wears off. This is when they turn away and lay their supposed live for Jesus on the fad shelf.

The problem with many is they don’t realize when you walk with Jesus there is no promise of a joy filled and rosy life. I have found in my own life that things seemed to get harder. It is not easy to stand up against opposition for what you believe. Maybe this is the reason people walk away from their faith. I don’t know. All I know is that that true faith in Jesus is not a fad it is a relationship which is built on love and faith.

Daily Art #135, What A Real Fungi

| Whitt’s End Art

The prompt for today was to draw something low to the ground. Since I live in an area that provides mushrooms for a good part of the United States I chose to draw of them. Mushrooms from what I understand need the right combination of compost (manure and other products),moisture and temperature in order to grow. Believe me when the wind is just right you can smell what the workers at these plants go through doing their job.

Over the years living here I have sort of gotten used to the smell. It is funny, however when out of town visitors come. They often wrinkle their noses and utter the phrase, “What’s that smell?” to which we usually reply with a chuckle, “What smell?”

Why tell you all this because what it takes to grow mushroom reminds me of the Parable of the sower in Matthew 13. In that parable the seeds must be planted in the right kind of soil before they are able to grow. Mushrooms must be planted in the right kind of compost in order for the spores to grow. So the next time you’re complaining about your life stinking remember, like the mushrooms, God planted you in the right kind of soil for you to grow.

Doodle #132, A Cup of Warmth to Start the Day

| Whitt’s End Art


I am a coffee drinker. Give me a cup of joe with some cream and stevia and I am a happy man. However I have partaken in a macchiato or capuccino now and then like the one in my drawing, “A Cup of Warmth.” For us coffee drinkers a daily cup is not only a caffeine fix but a cup of warmth to start the day.

While coffee may be my warmth each day I also try to make myself a little bit of warmth to others. I work in an inner city school. Each day I come in contact with students, many of whom have lives you wouldn’t believe if I could tell you. Some of the students respond to the warmth others not so much.

I however, choose not let myself take anything personally they may say. It is not because I am anyone special or am immune to biting words. I have just chosen to be a cup of comfort to each person I meet. In school I was bullied because of who I was and how I looked and dressed. I said myself then and there I was not going live my life being someone who differently because of who they are are. When I game my life to Christ it only enhanced my unconditional love for others. So be a cup of comfort to others,

3 Reasons to Art; A Brief Overview

| Whitt’s End Art

I have delved into creating art for most of life. The reasons I started to create art are various. Here are three.

  1. I returned to my love of art over three decades ago. One of the reasons is it helps me to relax. At one point in my life I dealt with anxiety issues. One of my doctors suggested I take up a quiet hobby. I used to doodle so I figured I would try my hand at cartooning. One thing led to another and I started to create more fine art projects. Art still helps me to relax.
  2. The second reason I love to art is the challenge. I am a self taught artist. A lot of what I know comes from books and lately YouTube videos. Trying to become a better artist is not only restful but it also challenging. I also look for drawing projects which are hard for me to draw. This I feel helps me grow as a person as wells as an artist.
  3. The last reason I art is because I love sharing with others what I create. I know I will probably never become rich off of my art but it doesn’t matter. My goal for creating art, other than it relaxing nature and the mental challenge it brings, is to maybe bring a smile to someones face. Art by it’s very nature is a participation media. Artists create so others can see or hear the fruits of our labors.

These are the three maim reasons I create art. Maybe you can add your reasons as comments to this article.