Category Archives: inspiration for the uninspired


welcoming the ugly

{lessons from the creative}

in december i was not only flooded with a new surge of hormones (that i had yet to discover)
i was also flooded with this overwhelming guilt. overwhelmingly overwhelmed. feeling like i had so many people that i needed to please… afraid i'd let them down. and i did let them down. i closed myself down. i stopped. i took on too much- much more than i thought i could handle- simply because i didn't want to disappoint. i let myself down. i crawled into a safe cocoon. hibernated. and stayed far far away from my paints. i was not inspired…and i was also afraid to be- because what if my image wasn't what they wanted? even when people say they trust your artistic vision, when you're creating for a client- you have to find out what their vision is, put your style on it, and make it work for them. ultimately- it's their artistic vision that you have to find, and that's no easy feat.

any time i did try to pick the paper and pencil up, my body would tense up… fear of failure.. fear of not being good enough. of not knowing how. of wasting supplies. making mistakes. making ugly.

–

yesterday, after picking up my watercolour pad… sharpening my pencil. i began. with no intentions. no purpose. no thoughts. no one in mind. nothing in mind. i erased and started over. and over. and over. but i was answering to no one. i had no one to show it to. it didn't matter if nothing came of it.. no agenda.

and i drew. a woman came. and i painted her.

sigh

she lifted me up. pushed me. i took my time, letting the paper sit between different stages…and more and more came.

looking at them now, today- i can see the difference in when i started her and when i worked on the other girls.

the first one has rougher lines, more defined. less flowy- more intent.

a starting point…
ahhhh like a breath of fresh air. so wonderful and tasty. drunk deep.
the next girls that came-

… and then it was going on 3am. i was already tired. so tired. but i had another girl sketched… afraid that if i left her like that- i'd wake up in the morning and not be able to finish her. that it'd all be lost.

so i tried…

and i messed her up.

but instead of being frustrated with it… i felt so okay. i laughed at myself… i learned something. it felt different. i knew i should have trusted my instincts with her, left- and gone to bed and waited until the day before working. instead her face turned to painted mud, and it was the first time that i didn't feel like i wasted paper. it felt good to make that mistake. to make the ugly.

it feels like i faced a fear.
a breakthrough…

i sat in the shower thinking about what it all meant. pleased with myself… proud of myself. confiding in steven that i don't know how to be an artist and a business woman. and that most times- i don't want to be. it's so amazing to have people who support me, who believe in me… having my artwork hang in houses all over the world (i think the farthest away so far has been australia) is beyond words… incredible. something that i created hangs in a family home that is not my own, that isn't my parents… someone else who believes in me and loves what i do.

sometimes you think about it all- and are so so very grateful. and other times you think about it all, and realise that you've got crushing anxiety, expectations, deadlines, fast moving lanes… i know it's a learning process. figuring out how to be a creative and a business. finding people you trust to help you along the way.

and also.. forgetting everyone. forgetting everything.

and just creating.

wasting supplies. making mistakes. making ugly.

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{inspired} part four

sometimes it's all about confidence.

they say that if you are in a bad mood- and force yourself to smile- you can actually improve your mood and clear away that negative energy.

…i'm not so great about faking it.

mood. confidence. anything.

i am driven by my emotions (which i love.. but also. woah. crazy town. calm down..)

but most times our work is driven by confidence (who am i kidding, everything is). whether you are a writer, photographer, musician, whatever it is that you do… confidence in yourself, in your craft, in your ability- and in the final product makes you more productive, and inspires you to continue on.

you have a bad day at a shoot, nothing went to plan and the light was really bad…
you go through a dry spell… you feel nothing- you can't seem to get out of it…

it all throws you off.

your muse has flourished with someone else, and left her favourite seat in your house dusty and depressing.

you pick through paintings, pictures, books…wishing you could figure out how they did it. hating your style and wanting theirs…

you start to think that maybe it'd be different if you had _____.
gone to an art school
better equipment
cute clothes
money
a designated studio
(fill in le blank with your own excuse.. that i am sure we all have used.)

remind yourself that:

we all have to start out at some point.
there is always someone better than you, and someone worse.
this is a phase, a natural cycle.. and this too shall pass
the more you work.struggle.fight for something- the more rewarding it is in the end.
someone already admires the work you do… (really. i promise. it might surprise you-but it's true)

believe in yourself, in your talent, in your work- so others can believe in you too. (which is so easier said than done… it's a process…)

now pick yourself up off of the floor.

find someone you admire online- and go through their archives and see where they began. it's hilarious, and such sweet medicine. oh god is it ever good… (just don't go through mine. pretty please. eep!)

you see where they started.. and how it was… well. not so great. and you see the time line of a year.. two years… and how far it has taken them.

and then i want you to go through your own 'archives' -old journals that make you cringe, but realise how much you have changed in the years… photos you took that you can't believe you charged money for…one of the first paintings you ever did that you loved.

and then you'll see the growth. the story. the progression.

and if that doesn't work in building some confidence in your craft?

call a friend and go to the movies.
pick up something you have never tried before and do it
bake some brownies. they can be special if that helps…
look up people you went to highschool with and make fun of them. (i'm kidding.. kind of. not really kidding at all..)

the point is.. do something that makes you feel good. do something for yourself. do something to pass the time instead of dwelling on it. just. do. something.

and before you know it

a little peak in confidence, and that controlling little muse will be pounding on your doorstep begging you to spend time with her.

(can you tell that i threw a hissy fit recently over my lack of muse? ha! she came back…like she always does.)

erin darcy design

the minx.

*drawing names tomorrow night for the giveaway/swap*

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{inspired} part three

i thought i might share what i love, and use when i create!

tools of the trade

so simple. see?

you don't need anything fancy… you don't need to spend tons of money on things. think outside the box. think simple. use what you have…

(of course the lovely things are always nice to have though, aren't they?!)

so to begin-

composition notebooks- i love them because they are cheap. they don't stress me out. i can do whatever in one without feeling like it has to be perfect. like i am wasting. plus– i like that they are lined, because sometimes a vast whiteness freaks me out and i can't do anything. (using brown paper is also a good alternative to that scary white perfection) so they are perfect for journalling, and doodling, and sketching out greatness.
: )

watercolour paper- my faaaavourite paper is strathmore 400 series watercolour paper. now. i don't know much about papers- i don't know the difference between hot press and cold press watercolour papers. all i know is i have painted on really expensive paper and hated it… painted on really cheap paper and loved it. and painted on some medium range ones and felt blaaah.   but this paper has been so perfect and beautiful every time. i love it. (this paper is quite affordable. especially if you have a momma who buys in bulk when a sale is on at michaels arts and craft store. she's the best.)

watercolour pencils- i have had this set of general's kimberly watercolour pencils for a looooong time. i got a set of 12 from my aunt in a birthday present one year. it took me ages to really discover how amazing they are. and so, i still have the same set- and use them every.single.time.  i know that there are plenty of really expensive watercolour sets out there (which i have never used. so i have no idea if they are super amazingly better) but this set is very affordable… and i happen to absolutely LOVE them. get them…

erin darcy photography

i recommend watercolour pencils to everyone who wants to try water colouring, but is afraid of them- can't let go with them… this helps a bit with the control issue- and is lovely to use to outline/sketch- before putting actual paint down.

watercolour- okay… here i am a bit spoiled. this set is a bit on the expensive side- but it is in no way the super high priced side i have seen (plus… i wait until i have a coupon to purchase!) mine are talens transparent watercolour set. i have two tins- one that i have had for a long time after an airline lost my baggage with my first set and then my mom sent me another tin (because she supports my craft… only so she can have paintings for her walls too. :-p) this set is a double decker- two shelves of paint pots. i love them… they're just lovely. silky. nice range of colours. plain and simple. : )

erin darcy photography

pencils- i love fat pencils.  you know those pencils that little kids are encouraged to use- for their little hands.. it can be jumbo fat, or triangle. either way.. i love it. i haven't used a normal size pencil in quite some time…  they do pose a problem sometimes- the lead is fatter, which means your lines are thick, soft. (which i love/hate/love)
another problem- you obviously need a pencil sharpener to deal with it.. but i use a knife to carve mine (much to steven's dismay *see pencil shavings above….;-p)

camera- i shoot with a canon xti. the reason i mention my camera is not only because i love photography, i have supported myself in being a photographer for families and people on occasion. but also- it is a huge part in sharing my paintings. without it, you would never see them. muahahahaaaa… (seriously.. i need to get a scanner at some point.)

photo editing- adobe photoshop cs4, again. this is an editing program that most photographers use. when i first started out taking peoples photos (and charging. EEP!) i didn't even know how to edit them… i did..nothing. with them. i had a fancy little program called photoshop- and knew nothing about it. over time i have taught myself a great deal- but i think i only know about 10% of what you can really really do with it!

–

my wish list includes…

an unlimited supply of art supplies.
a wacom bamboo tablet (to do digital paintings/designs/logos)
an old typewriter that works
a sewing machine
since this is a wish list….
a canon 5D mark II
a professional photo printer

–

what are your tools of the trade? what could you not live without?

and what would you like to add to yours?

*don't forget to check out the giveaway/swap. i'm drawing names on sunday!*

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{inspired} part two

once you find a main inspiration…

stalk them.

wait. no no no no. don't go about it in a creepy way. no finding their address on google maps, no digging through their rubbish to find what they eat. (you might not want to know..)

just. find out things about them.

read their blog, if they have one. find out what inspires them.

and then before you know it… you're finding inspiration in theirs, and then in those people's too… favourites upon favourites to work with here… and then you've got a big melting pot of inspiration- dip your paint brush into it, or pen, or skewered fruits. whatever works..

my favourite places to go to find a new source- or search through old source's favourites- are deviant art,  flickr, and etsy.
i especially love the feature of 'collecting' inspiration by adding them to favourites. being able to pour through them easily…

but then… there's also blogs. and i find some really yummy blogs, and then i go look at their blogroll and find out who they read. oooher!

and then we're all connected in a big web. a big inspiration orgy.

or if you're more comfortable with web, we'll stick with that…

maybe we're a big inspiration quilt. all the little patchwork pieces. different hands to sew it up. aww isn't that a sweet thought.  especially as i'm snuggled under a quilt my mom made for my husband. : )

–
where do you collect your bits of inspiration at?  online? on the computer? journal? box?

*don't forget to add your name to my giveaway/swap post. i'll be drawing on sunday : )

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{inspired} part one

thanks to those who passed on their bits of inspiration to me so far. i'd love to have any great links to things that really get the creative gods in you going. music, books, pictures… the process you have to go through.

last night i dug through deviant art, plucking bits of yum here and there.

none of these images belong to erin darcy1. wind n stuff 2. longest scarf award 3. war bonnet 4. strawberry mouse 5. your song 6. mandolinist 7. fire escape 8. lady 9. hat

my process begins by finding bits of inspiration- pulling it from wherever i find. it could be in the lyrics of a song, in a photograph, in a painting, in movie credits… anything. i am constantly collecting bits of information. if i had some magazines lying about, i'd take some scissors to them- and glue it all back together in a yummy arrangement in a journal. (the process in that alone is relaxing and uplifting)

so once i've found a piece that has jump started my mojo. i sharpen my pencil. (steven hates this part… it is true… i don't shave the pencil over the bin, leaving bits of shavings and lead on the table) i only mention sharpening the pencil- because it's a process in itself. i used to watch my papa sharpen his pencils with his pocket knife… my older brothers had pocket knives- so one christmas i asked for one. and that year a fat red swiss army knife awaited me. (i still remember dad teaching me carefully how to close it… i wonder if it was more delicate about it with me, since i was the girl- or if he was like that with the boys about it too.. hmmmm) i imagined myself carving sharp sticks-like i watched my brother do. but in the end, i used it to sharpen my pencils with.

now it's just a kitchen knife. le sigh. where has the ceremony gone of that magic red swiss army?

you're thinking. why not just use a pencil sharpener. OR you're thinking why is she still going on about a fecking pencil?

well good point. on both counts.

fat pencils. and because they are important, damn it.

nothing like a big fat pencil in the hand. nice and sharp. smooth on the paper. mmm… and the smell of the pencil shavings brings you right back to elementary school days- when life was simple… and you were unafraid to ask your teachers anything… like. 'why does your butt move when you walk?'

…i asked that to my second grade teacher.

i was memorized by her bum, apparently.

moving on.

then i get some music going!

i had grand intentions of creating a play list for you, a selection of the songs i have on my 'create' mix.  but. er. ehm.

well you just need to come over and paint with me and find out what's on it. eh?

oooh oooh! i just had an idea. forgivemeforthinkingout…er.loud.

how about… an inspiration/creating/crafting/editing/muse erotica cd mix swap!

how it works:

you enter your name

i'll draw a winner on sunday.

congratulations! if you win. i'm not sure what i am congratulating you for- because this isn't the greatest thing ever. er… THEN you'll put together a mixed cd that you listen to while you work. or whistle to while you work. whatever works…

i'll put mine together, and throw in a little something special.

and we'll post them to each other!

ta-daaaaaa

how does that sound?

are you interested?

tell me in the comments.

By edarcy | Also posted in inspiration, {daily} | Comments (14)

inspired

oh, if you could just see me, you'd see that i have a smile on my face from ear to ear… and if i start thinking about all of this, i'll probably cry. ;-p

i have been getting SO many messages from people all over the world-excited about their 'inspiration for the uninspired' pieces that i have created.

featured on one of my favourite crunchy yummy mummy's blog… she inspires me to think differently, to look at the world differently-and then goes and makes me blush like a school girl by writing about me!

e-mails from people i don't know, thanking me, telling me that they are going to try the '50 drawing ideas' with their kids.

hearing it from them makes me so happy, which is completely an understatement.

but even better?

when they share…

draw yourself with wings by liam

this one was 'draw yourself with wings'

one of my sweet friends printed out both sets, inspiration for the uninspired 101, and the 50 drawing ideas for kids. for herself and her sweet little family.

holy… awesome

liam, you rock. plain and simple. i LOVE your little guy so much. i think that you should make a little comic book with him, and create stories about where he travels. he looks a bit mischievous, i'm thinkin' he can get in a bit of trouble and have fun with it. ;-p

—

maybe one day i will start a summer art camp, and you can all send me your babies. and we'll draw and paint all day-and i'll send you some pictures.

that idea… sounds amazing to me, so completely combining a few of my dreams together…

la la laaa.

if you're joining in on any of it, i would LOVE to see your photos from your experience, or read what you have to say about it!

you inspire me.

By edarcy | Also posted in inspiration | Comments (1)

inspiration for the uninspired: everyday.

yesterday, i started to try to do one or two of the '50 drawing ideas for kids'

but like someone who no longer has the pure amazing endless imagination of a child, i over analysed EVERYTHING that i did. none of it was good enough, erase. start over again. look up ideas online.

i need some kids around me.

you want to send me yours?  send them with some snacks too, please. for me.

so anyway.. i'm going to try to loosen up-shake all those thoughts from my head, and just… do it. draw like i'm 7 years old.

*****

drawing another idea from the vessel.

'list ten things that you'd like to do everyday.'

inspiration for the uninspired

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50 drawing ideas

i love.. love love kids imaginations. i love drawing with kids, listening to them tell stories.

i love their art…

i have so many dreams about my (future) kids drawings, ideas of what i want to do with them.

but like anyone, sometimes you just need a push in the right direction to get things started. so, i created a downloadable-printable list of ideas. print it, cut it out, and pick randomly. get started! have fun! you can do this yourself, or bring some kids in for the good fun. they always spice things up.

erin darcy photography

you can download the ideas here!

By edarcy | Comments (4)

inspiration for the uninpsired: what are your dreams?

pulling a piece of paper from the vessel.

'what are your dreams?' –they can be as big as the sky, and as little as…well, something little.

put together a little something, in your journal, on a piece of paper, digital. whatever. sharing what your dreams are.

here's mine… (and please, do share yours-either here in the comments, or give us a link to your blogpost sharing!)

—-

none of these photos belong to me
1. Mama, 2. mama., 3. belly paint., 4. Mama Love, 5. the note, 6. 78/365 "Do yoga, mama?!", 7. Mother & Babe, 8. mama love, 9. message

to be a mama. i'd like to have a few babies, i'm thinking three or four ;-p, but i'll take whatever i can get!

none of these photos belong to me

1. Better Homes and Gardens, 2. feet, 3. House to Home, 4. home, 5. Traditional Home Magazine, 6. Nest 2, 7. Dream Home, 8. 18|52, 9. wishing for more afternoon naps

to always have a place to call home, that feels like home. safe.. warm.

none of these images belong to me
1. Londoners, 2. Christmas at Home, 3. this is a creature on fire with love, 4. puppy love, 5. dip kiss, 6. just love each other | film, 7. Soldier's goodbye & Bobbie the cat, ca. 1939-ca. 1945 / by Sam Hood, 8. a family that shines, 9. Love

to only kiss one man in my life…

none of these images belong to me
1. yes, another one., 2. <0, 3. WEEEEEEE!!, 4. 39/365: u r beautiful…, 5. You Color my World., 6. lazy sunday morn, 7. Wait! Is it too late to show my support?, 8. my favorite thing!, 9. She still wears lipstick……..

to have a lemon tree in my backyard. raise chickens… own a 5d mark II camera (haha, that IS in my dreams.)

to help young women realise their beauty, and to live their lives out loud.

continue to grow as an artist.  help people realise that their dreams can come true… inspire others.

travel. explore. take risks. believe in myself.

to live until i'm old and grey and have amazing memories and stories to tell.

go on… tell me your dreams.

By edarcy | Comments (1)

a day in the life. (you are warned)

i've been wanting to do this for a long time now. the idea has been stirring in my mind-and well… it's rather boring, who REALLY wants to know this or follow along with it? but i feel great-i actually finished something that i started-or that i wanted to start. heh.

i've wanted to take photographs from the moment i wake-to the moment i sleep. and well, it didn't go quite like that–i simply wanted to document a day in my life, as boring and mundane as it is.

erin darcy photography

i wake up to find out if i got any post. if i did.. well then. i take it into the living room and rip into it.  start packaging up any orders i have from my shop, and set them at the front door to bring to the post office…

erin darcy photography

go put the kettle on, and pop the toast in the toaster twice…

erin darcy photography

take some shots of the paintings i did the night before… normally i still have sleep in my eyes-so its all blurry to me.  get on the pc to start editing them. drinking my tea… eating my toast.

check out some of my favourite sites… catch up on my blogroll…  i entered a contest yesterday.

did you guess?

…i didn't win.

erin darcy photography

oh goodness.. the time goes by so fast on the computer when you're editing photos. made a bit of lunch… there was only a loaf of bread to eat-have you noticed?

make sure a package is arriving to it's new home… pack  up my stuff to head to the post office.

erin darcy photography

begin going over the grocery list for the next week… thinking about what i will make for dinner each night…  (make a mental note to scrub out the fridge. gross!)

erin darcy photography

wash some clothes… i don't do it often. i HATE washing clothes. i used to never mind it–when i actually had a drier. but now. ugh. so i throw some in… and put the dry ones from the line on the couch. i couldnt be bothered to fold them. some things never change.. haha. my mom would be soooo proud of me. baby girl's all grown up… still leaving her clothes in piles on the floor or bed.

erin darcy photography

start making dinner… i normally save all of the easy dinners for the end of the week. no vegetables to chop. nothing to marinate. easy peasy.

erin darcy photography

make the neighbours uncomfortable by taking photos through the window…  step back and realise how absolutely beautiful the simple things can be…

erin darcy photography

snap out of it! dinner's ready. make a small pile to photograph and show the internet… add a bit more on top…

realise that i didn't need to add the extra on top-because i never eat it anyway…

erin darcy photography

while cleaning up the kitchen, finding all the stuff that could be taken out with the trash-i picked this up–the onion net. one onion left in it….

i was PLANNING on throwing away the net, and you know… keeping the onion?

i didn't realise that i did just the opposite until after the trash was out.

erin darcy photography

start working on my own '101 ideas and stuff'. damn.. i should have thought about that name a little bit longer before i published it. oops!

i don't have a printer–so i just tore up some pieces of paper and am writing the words down on them. putting them into an old jar that i used for water when i paint.

i won't be pouring water into it any time soon…

erin darcy photography

started craving something sweet… walked to the grocery store and found some fresh strawberries….

and chocolate chip cookies.

stuck on a movie. and kicked back. i've worked hard today…. ;-p

erin darcy photography

watch the moon glide across my living room window as the sun starts to go to sleep…

still watching the movie.

erin darcy photography

climb on the roof and howl at the moon.

it's normally now, when the moon comes out and it's dark in the house… when i have to turn on a lamp for some light, and music for some noise-that i crack open the case of paints and bring out the paper…

i paint until i've got it all out of me. sometimes it's only until 2-3 in the morning, sometimes it doesn't stop until the sun wakes up…

i hop into bed and talk to steven about the world and we solve every problem. every single one of them. we should rule the world, it would be a much better place.

and then it happens all over again.

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