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creativity – Matthew French-Holt

Working in the Studio

After building my easel and setting up a studio space, I didn’t get around to working in it for a couple of weeks. But this morning I jumped up when the alarm went off and headed out with coffee mug in hand.

Since I was working with watercolor pencils and had to wait for each layer to dry I bounced between two different projects.

Here’s the watercolor on the easel:

While it’s drying, I cut down a larger sheet of paper and then centered my Tree of Life drawing inside it and taped it to the window with the sun shining directly on it. Sometimes, having a free lightbox is just an amazing convenience!

And here it is once I finished transferring it to the larger paper:

Good progress made before heading off to work. I call that a creative success!

Studio Creating

One of the perks of moving out of the RV into an apartment was the chance for me to set up a studio space. I really lucked out with the new place, since it not only has an un-used bedroom but also a shop space with plenty of empty cabinets on the walls!

Here’s the original set-up:

And the current configuration, with my “studio” growing in the corner.

After much debate and research I decided to build an easel instead of purchasing one. This would give me a sturdier, more adjustable product for only a slightly greater cost. Here’s most of the components laid out, waiting to be attached together:

And here’s the completed product, ready to go:

I really should stain or seal it, but I’d rather be painting on the easel, rather then the easel itself!

Here are the plans that I used, if you’re interested in one for yourself. It cost me more than the $15 mentioned in that post, but I don’t think it was much more than $30. There are a lot of different designs and plans out there, but the back leg on this one folds in so it will store fairly flat and that convenience may be pretty nice in the future!

Here is the first work that I did on it…

Guest Artists – the Nieces

In between working on a couple of paintings I got the nieces to join in on the fun. Here you can see their work from my request to “draw a stick figure”.

Bailee – 10

Ink Stick Figure holding up a sign that says "Kick Me"
I love the bow in her hair!

She saw me working, drawing stick figures with signs and she decided to do the same. You’ve gotta love her sense of humor!

Hannah – 7

Pencil stick figure with a full head of long hair
Getting the hair just right was important!

You could see the wheels turning when I asked her to draw a stick figure, she just wasn’t sure why. But when I convinced her to she made sure to get the hair just right.

Bri- 6

Ink stick figures (and more) by my 6 year old niece
The first two didn’t count

It took a couple of tries to get her to actually draw a stick figure, I got … some other things first. And then I guess we had to go through the Goldilocks process: one too big, one too small, and the third one was just right!

The Birth of a Stick Figure

Text - Peek Behind the Paintbrush

Or, a peek behind the paintbrush

Though they appear simple, there is still a process behind the creation of these stick figures.

It all begins with the quote. When it’s time to sit down and draw I start by pulling up my list of quotes and read through them to find one that jumps out at me. That generally means that as I read it a composition of some sort comes to mind. Continue reading The Birth of a Stick Figure

I’m Not Eccentric Enough To Be An Artist

text - Eccentricity
While in school working toward my art degree I just didn’t seem to quite fit in with either my teachers or my fellow students. As a business-student transfer I was just a little too uptight and logical. And as a minimalist it was really hard for me to throw everything into my artwork. My natural tendency is to do the least necessary to share my message. Continue reading I’m Not Eccentric Enough To Be An Artist

Why Stick Figures?

Text - How Come Sticky?

The Freedom of Constraint

Considering my artistic background, the question only makes sense. “Why do you draw stick figures?” After supporting myself as a portrait artist, it can seem like a huge step backward for me to focus on drawing only stick figures.

Certified Artist

You’re an artist when you say you are. And you’re a good artist when you make somebody else experience or feel something deep or unexpected.
~ Amanda Palmer

You will often hear me joking about being a “certified artist” when referring to my BA in “Art Studio”. I went to school for 4.5 years (due to switching majors) and walked out able to make art.

Which is laughable, because I’ve been making art in some form since I can remember. Continue reading Certified Artist