2016 prep work

Roz encouraged people to keep it simple this year to help everyone to have the time to complete 30 days. I had made a list of possible ways to go then took a different direction. The times I didn't keep up were when I was not excited with my drawing subject matter or materials.

I have answered the four questions Roz gave us to help discover our character, but I don't plan on sharing them until May 1st. I don't have a story line or a personal issue to work through. I am just dropping into my character's life for one month. I know my character's age, sex, occupation, and reason for drawing and journaling. I didn't even pick out a name because that really isn't important to me. I should be able to draw and journal each day for 30-60 minutes then photography or scan and blog each day.

This year's goals are as follows:

• Use my 6" square Gelli plate to make prints for backgrounds. I didn't want to make a book like I usually do but luckily there was a small 8" square gift style book on my shelf. I had picked this up for $1 at the local library book sale. First I cut out about 20 pages to get it down to 30 page spreads. The pages were thick but slick so I applied a layer of white, gray, or black gesso before printing. Printing in a book is messier and trickier that printing on a single sheet of paper but doable. Last (I know I should have waited until I finish working in the book) I decorated the cover. I had such a fun time. Some pages I love others not so much. The not so much ones will probably end up with larger sketches and more collage.
• Use my dresser drawer full of my hand carved stamps from the mail art phase I went through a number of years ago. Thus I will be able to sort, save or discard some or all.
• Play!!! I discovered during a major creative block last year that I need to rest, play, and refill my creative reservoir. This gave me a new direction that I am loving.