Many artists link different feelings or sounds with specific colors, shapes, and lines. Try it for yourself…
Shade and angry color…
Draw a quiet shape…
Make a silly line…
Day 63..
Find a picture of a bicycle and look at it for two minutes. Now draw the bicycle from memory in the space below.
If you’d like, you can use one of these images we have below.
Day 4..
What did you have for lunch today? Draw it.
Well if you’re like me, you are probably working on your art book before lunch and haven’t had much to eat yet besides coffee. So, I am going to focus on something I just really enjoy eating. I can even taste a bit of it now as I think about the colors and try to picture it in my mind. A nice fresh bowl of strawberry shortcake! It’s got me in the mood for summer already. What are you going to eat today? Enjoy some of these cool food sketches for inspiration.
Day 3..
Using colored pencils, pick four colors to create a pattern or picture in the grid provided.
Grid paper is a great way to start a work of patterns or symmetry. Use one of the grid paper printables below to create an authentic piece of pixel art. Be creative! If you would like more inspiration or ideas on how to create characters or pattern work using grid paper , check out some of the images below.
Day 1..
Start this art journal by drawing a portrait of yourself.
A self portrait is a great way to start off our year of art together! How you choose to draw yourself is completely up to you. Realistic, anime, cubism, wherever your imagination takes you. Remember there is no right or wrong way to draw yourself. Use your medium of choice on this one, whether that’s a pencil or paint or you choose to mixed them, just have fun. See some of the various ways others have drawn themselves.
Middle School student 
Pablo Picasso 
Paul Gauguin 
Frida Kahlo 
Samella Lewis
If you are a younger person or would just like some guidance, click on link below for a printable outline to help you get started.
MY YEAR OF ART
I am really excited to launch our Year of Art together! This last year has been a struggle for most as we navigate ourselves through a new way of life. It has been the great outdoors and being creative that have helped my artistic soul manage to survive this crazy time. In fact, studies have shown that expressing oneself through art can help with both depression and anxiety. And doing so has been linked to improved memory, reasoning, and resilience in healthy older people. If that is not enough reason to join in on our year of art, I don’t know what is!
We will be following along with a book by Susan Schwake called My Year Of Art. No worries, you don’t need the book to follow along, but you are welcome to buy your own sketch pad or art book to keep all your creative work in. I will also be providing pintables to go along with certain activities that need a little something extra. Some days will call for little supplies, but the majority of them you will find lying around the house. These art activities are for the young and old, so grab your kids to join in the fun too!
Some will take you seconds, while others might take you much longer. Your answers are unique to you and that is what being an artist is all about – showing the world your own view.
Susan Schwake
AND REMEMBER:
- BE BOLD – This is a space to let your ideas run free.
- Know that there are NO wrong answers, mistakes, or bad ideas.
- Have FUN! Enjoy the time you spend creating your art.
- Once you’re done, you’ll have a ONE-OF-A-KIND record of your year.