Good Tools Make Great Artists

Good Afternoon Creative Cabana visitors! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to give you a new post this week. Life has been pretty busy and I haven't had much time to sit down and share more creative goodness. It's a beautiful Saturday morning here in Ohio and I hope wherever you're reading this post from it's just as gorgeous outside. It's the weekend so if you're going to be out and about bask in some fun activities with the family to help start the summer season! If you're staying indoors for the weekend, I've got some great tips to help exercise the drawing skills we've been discussing this month.

Since I've been dedicating June as the month of drawing, I think it's important to talk about what tools you should have to help enhancing your drawing skills. Most people think you have to be some kind of Picasso in order to create good art, that's not entirely true. Drawing serves many purposes other than just basic art principles. Personally, I've drawn out many essential plans in my life such as designing my bedroom before I moved, drawing a outline plan for a scrapbook to cut costs, t-shirt designs, etc. So you don't have to be an expert, but to have expert results you should invest in a few good tools.

The general rule of thumb is a Number 2 pencil and a piece of paper- yeah, but let's go a little bit further. If you plan on keeping a collection of your drawings try getting a sketchbook to keep these pictures in. The sketchbook doesn't have to be super fancy most run anywhere from $3 to $15 depending on size and design of the book. I've got about 5 sketchbooks and a few tablets, but I like to draw a lot so I'm a bit advanced in that department.

The second tool to invest in is quality pencils and erasers. A regular pencil is ok, but I've noticed that drawings done in No. 2 pencils can fade quicker and can be messy if you smear your pictures frequently. Drawing pencils usually come in packages so you get different sizes to use. Most pencil packs range between $3 to $25 depending on what level you need. It sounds strange that someone would pay over $1 for a pack of pencils, but these are not your ordinary writing utensils. Drawing pencils come in different strength settings and different materials. Some pencils are made from charcoal to give subjects more detail and darker imagery, while other pencils are designed to provide light/smooth lines. You may see pencils labeled "HB", "2B", "8B", etc- this indicates the hardness of the pencil. The harder the pencil the darker and deeper the lines will appear to be. You may not need pencils this advanced depending on what you intend to draw, however if you want to practice using a variety of strengths in your pencils it would be a good idea to invest in a small pack of drawing pencils. You can also practice the shading scale with these pencils to see how each one can be adjusted in value as you draw.

The one final tool you should invest in is an eraser. This will probably be your best friend throughout the drawing process, so be kind to it. You'll want to have a standard eraser and also a special eraser called "kneaded". The kneaded eraser is one of the coolest things you'll ever come in contact with. It's an eraser that you can stretch and change forms- think of it like chewing gum. This allows you to reach and erase small spaces where normal ruler wouldn't be able to clean. Plus if you get frustrated with your work, it's a fun way to relieve the stress by simply playing with the eraser! 

Please note that while these materials aren't exactly essential to your drawing needs, they're good investments to have if you plan on maintaining your drawing habits a lot. Don't over do it though, start out small and stick to the basic tools before you move on to more advanced (and expensive) tools. While you're at, share your drawings here at The Creative Cabana! I would love to see your work and you can have your talents known throughout the world wide web! Simply share it on Facebook or Twitter just search for The Creative Cabana. Go fourth and explore your drawing abilities. Have a great weekend and we'll see you all back here for a new weekly Creative Mastermind. 

*Images used in this post were collected from Google Images Search Results. These photos were used for visual representation and educational purposes only. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

What a Beautiful Day for Sketching!

Good Afternoon everybody and thanks for stopping by at The Creative Cabana! It is so gorgeous outside today compared to yesterday's weather when it was rainy and gloomy, but hey that's what makes everything so pretty outside right? Well, this beautiful weather inspired me to sit outside and do something I really haven't done for awhile...sketch. In my previous posts, I talked about June was going to be dedicated to drawing and I've started out with the first step into creating develop drawing fundamentals.

As far back as I can remember in my art classes, usually the first project we would do is what's called "freehand style", you basically draw the object as you see it giving the subject as much or as little detail as you'd like. This is a common warm-up exercise for many artist because it exercises your muscles, but also your sight. The concept is designed to help practice for more detailed drawings that may come later on. With these exercises you can practice your skills in things like lines, shading, value, and sometimes color. Most freehand styles are completed in a short amount of time, so it's best to stick with the basic outline of your subject and go from there. I'm going to show you an example of the drawing I did and you can see a clear visual of the freehand technique. So lets get started!

You can do your practice sketching anywhere you choose. I wasn't going to let a beautiful day like this slip away, so I picked outside in my backyard/patio area. Grab your sketchbook (or just a few sheets of paper), pencil (preferably), a drink (because Art can make you thirsty), and maybe even some music if it inspires you. I had my sketchbook, pencil, water, and phone outside with me. My cell phone served as my radio, but I'm also one of the few households that still has a land-line phone too.

When choosing your subject, don't go for something complex and overwhelming. Especially if you're a beginner in the field of drawing, you don't want to kill your arm on the first try. Half of the experience in free-hand style is getting you to relax and see objects with a clearer vision. Personally, I think landscapes or small, still life objects are good for sketching because they remain fairly stationary and they give a decent canvas to start with. For my example, I've decided to sketch a group of flowers we have hanging in the back area.

Now if you're wondering "is there a secret as to where you should start drawing first?", I say NO. I've always started at the bottom and worked my way around in an outline form, and then filling in the rest later, but everyone has there own preferences. The main thing to remember is to sketch the basic shapes first and then go back for detailing later. I think flowers and trees are easy to sketch since there's so many random lines within each one's texture you don't have to follow the exact patterns in detailing. Yes, you want it to match as closely as possible... however, it's ok if you don't always "stay within the lines" and go outside the box a little bit. Once you've got your basic outlines drawn, then it's up to your creative skills to lead you through the rest of drawing. Remember sketching is practicing, no one expects your picture to come out looking like something Van Gogh would've had hanging in his bedroom. In fact, here's how my sketch turned out:

Sure, it's far from perfect! But for not having done any serious drawing in a few years, I'd have to say I don't think I did too bad in this round. People and Cars are probably the hardest things for me to draw, but I love a good challenge and I think we can work on those two subjects later on. Overall though, how did your drawing turn out? Don't worry if it's not the greatest looking piece of work you've ever seen, we are all creative in our own unique ways and art is in the beauty of the beholder. 

  

Now it's your turn! Share your sketches with The Creative Cabana by simply leaving a message with an image of your sketch on this post, or you can share it with us on Facebook and Twitter. If you haven't done so already, be sure to "Like" The Creative Cabana on Facebook and follow us on Twitter- @CreativeCabana. 

Go out, enjoy the fresh air and expand your creative minds! Stay tuned for more posts on our Drawing series and be sure to watch for the next Creative Mastermind coming up on Monday! Take care and have a beautiful day.

*All images used in this post were taken by myself and I am the sole owner of these photographs. 

On the 3rd Day... Oops I mean Night... of Christmas!

Salutations and Good Evening my fellow Creative Cabana readers! I hope this weekend was everything you hoped it'd be and more! My weekend has been busy and stressful sadly. Spending the holiday season working in stores is interesting and enjoyable watching people smile when they find "the perfect gift", but it's also exhausting. Lucky for me and for you too, if you find yourself in stressful times then I offer a suggestion to you that I find relaxing as well a great exercise for creative outlets.

So the ideal project for the day (ok night, since it's 10:03pm as I'm typing this) is art, or in this case drawings. Now, I've said this on several occasions in my posts and I will repeat it once again- if you don't consider yourself an artist or have the artistic ability, RELAX! The Art Police will not come and get you, then take you to jail for crappy hand work. In fact, the great thing about drawing is that it doesn't require perfection in order to be labeled as good or art. My view is that all artwork is in the eye of the beholder and it's wrong to judge someone's work because it's not to "your taste". Drawing specifically this time of year can be very useful because it can be incorporated in a number of ways: greeting cards, wall art, presents, or simply decoration.

The three drawings used in the collage picture I have posted are example I found through Google of different Christmas artwork created by everyday artists. Note that these aren't Thomas Kincade standard, or Vincent Van Goah levels, but they are still pretty good. What I admire is the different use of color, shade, and materials in creating each of these pieces. In having a passion for Art, I have to say I own a set of professional color pencils, charcoal sets, and some pastel pieces. If you don't have any of the fancier materials available to you, that is perfectly fine because a simple pen or pencil can go a long way.

If you can, think back to your old school art classes where you learned about terms like line, shape, texture, shade, and so on. Using these elements think about what you want to draw (or sketch for less detail). At Christmas time, I tend to be fond of drawing scenes like outdoors, or the Christmas Trees, or even the fireplace with stockings hanging. Sounds a little cliche, right? Well that's just my preferences. The subject is up to YOU! Once you have your subject picked out, figure out how you want to create your artwork: draw, paint, sketch, etc. Then using your tools, you can begin to create your masterpiece and don't work if doesn't look like much to start out. The great thing about Drawing is that it's an excellent stress reliever and allows you to take your mind off other situations to focus on making the art look how you desire it to be.

Drawing makes for an excellent creative project, a terrific stress relief, and overall just a lot of fun to kill time. Try it out for yourself and then send in your pics to this through your comments or you can share on The Creative Cabana's social media sites: Twitter and Facebook. Be sure to check back each day for a new creative project idea as part of The 12 Days of Creative Cabana and tomorrow will the selection of this week's Creative Mastermind. Lots of good stuff coming up, so don't miss out! Have a great night everyone and see you tomorrow!

Lights, Garland, and Ornaments OH MY!

Hello and good evening to you my friends! I thank you all for being so patient as I work to get my posts up for you today! My life has been a little crazy lately between starting my new job, doing some housework, and of course making preparations for my Christmas decorating. Yeah, I haven't put up a tree yet, lights, or anything up yet- but I'm not exactly behind schedule. When I do have everything up and ready, I'll be posting pictures to share my decorating ideas with you. However, just because I'm behind on my personal decorating plans, doesn't mean I can't help you with yours!

Out of all the holidays in the year, Christmas seems to be the one holiday that's like a competition and is easily becoming more commercial each year. People, no matter how you celebrate Christmas just please keep it pleasant and don't over do yourself! In my personal opinion, the best decorating comes from people who plan ahead of time as to what strategies they'd like to take, and I also appreciate the people who really pay close attention to detail to make their Christmas decorations look tasteful and elegant. Now, just so there's no confusion, I'm not say your tree or lights should look like something out of "Better Homes and Gardens", but you don't have to fill the yard with every tacky Christmas decoration you can find! If you are finding yourself this week getting out your Christmas decor items, I'd like to offer some suggestions to help keep your decor style simple, pretty, and festive!

Lights

Ok, first lets talk about lights. For many years now I've seen a lot of people struggle with the phenomenon of hanging Christmas lights around their house, trees, bushes, etc. The key with lights is to know how many strands you own, the colors, which ones flash, etc. I suggest keeping some kind of record sheet so you know exactly what you have in the way of lights, and also note of spare bulbs you may keep as well. It's so easy to be frustrated with hanging up lights, so keeping a good inventory of your current stash of decorating lights can be helpful and productive! It's also important to that you separate your indoor lights from the outdoor lights. You don't want to cause a fire and also be mindful of lights that can trigger power surges, not just in your house, but your whole neighborhood. I've seen it happen before! Now if you need some ideas on using your Christmas lights, I suggest wrapping them around porches, fences, archways, or even garages! When I was little we used to outline our living room windows with the lights- now I just stick to the bushes! The picture below is an example of my light decorating skills from last year, using a few strands of lights and two candle lights for the porch:

Garlands and Wreaths

Within the next week or two I'm planning to demonstrate a special DIY project for designing your own decorative wreaths and garlands. For now, I'd like to suggest that you browse the "pre-made" selection at your local stores and retail outlets. This will give you an idea of classic professional designs, as well as pieces you do like or do not want to incorporate in your decorative designs. In my past experience, it tends to be more personalized (and less expensive) when you purchase your own basic wreath and garland sets, then find all the trimmings to decorate them with. If you chose to go this route, I highly recommend visiting crafty or even thrift stores for bargains on items like jingle bells, ribbon, or other smaller pieces to add to your artistic work. Another common idea is to incorporate additional Christmas lights into your wreaths and garlands, this is fine as long as you do so safely. Scented pine cones are also another unique idea because they not only serve as great air fresheners, but it can also help give your home the warm, cozy aroma effect when inviting guests over- just be mindful about allergies, and don't use anything with too strong of a scent! Often times this can lead to headaches or other uncomfortable sensations, so if you must use scented items be sure to pick something that won't knock others out! 

Ornaments

Ahh, ornaments, the very essence of Christmas decorating! Let me tell you that shatter-proof ornaments are just about the best innovative idea to come around in awhile. I first noticed these last year at Walmart in the big bulk packs where you get a set of about 20 variety ornaments. These ornaments are great for trees that have a lot of LKI (Little Kid Impact) and you don't want to risk have damaged ornaments everywhere. Personally, because the designs on these ornaments tend to be a bit "generic", I'd say these would be good for the trees that are meant for visual decoration. This means, no presents underneath, or specialty ornaments- just a basic design for show off. Now for your main Christmas Tree, you know the one filled with "Baby's First Christmas", your dog's picture, and the classic Rudolph ornaments, I think the best way to keep it looking fresh and revived to keep your tree "fluffed". If you have an artificial Christmas tree, take care to keep the branches from being bunched together and getting tangled with other various branches. I have a 6.5ft Pre-Lit Christmas tree, and I make sure that each branch has been well spread out before adding any of our family ornaments to it. If you have a real tree on the other hand, take proper care in keeping the tree fresh with plenty of water and make sure it doesn't dry out before Christmas day. Your ornaments should be kept clean, and check to make sure that none are broken, cracked, or have other issues. Taking good care of your ornaments, in addition to your tree, can save a lot of time and money down the road should you need repairs. 

Overall, my main message in this post is to be prepared ahead of time, by properly going through your decorations and keeping a good inventory of things so you know what you'll need in order to decorate! The items that you can add personalization to, make sure you think creative thoughts about the kind of design you're going for- a theme? color? sparkle? Whatever your taste is, it always helps to have a game plan in the world of design and decor! 

If you've got some of your own decorating tips and ideas to share, please do so by commenting on this post below! There'll be many more great Christmas ideas to come as we get closer to the 25th, be sure to check back for more updates! Also, the Christmas Pinterest Board will be avaliable soon and be sure to watch for "The 12 Days of The Creative Cabana" starting on December 13th! Don't miss out on these great ideas to come. Until next time, have a great night everyone! 

*All images used in this post EXCEPT for the photo with the candles and lights on the bushes, were gathered from Google Images. The remaining photograph is my own personal picture taken from my home. I would also like to add that I do not "Better Homes and Gardens" or any other pop culture icons referenced in this post. All views stated are that of my own. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

The Art of Thanksgiving Food

Good Evening Creative Cabana readers! If you're like me and stressing about upcoming holiday plans on top of things like work, school, or other activities, then I invite you to sit back and relax for a little while. Today's post is designed to give you ideas in decorating your Thanksgiving feast. I know it may sound a little crazy, odd, or perhaps cliche but I find that creativity in art doesn't always have to be on a canvas, or piece of paper. Sometimes your food can make for the best canvas of all!

Now most people generally just fix their food, slap it on a plate or bowl, and then dig in. However, there are some cooks who like to spice up the cooking techniques and a little flare to their dishes. Not only is this a tasteful and delicious tactic, but it's also a creative art form. Have you ever decorated food? Not just desserts, but maybe entrees or side dishes? Here's some examples I found on the internet of different delicious designs! (trying saying that five times fast!)

There's some pretty cool ideas here ranging from candy to fruits and veggies. I understand that some foods you really can't do much decorating to like for example, the turkey or your bread choices. However, every opportunity you can, try to add a little spunk to your delicious homemade cooking! If you don't believe in your talents of dressing up the food a little bit, NO WORRIES! There are several really good recipe websites that can help guide you through the preparing, cooking, and decorating processes. Here are some of my recommendations to help you get started:

Spoonful.com- http://spoonful.com/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-desserts

HGTV- http://www.hgtv.com/thanksgiving-ideas/package/index.html

Edible Crafts at Craft Gossip- http://ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com/

If you like these ideas check out this awesome Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Cake! Yes, I said Ice Cream Cake:

Now that's one heck of a turkey! Remember friends, you have about a week left to get ready for your Thanksgiving feast. This weekend is a good time to check your food supplies and groceries to see if you need any last-minute ingredients for your dishes. Once you have all of your tools and ingredients together, then the cooking and decorating becomes the next fun part of the job. Remember, decorating your food can be considered another form of Art. In fact, it's the best kind because not only can you admire it, but you eat it too. Happy Decorating and Happy Eating!

Do you have some creative recipes you'd like to share? Just leave a comment on this post or you can leave a message on The Creative Cabana's Facebook page and Twitter. Don't forget to follow The Creative Cabana on all top social media sites for more ideas, news, and insight on various creative projects!

*All images used in this post were gathered from a Google Images search. I do not own Baskin-Robbins, Spoonful.com, HGTV, or Craft Gossip. Mentions of these sites and places were only for recommendation and not for profit. Food pictures all belong directly to their owners. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

'Tis the Season to be CARVING!!!!

Come on people, did you really think I was going to say "'Tis the Season to be Jolly"? One Holiday at a time everybody, one holiday at a time. Earlier this afternoon, I was working on a Halloween board for the The Creative Cabana's Pinterest page (which if you don't already follow, then you should! Just click here). Upon looking for different things to "pin", one idea came across to me and I thought it was just too good to share!

Carving and decorating pumpkins is a favorite tradition for many people who celebrate Halloween. It is said that during the night of Halloween (or traditionally "All Hallows' Eve), people would carry their jack-o-lanterns with decorated faces in order to frighten off evil spirits. It later became the modern-American tradition sometime during the mid 19th century. Today, some people simply paint designs on the exterior of the pumpkins, while others choose to carve elaborate expressions or images. This part of decorating pumpkins is pretty standard, but what creative designs have you seen floating around?

As mentioned earlier, I came across a really cool pin that inspired me to write this post about creating your perfect Halloween pumpkins.

This is just about the cutest idea I've seen for pumpkin carvings in awhile! As one can image, this is perfect for little girls, or anyone who enjoys decorating pumpkins in the not-so-scary way. Personally, I've always drawn on my pumpkins with markers and done just fine! However, I know a lot of people just use regular knives or they purchase those Stencil kits to decorate with. Whatever your method is, don't limit yourself to just the standard designs. Try something unique and out-of-the box. Oh and if you're not artistically gifted, NO PROBLEM! The pumpkin is your canvas, your art! Don't let anyone tell you it sucks! Most people use traced drawings to guide them in their designs, give that a try if you feel that motivated! To get those creative minds going here some cool pumpkin designs ideas I found using Google Images:

Now my dear readers, please understand you don't have to be the Leonardo DaVinci of Pumpkin Carvings! You don't have to be elaborate or extremely detail-oriented with your designs. I always recommend that when it comes to Art and Creativity, the best tool to success is to just be yourself! Expand yourself beyond your personal limits of creativity. No idea is too wacky! These pictures I've shown you just give you ideas to show what is possible when it comes to creating an outstanding pumpkin! 

Now if you'd like to do something on a smaller scale, say for your office or home decor, investing in a few of the smaller pumpkins can be equally creative and gives that holiday touch to your space. Decorating these smaller pumpkins are great for desks, tables, or even make cute little craft ideas for children! So if you're for working on a simpler, smaller project then here are more examples for you to feast your eyes on!

Now that you have been educated on unleashing your Master Pumpkin Designer skills, it's time to show your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors your creative awesomeness! So, if you'd like to share your pictures of your adorable pumpkins please let me know by leaving a comment on this post! Let's decorate The Creative Cabana with your beautiful and talented pumpkin designs!!!! 

*Images used for this post were pulled from Google Images. The pictures and pumpkins shown in these photographs all belong to their respective owners. No Copyright Infringement Intended!

What to do when Life gets a little TOO crazy...

Wow, ok, WOW! I cannot believe I went an entire week without posting something here at The Creative Cabana! I strongly suspect my reasoning for this is due to the one thing that constantly seems to plague my life: STRESS. Yeah, everyone gets stressed and we all go through things in our lives that just make us wanna scream. Personally, over the last few years I've been on sort of a quest to seek out different ideas that can help calm the senses. No matter what though, life still seems to get in the way of what we want to do. In short, I apologize to my readers for leaving you out in the dark over the last week due to my STRESS.

This does setup a nice platform though for my next idea to suggest here at The Creative Cabana. In the title of this post I asked "What to do when Life gets a little TOO crazy..."? Well there's really no right or wrong answer to this question. We all have our own unique strategies of how we handle life's hurls. For me I tend to shift in the things that help me to settle down. When I was younger before we had all these fancy Tablets, MP3 players, and well Netflix- I used to draw, ALL THE TIME! I literally had a stash at home where I kept a tablet, pencil, crayons, etc. and would just draw anything I could think of. Now a days I tend to just listen to music and trying to do something productive to take my mind off of problems. Still, for me I don't think anything really satisfies my senses more than drawing. I don't have pictures of my artwork yet to upload and show you, but rather than make this about me I'd like to focus on creative stress relievers for you!

Whether you feel you are artistically talented or not, I encourage you to embrace yourself and try to create some Art that reflects what you find happy, soothing, or any other encouraging emotions. You can draw, paint, color (that's right, go ahead and relive your childhood), or just doodle. It doesn't matter if it's good or not- Art is only in the eye of the beholder. Got a spouse or co-worker driving you crazy? Draw up a little cartoon on some scratch paper that will turn your frustration into humor- nothing cures stress like a smile and chocolate helps too. Is school letting you or your child down? Try making education fun by adding fun drawings to study sheets. It's good for memorization and helps to keep you positive while studying. So go ahead- get your creative thinking cap on!

Also, my friends, we are getting ready to head into the Holiday seasons (I know where did the time go?). So over the next few months I'm going to try centering some of my posts around different aspects of the holidays and give you some fun creative ideas to share with your friends, family, and other peers. This is only the beginning, get the stress out now because coming soon we're going to make some holiday magic! Have a wonderful creative day my friends! Check back soon for this week's Creative Mastermind!!!

Art Makes Me Feel Special

Courtesy of Bitstrips via Facebook

Occasionally I like to get my drawing/sketching skills on and will draw ’til my fingers get sore. Here you will find different art pieces I have created in order to enhance the artistic senses. I’m no Disney or Matt Groenig but I have a unique perspective of producing Art. Ever since I can remember I have always been into drawing, coloring, painting, etc. and while usually my "masterpieces" pale in comparrison to someone like Van Gogh or Andy Warhol, I pride myself in knowing that there really is no right or wrong to art. A lot of people say they can't draw- not true. I believe everyone can draw and draw well, but each person views it in a different light. If you think scribbles and stick people are not good examples of art, think again because all artwork at some point started with just scribbles and lines.