SORE FEET – AEDM 7 November 7, 2009

Sore Feet – © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

Sometimes my characters crack me up.

So how I doodle is I just put my pen down on the paper and meander around the page to create the basic shape I’m working with. Then I start laying down the detail. (I know a video would be really helpful here. Someday that will be part of my skill set.)

Anyhoo, it wasn’t long before this snazzy woman who has probably spent too much time in spiked heels showed up. She told me she had sore feet, and I believe her. Poor baby has her other foot all bandaged up. Can you spell B U N I O N?

I’m going to spend some time with her(and maybe find her a good podiatrist) for the next few AEDM postings to see what else she has to tell me.

Happy creative bliss days, everyone!

HELLO DOLLY! November 4, 2009

Cosmic Dolly © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

I’ve just had one of those mornings where technology has not been on my side. So let me try this again.

I’m back for my third November of AEDM, the community building, no pressure  creativity encouraging annual November event begun by  Leah Piken Kolidas. I’m looking forward to focusing on trying new things, just having fun, and practicing imperfection during the next 30 26 days .

I actually created Cosmic Dolly last month, and she was lots of fun  to bring to life, with her colorful, mandala-inspired clothing and springy blonde ringlets. I think she’s fun and powerful, what with her snake and bluebird allies and spiral shield decorated with Christmas tree lights.

I ran into a snag when it came to drawing her face and found Milliande’s video on the subject really helpful. I’m having some trouble getting the video to  post on my blog, so I hope you will go to the link and take a look at her great suggestions.

Im going to practice faces this month, and play with my doodles in different ways and who knows what else I might try? I want to play some more with my photography, and maybe try my hand at writing haiku.

This is gunna be a fun month. Yee-haw!

~SueDoodles

COLORFUL CONVERSATION November 1, 2009

Convo © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

I bought a new sketchbook on Friday made by BeePaper. I like this premium recycled paper. Sharpie marks lie down well. Prismacolor doesn’t go on quite as smooth as with  the Canson sketch book I had before, but that’s ok.  The book is a little bit smaller, which makes it easier to hold onto, cuz I mostly doodle in bed.

When I color my doodles, what I really like is imagining the conversations the colors are having with each other. Ultramarine shouts out Hey Violet Blue, you look pretty mysterious. Wanna hang out for a while? Aquamarine gives Neon Pink a high five and cheers Smashing. Lavendar whispers to Turquoise Here’s looking at you, kid.

Can you hear them too?

THE DANCE October 24, 2009

The Dance © Sue O’Kieffe

The contessa and the rock star kept just the right amount of space between them while they were getting to know each other.

MIXING IT UP October 14, 2009

Mixing it Up © Sue Doodles

I took some time off from doodling when it began to be a chore . Where’s the fun in that, I ask?

So now that Im back, I want to play with new stuff, and I definitely want a bigger playing field. Next on my list is to purchase a larger sketch book. I don’t like feeling cramped on the page.

This doodle is just about having fun with color and mixing up the media (in this case, prismacolor pencils and crayola watercolor are learning to play well together).

I wonder if somewhere there is a warehouse filled with authentic Berol prismacolor pencils? I don’t care for the new pencils manufactured by Sanford. Is there another brand you love just as well?

~suedoodles

Illustration Friday – Patterns September 25, 2009

Inspired by Sweet Peas

This is only my second time entering Illustration Friday, but when I saw the theme was Patterns, I couldn’t resist.

FOLLOW YOUR BLISS September 19, 2009

Follow Your Bliss © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

Sometimes the Universe sends us messages and we are asked to shut up and listen. Sometimes you ask what is most important in your life. Sometimes you discover you are a really powerful creator.

Sometimes you discover there is no going back;  all you can do is grieve and move on, and sometimes that sucks. This going for your dreams stuff isn’t always really pretty. You are asked to take stock. Will you? What happens if you don’t? Sometimes it seems that Getting to Yes requires we say No a few times as well.

What you resist persists.

These are a few of my early morning musings as I consider a message I received this morning.

The only thing I know for sure is that Following My Bliss is where I want to be.

BREAKING CREATIVE RULES September 12, 2009

FRUITILY-DOO @ Sue O’Kieffe 2009

I have some resistance to trying out new things artistically when I’m not sure I will like the results. I have been thinking about this shadow part of myself the past few days and talking about it with one of my online groups. Then this morning I read Dan Goodwin’s blog post today about allowing ourselves to get messy creatively. I don’t have any trouble recognizing my illusions of perfectionism, but owning up to the voices attached to that attitude takes some willingness to listen. Last night I was doodling ; the dragon emerged as well as the one-eyed tyrant sitting on top. It took a little more internal prodding to convince myself to use colored markers rather than my usual prismacolor pencils.

The initial image morphed into another idea once I brought it into Photoshop for editing.

FRUITILY-DOODLE-DALA © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

One of the things I felt when using these markers was out of control. But I think it was worth it, because I like the end results and will enjoy seeing how else I can play.

What we resist persists. Or as the Borg Collective used to say Resistance is Futile!

~suedoodles

LET YOUR CREATIVE SPIRIT LIFT YOU UP September 5, 2009

RISE UP MANDALA – © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

Don’t worry. Be happy. ~ Bobby McFerrin

Doodling makes me happy, captures my imagination, allows my creative spirit free reign. Doodling doesn’t care about perfection; it exists for its own sake.

I love choosing the colors and seeing how they play with each other. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone could play with each other the way that colors do?

The more I focus on having fun, the less I worry about other people and what they think of me! (Now there’s an admission, and also a truth about life).

Got the blues? Go find some paper and put  marks on it.

Have fun.

~suedoodles

COMMUNITY GATHERING August 26, 2009

Community Gathering © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

We are all in the same basket.