What's your favourite activity to do by yourself?
As a mom of two toddlers, I promised to enjoy an activity by myself away from my laptop that has nothing to do with online blogging and online jobs.
When 2024 starts, one of my goals is to get back to sketching, drawing, or painting. I need to pursue my artistic side which has been lost for how many years.
The two kids enjoy playing together with their toys or outside on the trampoline so I am starting to have my freedom unlike when they were breastfeeding little monsters.
I bought a set of gouache paint and collected art materials
I created an IG account to follow artists and search on YouTube about artists using gouache paint. I am practicing sketching using black pens and watching techniques on how to use different types of paintbrushes.
I started journaling but I enjoy painting so much more. I collected different colored pens and bought various accessories for my home office.
Practicing to paint at home
During the winter days of January, I felt so depressed that I went to Pinterest and learned how to paint sunsets, sunrises, sky nights, and clouds. I fell in love with this medium right away because of its vibrant colors.
Sketching on location
In February, we went to the French Alps and brought my colored pens with us. I did not bring my gouache paint as I had no idea how to handle gouache paint for travel. My first travel sketch was a success because I felt so proud of it using colored pens. But I have plans to paint the French Alps scenery with gouache.
A few weeks ago, we went to the park near a lake. I sketched a typical countryside house and painted it later using gouache. The kids were safe in the playground while my husband went on a quick trip to the grocery.
Painting from a reference photo from my travels
After sketching on location from the French Alps, I braved myself to paint photos from my travels as my reference.
I really had doubts about painting this subject but later on, I said to trust the process.
En Plein Air painting inspired by Claude Monet
En Plein Air painting by the garden preparation while the kids were jumping on the trampoline.
On FB, Claude Monet's house in Giverny keeps showing on my newsfeed. I searched groups about urban sketching, travel sketching, gouache painting, and flower sketching. The algorithm showed me a group about Claude Monet and his house and garden. I told my husband to visit Giverny someday. XD
It also introduced me to French words or the phrase "en plein air" (outdoor) landscape painting which made me search for a portable easel box.
En Plein Air painting by the lake
My husband has been very supportive of my artistic endeavors. When he arrived from the grocery run, he let me paint alone by the lake while he looked after the kids in the playground.
Joining these Weekend-Engagement topics: WEEK 205 hosted by
Thank you for this week's prompt as I enjoy doing this Favourite Me-Time activity.