Artist Time Stamp

your visual vibe, plant-care + a lot of drawing

ESSAY | Artist Time Stamp

As you know, I’ve been drawing and sketching a lot lately. It’s become an obsession that fills any bit of downtime I have. I began this journey as a complete beginner. A complete beginner carrying the baggage of a pretty tough inner critic.

This week I’d like to write a time stamp for this medium that lights me up. I want to remember this beginning part, I want to remember how many times I wanted to quit and I want to remember what it felt like when I drew something that I liked for the first time.

I’ve wanted to draw for as long as I can remember, however, any time I picked up a pencil I didn’t allow myself to get very far. I truly thought I didn’t have a talent for drawing but the more I’ve been in the art world listening to artists talk, I realized that just like getting good at anything you have to learn, be bad, get better and practice on practice on practice.

So. As of today, I’ve draw for about 4o days straight. Taking many classes from many different platforms. I’m jumping uncomfortable hurdles and continuing on. I’ve made pages in my sketchbook that I really don’t like. Thank goodness for collage, I cover up the worst of it so that I can keep going. I’ve also drawn a lot things that feel super okay — off slightly here and there from what I set out to draw but they’re okay. And then a couple days ago, for the first time ever, I drew a little green scooter (above) that I really loved!

If I keep drawing everyday, I know I’ll love more of my pages. I look forward to stamping in at day 80 or day 100 to see where this process has led me.

Tell me, how has your art practice changed as the time you put into it grows?

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ART | Photography, Poetry, Collage, Music, Documentaries & more

Whimsy Wonder | Wild Wander

Over a decade ago I was living in Las Vegas, working at the Zappos corporate office. It was a pretty cool place for being a corporate office. I, however, being 23 years old and full of wanderlust, struggled.
Being in a corporate office sucked the life out of me faster than stocking the beer cooler at my local bar which I’ve also had the pleasure of doing. Anyways, when I was sitting at the computer from 8am-5pm every single day I had to find a way to keep my dreams alive.

I did that by creating a virtual vision board on Tumblr. I named it Dirt Dust Sun Sea and everyday I would tumble all of the things I envisioned for my life. The page no longer exists (darn it!) but I recently realized that my Mood Board, Whimsy Wonder | Wild Wander on Pinterest is exactly the same thing. A place to collect my vibe, mood and yes, dreams.

If you have something like this, will you share it with me? If you don’t, what are you waiting for? Bring your vibe to life!

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LIFESTYLE | Kitchen, Home, DIY & more

Plant-care, my favorite new self-care routine. Have you ever poured a cup of coffee while the morning light floods through the window.. put on some music and gathered up all of your plants for some TLC?
A new ritual I’ve come to love: taking care of my plants. Another thing I'm a newbie (but quite determined) at. A little dusting, little scrub, fresh water and a clip. Life!
One of the things I look for when I’m thrifting is cool little plant vessels for my clippings. It’s completely transformed my space and the return on the joy investment abounds!

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MANA STUDIO | Updates From My Studio

This newsletter is kind of one big studio update. Sketching, drawing, learning, sketching and more drawing.

I’d love to hear from you, what is going on in your art space right now?

As always, I’m sending big creative energy your way. Keep creating!

Elyse’

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plant-care. bird of paradise sketched from a photo I took in hawaii at a macadamia nut farm. sunday morning coffee & newsletter writing session. visual journal, sketches and markers. morning walk in the park on a beautiful crisp day. lilacs, my favorite smell in the world, from my parents house. cocojune coconut milk vanilla yogurt with fresh strawberries, the most delicious ever! sketch of a lighthouse from a patreon class!

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Thank you for reading Norden Morning. This publication is created without artificial anything - it’s me, an artist/mother in my late 30s living life and sharing about it from my favorite little corner of the couch.

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