Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Day 365: WOOHOO!

Anyone want to know what 365 days of drawing looks like?


Okay, that's not counting the purely digital ones and the bigger paintings and the few that I sold (woot!!)...but it's a rough estimate! I MADE IT, GUYS! Despite the few weeks that I took off due to sickness, vacation or moving the 365 days of drawing experiment has wrapped up in a timely fashion. Woohoo! (Also, I know what you're thinking: "Marie, why didn't you just keep all your drawings in a sketchbook?" Me: "Because I've been wanting to take this picture for 364 DAYS. Also scanning out of a book is hard.")

A few thoughts, if you'll indulge me a little self-reflection:

From day 1 to day 365, it was difficult to see any improvement in my skill. I think that goes for anyone trying to improve something on a daily basis; it's hard to see the change from point A to point B if you're so close to it the entire way. There were some days I really tried to stretch myself and some days I got really lazy. And heck, some days I was just lucky I got anything down despite the generous quantities of snorkjuice I had before sitting down to draw.

But I think that if I didn't improve significantly in my raw skill, I definitely learned how to STICK with it and to force myself to draw without sitting around for days and waiting for inspiration or getting distracted by--ooh, hey look a new episode of So You Think You Can Dance! Be right back. (I swear I've learned something.)

Most of all, I'm so incredibly grateful for the support of everyone that came to visit the blog, whether you left a comment or not. You guys don't know how much I appreciate it...SERIOUSLY. Anyone that has indulged in anything creative knows that it's a communal project more than anything and I thank you guys for your encouragement, suggestions, and opportunities to try thing I never would have before, such as planes, battlecorns, an Aang-glider, planes, lion-guns, koi fish and Avengers fan art even BEFORE I saw Avengers. And planes. Okay, maybe just one.

Special shout out to my awesome group art blog over at Anthdrawlogy! We collectively came up with some crazy fun topics that, again, stretched the old sharpie to do things it never dared do before. I seriously love those guys and in lieu of any regular updates here, you should check us out there every week.

And although I won't be posting EVERY day, I will be updating regularly here and picking up the three month old slack over at my other, slightly more writing centric blog.

Anyways, thanks for the fun ride, guys. After a handful of Star Wars/Ready Player One/Avatar fanart, an armful of mythical creatures and, naturally, a million unicorns, the end has come a bit too soon. Lots of love, quibbly friends. Let's celebrate! Sharpie cake and watercolor ice cream for everyone!


Wooo!!

16 comments:

Queen 'Bina said...

This makes me a sad panda...
I love waking up to a new drawing every day, and also your personality flavor in each one. I will miss it MANY MUCH. But doing it every single day really is a challenge, so I'm glad for your sake you can have a break now. Hopefully you don't slack off to the extent that I have with my own blog (*groan* my blog!).

I am ULTRA excited for more drawgs, that's for sure. I heart you, friend. Great job with the 365 day challenge. MUA!

Jolee B. said...

Well done, my friend. Well done!

Anonymous said...

Congrats, Marie! Wow. Let's hear it for dedication, ya'll. You lead by example, my friend. I will miss the daily updates, but am so proud of you for sticking with it.
Much love from your SF.

PS. I don' think that unicorn likes being used as transportation...

Charles Eubanks said...

WOO-HOOOOOO!!!!!! For the record, I never doubted for a minute that you'd hit this goal... But that doesn't make me any less impressed or amazed! Well done, my friend. Well done.

dance all day said...

you are amazing! love the pic - how you managed to keep Savvy out of jumping in it like a pile of leaves is also quite amazing - you prolly duct-taped her to the wall....well done!

Free Ice Cream said...

I got a little teary eyed. Congratulations, Love you tonz!

Keriann Greaney Martin said...

I seriously just clicked every link in your blog, and then got sucked into the Anthdrawlogy vortex. I can't believe I've been such a slacker and haven't been keeping up with your daily drawings! You have serious skills, m'lady. I can't believe you're not making millions of dollars doing this for a career. YOU ARE FREAKIN' AMAZING.

(I am totally going to click through all of your drawings back several months. I will be leaving many comments. You have been warned.)

Keriann Greaney Martin said...

Oops, I forgot to say....


CONNNNNGGGGGGRRRRRRRAAAATTTUUULLLLAAATTTIIIOOOONNNNNSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

Peggy Eddleman said...

So incredible! How freaking awesome was it to lay all those drawings out at once? I'd have been dreaming of that day for 364 days, too. SO. VERY. AWESOME! I am in awe. Congrats on such a huge accomplishment! Your awesomeness blows me away.

K. Marie Criddle said...

Guys, thank you so much for your kind words!! (I've been offline for the last few days, sorry about the slow reply)

And I'm completely honest here, I wouldn't have made it this far without your encouragement and ideas. THANK YOU! I love each and every one of you to absolute bits.

Lots and lots of love!

K. Marie Criddle said...

Oh my gosh, and Keri? I just discovered 30+ comment notifications from you in my inbox. HA! I love your guts. :D

Keriann Greaney Martin said...

LOL - I warned you! Seriously, the level of your awesome ... it BURNS!! I love your guts too :D.

Anonymous said...

You know, Brush Quibblies is such an ingrained part of my morning routine now, that I keep feeling like something's missing. Walk dog? Check. Pour half and half in coffee? Check. Make bed? (who am I kidding?) Hmmm...what am I FORGETTING?
~SF

K. Marie Criddle said...

And the strange thing is I am feeling MASS amounts of guilt when I put Savin down for a nap and the first thing I do ISN'T to pull out the ol' tablet or sketchpad. I know the year's over and I have no more stress but...habits die hard!

However, I did FINALLY pull down my huge roll of watercolor paper from the attic for an upcoming project. Woo!

Anonymous said...

Wait a minute? You just keep watercolor paper in your attic?
Wow.

~SF

Unknown said...

Cartridge
Great work....well done friend...congrats..... For your 365 days meditations...