Hi there! ♡
It’s been a little while since my last email, so I thought it was time for a little catch-up!
At the end of September, I travelled to the Netherlands for a two-day illustration workshop. And it was SO inspiring! Not just the workshop itself, but the whole trip.
I went on my own, and that felt like a little adventure. Actually, no - a BIG adventure! 😄 It’s so unlike me, but it turned out to be exactly what I needed: a chance to step away from my usual routine, focus on creativity, take long walks (until my feet hurt), meet fellow artists, and soak up some inspiration.
It was such a lovely experience, and I came home with a full heart, new impressions, and lots of things to think about and explore in my own work.
And then October arrived - the month when both my daughter and I celebrate our birthdays. So, a pretty busy month around here!
This year, I decided to celebrate my birthday for the first time in 5 or 6 years?! 😱
And my first birthday gift to myself was a birthday photoshoot!
Another birthday gift arrived a little later: I finally got my very own copy of the ICU book I illustrated for the hospital earlier this year.
I think this is one of those truly magical moments for any illustrator - or, actually, for anyone - finally holding something in your hands that you’ve spent so many months working on. It’s hard to describe that feeling! Kind of a light version of motherhood. 😁
And of course, a lot of drawing and sketching this month! And I mean A LOT! 😁 I don’t think I’ve ever drawn this much before.
I feel like I’ve finally lost my fear of the blank page, or something! 🤞
I think I’ve realised that doing something - even if it turns out really ugly - is better than doing nothing and just thinking about how to do it perfectly. You learn so much more by actually making things, experimenting, and sometimes messing them up.
And apparently, all that practice paid off - I finished two sketchbooks this month!
One was my watercolour sketchbook, which had been waiting to be finished for almost a year. And the other was my mixed-media sketchbook, which I started in August. Before my trip, I'd only filled a few pages, so most of it came together in October.
And, of course, there’s my #iriada_randomdrawingchallenge sketchbook! We’re already on Day 65, and the finish line is getting closer. My sketchbook has only 80 pages, so once I fill the last page, the challenge will be over too! 😁
But don’t worry, I’ll come up with something else! 😉
And if you're curious about what I've been using lately, my current favourite materials are Neocolor II and Metamorphosis watercolors by Nevskaya Palitra. I've been having so much fun experimenting with them, and I suspect they might be one of the reasons my sketchbooks are filling up so quickly lately.
October is all about autumn colors, cosy days, and Halloween magic, but for me, it’s also a time to celebrate another trip around the sun.
So I decided to combine both occasions and prepare something special for you and your little artists: two free coloring pages!
One is all about Halloween magic, and the other is a little birthday treat from me to you.
I hope these little printables bring a little color to your days, whether it’s a cosy afternoon at home, a little Halloween activity, or simply some creative fun together.
Thank you for being here and following along on my little creative journey. I’m so happy to have you here! ♡
Wishing you a lovely last day of October, a little bit of Halloween magic, and a warm start to November!
Irina