A word to the A2Z Team…
Before I get started, let me say one thing. Many people didn’t like that there was no linky and felt lost doing so in comments. I was right there with them but I did not allow that to get in the way. I did what I could and maintained a routine of visiting a few before or after me (if interested) and made sure to revisit all those who visited me. This kept me plenty busy.
Here’s a tip for the A2Z team, instead of one big linky like you’ve done for years until now, you may want to consider having a similar link up for each alphabet prompt with theme code key. I think this will help others to not only see who actually is playing along each day but it offers a clear idea to the players of what each blogger is blogging about in the challenge. This is my suggestion to you and regardless of what you choose to do next year, I plan to join the fun. 😉
My A to Z Reflections
It all began in February when I started thinking about the April challenge. At first, I thought I’d continue with last year’s theme on All Things Vintage but my heart just wasn’t into it and I began to second guess joining this round. But, then just like that, an idea sparked my enthusiasm to make the journey through the alphabet with art sketching as my theme.
My plan
With my theme in mind, I began my illustrations immediately. I didn’t want my art sketches to appear like a drawing class. I’m neither qualified or skilled to do that sort of thing. I decided to share my finished inspired illustrations for each daily alpha-prompt offering reference sites or images for others. My artwork included people, animals, and things. Whatever moved me, I sketched it.
Sketching new pictures each day didn’t need any motivation, I became enthralled with my project completely all 26 letters in the alphabet before April 1st with images uploaded and posts created, an accomplishment I’m proudly achieved in my 4th year of the A to Z Challenge for the first time.
What I learned
Following the step-by-step instructions, I felt like a diamond in the rough and the potential I had only needed polishing. Why I couldn’t see this in me years ago is beyond me but I honestly believed it had everything to do with low self-esteem. Luckily, DH brings out the best in me and over the years I’ve gone to that girl with no confidence to a girl who can go anything! Isn’t it amazing what you can do when you believe in yourself?
Future goals
Every day of the challenge I saw the possibilities of where my new art passion can lead. One thing I hope to do is to finish a children’s story inspired by my late brother when he was a little boy and to complete the story with my illustrations. I shelved the idea years ago because it needed pictures and I didn’t feel comfortable to draw them. Pushing myself to sketch for the A to Z Challenge gave me the confidence needed and I’m ready to step my game up.
Conclusion
I have plans to continue drawing and experimenting various techniques and mediums. The free resources available online to learn how to draw is amazing. I will share the good and not-so-good with you. This will be an experience we can share together because if it weren’t for you folks and DH then I don’t know if I’d be taking this bold step. Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll see you in 2018 for the April A to Z Challenge! 😉
Did you follow my month-long art sketching journey? Any last suggestions for my next sketch project?
Leave your signature (include your theme, too) in comments for easy follow-up and I invite you to check out any or all of my A2Z Art Sketching Through the Alphabet posts:
- “A” for Angels
- “B” for Boys, little
- “C” is for Cows, Chicken & Chicks, and Big Cats
- “D” for Dog
- “E” is for Elephant, Eagle, & Elk
- “F” is for Fence, Fox, & Frog
- “G” is for Girls
- “H” is for Horses
- “I” is for Iris
- “J” is for Jack & Jill
- “K” is for Kanga & Roo
- “L” is for Lighthouse
- “M” is for Mermaids
- “N” is for Nightingale
- “O” is for Owl
- “P” is for Princess & Prince
- “Q” is for Queen (Evil)
- “R” is for Rabbit & Roadrunner
- “S” is for Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs
- “T” is for Treehouse
- “U” is for Unicorn
- “V” is for Violin & Victorian Women
- “W” is for Walking Dead & Waves
- “X” is for X-ray & Xena
- “Y” is for Yawn
- “Z” is for Zebras
I won’t leave you, heartbroken Kittens & Dawgs, you’ll find more of my artwork on Curious as a Cathy soon! 😉 I hope to see you on the dance floor (theme: Singers/Mewsicians celebrating birthdays on this day) for Monday Mewsic Moves Me!