Claire Machin Art

Quick 10 minute sketch of a mouse from yesterday. Might try to paint and add more to it today.

I signed up earlier this year to the creative blend programme which I was so looking forward to. For various reasons I struggled to keep up with the classes each month which made me feel rubbish as I felt like I ‘should’ stick to the program each month. I then would rush through the lessons to try to catch up without taking the time to really go through each lesson and practice. I’d see other people share work and beat myself up for not being as far along - “I could be as good as them if only I’d done the lessons “ would play in my head.

So, in late November, I decided I would start again and take my time to properly practice. I get lifetime access to the classes so there is no need to rush plus the key is practicing art not just watching the recordings.

So, this is me announcing I’m starting again, this time with an art journal taking notes and ideas as I go. And I will take the time to practice and learn. By sharing on Instagram my hope is the bit of accountability of posting regularly will help me stick. The crazy thing is I love making art when I do it I just put it off and think “it’s a waste of time”, “I don’t have time because I need to [insert task here]”. The main reason though I think is being an expert procrastinator and perfectionist so I stick to the stuff I know I can do rather than push myself to try the stuff I don’t.

These pictures are from module 1, permission to play which I started on 22 Nov. These are patterns from stamping using black and titan buff golden acrylics. People say to use what materials you already have. I did exactly the opposite and ordered lots of new paints from It makes me feel better having pretty colours and good materials. Least I can’t blame them if the art work looks rubbish. 😂

I also started making some recipe cards for colour mixes whilst going along too. Plan on keeping this up as I need to work on my colour mixing.

Module 2: Working in a series from creative blend programme.

> Drawing and painting botanical shapes
> Practice session in pencil, watercolour and acrylic inks in paynes grey
> Love the marks made when using acrylic ink straight out of ink bottle with bottle dropper

I started drawing on Procreate a couple of years ago but haven’t used it for a while. Started picking it back up again. Still a lot to learn. This was from a while ago - J for jellyfish 🌊.

Very messy piece done as part of creative blend programme. Working on a series module. This started out very different with a lot of brown but ended up with the blues which I really liked and use of stamps too to create patterns. Made mistake with the masking tape ripping the paper but live and learn 😀

Module 1: permission to play of creative blend program, printing with palette paper exercise. Using brown paper and brushes, sticks,feathers and catalyst Princeton tools to make marks. Used lamp black and titanium buff light acrylic paints.