Learning Log, Jul 2022
Fitting for “touch grass” season, I’ve pretty much not touched a computer for personal projects in July. Instead, sketchbook art has taken up a large proportion of creative brainspace.
Sketching
Discovered this method of breaking in a sketchbook and found it to be quite effective. Also learned about the Zorn palette (and that it’s best for health/environmental reasons to get cadmium-free versions of paint).
I also finally made it out to a meetup with Urban Sketchers Seattle. I found the group during the pandemic, so they were on hiatus at the time for in-person outings. Took me a bit to be available for a meeting once they were back on.
We used a lot of green paint to sketch the Ballard Locks on a meltingly hot day. I’m trying out Neocolor II wax pastel crayons, which were fairly soft from the heat (messier and more fun in equal measure). I still have plenty of room to learn, but honestly had the best time wandering around sketching.
Fiber Art
July was apparently a month for meeting new people: my friend Meg co-hosted an indigo dyeing party in her backyard one night after work. I seem to have gotten shyer since the pandemic (out of practice), but it was such a nice and peaceful time making things during the golden hour.
In more vibrant hues, I also made a wall hanging with which to display my enamel pins.
Creative hobbies & guilt
Mulling over this Yumi Sakugawa quote via my ever-thoughtful friend Izzie:
What if instead of guilting yourself for not working hard enough on your creative projects, you ask yourself: what would make this so exciting and compelling that I can’t wait to play and create and build on these ideas?
SQL
Back on the computer, I finished the Mode basic SQL tutorial while also being dangerous in Mode itself (figuring out enough to hack a couple things together). I can’t wait to actually learn joins! Working on the Intermediate tutorial now…
