Dear diary, part one

June 7, 2013September 16, 2014 | Anna Cull

Personal logo – generating and refining ideas and thumbnail sketches
Visual diary, two-page spread (student project, 2010)

Personal logo and business card – recreating the logo using parts of a single typeface
Visual diary, two-page spread (student project, 2010)

A recent blog post by graphic designer Becca Shayne about the value of keeping a sketchbook reminded me of the visual diary I put together for my Design & Arts College exhibition in 2012. All of my course sketchbooks (crammed full of research, ideas, inspirational quotes, word maps, doodles and sketches) had to be edited into a single, professionally printed journal of only 72 pages. It was no easy task but it’s something I’ll always treasure.

These are the diary pages of our very first project: to design our own logo and business card. I really enjoyed the process but I didn’t like the logo enough to use it. I’m still very fond of Helvetica though.

Shoot it, Sketch it: Last minute

April 29, 2013January 30, 2014 | Anna Cull

Hagley Park sunset sketch – ink and watercolour, 205 x 290 mm, 2013.

Hagley Park sunset – Christchurch, 2010.

A last-minute sketch of the last minutes of a sunset in Hagley Park (because the acrylic painting I had planned to post today isn’t quite finished yet). I hope you’ll forgive the slightly blurry photo (my fault for not taking a tripod). Sunsets in the park can be spectacular at this time of year ― yes, we’re well and truly into autumn now in Christchurch.

Unexpected outcomes, part one

March 22, 2013September 30, 2014 | Anna Cull

sketch ink drawing stamp — Penguins — sketches and final image

Some people call them mistakes. I like to call them unexpected outcomes.

It can be very frustrating when a drawing doesn’t turn out as planned. Why can’t I draw a straight line? Why isn’t the perspective right? The figures are flat. The colours are wrong. The ink has dripped onto the paper and now the sky is frowning.

Personally, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this kind of creative struggle. Quite the opposite. I believe that unexpected outcomes are an essential part of the creative process. They’re an indication that we’re exploring possibilities, stretching ourselves and continuing to grow as artists.

You start with a blank piece of paper. You draw. After ten minutes (or an hour or a day), you’ve created something that NOBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD has created. Something new exists because of you. Okay, so it’s not what you imagined it would be and maybe you’re a bit disappointed. But sometimes, sometimes it takes your breath away. I did that? How did I do that? I wonder if I could do that again?

Sometimes the very thing that we didn’t intend is where the magic happens.

Happy Annaversary

March 13, 2013September 15, 2013 | Anna Cull

Today is my blog’s first anniversary. Yes, it’s been a whole year since my first post. A little retrospective seems in order.

Here are my top ten posts based on your likes and comments. It’s interesting to see what made the list and what didn’t.

#10 Over the line – two hundred followers!

Of all the things I’ve drawn, painted and designed over the last year, the little sparrow watercolour (below) — which didn’t make it into the top ten — is my personal favourite : )

Thank you all for your interest in this blog and for liking what I do.

Shoot it, Sketch it: Objet d’art

March 11, 2013February 8, 2014 | Anna Cull

sketchbook journal ink watercolour sketch art objects photograph cabinet — Objet d’art, sketch and photo, 2013.

I enjoyed a little sketchbook time while away on holiday last month and thought I’d use one of the pages for this week’s Shoot it, Sketch it ― although it’s really a Sketch it, Shoot it. The drawing I originally planned to post today is still a long way from being finished. Why, oh why do I tackle such complicated illustrations? You’ll see what I mean next week.

Also taking part in Shoot it, Sketch it are Clouds of Colour, The Little Leaf, Lunch Sketch, Poppytump, Two Scamps, Baaps and 30 Minute Art.

Shoot it, Sketch it: Windermere

January 28, 2013August 26, 2015 | Anna Cull

Windermere, Akaroa – ink and watercolour, 210 x 295 mm, 2013

Windermere, Akaroa – ink on watercolour paper, 2013

Windermere historic house, Rue Lavaud, Akaroa, 2012

I drew a quick sketch of this historic Akaroa house a couple of years ago (see below) and thought it might be fun to revisit it — figuratively and literally. The photo was taken a few months ago with this Shoot it, Sketch it project in mind. Windermere was built as a boarding house in 1877.

Can you spot the subtle difference? The house no longer has a chimney (the earthquakes that have rattled the Canterbury region over the last couple of years are probably to blame — an awful lot of chimneys and brick buildings were damaged in 2011).

Others participating in Shoot it, Sketch it are Clouds of Colour, The Little Leaf, and Poppytump.