Art Without Pressure - Creative Time for Tired but Talented Moms

It is hard to start a new painting, to think about creating and bringing new creative ideas. I started with an idea and then, when I put it on the canvas, I started staring at it like I had never painted or drawn before. After that, I paint a different idea totally, and mostly I end up feeling disappointed and feeling frustrated with not good work or half of it.

 

Anyway, in the last few months, I have been really having a hard time to paint. Sometimes I think to myself, I will paint today this and that and I will use this technique and that style, then I end up starting at nothing, or just ignoring setting in my studio at all.

I know many artists have these feelings or experiences or issues that happen to them all the time and I know that I need to have a proper schedule for daily paintings to practice and work more, create more to have good work done. But the main problem is that a full working mother with 5 kids and house responsibilities is not going to create art at all…. If I can cook a proper meal, that would be amazing... what about a full complete painting? I believe whatever artwork I create; it will be not perfect or not completed or unfinished or not even convincing to continue.

 

So, because of my humble thinking. I would like to propose a small plan that might work with 5 kids working mother who loves to paint. We can design a realistic painting schedule to keep the mom (artist) creativity without burning out, think about it as an art snack, not a full meal. Here we go:

Busy Working Mom Edition

A busy mom can have a small break to execute this schedule, maybe in the early morning, or after the kids sleep and all the busy mom’s home tasks are mostly finished. With a nice cup of herbal tea or fresh juice, a mother can enjoy 30 minutes to practice her small hoppy.

Date & Time	Artwork
Monday 15 – 30 minutes	Mentally Prep/ Art Reset /Clean brushes/ Prep your paints. Choose 1 simple idea for the week and select the palette or theme. Use Pinterest/Instagram for inspiration
Tuesday 20-30 minutes	Mini painting session: Small canvas/paper, focus on backgrounds or color blending, no details, no pressure, just enjoy blending colors, no perfection
Wednesday Art Play 10-15 minutes	Count as art even if it’s not finished. Can choose one of these two: Texture play (palette knife, sponge, fingers) OR Sketch loose shapes
Thursday 25-30 minutes	Mini painting session: Add shapes, movements or focal point. Stop before you are tired to keep the excitement alive!
Friday or Weekend 20-30 minutes	Finish the piece or add final touches. You can share, post or save it for later. You should reach perfection now.

 

A busy mom with 5 kids must not feel stressed if she can’t finish a painting or miss a day from the schedule. She should take it easy and not think that she fails, she is only a human. Completing one small painting per week is amazing. If she can finish 4 small paintings per month, and find one painting good enough to share, gift, or sell, that would be perfect.

It is important to say that I got this schedule using ChatGPT, as I don’t have the full energy to brainstorm ideas in the middle of the night. It is not a problem to use useful tools to help you with your artwork. Technology is created for your support. And I realized that I follow this schedule by myself without planning 2 or 3 days a week.

After writing this post, I discovered that I am not that out of track, I am doing a good job as per this schedule.

Enjoy your day,

 

 

 

Drawing, Sketching with the FAMILY

My daughters like to draw too much, they like these big drawing books or coloring books, I like to buy them these every year, sometimes in the school breaks for them to cut time. I usually have all of my kids set together enjoying drawing, painting and sketching. I do set with them, like a bonding activity with my kids. 

I notice that they liked these activities where we all set together and draw. They often ask me for this activity and they prepare by themselves the place, the table and the materials... they like to use my materials a lot actually :) which I think it is adorable. Although it is a bit annoying sometimes :)

I have drawing or sketching sets for them to use, different pencils and colors with the drawing books too. I found these in amazon which I will maybe buy for them:

1. Drawing and Sketching Set Hiforny

HIFORNY 136 PCS Drawing & Sketching Set,Pro Art Supplies with Graphite,Charcoal,Colored,Watercolor,Metallic Pencils,Blending Tools,Sketchbook,Watercolor Book and Coloring Book in Zipper Case (Black)

Link:

https://amzn.to/3PUR8Lp

2. Drawing Book:

Zeichnen Lernen - Fun & Easy: 1007 Skizzen, die du in unter 5 Minuten zeichnen kannst (in drei Schwierigkeitsstufen; für Kinder und Erwachsene) (German Edition) 

Link:

https://amzn.to/4hfePKm

In my experience, these sketch books "zeichnen" are for therapy, for relaxing and stress free for me and the kids. It really made them calm, focused, more relaxed and they enjoyed their time. 

I used to draw these myself in the past for them, before I know these books actually exist. I enjoyed drawing them actually for my eldest daughter to paint. It gave me a space to be creative and relaxed too. I wish I kept some of them to show you. Maybe I will start my own zeichnen book soon :) just a thought.  

Well, the pencil sets are really satisfying to have and to keep, nice and clean. Just looking at it, make me really satisfied :) its feels like enjoying an amazing landscape view, well, all artists like to buy these materials and keep them clean, new maybe for as long as it takes. Or it maybe just me only who likes to do that. What about you? 

See you in another post!

My Abstract Art YouTube Channel

Hello everyone,

As I was still reading some chapters from the Big Magic book for Elizabeth Gilbert, I had large emotions, mix emotions to start my own work, my own channel to share my art creations and inspire abstract art lovers all over the world, not just my country.

It structed me what I read in the book about ownership, I saw it actually, searching to see other artists have great channels, teaching art, sharing resources, getting paid, being famous, this is what I want to do, what I want to be, but I didn't move a bit to make it happened. I saw many beautiful paintings, amazing abstract art, that I know I can do, or create better, but no, I didn't take the ownership, I became the viewer only for a long time.... so as Elizabeth said in the book as long I leave it, other people own it. 

I talked to myself a lot, which is good actually, talking to myself in good way, in a very kind way, make some of my dream job coming true finally. I had a laptop as a gift!, which was a focal start actually. In all my years, as an artists, didn't buy my own PC or laptop at home. Never think I grant it or need it, or actually feel that this is the start. I learned that having a good quality phone, social media accounts is not enough to start a channel actually. A laptop made the work much easier and much more professional. 

So, with this laptop, which I am using now to write my post today. Maybe some of you thinks, what she is talking about????, everyone have laptops either for study or work. Well I have my laptop for work, yes I do, but for home use, no, I didn't have one. I meant a laptop my kids wouldn't touch or use for study or games. I don't know, maybe you found my happiness to have this laptop is silly, but I am really happy and enjoying using my own laptop with my own apps and programs. 

So, I started by search with my friend, Chat GPT, about what I need to create professional videos, and I downloaded and buy all programs and apps needed with the help of some my IT friends, which made me much happier than before. And it gave me a great pleasure to announce my lunch of my own You Tube Channel, with 4 videos for abstract art, using my great programs and buying my own music tracks to accompany my videos. I uploaded my first video on 22 December 2024, I have now 12 subscribers with 452 views in total. I so happy with this work till this moment. 

I will keep posting, keep painting, keep learning and educating myself before others. I will keep sharing my art work for all the world as long as I can. This is what make me happy.. Thanking Allah for this great achievement, that I believe it is very important for me. 

So, please visit my channel and tell me your honest opinion. I welcome and treasure all comments for sure. http://www.youtube.com/@hudaalmardoud5642

Thank you for reading... 

Painting Flowers with Acrylic colors

Enjoy painting flowers with acrylic paintings.

An online session for teaching who like to paint about acrylic paintings and how to draw some kind of flowers using acrylic paintings. This post today is reflection on the session.

As a leader for the Art and Crafts Club in my work, I like to give students and employees some kind of art, painting training.

People at work intend to be attracted to these kind of sessions as it take them away from work tasks and make them feel more comfortable, happy and stress free. Especially who join to paint live, feels more free and happier I guess.

I started the online session by introducing the audience to art tools to use, like acrylic brushes, paint, canvases, and other useful tools such as the palette knife. Honestly, I must do a little search before giving such information about tools to use as I know there would be updates and new tools in the market that I might not know or use before.

After this little introduction, I talked about the color wheel and how mix acrylic colors. This part was very interesting for some people who are new to this topic as I sense from the session.

I don’t know why I choose certain flowers to paint, thinking that I will be a professional in drawing and painting these kinds only…Anyway, I started with a tulip, which didn’t go very well, I never draw it before, it was all new for me. But I got it right eventually, structuring the flower was a bit hard, but with color layers it turned to be a beauty in abstract painting, I guess. This is the advantage of using acrylic colors, you can paint over and try again. I kept telling my audience this, in my mind, so they don’t think I don’t know what I am doing. It is also an abstract so, there is no right or wrong. You can draw a small dote stating that this is a flower in my mind.

The second flower type I taught in the session was the rose, which I do draw and paint very professionally in abstract of course. I showed them 3 abstract styles to draw and paint a rose. The first two styles were using the brush, but in 2 different ways. The third style was using the palette knife which my students liked so much and told me that it is really like a real flower. I am so proud of my roses paintings as I have many, I like to draw them so much with different textures and techniques.

The third flower type I drew was a daisy. The daisy needs some sketching first for me, to make it rounded with all the petals. I had to watch a video or how to draw a daisy to present it again to my audience.. maybe I feel not very confident, but I know learning never stop and I will always needs to learn more. The daisy turned out to be amazing as my students mentioned, which also made me very proud.

 

At the end of the session, some of my students asked me how I know that I have the talent to draw and paint. I told them I love drawing and sketching since 7^th grade. Thanks to my father who always pushed me to learn over the summer in the Cultural Foundation, where Al Marsam, a very nice space for artists to learn. I did lots of sketches work there but stopped after. I never tried to use paint till college where I began using oil painting and then I transferred to acrylic paint which I found more convenient for me.

One of my students asked if being an artist is a genuine thing or it can be learned. Is a person born with artistic skills or a person can learn these skills. In my opinion, any person can learn how to draw and sketch, learn the basic skills, so what do you think?

10 # Ways to Boost your ART Life

If you are an artist, who is struggling to paint, to find a style or lazy to work on your art and wish to have an active art life, Please keep reading, because I am giving you 10 ways to boost your art life and be active:

1# Paint every day: 

You must create a time for your art, book a time in your calendar and dedicate this time for your art only. Stuck with the time every day, draw, paint, experience different art forms and that will enhance your art skills and open new ideas and inspiration to your art. 

2# Dedicate a Place for your Art studio:

It is better to have your own art space, small room or a corner. If you can't afford a studio. You can create your own place at home. With nice shelfing ideas (IKEA will have many nice options) you can have a nice art place to work and not to worry about moving your work anymore. See the below example: 

3# Don't panic because of the mess of the painting process:

When you create any painting, for sure you will make a miss, don't worry about it, as it is normal to have painting splashes on the floor, tables or your own clothes. Just be prepared to have this mess, put an old rug, or plastic cover on the floor, use old tables or put table covers to protect your surfaces and you must have your own jeans, any kind of clothes only when you are painting. You should feel the freedom of creating art, feel the brush strokes, the texture of your colors, smell the new canvas, feel its texture and enjoy your own art time. 

4# Use art as a treatment for your mental health:

It is been known that art can be used as a treatment for many mental health issues or syndromes. If you are healthy, but busy with life, marriage, work and many other obligations, Art can be your escape to madidate, to rethink, plan, focus, relax and heal from the exhausting day you had. Starting a new painting is very exciting thing that will change your mood and make you happier than ever (it is for me!). Even preparing your canvas, adding background colors, or texture, will give joy and happiness. You won't believe how you will wake up the next day, full of energy and happy, ready to start your day. 

#5 Surround yourself with Creative People:

Follow artists, creative entrepreneurs, innovative business people. Try to join art clubs, communities, centers. Joining creative innovative people, will make your thinking wider, have more art ideas and creativity will be your friend. The amount of ideas that you can find in talking and discussing art subjects and matters with creative people will flourish your art and make you create more. 

#6 Keep A Daily Active Journal:

Try to write every day about your day, your art and your process in art making. write any creative quotes, thoughts you have. keeping a journal will help you think better and help you create more ideas once you are stuck and need some inspiration, go back to your journal for ideas and thoughts. 

#7 Walk Daily

Try to walk every day for not less than 15 minutes. Try to walk outdoors, try to breath, look around you, 

enjoy the views. Take with you a small sketchbook, maybe you like to sketch some of what you are seeing around you. The benefits of walking are very effective health wise, it will make you think clearer, relax and breath better. 

#8 Repeat "I an Artist" 

Believe in yourself, don't doubt what you are doing. Believe in your art and your talent. If you repeat everyday before going to bed that " I am an Artist", you will become more active in art and you will not be scared anymore of creating art. So own your real Title as an artist. 

9# Share your sketches, your art process:

Don't be afraid not to share your art to the world. Social Media can help you share your work. This will give you feedback, maybe positive, maybe negative. But still you will get good feedback and you may inspire someone else!

10# Don't be afraid to imitate in purpose of development:

There is nothing wrong with trying to imitate other artists work.. because you will always do it in your own way and it won't be a copy. You can always try to copy famous paintings for artist you like. From this imitation, you can get your own style and maybe you will be surprised from the result. 

Here are 10 ways to boost your Art life.. Do you have anymore to add? Please feel free to add in the comments.. waiting to reach 20 ways!

My abstract painting in the Art Exhibition for Inspiring Women المعرض الفني للمرأة الملهمة

 Dear Diary..... Starting a new day..... 

I am in the middle of preparing paintings for an art gallery in Sharjah. It is a bit hard when I know that I have a deadline...I stop thinking, my mind just stopped.. no ideas no colors... in a very crucial time... otherwise ideas flies everywhere when I am free of deadlines. 

I had to search for ideas, brain storming a lot (hint: Pinterest) to get colors palette and texture ideas... after starting one of the painting.. putting base color and some texture, my son just surprised me with his finger prints all over the painting... adding a unique new style in my painting.. 

It's almost a month now till the gallery, only texture is added.. looking for the painting everyday.. I don't know why it is so scary to add colors now. 

Now, I changed my mind and I will start over one of the selected paintings... which is not weird at all for an artist.. to change regularly.. I think this is us.. this is how our minds works. plus changing colors, subject all the way to ending up painting layers over layers till we are satisfied with the final one. not weird at all...... 

With all excitement happening in my life, including family events and daily actions, work tasks and projects, me and my own tasks, thoughts, moments.. being in the mood to paint is not easy to establish or to bring into my life busy schedule. Working 8 hours is really exhausting and feeling the end of the day that it is over, no more energy to do anything else.

I end up staying up for 2 nights to finish the paintings, working on three paintings, I took 1 painting only from it to the gallery.. it is a bit of frustrating to try to have the perfect painting, where people will say WOW when they see it, or stay still can't talk and drawn in the painting... I took another ready painting which is really good looking (for me at least). Working on labeling and I will send them soon to the gallery in Sharjah. See the painting as I posted in my Instagram account too: 

 So tell me what do you think of the painting.. 

Have a wonderful day. 

The Miracle Morning

 Hello again,

I think we all appreciate time, especially who has a full time job and a full time house keeping job with kids (different ages and stages). For me, I do appreciate the little time I have for myself, doing whatever I would like to do, whether painting or relaxing or doing any other social activity. 

But I know one thing, My Time is not mine at all. It can be... I am fully booked with many many tasks at work or home, which is really frustrating. I am reading now a book titled: the Miracle Morning by Hal Erod. It is basically teaching me how to do what is the most important work or hoppy or job in my life. The book will show you the 6 habits that will transform your life before 8 am. 

It is exactly teaching how to appreciate time and do what you like in your special time. Just wake up earlier, an hour maybe earlier than your usual timing, do whatever you want to do in this hour, focused and determine to enjoy and get most of the time for your own benefit. This will help you be more successful and powerful in many many sides of your life. 

The author of this book mentioned that this book help her/his in flourishing her/his own business and be very successful in it. As these 6 habits helped in focusing more on what needs to be done. 

This book opened for me many thoughts and insights that I didn't think of before. Doing what I love most (art) making it my business, work on my skills and develop them, are the most important dream I have ever dreamt off. Taking some time for my own sake, is not bad at all. 

Building my Personal Development Plan as the book indicated, is very essential to understand what exactly you would like to develop and know what you skills you have already. 

I really recommend this book to all to read first, and work on yourself second. I am now in the reading stage :) yep... still working on waking up early.. which is really hard to achieve as I am a mother for 4 kids who are a full time job. 

Please enjoy reading The Miracle Morning as an inspiration if you might say. Don't feel obligated to do what it is saying... just be inspired with an open mind to your self satisfaction. 

Thanks... 

How to draw workshop.. How to trust people workshop

Hi again,

Finally, I took a CT (Certify Trainer) in Arts and Crafts from an Art Academy. This certificate allow me now to train and give my art experience to anyone and everyone.

For sure, there are some issues that I am facing, like how to advertise for myself, and my workshops or trainings. Working or partnering with an Art Center is one of the ways to get known and advertise more. But there are many competitors and the art center itself, want to be famous and known more than I do. 

Anyway, I found some cafes that can organize art, book, poetry sessions, which is a very good way of adverting as people who visit the cafe' can join and participate in the session.  some issues that I am facing now is advertising and how to make the first workshop I will give a success. Some artists or trainers depends on art centers to advertise for their workshops and get large number of trainees. This way, the workshop will be full, but may not be a success if the trainer is not qualified enough, or his subject was not well delivered or interesting or important enough.

Every artists want to give workshops about the basics of drawing, watercolors, or pastel or ..... but the thing that I learned from my CT training that I should have a specialization and not to be very broad . It should be unique and somehow new if possible.

I love abstract using acrylic and oil, but this is very broad or very general and known. I really want to start my workshops and advertise, I don't like to be a part of an art center, I want to have my own studio, or art space to conduct art workshops.

After a lot of search, I found a cafe that take artists with many and different talents and skills to do their workshops in the cafe. I met with the owner, discussed my session and agreed to make it regular sessions if the first one was a hit. We choose a date and a time for the first workshop. I was very eager and happy to start and I bought all the materials needed (cost a lot). And before the workshop date by 2 or 3 days, I contacted the relationship manager to organize the event and advertise.. no one answered me, I called the owner million times, no answer either... It was shocking to me how people just ignored ..really amazed me how people can do that or be such (...).. I mean I met a person (male) a man, a mature person, a manager and an owner of a famous cafe... he gave me a promise, a deal or an agreement.. then all is lost.. How he dose that? ignoring so easily... not answering my calls or my whatsaap... very unpolite and unmatured .. really weird..

Anyway, I was really sad to meet such people and to trust them like this.. but they don't deserve any excuse or sympathy from me at all. I could you know, make a big scene and talk about them (there is nothing like word of mouth), but I didn't want to go that low.. it just amazed me.. and gave me a wider idea of this world and how NOT to trust anyone talks nicely or look nice or be sometimes nice to me. 

This experience did really disappointed me and made me feel lazy and unencouraged to look for another cafe or place to conduct my workshops. I found myself painting again.. better than teaching how to paint or searching for a venue to do workshops.. doesn't make a difference now..... 

Be Save, Be Creative

Why We Paint?

Why Do We paint? A question is maybe for some is not making sense, but for artists it means a lot. 

Why do you think we paint? What is the urgent need that we need to fulfill to do this action? What motivate us to paint? Is painting abstract/portraits/still life means a particular state of mind or mood?

Whoever is reading this post, please answer the question, Why do we Paint?

Can't wait to read your answers and comments :)

Brush strokes .. My WORLD

The use of brushes.. this is a very interesting subject for me at least. I love brush strokes, basically the brush do most of the work IF you know how to use it for sure... not accidentally used.. the way brush strokes in a painting is very unique as it brings the painting alive. Whether you are painting abstract or portrait or anything else, the way you hit the canvas with the brush, it should show the beauty.

Of course each brush has it's own use and every artist know that. We can share this together, this is a simple photo from Google:

As you can see, these mainly the basic brushes and how to use it. Or may these a way to use them if you are more creative and advanced. These brushes can be used very creatively in abstract floral paintings as I am using them now. 

I had an exhibition before two weeks ago and I was working on my paintings that will be there. Both paintings in somehow I am not happy with, or I don't think I paint in good way under pressure....
I hate deadlines, but otherwise, I know I am not going to get anything done without deadlines. For brushes, I had much more experience now with these two paintings I did for the exhibition which was about the desert. One of the paintings contains much more complex brush strokes that drove me crazy while I was working on it. The final touches also, fine lines, and small details that I must be patient to nail it... but the funny thing that I spent almost a week and more on one painting, the other I finished it in almost 2 hours morning time and I was very focused, becuz lets face it.. I have to finish them.

Anyway, they both turned well and now hanging on a black wall in the exhibition in Dubai Art Hub finally.

Brushes, can take you to far away and does amazing work, very satisfying movements and strokes that creates a piece of beauty you think you can see or do ever...... anything you can imagine can be creating by a brush and couple of paints.

Hope this post is useful and inspirational to you..

Thanks.... 

Painting in different Times and Moods

When I paint, I need to be in a special state of mind or soul... I mean that I must be in the mood focusing and devoting all my emotions, feelings and energy into my work. 

One of my friends asked me a week ago about my art, how is it going? I said that I stopped for few months due to family commitments.  She replied that I must have an hour or so for my Art only everyday so I can be developed. 

I can't paint everyday honestly, because of lots of things, I have work, kids, a house and also some Gym classes. I need to keep up with all this and also I need to rest somehow during the day.... or I think I need it.. 

I know one thing, that when I start painting, I forgot everything.. I isolated myself in a relaxing, quite environment, including my music, my canvas and my palatte. I became very engaged with this situation for hours that I never count how many.... this is how I paint.. 

I don't like the idea of devoting sometime everyday to paint. I don't like to make it as a task that I have to do... I paint according to my mood....

Sometimes, I don't feel that I want to paint or to be even near my studio. And sometimes I want to paint all day long... 

Also, lots of things interrupted me when I work that in many days made me stop everything.... and my mood just be the opposite. 

This is one of really annoying issues for home studio. When one of my kids needs my help, I just got distracted and leave my place.. especially when my kids asking me Mama what are you doing? Can we paint with you? and looking at my canvas and playing with my colors and brushes.... 

But I discovered that when my kids start painting with me, they gave me some motivation and inspiration.. sometimes, it became annoying and very very messy... anyway this developed my relation with my kids and make it a quality family time... 

Painting or drawing in common helps you breathe, relax and give you peace that drives you to a different environment. It is true when they said: Art makes you breathe with a different kind of happiness.....