☆ Highlight [Illustration Friday]

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AGGGH - another prompt from illustration friday that I struggled mightily with.

Highlight is such a difficult thing to put on paper. So I created this picture, intending to use the lantern as a highlight, but it as I was painting, it didn't quite work. (I am going to blame to sweltering hot day here, and no air conditioning!)

Follow the light
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

As I was sitting down to post this I had a mini epiphany - for the past year, one of the highlights of my week was receiving the saturday morning email with the coming weeks challenge, spending most of the weekend pondering the many interpretations of the prompt, figuring out how to illustrate it, drawing and colouring it, then posting it and finally seeing everyone else's choice of interpretation.

I loved this routine, the weekly puzzle, the highlight, and I can't wait to see what twisters they throw my way this year.

Have a great day, one that is hopefully cooler than here!
☆•*¨*•.¸¸

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☆ 2012 - the Year of Bravery

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Do you have a word that you connect to? A word that speaks to your soul, a word that becomes a part of your daily living?

Last year I was inspired by Ali Edwards and her One Little Word for 2011. Last year the word that was in my mind was intent. But it was a word that didn't sit comfortably with me. It was a word that was to describe my 2011 dreams, and intent was a good word, but I think it was to broad.

This years word was different. This year I knew the word for 2012 before the end of November.

This year is the year of bravery.

Let me share with you a little story. (ok so its not so little)

I was out for a walk one afternoon, listening to my ipod, when my mind began to wander, and I began reminiscing. When Mr Mac and I were in our mid 20's we took what we called a mature age gap year. Scrimping and saving, then quitting our jobs, storing our possessions, and selling our cars, we booked our 'round the world tickets and took off for Europe.

As I was reminiscing, I marvelled at how brave we were to do that, to go on our grand adventure and laughing at how naive we were. We travelled mostly in Eastern Europe and we didn't have a clue what the next day would bring us, what new adventure, and we probably, in our naivety ended up in some very dodgy places.

But for six months, we didn't have a plan, except to go where ever, do whatever and see what we wanted. Now I know that many people have done this before us, but for us it was a huge leap of faith and bravery.

So, (and yes I am going somewhere with this), as I am congratulating myself on this act of bravery that changed the course of our lives, I realised two things, firstly that it was exactly ten years ago this year that we left, and secondly that when I moved back home from Scotland, I started to slide back into the way I had been before we went overseas.

Yes I was creating, and painting that's not what I mean, I was playing it safe and I was starting to fall into a rut.

The year of Bravery is inspired by life and all the crap from last year, inspired by the other amazing artists out there, and inspired by the support and concern of you guys, I am going to spend 2012 being brave.

So do you have a word that you've connected to? That inspires you? That pushes you? I would love to hear if you are inspired by a word and how you came to choose it?

☆•*¨*•.¸¸

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☆ 2012 Dreaming

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'Resolve'
Pen & Ink
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

Happy New Year everyone! 

Being an aussie I have had almost a days head start on a lot of you, and had the most amazing day - a clear head this morning, pancakes with the family, celebrating with old friends lounging in the sun for a NY day BBQ.  This evening will be filled with creativity, with a new painting on the way, and Tam Laporte's Life Book course downloading as I type.

Traditionally I like to spend some time at new years reflecting on the year past, and what dreams I want to achieve in the next. I know of course that most resolutions tend to be forgotten by the end of January, and they don't work for some, but I find that by writing my dreams down I am more focused, and more committed.

I have huge dreams for 2012, a new direction, some exciting projects and creative anvenues, some health and fitness goals, some plans for work needed around the house, a commitment to spending quality time with family and friends, saving some money and huge plans centring around my art, my blog, and finally! opening up my etsy store.

A busy year planned so far, an exciting year ahead, and I can't wait to just jump. right. in!

So what are your resolutions? Your dreams? or are you a non-resolutions kinda person, like a good friend of mine? Do you stick to them or do they fade away? I'd love to hear how you celebrate the beginning of a new year.

  ☆•*¨*•.¸¸

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