Procrastination to Productivity
I was in a bit of a creative rut.
I could not conjure the energy to start a new painting. I also could not for the life of me get this idea I had out of my head to make candles out of these shells I had.
I decided to go ahead and make the candles even though it felt like I was avoiding my goals by starting new pointless tasks.
Turns out these candles were just the spark I needed to get the creative juices flowing.
I melted down an old candle at home and slowly spooned it into these shells. I’m sure there was a much more efficient way but this was it for me.
I bought the wicks from Kmart. (Love the Kmart craft section.)
Also, the product placement was not intentional. I needed something close to hand to lean the shells on.Would not recomend these Iron tablets anyway. They shit.Horah
I loved them so much, I knew I wanted to do a study of them.
First I decided to do a quick sketch of the shell on its own to get an idea of colour and shape. This didnt turn out exacly as I hoped but was a good begining.
I took a heap of photos of various setups and decided on the most simple one. I’ve been known to over complicate things so thought it would be the most stress free choice.
Once I decided on a photo I did another sketch. At this point I realised I would have to reply soley on a photo as the candle lasted about an hour before it ran out.
I got half way through the rough sketch and I was just too excited to get started so I put it down and started preparing the canvas. I also decided to enhanced the photo by over saturating the dark blue and magenta hues to create a moodier more dramatic image. Because thats what i’m all about.
What I learnt
I have to trust my intuition.
In the begining, making the candles could very well have been me procrastiniting; but it stirred up my creative energy I had been lacking for so long.
Now I have this beautiful painting because I decided to make a shell candle.
The End.
(If you haven't already seen and would like to see the painting process, head on over to my Instagram where I have recorded it from start to finish.) The making of
So this little painting started off as a fire study. I used a reference photo that I got from Pinterest and just kind of roughly followed.
I started off with the highlights in the fire and really focused on, capturing the vibrant yellows and oranges of the fire. I then started to fill in the background with deep, blues and purples.
I was pretty content with the fire and background; although something seemed a little off balance in the painting, so I decided to add a woman figure dancing in the foreground.
I also had a market stall coming up for international women’s day, so this fit perfectly with the theme.
I sold the original on the day, but I also had little prints made, because I was so happy with the end result.
This is the end result, an A5 postcard print. Now available in shop.
Dear art enthusiasts and supporters.
You now have the option to make a donation.
I am thrilled to announce that you now have the opportunity to support and become a vital part of my art journey.
Your appreciation for my work and your willingness to contribute make an incredible difference in the pursuit of my artistic dreams. By donating, you directly contribute to the funding of my art journey.
As an artist, the costs associated with art supplies, studio space, and exhibitions can be challenging to manage. Your generous donations provide the financial support needed to sustain and propel my artistic endeavors forward.
By becoming a patron, you become an essential partner in my artistic journey. Your contributions enable me to invest in high-quality materials and participate in exhibitions to showcase my work to a broader audience. Your support allows me to focus on creating meaningful art that inspires and resonates with others.
Every donation, no matter the size, is immensely valuable and appreciated. Your generosity fuels my passion and motivates me to continue exploring, growing, and sharing my art with the world.
To donate, simply click the donate button below. Your donation will directly contribute to the funding of my art journey, and you can choose a contribution amount that aligns with your comfort and means.
Thank you for considering supporting my art journey through your generous donations. Your belief in my artistic vision is truly inspiring, and your support allows me to pursue my passion with dedication and enthusiasm.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Kayla Johanna
