Sometimes it’s nice to take a step back and notice some of your own coloring patterns or habits. Taking a little inventory of the way you do things is a lot like taking inventory of your coloring supplies. In all kinds of aspects of our lives we have some things in abundance and some things that are more scarce. I wonder which coloring actions I have in abundance right now and whether anything seems to be missing.
Starting my round design coloring with one of the middle rings like this is something that I really have in abundance. It helps me introduce strong balancing points to my coloring right from the very beginning. I know that starting right on the outer edge or in the very middle would feel different. Perhaps that’s something I might want to try out again soon.
Again, more of the first color through that middle rings section. I guess this tends to be a rather safe and comfortable coloring approach for me.
This should look familiar to anyone who has read my last few posts – a two tone pairing, light/dark, in a single hue. Wow – I do this a lot when I color.
Kind of going blue crazy now, lol. This is a fun thing to notice because just a few months ago I was really struggling with using blue shades in my coloring. Looks like I got over that! 🙂
A nice solid foundation. I have definitely been relying on my first to colors to block out large portions of the design lately. It’s pretty, and it’s smart, and it’s comfortable – but I have a little bit of a feeling that maybe I’m starting to get somewhat overcautious with the way I’m using my colors. Perhaps a reaction to all of a sudden being so public with every step of my coloring? Could be. Maybe it’s a good time to try being a dab more reckless.
Bright pinky red hearts! Apparently I’m still on my bright kick and it’s always enjoyable to color hearts in Valentine colors.
And now just a tiny change. This softer shade of pink feels like I’m trying to shift out of my super bright colors phase. This is a good stopping point for the day and a really nice topic for a moment of reflection. Am I trying to shift away from the brights because of me, or because of vague impressions of what you may want to see in a coloring? And a second question (which is the really good one!) does it actually matter if my brightness shift is more influenced by myself, or by thoughts of others, or by something else? I’m pretty sure I know the answer to that already, but it is a nice question to linger over with some incense and a cup of tea.
I do like these little moments of taking inventory. They help me slow down and back off and lighten up. Usually they reveal simple things that I already know – but that are worth approaching again with intent, curiosity, acceptance and a touch of humor. There always seems to be a very natural connection for me between coloring patterns and noticing the patterns of my thoughts, actions, beliefs and ways of being.
(Today’s coloring is from Balance For Crayons And Wide Tipped Markers.)