cheyenne barton
patreon
process: working through a bad art day
🕑 Added 2020-05-27 23:09:47 +0000 UTCHi y'all! Happy Wednesday~ today's been.. a DAY so iI wanted to share the struggle with you guys – I've been vlogging today too but that video won't be going up till next week, and I wanted to walk through it here with y'all <3
So! I've finally gotten my restock of stickers in, meaning that I'll be able to reopen my shop this weekend! It's gonna be on Sunday at 12pm PST — idk if you've seen on instagram, but I've made the decision to not offer international shipping until the global postal systems have a chance to settle down a bit. I know that things are calming down (a bit), but I don't want to risk losing a lot of product and y'all not getting your orders :( I know this sucks, but!! I'm hoping it'll only be for like, a month or so, and I'm planning on putting up some fun new digital downloads in the shop to make up for it 💕I'm grateful for your patience and understanding!!
Speaking of printables (smooth segue, right), that's what I'm working on today. Yesterday and this morning were both really crummy artwise — nothing I was drawing seemed to be working out, and I was feel just BLEH about everything I was making. I did an instragram doodle request session this morning to try and work my way through it..
The pair of lesbian queens on the bottom was my fave request, i wanna make that into a full illo, ALSO wow my first two isabelles were so ugly, rip
I got to draw my first ever cow! And it turned out way cuter than I thought it would :> I do also love the kitty and mushroom pair, and the trio of dancing fairies. While I was drawing these, I felt so gross and uncomfortable and like nothing I was drawing was decent or getting the feelings across, but looking back on them now (even just a few hours later) I realize that they weren't as bad as I thought! They're not super elegant or masterful, but I was definitely being way too hard on myself while it was happening. Also, ppl seem to really like the little "lifeguard lemon" on the left page lolol even though I think I drew his glasses way too big haha
I kept drawing on past these requests, cause I was still feeling weird and anxious about my art:
a few of these sketches are heavily referenced from Sophie McPike, whose ease and movement and vibrancy I really admire!! Her work is so bright and powerful, so I was trying to channel those fluid shapes and playful proportions
I really really like this character — I like how crooked they are? I just feel like I was really spontaneous with the lines and it made for an instant communication of character in a way that I'm trying to get better at capturing. Again, I'm trying to play more with shapes and proportions!!
I also took that hunched mermaid and fleshed it out into a proper sketch that I'll hopefully be able to color before the end of #mermay. It took several hours but it felt amazing to work through the weird uncomfortable space I felt trapped in and emerge with a sketch I really love:
The next page I filled with random frame shapes and then filled those with various floral vignettes —
These little vignettes are surprisingly soothing and relaxing to draw. I decided I wanted to make a printable full of them!! I think that some small painted ones would make a really cute postcard set, and a fun phone background set too. I'm planning on uploading some cute phone backgrounds to the shop as well, to give more options to international folks during this brief shipping hiatus~
I think these make for a great printable cause they're not as finnicky to cut out as the florals would be without the frames. I want to make two more printable sheets, but I'm having trouble figuring out what I want them to be...planner oriented? a printable page of stickers? a stationery type page? I'm not sure!
So that's been my day!! It's been a doozy, but I'm glad that I pushed myself to work through this weird art funk even though all I wanted to do was play Persona. Having an art deadline while also having an art block/slump is really weird and stressful, and I was nervous that I just wasn't gonna have anything for this weekend, but I'm proud that I worked my way through it and came out with some stuff that I'm really happy with and excited about. The process is not linear! We just gotta keep muddling through. That being said, it's right about the end of my workday so I might just treat myself to some Persona. :>
What kind of printables do y'all think I should put up in the shop? Planner stuff? Journaling type things? Cute stickers? I wouldn't be doing the printable recipes I put up here on Patreon, just cause I wanna make a bunch of them and bundle them into a zine one day. SO besides recipes and mini art prints, let me know what you guys like to see on printables! Either from me, or from other creators you like.
I love you so much and I hope your week is going well! 🌈☁️
Comments
Vilém
You draw such a beautiful coffee cup ☕💕
AngeloftheWoods
I think your bullet journalling is intriguing - planner stickers and gnome page tabs xxxxx
Lauren Elson
Hiii, new patron here!!! I've been a fan of your work for a couple of months now and decided that during this strange time it'd be nice to support some of my fave artists/content creators. I just scrolled through all of the old posts and I am such a fan of everything you've created and shared on this page, I love love love it, everything has inspired me so much! Just wanted to say that I'm very happy to be here and can't wait to see what you create in the future <3 sending you well wishes!!
Katy Metcalf
Beautiful art and beautiful post! Your perspective when you draw vessels, flowers, etc reminds me of the work of NZ artist Frances Hodgkins - she used some really interesting framing and composition and worked in so many different styles across her lifetime that I'm sure you'd find some of her works particularly cool :D
Nina
reading about and seeing your process is really encouraging, i love what you created! as for digital products, I'd love a digital monthly planner to use on my ipad! and i always looove the doodles pages!
Tanvi
A phone wallpaper would be really cool! Would love seeing your art every time I unlock my phone 💕
Lauren McPherson
I love your stickers, but I also like the notepads/other stationery stuff that you make too! I've been wanting to get more into pen-palling/"snail mail" lately (which will also help the post office!), so having some cute stuff to do that with might be something cool for a lot of people. Hope you've been doing well Cheyenne!
Hazel Shaw
I'd love anything with that adorable mushroom character you've just drawn !
Eli Gru
I find it very admireable that you pushed through the bad day and still ended up making so much art! Lately I have been giving up really quickly on things and I now feel inspired to keep going even if the day doesn't go as planned. I'm really looking forward to the digital downloads! I love your monthly calendar printable and use it a lot. Maybe you could make a to-do-list template or other planning related stuff to go along with it? :))
cheyenne 🌠
trust me i’m bummed too ;—; i’m really hoping to reopen them in a month or so! and i wanna have some cute new washis and stationery for y’all 💕
daisycracks
This was honestly so reassuring and relatable — I've been having bad writing days continuously but seeing you push through your bad art day is giving me motivation to keep trying and find my mojo again! Can't lie, I'm a bit bummed about the international shipping thing, but I totally understand!! Looking forward to the digital downloads! 💕
Ingrid
You did so well with all of the art, I love it so much!! And omg wallpapers sound so exciting I would definitely buy one!! Wish I could buy more stuff but I’m overseas :( Can’t wait til everything calms down and I can order from you! As for printables i always love printing paper stickers and putting them in my journal or inside my phone case, I’d love to carry some of your art in my phone case everywhere i go 🥺
saki
Omg if you make phone wallpapers, I’d be obsessed! I’ve used some of your previous printable as my phone wallpapers since your art brings me so much joy 💕 I do love the printables where I can cut them out and stick them into my journal. Excited for your shop opening!
trisha hartley
the october printable from last year really calms me down (keep re-printing and re-coloring it). i’d love to see more themed color sheet printables? if that’s what they’d even be called? 😅💚 and only if you also think it’s a good idea!
cheyenne 🌠
It'll at least have one! If I can whip up a couple more over the weekend, I will!
Olivia Cobb
Also love the idea of those vignettes as postcards!
Rachel Witort
I always like the sticker/cut outs! I use them in my bullet journal all the time.
Olivia Cobb
I’d love planner things or mini art pieces for printables!! Will your shop update have any original pieces?
cheyenne 🌠
noted! i'll make sure to make the background transparent on the files, so that you can use it for digital stuff too!
Posie Sheriko
I love when you make planner and journaling content it brings so much joy to my daily routine 💕. Also even though you're in a slump I think you're marvelous and your art always brings me so much joy!!! (I really liked seeing your doodle time on insta, it made my day!!!) I hope a little bit of sunshine makes it your way and you feel better soon! Take care! ✨
Kate Lee
This was so reassuring to read and really made my day - thank you for sharing!! I don't have access to a printer during lockdown here, but a printer we could use digitally to plan/journal would be so lovely. <3
eden rae
lesbian content!! we love lesbian content!!! thank you for always sharing your ups and downs. i know the anxiety makes it hard to see sometimes, but you’re making beautiful things happen on those pages!
Shelly
I’m so glad you’re opening up your shop again, and even more excited that you are going to offer some dutiful downloads!!!! I would love to see some of your character illustrations available if possible! I absolutely adored your draw this in your style from a week ago (approximately) and so anything like that I would instantly download! 💖💖
cheyenne 🌠
I mean Canada as well, unfortunately. :( Again, this is just for a month, until postal systems settle a bit more. I'm so sorry!
Karen J. McLean
Quick question: By “international,” do you mean overseas, or Canada as well?
