Ended Official BYC Mini Contest - "WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY?"

[BantyChooks]

Your art is really cute! Drawing without a reference depends on what kind of art you want to produce. Even the most famous and talented artists use references. The key is actually drawing what you SEE, not what you KNOW. A good way to practice is to turn your reference picture up side down and draw it. The lines may not make sense, but it will make you pay attention to what you're actually looking at. Another way is to divide your reference pic into a grid, only draw what you see in one square at a time, then put them together for a really interesting mosaic effect. There are so many other ways, but I won't go into all that here... keep up your good work!


Well, it can be difficult to find the time to draw regularly. I don't think letting a few months go by is a big deal... I've even been known to not draw anything for years at a time! It happens. I don't think drawing all the time is necessary unless it's your job... to me, my best improvement comes when I focus on something new for a certain amount of time, then take a break (unless I'm really inspired and get obsessed). Maybe you haven't found your favorite medium yet. As much as I love drawing, I love crafty stuff just as much and find myself constantly pulled in different directions. Sometimes I only get to do housework.

OK, I know there's plenty of chicken enablers here... but I'd like to offer you some encouragement and try to enable your drawing hobby even further. How about next year (that will give us both time to prepare) we can try the Inktober or Huevember challenge together and invite any others who want to join?! I know I won't be able to do both... I never even finished the 2nd one. There aren't any prizes or winners, only a personal sense of satisfaction.

Looking at other people's work can be very inspirational, I discovered all kinds of artists with all different skill levels on instagram. Posting a few pictures led to some artist interactions, which led to the drawing challenge thing. I haven't been there in a while-- BYC takes up all my time now! You can check out what it's all about:
Inktober Official Site
Inktober art on instagram
Huevember art on instagram

Never in a million years did I think I would get comfortable using ink, but there's just something about trying to meet a challenge and drawing something every single day that makes it fun to step outside my comfort zone (but I don't think anyone could maintain that indefinitely). After all, you don't have to create masterpieces, no pressure with just sketches.
(gosh, sorry this post was so ridiculously long )

Hey, I like that idea! I'm down for it. Don't let me forget, lol.

 

[N F C]

Boy, it doesn't pay to get behind on this thread! Now I'm totally blown away by everyone's wonderful work and don't know where to start with all the "bravos".

Wonderful work everyone, it's great seeing all the beauty you are creating!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Yes!!! There is so much talent involved in everyone's hobbies here. Even the ones I'm not familiar with at all can offer an interesting and fresh perspective!

I want to comment on every single person's post... but I don't want to keep clogging up the thread (but I probably will anyway). I just love love looking "behind the scenes" of familiar names.

Communication and getting to know each other is a good thing! Post away! we learn more everytime someone posts! Good morning to ya!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I have a number of other hobbies, Aikido and music held my interest for many years. Then there is this.
I did a second degree in my thirties through The Open University and became very interested in affordable environmentally friendly housing, particularly for single people.
As society changes, in the UK at least, there are more people choosing to live outside the nuclear family model that has dominated housing design since the sixties. Also given the increase in the post retirement population, many of whome find the conventional two story, three bedroom house with a postage stamp garden unmanageable and unfordable, I became interested in alternative dwelling design and I produced a few designs more as a hobby than anything else which make better use of the available land and have less environmental impact.
A few of these designs were built in the UK with some modifications.
The price of land in the UK and the inflexibility of the building regulations meant I was unable to build one of these designs for myself.

Here in Catalonia building regulations are somewhat different and I was eventually able to build one of my designs which I now live in.
The basis of all the designs are the earth bermed construction (three walls and the roof covered in earth)
While such designs are slightly more common now, they still tend to be high tech and more expensive than conventional builds. The design I live in is low tech (gravity fed water, partial solar heat hot water system, wood burning stove and standard electricity supply. You have to pay to go off grid here!
Some local builders and I built the shell. If I had been a few years younger I might have done this myself. Once the shell was built I did all the woodwork (roof, handbuilt windows, door, and all the interior)
Anyway, I won’t bore you with further details. I thought some might like to see what I built. It would make a great chicken coop.

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Now that is a HUGE tasking hobby! WOW!!! I have always wondered how they are kept dry! do you ever have a humidity issue? I have hughsnet and it is horrible but I would love to see the roof grown in! you may have posted an image but I only see a few! Thank you so very much for sharing! and as I read I do hope you shared other hobbies!! yall are such amazing people!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Our dream house is a straw bale house. Love them! Your home is beautiful.

Cob houses are amazing with all those curves and woodwork! oh to dream.... sighhhhh

 

[Sally Sunshine]

It does stay warm but you know there was one thing I never even thought about; I can hear a chicken run accross the roof! Air born noise, no problem; contact vibration and the place is like a drum. Fortunatly the donkeys don't go up there.

we need a funny along with that like button!!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

View attachment 1583457 View attachment 1583452 Aside from poultry something I have just recently gotten into is rug Hooking. It uses wool strips hooked through a burlap or linen backing. It is an old practice from when if you wanted a rug you had to make one. It has evolved into an art form. I am just a beginner having only one project completed. The pumpkin mat is the one I am working on now that shows the loops on the linen backing with the hook laying there. The Santa is my completed project, I hooked him flat then used a piece of wool as a backing and stuffed him. His beard is alpaca wool.

I enjoy it because it allows a creative outlet that doesn’t have to be perfect. I don’t have the talent for painting but I have lots of ideas for rugs.

and a wow button! now this is old school rugging!! Love them and so rustic! do you have a store or anything? sell at craft shows? you sure should if you dont yet!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

View attachment 1583457 View attachment 1583452 Aside from poultry something I have just recently gotten into is rug Hooking. It uses wool strips hooked through a burlap or linen backing. It is an old practice from when if you wanted a rug you had to make one. It has evolved into an art form. I am just a beginner having only one project completed. The pumpkin mat is the one I am working on now that shows the loops on the linen backing with the hook laying there. The Santa is my completed project, I hooked him flat then used a piece of wool as a backing and stuffed him. His beard is alpaca wool.

I enjoy it because it allows a creative outlet that doesn’t have to be perfect. I don’t have the talent for painting but I have lots of ideas for rugs.

I am over here like, dang so much for being thrilled with the gnomes the kids and I made for Xmas gifts this year <crying>

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Another one of my favorite hobbies is photography. I love to snap pictures of anything and everything. I use my iPhone, and my mom has Nikon D7100 that I borrow to go take pictures. I love taking pictures of animals, landscapes, flowers, and any other part of nature. I am not planning on photography becoming my profession in the future, but I love taking beautiful pictures to be able to look back at them and remember the moments and beauty.
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That pup is adorable!!!! and the barefeet! lol love them!!
Those desserts O M G Vanilla tarts with chocolate covered strawberries seriously? I wish I Could order for the baby shower I am preparing for!! Everyone would freak with foodies like that! and the images of them too wow! any pointers on taking images of my soap? I am terrible!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Your art is really cute! Drawing without a reference depends on what kind of art you want to produce. Even the most famous and talented artists use references. The key is actually drawing what you SEE, not what you KNOW. A good way to practice is to turn your reference picture up side down and draw it. The lines may not make sense, but it will make you pay attention to what you're actually looking at. Another way is to divide your reference pic into a grid, only draw what you see in one square at a time, then put them together for a really interesting mosaic effect. There are so many other ways, but I won't go into all that here... keep up your good work!


Well, it can be difficult to find the time to draw regularly. I don't think letting a few months go by is a big deal... I've even been known to not draw anything for years at a time! It happens. I don't think drawing all the time is necessary unless it's your job... to me, my best improvement comes when I focus on something new for a certain amount of time, then take a break (unless I'm really inspired and get obsessed). Maybe you haven't found your favorite medium yet. As much as I love drawing, I love crafty stuff just as much and find myself constantly pulled in different directions. Sometimes I only get to do housework.

OK, I know there's plenty of chicken enablers here... but I'd like to offer you some encouragement and try to enable your drawing hobby even further. How about next year (that will give us both time to prepare) we can try the Inktober or Huevember challenge together and invite any others who want to join?! I know I won't be able to do both... I never even finished the 2nd one. There aren't any prizes or winners, only a personal sense of satisfaction.

Looking at other people's work can be very inspirational, I discovered all kinds of artists with all different skill levels on instagram. Posting a few pictures led to some artist interactions, which led to the drawing challenge thing. I haven't been there in a while--

My daughter keeps telling me to post on instagram for the soap co but its an area I havent messed with much. its all just images right? I asked her to make a soap profile up and do it for me but she is too busy at going on 14 very soon!! seriously! kids!