What a brilliant newsletter. I am always in search of chaos too! But I call it magic. You’ve really dissected it here. So interesting. Sometimes I find a formula for the magic but then the formula stops working. So painful!
Magic is such a good word for it! I know exactly what you mean about having a formula and then it stops working, it's so frustrating! Your 3 Material Challenge has been so good for exploring this, thanks so much for getting it going this year!
Thanks so much Katie, I'm so glad bits of process can be interesting to other people! It feels like that's the lovely opportunity Substack has created - to spend a bit longer digging in and exploring all the bits and pieces.
Are you in my brain? Because this is me all over! The whole idea of approaching illustrations as a way of expressing or communicating something is a gamechanger, especially the point about mark making with purpose (that blender scene is pure perfection!).
I'm with you in your ongoing search for the perfect/not perfect squiggly line. It'll appear when we least expect it! Thank you for sharing x
It's so hard to balance the good chaos (i like to call it magic as Naomi or good chaos bc there's also a very bad chaos we don't want to talk about now), when you think you find it and relax just a bit seems it slips away...so I think we need to just enjoy more when the good chaos happens! Beautiful words Nanette, you described it perfectly ❤️
This makes perfect sense. I previously wrote about chaos among calm, a sort of yin and yang relationship where the one requires the other and you have summed it up better than I did. 👍😀
This was such an interesting read! I've never put it into words as articulately as this but I feel like that quest for a balance of chaos and careful is at the heart of what I'm trying to do too. I love that drawing of the bottles!
I completely relate to your idea of chaos plus chaos being too much! I always want to include lots of texture in my work but it's difficult to know when there's too many textures and too much layering until I've already crossed that line 😅
Exactly! Everything seems to be going well then suddenly you're across the line and you didn't even see it coming! Making lots of textures is so much fun though!
What a brilliant newsletter. I am always in search of chaos too! But I call it magic. You’ve really dissected it here. So interesting. Sometimes I find a formula for the magic but then the formula stops working. So painful!
Magic is such a good word for it! I know exactly what you mean about having a formula and then it stops working, it's so frustrating! Your 3 Material Challenge has been so good for exploring this, thanks so much for getting it going this year!
A very enjoyable and informative post! I really feel Firmly Glued Bananas should be the title of an autobiography....
Jane that made me laugh SO much! Now I'm imagining the character who's autobiography it would be.
Really enjoyed reading this. So interesting.
Thank you so much for reading Polly! I really enjoy your newsletter too!
I love your pen pots with all the pens and brushes in ! What a lovely newsletter - I love seeing all your pieces and processes.
Thanks so much Katie, I'm so glad bits of process can be interesting to other people! It feels like that's the lovely opportunity Substack has created - to spend a bit longer digging in and exploring all the bits and pieces.
Are you in my brain? Because this is me all over! The whole idea of approaching illustrations as a way of expressing or communicating something is a gamechanger, especially the point about mark making with purpose (that blender scene is pure perfection!).
I'm with you in your ongoing search for the perfect/not perfect squiggly line. It'll appear when we least expect it! Thank you for sharing x
Hahaha! It's good to know other people's brains are similar on the inside!
Yes, that pesky line only ever arrives when it's not expected. Maybe that's why we keep drawing - to see if we can trick it into appearing!
Oh this is so very true Nanette and beautifully written too 🥰👌A wobbly instrument and careful looking is definitely a good formula
🥰 I often have to remind myself to do the looking, all the fun is in the wobble!
It's so hard to balance the good chaos (i like to call it magic as Naomi or good chaos bc there's also a very bad chaos we don't want to talk about now), when you think you find it and relax just a bit seems it slips away...so I think we need to just enjoy more when the good chaos happens! Beautiful words Nanette, you described it perfectly ❤️
That's such a good idea to enjoy it more when it happens, I love that idea! ✨
This makes perfect sense. I previously wrote about chaos among calm, a sort of yin and yang relationship where the one requires the other and you have summed it up better than I did. 👍😀
Ohhhh yes - a yin and yang relationship is exactly right! You've summed it up in a single sentence!
This was such an interesting read! I've never put it into words as articulately as this but I feel like that quest for a balance of chaos and careful is at the heart of what I'm trying to do too. I love that drawing of the bottles!
Thank you Martha. It is a real quest to find that balance, probably a never ending quest! 😂
I completely relate to your idea of chaos plus chaos being too much! I always want to include lots of texture in my work but it's difficult to know when there's too many textures and too much layering until I've already crossed that line 😅
Exactly! Everything seems to be going well then suddenly you're across the line and you didn't even see it coming! Making lots of textures is so much fun though!