Being a new writer and illustrator, I can definitely identify with this feeling. I’ve got manuscripts submitted but nothing to show in public, and no books published. I love how Kendall turned this way of thinking around and thought about herself as a beginner, not an imposter. Once she had done that, her mindset shifted and she was able to engage with the other musicians with far more confidence.

Check out the conversation below:

The Waiting Game And The Doing Game

Most of the work I’ve created so far is being submitted to contests. Which left me wondering ‘What am I supposed to do in the meantime?’ Keep creating, of course! My son just pointed out that you can’t expect people to engage with your work if they don’t know you and know what your work is like. His suggestion was to write some stories to publish online, on my website, and on social media, to give people some insight into my writing style. That way, people can test the water and find out if they resonate with my work. Great idea!

I began to realise I was in a bit of a scarcity mindset. I was thinking of each story as something I had to hang onto just in case it was “the one.” The reality is, that I can write many stories, so why is it that we often feel like every story we create is our best and last? Maybe, if we didn’t feel that way we might be inclined to put less effort in, thinking that the next story will be better.

It could be said that the more you create, the more creative you become. Ideas tend to spark more ideas and being creative should be a fun and pleasurable experience. The trick is to find a balance. You don’t want to give everything away but you also want to have fun with it and interact with people.

My last mission was to write a story every two weeks, which I have been doing, and it’s been a lot of fun! My second mission over the next few weeks is to write some stories for sharing. I might add a few illustrations because that makes it more fun.

^_^R xox

The post Stepping Into Who You Really Want To Be first appeared on Renea Mackie.

Today in Doodling with Donk we’re going to create AXY Monsters!

What are AXY Monsters? Let’s start drawing to find out!

The AXY Monster

If A = Prickly

Then The A Monster = The Prickly Monster:

If X = Peanut Butter Coloured

Then The AX Monster = The Prickly, Peanut Butter Coloured Monster:

If Y = Ten-Eyed

Then The AXY Monster = The Prickly, Peanut Butter Coloured, Ten-Eyed Monster:

Other versions:

The AY Monster = The Prickly, Ten-Eyed Monster:

The XY Monster = The Peanut Butter Coloured, Ten-Eyed Monster:

Let’s try another!

If A = Bendy

Then The A Monster = The Bendy Monster:

If X = Friendly

Then The AX Monster = The Bendy, Friendly Monster:

If Y = Cake

Then The AXY Monster = The Bendy, Friendly, Cake Monster:

Other versions:

The AY Monster = The Bendy, Cake Monster:

The XY Monster = The Friendly, Cake Monster:

FYI – Donk loves to draw words backwards!

Try It Yourself

Now, make up your own AXY Monsters!

Some words to try:

• Sleepy
• Jumping
• Bubble
• Ice-cream
• Robot
• 9-armed
• Floppy
• Zig-Zag
• Stripey
• Dotty
• Tall
• Thin
• Round
• Triangle
• Sticky
• Snotty
• Feverish

Check out this cool Game Word Generator via The Game Gal if you’d like more word ideas. And if you would like an extra challenge, try creating your own Random Word Generator in Scratch! Check out Perfectly Penguin‘s tutorial on YouTube and adjust the program by creating lists A, X, and Y instead of First Name and Last Name!

What might a WAXY Monster look like?

Share your creations with me on Facebook or Instagram!

^_^R & DLPDCC

The post Doodling With Donk! – AXY Monsters first appeared on Renea Mackie.

Up until the age of 6, I remember having complete freedom to draw, color, and paint whatever I wanted, and however I wanted, or at least believing I had that freedom. So why does that belief fade as we get older? It certainly did for me anyway.

I distinctly remember, at the age of 6, looking at another kid’s drawing and for the first time beginning to compare it to my own work. I thought it was a great drawing, an interesting idea and I asked myself ‘Why didn’t I think about doing something like that?’ It was an abstract picture. I didn’t explicitly know what an abstract picture was at that point but looking at this other artwork compelled me to make comparisons.

I usually drew pictures based on the world around me and what I was experiencing at the time. Otherwise, my drawings would represent things I was interested in, like architecture or people. I can’t recall ever drawing an abstract picture before that time – unless finger painting counts. But being confronted with the idea of abstract artwork piqued my curiosity and inspired me to explore this new concept. Was that drawing a new creation that didn’t exist in our world or was it literally the way that kid experienced and saw an everyday object or happening?

Felts Fear Increases Exponentially Over Time?

As I have grown older, I’ve noticed that it has become increasingly more difficult to put pen to paper without the self-critic awakening within me and putting its two cents worth in before I’ve even come up with an idea! This is especially so if I’m using felt pens or any other permanent marker that I can’t erase. Once I make a mark, it’s there to stay. It can’t be changed. Even if you draw over it or try to incorporate it into a rethinking, the original thought still remains for all to see.

These days, I worry about what other people will think of my expression, how it compares to other work, whether I think it’s good or not, whether it serves any purpose, and really, does it need to serve a purpose? The kid that drew that abstract drawing when I was six years old probably didn’t think about me sitting there with my synapses alight in contemplation of what she had just produced. You could say, that every work has a purpose even if the creator isn’t aware of its purpose at the time.

I suppose this seemingly negative, possibly reflective change in thinking, helps us to navigate our way through the world and interact with others, responding to what’s happening around us with a degree of empathy. But I do miss that freedom of expression. I’d like to get back there. I’m not sure if it’s possible, but I’d like to try.

Renea’s Donk Le Ponk de Clompity Clomp book series focuses on different ways to unleash our creativity, find inspiration and express ourselves using our own unique voice.

The post The Blank Page Monster – Putting Your First Felt Forward first appeared on Renea Mackie.