colorful inspiration

I am working on a design project for a close friend of mine. It has been a long while since I worked on a purely design project. My professional life has moved from graphic design into project and production management that is closely tied to technology and online systems. While I am in a 'creative' atmosphere everyday, I don't get to actively design pretty things anymore (at least at work, crafting and blogging helps fill the void a little). I miss it.

And to be even more honest, while I miss it and deep down I know the skill set still exists, this new design project has me nervous. And scared. It has been so long since I had an opportunity like this and the non-confident side of me wonders if I can still do it. In these situations I sometime get paralyzed by the white paper in front of me. You know, the blank paper of possibilities just waiting for ideas to be sketched on it?

Well that paper has been blank for a while now. Long enough that my sweet friend gave me a needed nudge yesterday. The nudge came at the perfect time. On Tuesday while driving home I had a brainstorm. I tend to get the best ideas when I back burner something for a bit and this one light-bulbed in the car while music was blaring out of the radio. Even though I remember the excitement I felt when I got the idea, the fear put it on the back burner once again. If it hadn't been for the nudge, it may have taken me a while to take the next step. Yesterday I did a bit of online research and the brainstorm evolved into an idea I am really excited about. An idea I so hope I can get out of my head and onto paper in a way that meets (exceeds would be even better) my expectations.

Last night I got out the sketchbook of pretty blank white pages and dug the colored pencils out of my old ArtBin caddy and started working. Goodness I forgot how much I loved colored pencils. Their smell and the noise they make clicking together brings me back in the day. Now if I just had a set of
http://www.dickblick.com/products/prismacolor-premier-double-ended-art-markers/ Prismacolor markers like back in college. That would be a shade of heaven.

I am inspired and thinking positively about this project. And after it's complete I may just have to take a drawing class. And you know what that means? New supplies of course!

Comments

[kelli]

I am so excited! And there are now a thank you set of markers headed your way.

[Nicki]

you should check google for the Prismas! I have found them quite cheap in bundles. You never know how much life is left to them but when you get 20 for 5$ instead of 60...its worth trying.

[Colleen]

That back burner can be a very good friend. Have a great time with this and those expectations. I'm sure you will exceed them!

[Mary]

I think that's true with a lot of things - about solving the problem only after you've put it on the back burner.

I work in the engineering field and if I have a design that I'm not quite sure how to proceed or I don't have a warm fuzzy feeling about, I go do something else for a couple hours. Usually the answer will come to me unbidden and once I take a fresh look at it I can solve the problem.

Anyway, that's exciting about having a design job! Good luck!

[Frank]

Good Luck C! Can't wait to see what you come up with, please share!

[Alli]

Good luck with your project! I definitely understand both the excitement and the nervousness. Congrats on getting started!