Daily No. 17

In May 2013 I began the 'Daily Doodles' which I posted on Facebook. I drew every day but each drawing in the series took about 2 days to complete. I have always been interested in producing a finished, if small or rather sketchy, drawing every day and I recently revived the habit of publishing them in the Drawing a Day blog here on my website and on Instagram. Today's is no.17, and I thought it would be interesting to compare the no.17s: left, Daily Doodles 17 from 2013, and right, today's.

The difference is now, two years on, I am getting a new drawing out every day, spending an average of an hour on each, so it is a fresh, immediate drawing relating to current work and thinking. It is a necessary discipline I have honed over the years - the problem with the Daily Doodles was that I was spending all day on them and not getting on with any major works at the same time. The Daily Doodles project in 2013 was, however, an incredibly informative one which built the backbone for the large works I am producing today, providing a rich library of mark-making, themes, and subjects which are all in use and being developed today. If, on the other hand,  I work slavishly on the larger works to the exclusion of all else, that part of my imagination which explores new ideas doesn't get used, which can end in exhaustion and stagnation. The commitment to publish every day is vital to the mechanism of my work; even if nobody is looking (which is a comforting thought!) - the drawings are side-notes, afterthoughts, things thrown up by the process.
It is an immediate action, too: draw, iPad or phone pic, share to my Instagram (screenshot below), then scan the image and and blog it on my website.

When have artists ever before had the ability to share instantly to a global audience? (albeit very small in my case, having only just started using Instagram, but I have to thank that very small following for their enthusiastic support!) - it is such a privilege and a luxury!
Incidentally, I publish the Drawing a Day here on my website every day I have access to my computer and scanner. Days when I am away from my little work station I still make that daily drawing, often on improvised materials, and it goes straight to Instagram via my phone or iPad; then when I get home it is posted here on the appropriate date. So if you ever come to the Drawing a Day blog and there isn't one yet, you will find it on my Instagram @heatherelizawalker.
I have discovered some amazing artists on Instagram - I shall share on this blog soon!