Hi, still here.
It's been awhile but I'm OK, just sidetracked by life events and some projects that are not my usual arts and crafts stuff.
I'm still filling sketchbooks with acrylic abstract art. Spending time doing watercolor technique exercises and experiments. Dabbling in some aesthetic journaling. And even tried my hand at one of todays paint-by-number kits. How was that? Terrible. Let's just say these kits are not the relaxing fun kits your grandmother did as a kid.
I thought it would be a no-brainer relaxing thing to do. Nope. Dozens of hours later, two layers of paint on everything (because the paint is crap), alot of artistic license, and embellishments with additionally purchase paint pens to do the details that cannot be done with a paint brush. I honestly don't know why I didn't just throw it away after the first pass because I didn't spend that much money on it, but I didn't.
So, my advice. Don't pick something with so much detail. Flowers or landscapes might be easier. Expect to spend 2,3,4 times more time doing it than you think. Ignore everything everyone on the internet says, tips and tricks, etc. There is no right or wrong way. Do it your way and try to have fun? Or toss it and say "well I learned something, not doing that again".
But what I've really been spending alot of time on, and still have a ton to do, is a huge old family movies/videos project. I have about 20 years of old family movies to make viewable and shareable on todays devices. Some of those years were originally recorded on VHS tape. Now all of it is reformatted and loaded on a modern device. I got that far, Yeah! But hours of editing and organizing awaite me. So you might not hear from me for awhile, but then again, I'm a multitasker and I have a couple bookbinding projects waiting to be finished.
Thanks for reading.
Aileen
