Osvaldo Cavandoli and His Colors

“When artist draws a magic line, it takes on a life of its own, becoming a silhouette of a living hot-tempered person. This “Mr. Linea” wants more things drawn so he can enjoy himself, but the artist loves having fun on Mr. Linea’s account.” (1)

What does this small quotation remind you? For me , it is the Mr. Linea talking with its creator, Osvaldo Cavandoli. When I first watched it on television as a little girl, I remember a talking line called “Bay Meraklı” in Turkish, meaning “Mister Curious” in English. I don’t know the naming process in Turkey, but I like the name “Mister Curious.” It sounds very interesting to me.

I can’t forget the sound of the pen and Mr. Linea’s voice. Sometimes he was loud and I couldn’t understand what he said. I could only understand his wants from his movements, which was enough for a little girl to enjoy it. Originally created for an advertisement, “Mr. Linea” gained popularity and was aired in many countries around the world. Its simplicity and fun made it a beloved character.

I usually write about painters in this series of “Artists and their colors,” but as I wrote before in my blog, sometimes styles inspire me. Cavandoli’s white lineman is one of the cult classics of the media world. It involves creativity, authenticity, and fun. Looking from a different perspective, aren’t animations moving pictures?”

References

  1. Animation description from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406432/

The Art Of Creating

🌱It was 01:38 AM, and I suddenly decided to open my computer… I wanted to write this post because I wanted and voices in my creative part of my mind started to doodle things. They were shapes with vivid colors. At first, they were like clouds; they moved and changed shapes.Then I saw the deeper meaning behind this blue scene; it is not about defining the shape but following the wind flow. Creating is not just about forming new thing but also observing how they change through life. Sometimes a simple dot is enough to reflect an emotion and other times you want draw everything you know. Stars, lights, boxes, circles, books, and more…  The most important is being curious; being curious about yourself and your surroundings. This way you are open to new things and experiences. Life is the total of what we have experienced and how we did them. Therefore, creating something is not only for painters, singers, and many similar groups of people. You can choose paths in your life, color your map the way you want, and keep it wherever it is truly yours. We all have our authentic ways and using them is the most magical thing we can achieve. 

With love, 

Serra 🌸

New Habits in My Journey

With this blog I started to see new things in my life. I am writing 3 posts per week and drawing more illustrations than before. 🤓 Working strategically, I have to look outside world from new perspectives.  I have to make more daily observations,  draw more stuff in shorter time periods and write their stories down when sharing them with you. I used sentences starting with  “I have to “ I know but I am very happy while doing all these. 🙃 These are not necessities that I have to focus on, these are the small steps of a bigger picture. A picture filled with my illustrations, people using them as inspirations in their lives and making them smile while using my products. 🧩I am not only selling products with illustrations on, I am creating things that I find meaningful and want to share their stories with you. This is why I am very happy to be part of this journey. I may not know who is buying my products but what I see is two people being inspired by the same thing. ✨

In this journey I started to develop a new skill; writing regularly. I am very excited about this new habit in my life. Nowadays I write more confidently and started to create my writing styles. Plus, I love the sound of keyboard when I am writing. 🤓 Hearing it makes me calmer. Turning the computer off after creating something for work is one of the favorite moments in my daily routines. Also closing the case of my tablet which is a very similar step in terms of its function in my life. Knowing having a productive day and feeling that sweet tiredness makes me a happier person. Every Friday that I completed my list of work, I feel more liberated. I like ending the week without thinking the next one. 

What are your motivations to work?✨  Even if you are doing something you don’t like, what reminds you to be more productive? 🌱

Thank you, 

Serra ☺️

Mother Nature is painting the sky

Did you know sometimes Mother Nature paints the sky, when the earth changes its angle? She takes out her canvas and creates beautiful landscapes. Sometimes she chooses so many colors that one can’t believe it. Oranges, pinks, yellows, and more… It’s truly magnificent. Once, during one of our daily walks, I asked her how she does it. How she uses her colors when darker tones take their place. I had so many questions but not enough time to hear all the answers. She took a sip of her coffee, smiled at me, and said, “I only have one color. The sun changes the reflections.” She added, “It’s like a game between me and the sun. I show the color, and it decides which tone to reflect.” I was amazed by this answer. I imagined her studio with lots of colors, brushes, and canvases. But she only has one color. Imagine what she could create if she had more! It might be something like a disco ball.

When we were returning from the walk, we didn’t talk much. But I remember the one piece of advice she gave me: love your colors and let the light play with them. You will see colors that no painter has ever used before.

Note: Visual is generated by AI*

Monet and his colors

Hi☺️

Today, I’ll be writing about Claude Monet and his use of colors. Like other artists I’ve wrote before, Monet holds a special place in my heart. His technique and points of view profoundly inspire me. 🌱 What sets him apart is his unique approach to light. After learning more about him, I felt a deeper connection, not only because of his love for light but also because his subjects mirror life itself. 🪞

As we know, Monet painted landscapes and cityscapes countless times. One article I read mentioned his dedication to capturing the same subject throughout the day. He would work on three canvases simultaneously, moving from one to another as the light changed. (1) This approach is incredibly inspiring for me, as I also strive to capture light and perspective in my illustrations of everyday objects.  

Returning to the article, Monet is a cornerstone of Impressionism, his techniques significantly influencing the movement. He worked alongside Degas, Manet, and other notable artists. (2) His home in Giverny was a primary subject, inspiring him to redesign his garden for even more artistic opportunities. 🌸 Throughout his career, Monet painted his water lilies 250 times, much like Degas’s focus on ballet dancers. (3) His deep appreciation for nature, a vast palette of colors and tones, is another reason for my admiration. Nature is a constant source of inspiration, offering endless possibilities for artistic expression.

Considering all these factors, Monet’s artistry profoundly inspires me. His techniques, perspective, and dedication to his subjects make him truly unique. His creation of 250 water lily paintings is a testament to his dedication and artistic vision. What aspects of his work do you find most appealing? ☺️ What do you see in his paintings? 💭

References 

(1) Laura Auricchio, Claude Monet (1840–1926) , https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cmon/hd_cmon.htm

(2) Laura Auricchio, Claude Monet (1840–1926) , https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cmon/hd_cmon.htm

(3) Claude Monet, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Monet

How to draw something?

How to draw something? 

Everything starts with a dot, followed by a line. Dot continues to fill empty spaces. What’s important is how it fills. You may see a simple form of dots and lines but what you see is the reflection of the dot’s journey. What we are shapes our dots and lines; ones we draw and other ones we like to see. This is why being authentic is the essence of our beings. Our differences creates diversity and harmony. 

Other relevant questions coming to my mind are; 

What are your favorite colors? 

What do you use to when drawing something? 

Do you prefer minimalism or do you like more detailed works? 

There are so many questions but I cannot write all of them here. Looking back at the flow of the article, I realized the question had evolved.. Asking ”How do you draw something?” is more inspiring and right than “How to draw something?” 

So, how do you draw something? 

Note: The visual is generated by AI*

Journaling and Building Positive Habits

Journaling can help you become more productive by tracking your habits and daily life. In the process, you’ll gain self-awareness and discover new ways to improve your life. While positive habits are beneficial, negative habits can hinder progress. These unconscious patterns can become comfortable and ingrained. To overcome them, it’s essential to replace bad habits with good ones. This shift in perspective opens the door to positive changes.

Perfectionism is a common negative habit in many contexts. It’s often associated with excellence, but being good at something doesn’t require perfection. The definition of perfection itself is subjective and influenced by personal experiences.

How can we overcome perfectionism?

  1. Finding  the motivation: Perfectionism can lead to procrastination and missed opportunities. Ask yourself, “What am I missing out on because I’m afraid of being less than perfect?” This shift in perspective can motivate you to take action.
  2. Asking “What could help calm your anxiety in the moment?” when in need. Internal voices can hinder progress. Identify what’s causing your anxiety and redefine your approach. Negative self-talk, such as mind-reading, labeling, avoidance, catastrophizing, and making  should statements can sabotage your efforts. Instead, ask yourself, “What can help calm my anxiety right now?”
  3. Learning to set “enough” goals: Remember, progress is progress, regardless of its size. Overexertion isn’t always the key to success. Small steps can lead to significant achievements. Stay motivated and decisive to stay on track.

In conclusion, we all have both positive and negative habits. By becoming aware of ourselves, we can not only improve our well-being but also pursue our dreams with greater motivation. So, what are your dreams, and what steps can you take to achieve them?

Source:

Morra Aarons-Mele, Perfectionism holding you back? 3 ways to shift the habit, https://ideas.ted.com/3-ways-to-break-the-perfectionism-habit/ Apr 20, 2023

Note: Visual at the beginning is generated by AI*

How colors inspire me?

Today, I was getting ready to go out and wore my sports clothes. This is one of my typical days. However, I felt something was missing; I was only wearing white and black. I wanted to add color to my outfit and found some red lipstick to apply. 🎈 What I realized was that I’m changing. I need more color in my life and am excited to be open to it. Normally, I wouldn’t use red lipstick with my daily clothes, but adding some color is starting to motivate me to be more productive. Some days, I’m using a colorful hair scarf, other days, I’m putting on a simple make-up. This new Serra excites me!😊

How did this change start?

The answer is simple: drawing more has opened me up to new colors. When drawing something new, I add new color palettes. Every time I use new palettes, I feel more liberated. It’s like achieving things I don’t think of. I love my classic trio: yellow, blue, and green. However, adding more colors to my big palette is making me a happier person. It’s like reliving my 20s with a new perspective. I can say that it’s so much fun. It’s like getting younger when you least expect it.

I want to finish this post by asking some questions. What did you do today to feel like this? What inspires you to feel younger and free? 🌱✨

With love,

Serra 😊

Mother Nature is De-Cluttering

Did you notice the boxes outside Mother Nature’s house? When people saw them, they were upset. But Mother Nature cheered us up by explaining she was simply decluttering. She mentioned doing this twice a year, finding it quite relaxing.She was creating new spaces in her home. While we don’t understand her organizational system, her boxes were meticulously labeled with room names and purposes

We had a chance to chat during one of her daily walks. Our brief conversation was meaningful. She emphasized the importance of time as a valuable resource. She explained that using time wisely can improve everything in life, allowing for more activities and accomplishments. Decluttering is a similar process, creating space for new goals, hobbies, and experiences. It’s not just about physical space but also about reviewing life from different perspectives and possibly redefining our goals.

After our conversation, we found ourselves in front of a charming store. Both of us were drawn to its window display. The store seemed to have everything we needed. I was puzzled by how this store could be so appealing to both of us, a human and Mother Nature herself. The answer was simple: the store sold curiosity and excitement. She was looking for items to fill the empty spaces in her home, while I was exploring new ways to make my life more fulfilling

Note: The visual is generated by the AI*

Degas and His Colors

“It is all very well to copy what one sees, but it is far better to draw what one now only sees in one’s memory. That is a transformation in which imagination collaborates with memory.”

-Edgar Degas

For me, Degas is the painter of ballet dancers, color of pink and white, and small moments that make life beautiful. ✨ Since I was a little girl, I always found dancers and their clothes fascinating. Nowadays I find little girls in pink ribbons and ballet dresses  even more adorable. My mom dressed me as a ballerina with black dress in kindergarten and it is one of my most remembered childhood memories. I was like the black swan and had red shoes on. Even when I am writing this post I am wearing a colorful hair scarf. I cannot deny that I am still that little girl. Thus, it is no surprise for me to choose Degas as the second artist for my “Artists and their colors” writing serie. 🤓

Writing more about Degas and less about myself, he is one of the most known artists in the world. What makes him unique is his style that capturing more modern life moments. 

How does he capture those moments?

He especially draws horse races, singers, and dancers. He is interested in movement of the body. He uses unusual vantage points and pastels. He has approximately 1,500 works on ballet dancers. However, after his eyesight weakened he focused more on his sculptures. 

Putting all these into consideration, I just realized that what I meant with colors is not only colors. When making a research about an artist, I see style and influences as part of the color. So I see that color is a metaphor in this context and Degas has most fascinating ones. If he lived nowadays, I see him as a street photographer capturing people in cafes and in the street. He would still go to art schools but he might also continue to draw ballet dancers since they are his main subjects. How do you imagine him in today’s world? 😊

References

Edgar Degas (1834–1917): Painting and Drawing, https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/dgsp/hd_dgsp.htm