A few more scribbles

Not what i meant to post today. have another painting to pour half way done but got sidetracked spring cleaning. Exhausted i noticed a sunflower volunteering from the bird seed out the den window and drew it.
My silly tortie kept begging for kitty snacks instead of letting me take a nap when i was slowing down. She was below me on the floor so this is a wonky drawing.
Tried out two new pens today that some people recommend for sketching. All are supposedly waterproof. I just felt odd drawing and writing w the bic and the zebra. I dont think the lines are thinner so will stick w my fav uniball micro pens.

Interesting recommendations for your ig feed to improve it from a woman who has a zillion followers. Thinking abt taking her class at the end of the april. Obviously she knows something i don’t know.

From Dina Brodsky! Her Ig is @ dinabrodsky and she has 772000 plus followers! So she must know what she’s talking about!!

Today, a few thoughts on your bio.

Why your bio is important and how to optimize it

  • Instagram is the platform of choice for the art world, and most galleries, collectors and critics will look at your instagram account before they look at your website or CV. Most people’s first impressions are formed instantly, so the first thing to do is to make sure your account is the best possible impression of you as an artist.
  • Your name/handle: make sure this is what you want to be known by in the art world. I would suggest sticking to your actual name, or, if that’s already taken, Yourname_artist, yourname_paintings, etc. Since this is your professional account, keep it professional, rather than charming/whimsical/clever. 

Your Profile Photo

  • Since most people are looking at instagram on their phone, your profile photo might be too small for them to make out. That being said, make sure its a photo of your art, you, or you and your art.

Your Bio

  • This is a place to say a few words about yourself as a person and as an artist. Also, a place to direct people to what’s happening in the link in your bio, which is the most important part of your profile 

Link in bio/website 

Why it’s important:

  • This is the only place on Instagram you can place a live link. This should be the place you direct people to the most important thing happening in your career at the moment  – your next exhibition, a write-up in a major publication, or something actionable like a workshop you’re trying to fill or a studio sale.


Why it’s really important:

  • Did you know that the Instagram algorithm puts a disproportionate weight on whether people click on your link in bio? This means that if you direct people to the link in your post/reel, and they click on it, that post will get prioritized by the algorithm and become visible to more people. 
  • DON’T put lots of links in your bio with tools like Linktree. Less than 1% of your audience will click your link–send them to the ONE place that’s most important to you. 
  • Pro tip: if you do want your link in bio to direct people to several places, don’t do it via Linktree, Lnk.bio or other third party apps. Instead make a Links page on your website, like this: https://www.dinabrodsky.com/links

    That way you are driving people to your website instead of a third party app.

Dina
Insights For Artists

Dina Brodsky, Boston, MA

31?! Key West Cycles

Pouring after watching a Linda Baker segment on Watercolor live 2023 which has been worth every penny. You really should consider this. Finally finishing it up. We got a 60 day extension which cost $200 more. Cheaper to sign up now than wait. Price increases. So glad Mike talked me into it. U can hit the pause button and do it at your leisure. If u do tell them i sent you. I don’t get a thing i just want them to know i am doing it. Truly a bargain at $297 right now.


I think i love pouring. May make a bigger one of these tomorrow. This is a quarter sheet of fabriano cp artistico. 300#.
The photo i took in Key West. Sucker for bike pics. I have abt 255 of them.
First mask
First pour. Cobalt Yellow ochre raw sienna
Second pour Yellow red and antwerp blue
Pouring indigo. I may have gotten carried away. You add masking before each pour.
I also added a grinder of salt all over it. The small bottle is soap to wash out the masking in the brush. It survived.
Oops getting a little too dark aka too much indigo
The masking off was not a pretty site. I guess i should have take A pic anyway. Adding paint w a brush to get rid of the hard edges left by the masking.
Quitting for now. This is the color it is now. No idea why my iPad pro takes accurate color like this and my iPad phone 13 does not. The phone is so much newer than the ipad. Maybe two years newer?!

Now to do a bigger one. But first the grocery store

Also made a jar Martha Stewarts sweet red onion pickles today. They are pretty even if they don’t taste good aren’t they? will have to try them shortly.

Margaret worn out exhausted w an unmade bed. Sigh. Xoxoxo

And like that it was over

Loved Judge Newman. What a great even keel kind of guy. My fav sketch today too. Funny story. I didnt notice he had a beard and mustache til i was almost done because i was so intent on drawing him. His hair. Well he had alot less til they read the verdict and i said wait he has alot more hair. Then i added it.
The prosecutor Waters did an awesome summation. His side kick today was even better. Well done to all the prosecution team. We didn’t think it would go their way but it did. Guilty!!!
And this guy what can i say but he was B O R I N G today. No wonder they lost.
Guilty
Guilty. Hope he enjoys the rest of his life in the SC jails. More than his wife and son got.

Watercolor and inktense pencils superaquabee book. Each drawing is about 6×9”.

Margaret xoxoxo

Another day

You got it. Another drawing. This time of my sweetie.

Calling this “A Good Book”
Watercolor pencils in my superaquabee. 6×9”

Margaret exhausted from her allergies. Yes the yellow pollen is flying early in Georgialina. Sigh. xoxoxoxoxo

Court reporter 3

So yes i drew him three times. I hear u saying how weird is that?! Seems appropriate to post the last drawing today when both sides have rested finally. Superaquabee tablet w Faber Castell watercolor and Inktense pencils.
This is the first drawing in case u missed the post.
This is the second one i posted. Then i didn’t draw another one though i did follow the trial to the bitter end. I would vote him guilty though i think the jury will be hung. i think Dad shot his son in a drunken pill fueled rage when Paul hounded him yet again about the pills. Mom was there when it happened so he pulled the other gun and shot her too. They always carried guns with them to shot hogs when they were out and about on Moselle so they were always handy.
The ospreys are back cavorting over the house shreiking which is how i saw this one flying just above my head. I heard the shreik couldnt find it til i looked straight up and there it was. Gorgeous birds. Six foot wing span.

Margaret who is tired and ready for bed after book club. Nite nite. Xoxoxoxo

Take two on court reporter

Alex Murdaugh take 2. Now I am tired. Watercolor pencil superaquabee sketchbook
The pencils. The loose colors are the ones i used alot. I mostly use Faber Castell and or Inktense. Better get them sharpened for Monday.

Maggie henceforth known as Mags ready for bed. hmm never heard that as a knickname for Margaret. Xoxoxo

Court reporter

In my next life i want to be a court reporter. Since we have alot of connections w the low country esp Edisto and Beaufort we have been following the Murdaugh trial. Today he testified which never happens. I could not resist drawing him.

.

Calling this Better than Alex did with the Sketch Artist

SLED asked him to work with a sketch artist for a portrait of the man who shot him on the Salkahatchee Road. Needless to say his idea of his attacker a man he knew well his Cousin Eddie was grossly inaccurate.

And that finishes off my Stillman and Birn Alpha book. Watercolor pencil. This was done with no pencil sketch like you do w watercolor but just coloring til i got it right.

I have Pumpkin ready to pour. I did her whiskers and wispy hits with a crowquill india ink pen just dipping it in and drawing with it quickly.
And then theres this ballerina Mike and I are virtually meeting up to work on tomorrow.
Supposedly she will look like this if we paint fast enough!! The Jury is out in this one. As in we shall see.

A little bird flew by

A tufted Titmouse that was out back this am eating before the cats showed up for breakfast. The cats don’t know it but I let them go hungry while the birds are. He’s not quite what I meant to do but at least it’s done.
This was how it started out and I didn’t like it. So I decided to darken the background. Still don’t like it. Then I got the razor knife out and started scratching it. Well it was as good as it was going to get. Titmice don’t hold still long enough to let you draw them. One seed and they are off.

Should have been finishing the flamingo but was having an unmotivated Saturday. 🙃🙃🙃

My baked mushrooms were delicious and so easy to make. Clean the big mushrooms. Bake them at 375 for 20-25 min. Slap a square or two of cheese on top and let it melt. Yummy. You can microwave them too but I like them baked better.

Margaret whose sleepy now. Xoxoxo

The daily bird

Available. Today it was a house sparrow. I do think they are so cute. My husbands favorite because if you feed them they will sit on your foot. Well his foot. Watercolor pencil on fabriano postcard. This little birdie would love to fly to your house.
Yesterdays Daily Bird A Chickadee. Also available! They are too cute.
Daffodils in full bloom around here. Spring is springing the pollen is flying. 😵‍💫
Out my back door tonite. What can I say but WOW!

Margaret xoxoxox

Oops dropped that ball

Forgot to post because my friend Mike and I wore ourselves out Wednesday virtually painting with each other. We did two of the sessions then collapsed for the rest of the week. Lol. We bees delicate.

The Thompson River – gouache, fluid 140# cold press paper

Mike Hernandez did a great job. So succinct. His day job is as Art Director for Dreamworks. How cool a job is that? His style is reminiscent of what I call the golden age of cartoons back in the forties when Disney and others had fabulous artwork in their animations.

Next up. One of these. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 Irena Roman said to try it out in my sketchbook first. So I did. Leaning toward the first one maybe reversed like the bottom one? What do you think. It will be big. At least a half sheet.
Doing it a la swan style. Hmm I forgot it was this way. Well maybe the first one then.

Margaret still tired xoxoxo