Back from Amsterdam

Hey, so I'm back from Amsterdam, and I had a brilliant time while over there. We did everything we had planned, and more! This is what we got up to:

Friday: We spent the day exploring, and went to the Rome exhibition at De Nieuwe Kerk. We didn't get up to much in the evening.
Saturday: Spent most of the day at the Rijksmuseum. It's number 1 on Trip Advisor, and for good reason! Went to Boom Chicago in the evening for some laughs.
Sunday: Went to the Van Gogh museum, and was a bit disappointed with it. Spent most of Sunday evening bar-hopping.

Our room, had a cage for a wardrobe, and a mini-jail on top of the bathroom!

Our hotel, Mauro Mansion

Centraal Station 

Night Watch, Rembrandt, Rijksmuseum

Portrait of Vincent Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum

Library in the Rijksmuseum, it's like something from Beauty and the Beast!

Model of an oriental vessel, Rijksmuseum

Quick 5 minute sketch

Tried to do the same on my tablet, didn't work out quite so well

My first day back at work was 2 days out of the office doing team building. The morning's activity was outdoor-based, and was OK, nothing special. However the afternoon's activity was a take on the Great British Bake Off - I was in my element! Our team didn't win but I still had fun. There was a party in the evening, and I behaved myself and drank diet coke for half of the night. I was very smug the next morning when a lot of people had hangovers!

I haven't drawn much while being in Amsterdam, or since I returned, I'm not sure what to do next. I'm sure I'll figure something out. I should probably finish my dragon piece.

I found something on the internet before I went on holiday, designers might find amusing, it certainly made me smile: http://www.creativebloq.com/design/creative-process-timeline-nails-it-111518018

For my Pinterest of the week I must admit I've not read this yet, but I've pinned it for future reading: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/240238961349923858/

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous new year. Dream big, don't give up, and don't take yourself too seriously :)

Being ill and not doing much art, more research

I've been lazy again this week and not done any art except a small logo mock-up for my freelancing (which I will post at a later date). I've also been ill since Friday (nothing serious, just a sore throat but it knocks me for six...), and usually most of my art time is on the weekend, and I've just not felt up to it :( I have been doing some browsing and researching instead though, which I will share with you :)

A few months ago I downloaded the Freelancing Handbook by +Creativebloqq, which is immensely hepful. I've printed my own version and scribbled and highlighted all over it, and this is what properly kickstarted my interest is going freelance. Now there is a new book, although I've not downloaded it yet: Pay Me or Else free e-book at http://thenuschool.com/pay-me-or-else/ I'm not affiliated with CreativeBloq at all, but I follow them on twitter and they usually have something of interest for me to look at every day.

I've been toying with the idea of doing an art collaboration after inspiration in my home town where someone has opened a venue for this kind of thing (although it seems to be for sculptors). I've also been toying with the idea of joining the local art community. They have a free exhibition at a church where I live, I was going to go this weekend but I really don't have the energy to talk to people with me being ill right now. Hopefully I'll get down there this coming weekend.

I've also decided I don't draw enough AT ALL, so I am going to try and make drawing a daily habit, even if it's only 10 minutes. I've found a community on DeviantArt which seems cool, so I'll give them a go: http://improvementdaily.deviantart.com/

Also I know my library do free magazines, but they've never had a good selection. However I checked again this weekend, and they now have Artist's & Illustrator's, and Imagine FX :) So I can now read these magazines for free, happy days!

Anyway, last week I forgot to show you my WIP of my Rainbow Art & Design logo, please see below, enjoy!

Well, that's all for this week, I was contemplating sorting out my greenhouse, but I haven't got the energy to do much at all today (it's taken me 3 attempts over the day to get this blog entry written!), so I'm going to watch the re-run of Britain's Got Talent, have a bath and have an early night, hopefully I'll be better next weekend, have a good week!