Foxy Lady says Have Some Art

March 18, 2020

It’s a scary time for a lot of folks. Some of us are in quarantine (or know folks who are), others are wondering how and when their country is going to take action. Some of you are staring at the empty shelves and freaking out a little.

My brother and his family, and my mother and sister all live in China, and have been in lockdown for two months. Chatting with him has been helpful because it does give some perspective on how to deal with this, and what can go right. While I realise China has very different, far more stringent methods of control than other countries, it’s still useful to hear things from people who’ve been through this.

My family and I are now in 14 day isolation, though if we do have the virus, it is VERY mild, thank goodness. The quarantine is not for us. It’s for those who are older, immunocompromised, or dealing with other conditions.

And there are ways to make this work.

First off: YOU DON’T NEED TO PANIC BUY TOILET PAPER.

But now might be a really good time to drag out all those art sets you bought and never got round to using. Loading up that software you’ve been meaning to practice using, or doing some Marie Kondo-style home clearing.

Here are the things I’m doing, and I hope that you find something there to inspire:

  1. Practising my digital art using Clip Studio and my Huion tablet.*

  2. Catching up on the million and one ebook deals I bought and never read! (Currently reading Tade Thompson’s Rosewater.)

  3. Writing when I feel like it (I don’t at the moment, but that’s fine too.)

  4. Rewatching Doctor Who and Torchwood - obviously, being stuck at home means you get to catch up on all those new series, but there’s nothing wrong with comfort-watching your faves. Keep yourself HAPPY! (iplayer link for UK peeps)

  5. Spending some time on the many unfinished Udemy courses I have :D :D

You don’t have to write King Lear, or paint the Mona Lisa, or change the world.

Right now, keep yourself safe, enjoy time spent with your loved ones (be they human, furry, or scaly) and find the happiness in the small things you can do. If you have a garden, head out for some fresh air. Wash your hands. Watch the clouds. Colour in.

And on that note, I’m going to be throwing some of my art practice here as free downloads, if you’d like to print them and play with pencils, paint, whatever. Go wild! And if you do make something, take a pic and share it with me on twitter or instagram.

Simply right click and save: the file prints at standard A4 size.

Stay safe and be happy!

Cat