MARCH VLOG - Meeting Art Friends, 100 day project, Illustrating a Picture Book

[@WhstlblwrBlastingEpsteinsILK]

Lovely vlog! Love the art. Now I want the Pilot Parallel 😊 I was a picture 🖼 framer at Michael's Arts & Crafts chain. I used foam board to mount most of my work. It's so easy to cut. Mat board really requires the massive exspensive professional cutter in frame shops. Foam board comes in lots of colors. We marked our cut lines on the back of the matt board with pencil so we knew where to stop our blade. We used an exacto knife to finish the cuts, if necessary. We sold pre-cut Matt's in standard sizes. I see you're using cardboard as a base to protect your table. It's not firm so your cut won't be perfect. Perhaps a silicone mat or self-healing cutting mat. Fun video! 👍🏽

[@monkeymintaka]

I might look into foam board 🤔 I did try a cutting mat to begin with but I found the cardboard was easier but also I got marks when I pushed through. maybe I need something inbetween the two.

[@pam123469]

Love a long vlog!!! I totally get needing some introverting time after all those activities! Loving your 100 day project!! ❤ ps: I think you forgot to include the haul with all the goodies you got in London!!!!!😊

[@monkeymintaka]

I haven’t even looked at the stuff from London yet. It’s still on a pile on the couch 😂

[@pam123469]

@@monkeymintaka Probably a sign you should definitely film a haul video!🤣😍❤️

[@emmaneary6120]

Would love to visit the Lake District properly one day. I've only been there for one day on the way between other places. Oh I totally get feeling busy but not doing anything. I'd love the chance to sit down and do some 'proper' art.

[@monkeymintaka]

Yes Emma! I will show you around and we can have a drawing date :)

[@susanjohnson7854]

Love the vlog. I think you have a great combo of talent and hard work. Your comments about not doing enough art resonated. You seem to find more joy in the process than the finished object. A useful mantra might be "I can do anything, but I can't do everything". Try prioritising according to the value (to you)of the finished project - but please keep publishing videos for us fans!!😊

[@monkeymintaka]

Thanks for your thoughtful comment Susan :) I love that quote so much! I will try to remember it the next few months. Lately, I have been trying to do things that I want over what I feel like I should do. Like this weekend i probably should have caught up on a bunch of things, but instead I spent all weekend doing tutorials on 3D modelling in Blender 😅 I really do want to do everything haha

[@susanjohnson7854]

I'm looking forward to the day that I can purchase a "Best of MM's sketches" when you get around to publishing some of the wonderful content of your sketchbooks. In the meantime, I really enjoy your channel.😊

[@ChantelleArts]

What a stunning vlog, thank you for sharing with us ☺☺

[@monkeymintaka]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@WeirdIsTheBest]

This is such a cool vlog April! I loved your trip to London and what you drew there and so fun to see you draw shop fronts at the Odd Orange session. They’re so pretty! 😍

[@monkeymintaka]

Glad you liked it Kama! I want to try to make shorter videos though - an hour is so much work to edit!

[@ItsLizV]

Time to get some tea and settle down for the night with this vlog! it was lovely seeing you and katie, i'll be back up soon!!

[@monkeymintaka]

Was so nice Liz! We need to meet in the sunshine next time and go paddle boarding :)

[@fionawhitfield925]

I enjoyed all of the vlog April, thank you. When cutting mounts, always remember the golden rule. Measure twice, cut once😏😂 and I don’t mean your finger🫢 I was wondering if you had done any more with that printing press you purchased? Would love to see more of that. Thanks again for an interesting video? 💐

[@monkeymintaka]

haha yes! no fingers have been harmed so far 👀👀 I haven't done anything with the press since I made the cat print (and I haven't even printed the last layer of those either 🙈) I have never been good at sticking with one thing for too long, there are too many things I want to try. But I will definitely circle back to it.

[@deborahdownward3881]

Hi, first time watcher, really enjoyed your content. I had a completely metal mount cutter many, many years ago and had absolutely no success with it at all. Looking forward to your next vlog.

[@monkeymintaka]

So glad you enjoyed the video :) I haven't looked more into the mount cutting, but I think I want to give it another go very soon.

[@marielouiseweeksb33attitud33]

What a great video. I wonder if you stayed at the same hotel I stayed at in Victoria 😊. Loved your London drawings. I’m comforted by your failed daffodil as I really struggle to do them, although I thought yours was actually really okay.

[@monkeymintaka]

Daffodils are so hard to draw! I have no idea how people do them so effortlessly 😱

[@ayeshakhatuntamanna]

Love your styles of painting a lot, you are a naturally creative person ❤️

[@monkeymintaka]

Ahh thanks!

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

Just a few minutes in, but I love how when packing your bag hobbies are top priority 😄 hope you’re enjoying your introverting now and recharging

[@monkeymintaka]

Hobbies above all else! I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend in, and just chilling :)

[@BunNessa_Art]

I know exactly what you mean! I am very ambitious in my goals too and whenever i try to do simple sketches or painting studies, i make it complicated 😐. Heck, I have trouble trying to have minimal art supplies for when I want to paint outside 😮‍💨.

[@monkeymintaka]

The 3 material challenge is helping me be very minimalist this month, it is still hard though!

[@BunNessa_Art]

@@monkeymintaka I may have to try that!

[@Bonnie-r4b]

Very good sketches!

[@monkeymintaka]

Thanks :)

[@KerryAA7130]

Excellent video April , I’m subscribed to artsy as well … two great Arty KZbinrs xx

[@monkeymintaka]

Ahh yay :) Glad you enjoyed the vlog!

[@ArtySubu]

That weekend was such fun despite the rain!!!! 🌦 And loved your shops! That session was amazing, even inspired me to finish one of my old shop illustrations that was lying about!

[@monkeymintaka]

It was such a nice weekend Arty :) We need to do it again up in the Lake District!

[@ArtySubu]

​@@monkeymintaka I will make plans! 🎉

[@KatieCannonDesigns]

I love the long vlogs. Also the hike was great even if we did look like drowned rats at the end of the day. It was the best, and I am so glad that we got to hang out and enjoy the outdoors.

[@monkeymintaka]

I’m glad you had a good day hanging out with us Katie! It was so nice to meet in real life :) Next time I’ll come to America 😂

[@impish22]

thanks for sharing

[@ImaniTolliver]

The speedy drawing segments are mesmerizing!

[@monkeymintaka]

😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@ImaniTolliver]

@@monkeymintaka 🤣

[@krondal]

Absolutely love your videos and have been following you for years, but hate the up and down sound/the different levels of sound 🥺 Please adjust the sound... first noticed in this video 7:25...

[@monkeymintaka]

I’ll try to do better. Thanks for your feedback!