Follow the Doodle

Mary Liz Ingram —  May 29, 2013 — 2 Comments

I label myself as “Mary Liz Ingram: Pastel Artist and Instructor.” You can read that on this site, on Twitter, Facebook, in my bio. I create “Pieces of the South”: cotton bolls, hay bales, cows, pigs, donkeys, you name it.

But I haven’t been drawing with my pastels very much lately. And I haven’t been drawing cotton or pigs. If you keep up with my blog, you might notice lots of ink doodles, graphite sketches and watercolors of my children.

I believe in a lot of things.

In business, I believe you go for it, you work hard, you do what needs to be done. When beginning my art career, I drew and sold lots of sheep pastels. Sometimes I wanted to draw something else, but I needed to make a name for myself and I needed to “increase the funds,” if you get my drift. So I drew more sheep – lovely, puffy little fellows.

In art, and in life, I believe you need to follow your inspirations. I am now in a place (hooray!) in which I don’t have to push myself as hard to promote and sell my art (thank you world!). I can “chase wild hares,” as my mother might say; I can follow inspiration without asking to where it leads.

As a mother of three, who thankfully gets to spend time with my children in tandem with my day job, I collect moments and experiences that scream to be drawn. I see so much art in my children: in their expressive, clear blue eyes; in their little hands with dimpled knuckles; in their creative mischievousness and busy minds. I’m sure my Facebook friends tire of the barrage of pictures I throw at them; some of the photos I am lucky enough to take are so artistically beautiful and touching to me, I want to share them with others.

There is something so deeply magical about the innocence, freedom and creativity of a child. It touches all our hearts in one way or another. So I follow my inspirations.

Here are a few doodles from our day together:

Front Yard Baseball, ink doodle

Front Yard Baseball, ink doodle

First Corn on the Cob, ink doodle

First Corn on the Cob, ink doodle

Silly Girl, ink doodle

Silly Girl, ink doodle

More of my art inspired by my children (just to choose a few…)

Pillow Fort

The Corner

Rainy Day Sketch

 

Sewing Lesson

Lovely Girl

Snowballs

Change of Shoes

“Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable.” 

-Francis Bacon

 

Mary Liz Ingram

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2 responses to Follow the Doodle

  1. Love the doodles! You just amaze me ML. Your talent as an artist just keeps getting better. What a legacy you are leaving the kids….Almost a window Into their lives as they grow up…but instead of photos or videos, it’s your incredible art that they will have to cherish forever. Come see me! I miss you. Im sure your very busy though, while Stephen is away. Love you!

    • Mary Liz Ingram May 29, 2013 at 7:59 pm

      Aw thanks Carl…you are always so uplifting! I hadn’t thought about that. I journal in a book for each of them, and have gotten a bit lazy, but I HAVE been journaling their “stories” through art! You’re right! Thanks for helping me see that; that makes me happy 🙂

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