Being productive on the move: My top 3 apps

Anyone out there like me who has a long commute and/ or travels a lot will understand the pain of standing or sitting there with nothing to do!

When I started my new job a couple of months ago, I was faced with a commute of up to 2 hours, twice a day. I also travel a lot most weekends.

Now, I love social media as much as the next person, but there's only so much inane scrolling through Facebook I can take without my brain feeling like it is starting to rot a little! Right from the get-go, I wanted to use the hours spent travelling productively. A lot of the time, my journey is off-line as well, which makes internet browsing near impossible.

I have a kindle and my goodness, that has been a real god send during my commute. I also own a tablet, which is great for writing blog posts and watching videos on. However, some mornings or evenings I feel too tired to write anything or even read! I'm not a napper on public transport (the control freak within me super freaks out at the idea of being unconscious in a public place!) and I really want to make the most of my travel time, so it doesn't feel like I've wasted large chunks of my day.

In order for me to keep productive with little effort whilst on the move, I have started using these 3 apps, which so far are proving very valuable on my journeying!

Pocket

Pocket works as a little online... Well, pocket! I follow a lot of fantastic resources on social media and often come across articles that I want to read but don't have time to at that moment. Or, they're so good, I want to keep hold of them to re-visit. Pocket makes it easy to save links that you can then read offline. Perfect! It also has a tonne of suggestions for articles based on topics you like, which is great for even further reading and inspiration!

Stitcher

I am new to the world of podcasts. I don't know why, I just never really got into audio books or listening to people talk. I guess it's because I find it distracting whilst I am working on something else. However - when there's nothing to work on, e.g. you're stuck on a tube for 45 minutes and too tired to focus - I love them! I am a full blown podcast addict! I just started listening to Serial (highly recommend) and Stitcher has a super awesome collection of podcasts on that you can save to listen later. You can set it up so when you have WiFi, it will download the podcast to your phone/ tablet to then access offline.

Ted Talks

I love a good Ted Talk! I really enjoy how a) inspiring and b) short they are! In less than 20 minutes you can learn so much and I am yet to watch a Ted Talk where I've not thought long and hard about the message conveyed. The Ted Talks app is great - it's super easy to use and (can you sense a theme here?) you can download videos to watch offline! Woohoo!

So far, I've built myself a little bento box of goodies for my commute and travels to pick 'n' mix from as I please and how my mood takes me. I can listen, watch or read to my heart's content without relying on the internet. These apps are also helping me be more productive. It might seem unproductive just sitting back and listening to a podcast or watching a talk, but as far as I'm considered, I'm learning stuff and I'm taking time out from a pretty hectic day to re-charge. If I'm feeling good, I can then do good, productive things more easily!

Give these apps a go and if you've got any suggestions for other commuter-friendly offline-accessible apps; please do comment below!

Have a great day!

Emily (aka Little Lyra) xx

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated nor associated with any of the apps mentioned in this post. I wrote this just to share what is pleasing me at the moment and help inspire others on the move!

My art supplies

If there is one thing I could forever add to, it's my art supply collection. I have a tonne of art supplies and am constantly adding to the list! The main "type" of art I create is mixed media art, so the materials available are pretty much an endless stream of excitement!

I thought I would share with you my go-to supplies; things I use daily and would also recommend for anyone interested in mixed media but also on a budget. Where I can, I've added links to where I bought them, but it's worth shopping around to see if you can get them cheaper (I tend to do this, but on occasions may have missed saving a few £££s to get a fast order through/ bulk order from one shop etc.)

Paper:

I tend not to work on canvas, but paper. I like using paper more as it's easy to store, I can scan it in and it's less pricey than having an unending stock of canvas! I do work on canvas sometimes, but my go-to is paper. I use 2 types; my art journal and a spiral note pad that I take all the pages out of.

Daler Rowney Mixed Media paper (A4) 

This is my go-to paper. It's thick and holds out to a lot of water damage and when you trim the border down (it's in a spiral note pad) it's a little under A4, which makes it easier for framing and storing. t has a thick grain, which I like, as it adds more texture and doesn't warp easily. Sometimes it curls, but a bit of water on the back or taped down' it's fine. It's also very reasonably priced!

Moleskine art journal

This is my favourite sketchbook. It's small, and an interesting shape so it makes me re-think composition a lot. Despite not being hugely thick; the paper stands its own ground well and I'm yet to tear through from too much watercolour. I'm on my second of these and they last for ages. It's bound really well and I love using this as my art journal.

Free magazines from the Tube! I snap up those free magazines people hand out to you on the underground and save them up for collage use and paint over collage.

Vogue - maybe twice a year I will splash out on buying Vogue. It's expensive and I don't like the fashion world in particular; but there are some great pictures in there to use in collage.

The Great Gatsby book (!) - I tear out pages from my old copy of the Great Gatsby. The paper's turned brown over the years and adds a great layer of text for backgrounds.

Patterned scrapbook papers (various sources)

Washi tape (mostly bought of eBay in bulk)

Paint:

Craft paint (decoart and docraft) - I have a large collection of this paint as it's super cheap but still works well. They come in small bottles, which is perfect for testing out new colours and storage.

Daler Rowney graduate - I have the portrait pink colour and it's always, always used in my portraits as a base. It's a great Caucasian mid tone base.

Liquitex basic - I have some unbleached white and although the paint is a little plasticy; it's good mixed with other paints or white gesso for highlights.

Windsor & Newton Galeria - I'm slowly building up a paint collection in these colours, although they are kind of pricey (I get them from a discount store for about £3.99 a tube) the pigments are stunning and it's a really beautiful, glossy paint. I have 4 colours at the moment; teal, magenta, opera pink and ochre.

Gesso:

White gesso - Daler Rowney
Black gesso - Daler Rowney
Clear gesso - Liquitex

All these gessos are reasonably priced and not at all plasticy. I love the grain the clear gesso provides and these 3 mediums are always on my desk and I love them so much! Gesso to rule the world!!

Pens:

Posca pens - I got a set in bulk as they are expensive, but are prefect for small detail work. Don't use over wet paint as you'll destroy the nib (sorry, old black posca pen...RIP)

Letraset Promarker (manga fantasy set) - these are "posh felt tips" and really great for drawing and also can work well in mixed media pieces.

Micron Sakura pens - my favourite, favourite black pens. I'm constantly using them up but they are just perfect. They don't fade and look beautiful outlining watercolour pieces.

Pencils:

2B and 4B Faber Castell - I like to work with a soft pencil as it's great for smudging. Currently my 4B is the size of my little finger, and it's the 3rd this year. It's my go-to, must-have, cannot-live-without pencil.

2B Graphite Aquarelle by Faber Castell - really nice for adding dark tones and smudgy/smokey effects.

Glues and mediums:

Good old pritt stick!
Deco Art Media matte medium
Deco mache gloss decoupage glue
Winsor & Newton professional fixative
Pebeo Studio Acrylics modelling paste

Paintbrushes:

Daler Rowney gold taklon short handled synthetic brushes

I'm super mean to my paintbrushes and put them through hell, so I don't buy expensive ones. These ones have a great range of sizes and considering the beating they get form me, they last pretty well!

Da Vinci paintbrush (for canvas work and working BIG!) - I bought this paintbrush at an art retreat, although it is available on-line too I think. It's beautiful and big and has a great "spring" to the bristles.

And there you have it! I have some other bits and bobs too, but the above is my standard set of supplies.

What's your favourite art supply?

Have a great week!

Emily (aka Little Lyra) xx

How to create a layered art journal spread

I thought today I would share some techniques I used when art journalling. I consider my art journal to be many things. It is my diary, my brain dump, a place to try new art techniques and a place to play without pressure. I never go into a journal entry with preconceptions and never focus on the outcome; more the journey.

My approach to journalling varies a fair amount, although this is one of my favourite ways of processing my emotions - it creates a really beautifully layered spread. This post shows just 1 of the ways I fill up my journal with all my thoughts and musings...

Step 1: Do a brain dump.

Scribble down everything that's going on inside your head. Don't worry about the words, just get them out. I tend to have very large, loopy writing and when writing fast I don't worry myself with spelling or even if the words go over each other. This first layer is just about getting your thoughts down on paper. (I've obscured the majority of the text here as y'know, personal stuffz.)

Step 2: Wash over with watercolours.

I use a second layer of watercolours and blend in a mix of the same warmth. E.g. reds, yellows and oranges or blues and greens. I like to stick to the same colour groups as this way they rarely mix to make "mud"; they blend together nicely. I also keep the layer quite light and wet - I don't want to 100% obscure my brain dump, so the words still poke through here and there.

Step 3: Blot on another layer using similar colours.

Using acrylic paint (a mix of brands/ quality/ prices!) I then blot on the 3rd layer. I thin the paint out so it's very watery as acrylic can completely mask stuff. I also splatter paint using the end of the paintbrush and my fingers.

Steps 4 & 5 - Add an image and bring in another colour.

I really liked this image by Alfons Mucha, from a book I recently bought and so I photocopied the image and fixed it to the page using matte medium as an adhesive. I then put a layer of clear gesso over the top, which means I could easily add other medium on top of the image. As the image was black and white, I also added some streaks of black using my watercolour graphite pencil. The result is fairly gloomy looking! But I liked the contrast between the vibrant reds and the smears of grey/ black.

Step 6- Doodle!

 Adding doodles over the page for another layer is very therapeutic!   

Step 7:  Paint over collage.

Paint over collage is one of my favourite mixed media techniques. It's a great way to learn about shading and the structure of the face, by painting over a collaged image. You can also really put your own style on top of the original image. This lady was calling out for wild, firey hair. I painted a watered down layer of white gesso over the face, and re-drew the facial features using a black posca pen; the hair was created using watercolour crayons.

Step 8 - Add a quote and "tinker".

I like to add quotes to my journal pages. My go-to quote guy is Rumi. His quotes are mindful, beautiful and seeped with symbolism. Sometimes I seek out a quote directly related to what my brain dump uncovered, other times it's related to the imagery that comes out but sometimes it is just something I like! I first added the quote in the background using watercolour (the red) and then re-wrote it more prominently in black. I always tinker with my pages - add in little details here and there. I coloured in some of the flowers and just generally fiddled with the page.

Some close up detail shots:

After all those layers, you can still see the original text, which I really like. When do I know I am finished with a page? When it feels right. This spread took a couple of days, in dribs and drabs when I had free time. Before any art session, I try to start off spending some time with my journal. It's like a warm up, or just to help get some inspiration flowing.

Supplied used:

• Yellow posca pen
• Caran D’ache Necolour II watercolour crayons (reds, yellows and oranges)
• Acrylic paint – red, yellow and gold
• Photocopy of a photograph by Alfons Mucha
• Matte Medium
• Clear gesso
• Black posca pen
• Black watercolour graphite pencil
• White gesso

I hope you've enjoyed this little how-to! I highly recommend art journalling to anyone - whether you feel you have artistic qualities or not. It's a fantastic and creative way of working through your feelings and helping you get in touch with yourself. I will also let you in on a little secret... Everyone has inside them a budding artist desperate to burst out and come to life on the page. You can do it!

~ Emily (aka Little Lyra) xx

Instagram monthly round up: July 2015

Morning Chaps!

Happy Monday and Happy New Month!

Here's my monthly round up from my Instagram for July:

Instead of painstakingly transferring all my Instagram pictures from my phone to my computer, then re-sizing them into a grid; I discovered Monthly Collage that does all that for you! Fantastic! Time saving and the same effect ;-)

July has been another busy month for me and as you can see there are lots of works in progress! I had a "Christmas in July" Sunday last weekend and planned out what I will hopefully be showcasing in my Etsy shop for Christmas. So watch this space for updates!

I've also been learning to draw manga-style, which has been pretty fun! I got an awesome book about fantasy manga and it's really detailed, which is helpful plus it's sparked off my imagination for lots of paintings!

August is going to be a bit quieter for me, which is very much needed! I'm looking forward to having lots of time to paint (I have a 4 day weekend at the end of the month that I want to dedicate to pure art goodness!) so hopefully in next month's round up you will see lots more finished pieces!

Instagram is my main social media channel, so to keep up to date with what's going on in Little Lra's world, come say hi and give me a follow at www.instagram.com/lovelittlelyra : -)

Have a magical week,

Emily xx (aka Little Lyra)

Magical Monday: My favourite shares from Illustration Friday

Hi Chaps,

Happy Monday!

It's been raining and grey for the past couple of days here. I'm not a huge hater of rain. In fact, listening to heavy rain when I'm in bed or snuggled up in a thick jumper is one of the most relaxing things in life for me.

I stumbled across this song yesterday and can't stop playing it. It's so serene and perfect for playing softly during the rain!

Today's Magical Monday shares are 3 beautiful illustrations I found ages ago and had saved for the right moment to share! Illustration Friday is one of my favourite websites. There's so much inspiration on there and some really stunning artists with a whole plethora of different styles to become immersed in.

Paul Pope

I love the dark edge Paul's comic illustrations have. My favourite one is this black and white drawing - really striking and I love all the contrast on it.

Enrique Alcatena

Another striking black and white comic illustration! With Enrique's art I really like the intricacy and they remind me a little of Aubrey Beardsley's panels. This illustration is so bold and mysterious:

Kate Wilson

I love, love, love (!) these quirky little drawings. Chubby birds and sleek designs, all of her illustrations are beautiful - but Howard is definitely my fave:

And those are my 3 Magical Monday shares! I hope you like them as much as I do, and I'd really recommend some time browsing Illustration Friday - there's so much to see!

Have a wonderful week, 

Emily (aka Little Lyra) xx

Magical Monday: Unicorn Party!

Hi Chaps,

Hope you've had a lovely week and are looking forward to the week ahead!

I had a very magical weekend in the form of a unicorn party for my birthday! Even though my birthday was a month ago, I was too jet lagged from my business trip to NYC so I decided to postpone it till I had a bit more time to prepare and get a costume together.

Since I was a little girl, I've been a little bit obsessed with unicorns...! I remember I used to trawl through my Granny's copy of the Radio Times *every* week to see if the film Legend would be on TV... And the flipping excitement when it was! I used to have a pretty large collection of unicorn soft toys and I've been drawing unicorns for a long as I can remember. This mythical beauty is what got me excited about making art... Losing yourself in a moment of magic ; -)

So really, there was no better way to spend my birthday than having a few (ahem) glasses of unicorn juice (!) and donning a magical costume along with my buddies.

I actually managed to rock 2 costumes, as my friend had made an awesome unicorn horn and ears, so I kept stealing them haha!

Here was my first unicorn costume (I love this wig):

And this was my 2nd unicorn look! (Horn and ears made by my friend, Monika):

I had an absolute blast, and really enjoyed pretending to be a kid again with some good old fashioned party games... Pin the horn on the unicorn and a unicorn pinata!

We also tucked into a special unicorn cake I made; vanilla with white chocolate with strawberry jam... Mmmm! And I'm pretty pleased with my (totally amateur!) cake decorating:

Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek of my unicorn party and get inspired to be a kid again; be a bit silly and have a lot of fun!

Happy Magical Monday : -)

- Emily (aka Little Lyra) xx

How to art journal when you have very little time

I love art journalling. It's bloody brilliant and I think everyone should give it a go. Spending some quality time purging your busy brain through writing, painting, collaging; whatever medium you like. I always get a wonderfully wholesome and nourished feeling after a long, cathartic art journalling session.

But.

(There's always a but!)

I don't have a lot of time! And for me, art journalling takes a lot of time!

Recently I found myself more and more strapped for time (being out the house 12-13 hours a day can do that to you!) I want to spend quality time with my art journal, as well as painting on paper/ canvas as well as writing my blog as well as marketing my business as well as seeing friends as well as keeping the house from looking like a post apocalyptic ruin... You get the picture!

With art journalling - and even more so since I went back to working full time - I have to make time and sacrifice something else to do so. Don't get me wrong, for me, art journalling and all those other things stealing away my precious time ranks pretty damn highly on my list of priorities. And although it might seem like it, this isn't actually meant to be a long rant about how I never have spare time!

I actually want to share with you how I am overcoming the "I never have time to do art journalling" feeling. And how I'm also applying it pretty much everywhere else in my life.

Just like my life and business goals; I don't worry anymore about getting everything done in one go. I break it down into bite-sized pieces.

I used to be terrible with starting a piece of art and if I didn't finish it in that session... Buh bye! Deserted and abandoned on a pile of other "took too long"s. Nowadays, I just don't have that luxury!

If I abandoned every artwork - canvas or journal - I'd never actually get any artwork done at all! So I had to work to change my attitude towards my work. Now, before I start a painting I go into the painting already accepting that it will not be finished in this session.

It seems like even just having that mentality of "this is a work in progress and that's okay" kind if wins half the battle. I also leave my painting/ journal on my desk with the supplies I was using; not tidied away. I'm lucky enough to have my own space for creating so leaving things a little messy isn't really an issue. Lastly, I remind myself through looking at photos, having recently finished art around me and looking back through my journal. I've realised through looking at these past entries that when you spend time on things, be it a long session or several over the course of a fortnight; your art has so much depth to it.

Who cares that an art journal entry based one evening on letting go of fear the next evening morphs into embracing change? As a person, you or your feelings do not just stop each night and reset. You're an ever growing, ever changing and complicated human. Every day you finish just adds more layers to who you are.

I really enjoy the lack of pressure this realisation gave me and the new depth it is bringing to my art. I now feel quite comfortable breaking art sessions down into smaller time frames.

Blogging is the same. This post was actually created in 3 sessions: last night on the train home from work, this morning on the train to work and editing in my lunch break. I also read my book in 20 minute bursts twice a day when I am on the tube.

Even though it is in shorter sessions, I actually am finding myself more productive! I'm keeping up to date on the blog, I've read 5 books this month and I've used my art journal consistently.

Give it a go! Take something your used to spending hours on and break it up or use your commute to work for something other than staring at your social media!

You never know; you might just find you have more time.

- Emily (aka Little Lyra) xx