Reflections, Revelations and Resolutions

Finding My Daily Practice

January was a time of reflection for me. I guess it is with most people, trying to figure out resolutions and ways to make the new year the best that it can be. Looking back at 2018, I am so proud of myself for writing and publishing a book and for tackling the world of social media and marketing. (I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go.) What I didn't do was draw and sketch enough. I didn't create enough new work or get excited about anything except my book. It took over, I’m a little OCD that way. 

Last week I had a migraine on and off and couldn't bring myself to do the things I needed to do, such as cleaning my email, finishing my taxes and paying the bills, etc. It wasn’t a terrible one so instead of just doing nothing I changed into comfy clothes, made my favorite tea, put on a yoga sounds playlist and I went to sit at my studio desk. I pulled out all kinds of supplies, and I spent the next three hours drawing, sketching and painting. It was fantastic, the time went so fast and was very relaxing. I almost forgot what that felt like this past year.

I made my goal for 2019 to remember that feeling and make it a daily practice, like taking my vitamins. I tend to get stuck when I look at a blank piece of paper and can't think of what to make each day. So many ideas flood my brain at once and I end up doing nothing. To try and remedy this, I decided I am going to create five different sketchbooks, one for each day the week and each with a different theme. I got this idea from following other artists who post images from their "various" sketchbooks. For example, one might be quick line and shape drawings, one watercolor backgrounds, collage, old book revival pages, general doodling, etc. I love the idea of having more than one focus sketchbook as well as the idea of a specific day for each; boom, the decision is made for me. I can still change my mind, change the order or create something different that day if the urge hits me.

My past behavior of focusing on my one “holy” sketchbook, never worked for me. But if I can make this a daily practice and commit to picking up a different sketchbook each day and spending twenty minutes doing a page or two, I can be creative and not get stuck or bored doing the same thing every day. In a way, it would be like keeping an artistic day planner. 

A revelation I had while reflecting on 2018 is that I found that I have become a creative “watcher” more than a “maker”. I spend a lot of time on social media viewing other artist's work and techniques. I get super inspired and collect ideas for future projects. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, on the contrary, the internet allows me to see the visual world from all around the globe. But if not careful, it becomes a time suck and then I find myself not creating at all. Maybe I am saturated with so much that I see, that it is just too distracting. I am hoping that in 2019 I can ground myself in a daily creative practice that nourishes my soul and finds my spark again.

My Brain Never Stops...

The Mind of an Artist or of a Crazy Person, Same Thing

As I was sitting thinking about what to write in this week's blog post today, I made a list of all the things that inspire me. I laughed as I realized that my list of inspiration, really my list of obsessions, was crazy long. Most sane people probably have one or two things that inspire them. I have a zillion. 

I have already mentioned in some of my earlier posts how I collect things that "speak to me" or purchase clothing because I fall love with its textile design or buy home decor because I am drooling over its form, color and texture. I’ve also written about how I take photographs for inspiration of everything from nature to rust. My brain doesn’t stop when it comes to being inspired. I’m don’t know if that’s a normal thing or a slightly crazy thing, but it's my thing. 

My list consisted of things like the beauty of shadows and reflections, architecture, aerial views of the world, clouds, rocks and crystals, sacred geometry, symbols, nature and so forth. The list went on and on. In any case, today I didn’t end up writing about any of them, but all of them together create a self-portrait of my crazy mind and how I think. I wonder if I could write about something uninspiring and ugly next week?