Get yourself a colouring book....you know you want to

I bet most of the things on your to do list today are useful, important tasks. I bet they are mostly for everyone else. You are planning meals, collecting dry cleaning, meeting your boss’s needs, doing the school run. It’s all good. That’s what we do.

But you need something for you, too. Something just for you, that you do only for fun. Something that doesn’t really matter. Something you are not accountable for. Something you wont be judged on. Something easy, soothing, relaxing. It might even be your secret. But it doesn’t have to be. Like hundreds of chic French women, you might want to get yourself a colouring book.

No, hear me out…. A grown up colouring book. There are more and more of them available. In fact as I write this, the number one bestseller at www.bookdepository.com is Joanna Basford’s Secret Garden. Yes. It’s a colouring book. And guess what number 2 is? Joanna Basford’s orginal colouring book, Enchanted Garden. The top twenty bestselling books at the book depository currently includes no less than 4 adult colouring books.

Think of it as a purposeful activity if you must. A creative kickstart for some, like bestselling author, Joanna Penn. Joanna uses it as a way to get over a creative block and get writing again. It is an easy way to take the pressure off and soothe the muse.

But really, it is therapy. A way to relieve tension and anxiety. It's easier than meditating. Cheaper (and less intrusive) than a counsellor. Sitting down and colouring is pure escapism. It is active meditation. Mindfulness. The world slides by and you hear only the gentle scratch of the pencil tip on the paper. You feel the silky crayon glide satisfyingly over the paper. Glorious colours of your choosing wash the pixels out of your eyes. Who doesn't need a reprieve from those screens?

Remember when you put that first chunky crayon in your toddler’s clumsy fist? We watch our children delight in making marks and relish all that colour. We know it is good for them. That they are playing, learning, growing. As instinctively as they know what to do with the crayon, we know instinctively that we are nurturing them and their creativity. Why do we think we don't need or deserve that anymore?

I would be prepared to bet that you have plenty of juicy art supplies in your house already. You bought them for your children, didn’t you? When you were sitting at that restaurant and whipped out the crayons and paper to entertain your child while your order was prepared, you felt a twinge of longing to join in. A small twinge perhaps… suppressed… but it was there… you know what I am talking about…. You are not the only one - it is exactly how this whole project of mine got started.

So go on - get yourself a colouring book. Raid your kids’ art stash when they are asleep or at school. I can promise it will be fun. You know those scented markers are calling you...

Too busy or busy enough?

Abstract mixed media florals created in the online class 'Lifebook 2014'

The other day I was feeling that I had gone beyond busy and was headed towards overwhelmed. If you know me, you know that biting off more than I can chew is essentially my modus operandi.  Luckily, I live in such a beautiful part of the world. I take a 10 minute drive between built up areas to get from home to work and in that relatively small space I drive through a children’s farm and some wetlands which are really unfettered parkland.

Just as I felt my inner world closing in and suffocating me the outer world reminded me that there is always space if you choose to see it. The crushing clutter is self-made. There is always air – you just have to remember to stop and take a breath of it.

I should also thank One Republic, who at this very point in time were singing to me - my summer anthem I think – I lived. Definitely a message from the universe. Or perhaps just from One Republic. I’m happy either way.

Hope when the moment comes, you’ll say “I, I did it all. I owned every second that this world could give……Yeah, with every broken bone, I swear, I lived” - One Republic

 

I was at the point of berating myself for doing too many things at once, for racing through life, juggling too many unnecessary balls. But One Republic reframed that for me. “With every broken bone, I swear, I lived”.

Fortunately, my broken bones are metaphorical. I actually like being busy. I want to ‘own every second that this world could give’. It tells me that I am making the most of the opportunities that come my way. People regret not doing things far more than they regret doing them.

But was Socrates right when he warned to “beware the barrenness of a busy life”? 

‘Busy’ describes engagement in an activity, being occupied, not idle. It can also mean cluttered with detail, even to the point of distraction. The very definition of the word reminds us that there is a continuum of busyness. On one end gainful occupation, on the other frenzied, meaningless activity.

The way you feel about being busy is a good indication of how connected you are to your core values.  If you are busy meeting other people’s expectations of yourself, doing things because you think you should, then it is likely that you feel resentful about being busy. But if the activities that make you busy are in line with the things that you value most, then there is probably no better way to spend your time.

It is not that I am against slowing down, finding moments of peace and quiet contemplation away from all the activity. Far from it. But like the ebb and flow of the ocean, or the rise and fall of a swing you just can’t have one without the other.

Inspiration from famous artists: Joan Mirò

Miro inspired abstract in my sketchbook (following Carla Sonheim's exercise in the book 'Drawing Lab')

The trouble with being a self-taught artist is that I can’t help wondering what it is that I need to know. What did I miss when I was learning calculus and consolidations instead of being in art class?  Something I definitely know very little about is the artists of the past. Drawing Buddy and I made a start on filling this gap a little while ago. You remember Drawing Buddy? She is the one who is working through Carla Sonheim’s Drawing Lab with me. Well, in between all the tea and talking. 

Anyway, Carla has a section on famous artists. We started with the Spanish artist Joan Mirò. No particular reason for selecting Mirò to start, but a surprisingly apt choice. Mirò went to business school because his parents advised him to choose a ‘sensible’ career, like bookkeeping. He apparently had a breakdown and consequently abandoned the business world entirely. (I hear you, my brother…) Here are another few fun Mirò facts…

• Mirò was a surrealist painter and sculptor known for using automatic drawing. No, not the paranormal kind – the kind where you allow your hand to make ‘random’ marks on the page. Messages direct from the subconscious, you see. Well, I love starting a doodle like that – didn’t realize it was a Thing.

 

• Along with Josep Royo, Mirò created the World Trade Center tapestry which was a little over 6m by 10m and weighed about 4tonnes. It hung in the South Tower from 1974 until it was destroyed in 2001

• Mirò’s Painting-Poem sold in 2012 at Christie’s for $26.6million.  It includes the words “le corps de ma brune puisque je l'aime comme ma chatte habillée en vert salade comme de la grêle c'est pareil”. Now I know my French is rusty, but that really does say something like ‘the body of my brown since I love it like my cat dressed in green salad like hail it’s the same’, doesn’t it?

Painting-Poem by Joan Miro (1893-1983)

Well I still don’t know much about cats dressed in green salad, but I did enjoy making a Miro inspired abstract in my sketchbook. I think I might just do another one.

The painting rises from the brushstrokes as a poem rises from the words. The meaning comes later. (Joan Miro)

Are you preparing or procrastinating?

Mixed media mermaid in a Dylusions Journal

A little while ago Thing Two and I were both down with the the flu. We spent days on the couch, good for not much more than TV and tablets. Where would we be without the internet? I was feeling jolly pleased with myself, actually. I felt like I was rather productive despite being under the weather. I gave my Skillshare membership a real workout, taking classes on watercolour painting, pattern design and fashion illustration. I watched endless YouTube videos on art and ukulele tutorials and Eckhart Tolle's view of the world. I learned a lot. I was inspired.  All of this is great if course, but I recognise it as a familiar pattern. We have no lack of information, having access to just about anything we want to know. But there is no substitute for doing. The first step is acquiring the information, but it is not much use if we don't start applying it.  A bit of preparation is always going to be important whether you are starting a new business venture, taking up a new hobby or acquiring a new life skill. But there will always be another book to read, another online course to take, more data to gather. The preparation phase is an exciting place to be. But it is also a safe place. Fear keeps us from moving out of preparation into action. Preparation becomes procrastination. I don't think anyone feels perfectly ready, in reality. At some point, you have to declare your research sufficient, your training adequate. There will always be doubt as to whether you are going to sink or swim. The only way to find out is to jump in the water.

"Procrastination is opportunity's assassin." - Victor Kiam

Are artists lonely?

Mixed media journal page created in Jane Davenport's online class 'Frolicaholic'

I have a Drawing Buddy. We meet once a week and draw and drink lots of tea. (Often more tea than drawing). I am so glad that we do this because I realise how easily I can disappear from the world into art. It has made me wonder whether artists are destined to be rather lonely.

Artists are usually the quiet thinkers. Writing, painting and drawing are solitary pursuits. Most of the time this is good. A chance to escape the noisy rush of life, even if only for a little while.

But does this mean artists are lonely? I think there is a difference between loneliness and solitude. Solitude is a choice.

According to Leo Babauta, solitude is the number 1 habit of highly creative people. He cites both contemporary and historic examples of the artist's need for solitude.

Sarah Lewis also talks about the need for temporarily withdrawing from the world in order to create. Creation comes from our inner private domains. So often we are being told to get our work out where people can see it, being visible and vulnerable. It is easy to forget that there is a need to spend time alone with our thoughts and our art before this can happen. Sarah speaks beautifully about this here, if you have a few minutes to spare.

I have only fairly recently realised how much I need a bit of solitude. But I appreciate in equal measure the chance to meet up with those that share my new found passion for art. I love a Facebook online class group. And I always enjoy my weekly tea and art catch up with Drawing Buddy.

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Drawing Buddy and I have each purchased a copy of Carla Sonheim's Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists.  Each week we pick a Lab to do together. I am finding this book to be a really handy resource. It contains 52 exercises (or labs) which are fairly quick to complete. 

 

One of the things Carla is really good at is making art fun and approachable. This book is no exception. That doesn't mean there aren't good solid skill building exercises included. I have enjoyed blind contour drawings, wrong-handed portraits and even learned a bit about some of the old masters like Miro and Modigliani.

 

I would recommend this book if you:

• want a warm up activity to get going
• feel stuck and in need of a bit of inspiration
• have a few minutes to spare but are not sure what to draw

Don't know what to draw? Here is a possible solution...

Week 18 theme 'Celestial Body' for the 52 week Illustration Challenge

Sometimes, that blank page is an insurmountable problem when you are learning to draw. However, I have come across a possible solution for the problem of trying to figure out what subject to choose. Hurrah! I happened upon the 52 week illustration challenge on Facebook, and I am so glad that I did. It is open to all ages and skill levels and involves posting your illustration of the week's given theme. You can check it out here, if you want to join in or find out more. There are so many benefits to this challenge. My top three are:

1. The point of the exercise is to do more drawing and painting. This gives you a reason to produce at least one illustration per week
2. No more excuses about knowing what to draw because the theme is given to you. Just eliminating some of the possibilities presented by the blank page can be a tremendous help.
3. Being given a theme encourages you to think about drawing something different from your usual subjects. It's so easy to get stuck in a rut and draw only within your comfort zone.

The theme we have just done was 'celestial body'. It was awesome to see so many different ideas emerge from one theme - all that creativity is so inspiring!

Qweeting: motivational benefits and art inspiration

The other day, I was at the hairdresser boning up on frivolous current events, as you do. I love this actually - it's my chance to read magazines I wouldn't usually buy. Also, I am captive for a while and can't really be asked to be doing something more productive or useful with this time, so it is proper 'time out'. Sometimes I learn a thing or too... like a new urban word. For instance, until then I was unaware of this thing called 'qweeting', which apparently describes the action of tweeting a quotation, something some one else has said. And yes indeed, it seems to be a rather popular pastime. I myself don't have too much time for the pearls of 'wisdom' offered by the latest starlet, supermodel, or D-list celebrity. There are though, plenty of qweets of favourite lines of poems or books and many an inspirational or motivational quotation. These, I do like, and the article I read in the hairdresser's (speaking of dubious sources of wisdom...) was suggesting that that this sort of qweet is beneficial for both those posting them and those reading them. Both are reported to benefit from greater motivation, less procrastination and a more positive outlook. Well, there you are then, it can't hurt, can it?

I have also found that a funny quotation, like the Helen Rowland one from my Sugar Diva painting, or a favourite poem, or even a woo-woo affirmation gives me a bit of inspiration for something to draw or paint. In fact, I think one of the first drawings I did that felt like it came just from me and not from the homework from an online course or a prompt from a drawing book was this little lady here. When I heard these words, it was she that popped into my head in all her earnest teenage awkwardness, and I loved letting her out of my pencil.

She is a work in progress, though, she is just in my sketchbook currently. She needs a background and I am toying with the possibilities right now. I could do a lovely messy mixed media background and then redraw her onto it. This thought causes some unease, but Lovely Jane always says that if you drew it once, you will be able to draw it again. I have also been meaning to play with acrylic transfer using matte medium and this might be a good opportunity to do so. Hmmm, so many options...

The obstacle of the blank page....

I think one of my biggest issues, when it comes to art, is that blank page. Actually, it is not just the blank page, it is everything associated with getting started. You get the itch to draw, to make some art, perhaps splash a bit of paint about, but so many decisions... 

journal, index card or paper .... 

A3, A4 or A5.... 

portrait or landscape.... 

watercolour, acrylic, coloured pencils, pen, markers or something else? (I solved that one by opting for mixed media... clever, huh?) 

 

Week 1 from Lifebook 2014 : My Inner Artist Guardian

Now, what to draw?  And in what style... realistic, whimsical... something else...?

 

These questions explain why I have become an online art class junkie.  When faced with these big 'what' questions: what shall I draw, what shall I draw with, what shall I draw on, my Inner Librarian starts cataloging all the possibilities. She is so intensely consumed by this and requires total silence to concentrate, so she is sternly hushing my Inner Child, who, impatiently, just wants to get on with it!  So the obvious solution for both parties is to pack us off to art school. Well, to an online class. Then an instructor will answer all the 'what' questions and give the Inner Child permission to gleefully make art. And while this is happening, the Inner Librarian gets to collect and organise more information for her growing database. Win, win. 

 

There does seem to be one potential drawback, however.  One can't help wondering whether it will ever be possible to produce a painting or journal page without the prompt from an online teacher. I am having an enormous amount of fun in all these classes, but it remains an exercise in faith to continue with the classes and instructional books and trust that inspiration to produce something original and unguided will one day appear.