Ebb

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Ebb

I’ve been in a period of Ebb lately. Some might call it creative block, but I’m really not blocked. I’m keeping with my sketchbook practice, drawing from life daily and exploring other ways I want to draw. I also have several art projects I’m working on—some I keep up with like my moon paintings, some I’ve let go (for now) like my stitch book, and some I’ve added lately—but nothing worth sharing just quite yet.

That’s the beauty of keeping up with a practice of any kind. You do it anyway because that’s what you do.

I actually think the tide is about to turn—I feel it coming—but for the last few weeks

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Self talk

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Self talk

Currently, I’m not working on a project or taking a class and I’m not participating in #The100DayProject that just started again this year. And what that means is that without some direction every day I get to wake up and ask myself, ‘what will I make today? 

I use the word “get to” intentionally. It’s something Jill Badonsky recommends as a way to reset inner dialogue. Because let’s face it: it is a privilege to create. A privilege for one who does not have to put all their resources into survival. And a privilege granted by our own Selves—those of us who prioritize and value our own creativity. 

So I get to create. And I do make it a priority in my life to create every day. And saying so reminds me of that.

Because otherwise? Not knowing what to make next scares the bejeezus out of me. Artist or not, it’s more than a little scary

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How to live in the world with a little more grace

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How to live in the world with a little more grace

Without looking up the definition, I would say that grace is a noun that names a quality of being—and like other abstract ideas such as love or kindness or confusion, that quality is of being, a verb.

So the way I see it, to give grace is to first see the possibility of what is good, beautiful and true in others or ourselves (or any living being), and then to reflect it, magnify it, bring it into the world. Another word for that is creativity.

And usually involves humor.

You might be wondering at this point what in the heck I’m talking about! Well, this week Seth Godin shared the work of a person who just blew me away, honestly, so much so that I had to capture him in my sketchbook. His name is Ben Zanders, renowned Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and I’d like to share with you what was shared with me—

First, his TED Talk is not to be missed! Seriously, watch it right now! You won’t be sorry:

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Celebrate--52 Cards Project #52

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Celebrate--52 Cards Project #52

And finally…Card #52 of my 52 Cards Project! The theme for this last week of the year is Celebrate. And yes, like my whacky lizard, I am celebrating—both the new year (although most likely I’ll be ringing in the new year on the couch in my pajamas) and the end of this project.

As made this card, I wondered. What do we celebrate on New Year’s Eve? Are we celebrating the end of one year or are we celebrating the beginning of the next one?

And the question holds for this project too. Am I celebrating the finish line of a year-long endeavor or am I celebrating the starting gate of the next creative adventure?

On the one hand,

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Be like the Tree—52 Cards Project #21

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Be like the Tree—52 Cards Project #21

Another week, another card for my 52 Cards Project. I seem to be coming out a creative tailspin—finally. I just started going in too many directions with all the kinds of art I thought I wanted to make and before I knew it I couldn’t tell you what I actually wanted to do—or even why. Anyway, I’ll talk more about that later, but this card is about me pausing to remember that I really don’t need to do anything.

Just Be.

Like a tree.

If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend

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