Redefining
Find the unseen goodness in mundane things and sketch it.
Although I wanted July to be a month of returning to full creative activity, I am still limping along. I love seeing the work of everyone here who has a daily practice. I cling tightly to the belief that I still can’t manage that. This week I challenged that, and went digging for the underlying reasons why I still might be stalled out.
Since coming down with alpha gal allergy from a tickbite last summer, I have not been walking much this summer. It requires long sleeves, arm gaiters, a bandana around my neck saturated with bug repellent, long pants (impregnated with permethrin) tick gaiters over high socks pulled up over the pants cuff and a sun hat. Then a thorough tick check and a shower immediately after the walk. It all seems too much of an effort and twice the amount of time of just opening the door and hitting the trail. I am going to call myself out as being lazy on this issue.
The inner critic has taken up the responsibility of dissuading me from art by whispering there is nothing good enough to paint or sketch. She taunts me by telling me I lack the grand views and abundant beautiful garden scenes here in suburban NY. This is a false assumption, there are flowers and paths, trees and fields, streams and meadows and marshes and beaches here. I have tons of photos of them to paint from. I am noticing a pattern.
I am still out and about driving a family member to medical appointments. It eats into my time and energy. It’s too hot for car sketching but I did force myself to sketch a few things this week, indoors and out. I forced myself to just point my eyes at anything and sketch it. I have sketching tools in my car again. So here is what I have done this week, sketching directly in micron pigma pens and coloring with watercolor later, because color is my therapy.
Because my mind tends to go negative looking at these things, I forced myself to find the goodness in each of them. So I will say one good thing about each of my drawing subjects.
While waiting in a parking lot when I arrived too early for a haircut appointment:
The electrical grid is something we take for granted in the first world, but I would not be writing to you without it.
While parked on the street witing to pick up family member from an appointment:
The humble and ugly fire hydrant helps to keep us safe.
To force myself out of an idle scrolling session:
Baskets of yarn that hold the promise of keeping many people warm this winter as I keep plugging away at my hats for the homeless campaign.
Thanks for reading. I hate to cut this post short, but the morning is ticking away. There is art to be made, hats to knit and sewing projects calling.
Thanks for reading!
I am just finding your writing and I love the sketches here. I like the idea of drawing what is right in front of me instead of waiting for some sketch-worthy. Thank you.
I love your sketches too, so I guess that makes it unanimous. I found this post while combing through my e-mails for stuff like forgotten appointments and unpaid bills. I read your most recent post before this one and I’m glad you’re getting back on track with your artwork and your knitting. I don’t think you’re the least bit lax about your morning walks. It sounds really burdensome all the precautions you’ve got to take because of ticks. I’ve just about abandoned my morning walks because I get very little sleep and I can’t go very far without a cane. To me it sounds like you’re doing great and I will take full credit because I pray for you and your family every day LOL! Actually, I think you know I give all credit, honor and glory to our Lord and Savior. Thank you for your delightful artwork and sharing your thoughts, triumphs and setbacks with us. (Apologies for the long comment and my awful habit of hijacking other people’s posts in the comment section!)