To draw or not to draw? That is the question…
Soaking up lots of inspiration lately. So, even though exhausted after a long and busy weekend, I did a sketch tonight. I did take my sketchbook over to Mum and Dad’s on the weekend, but didn’t do any drawings. It was fun visiting and I really didn’t feel like doing artwork. I did do a couple of half hearted dog sketches on Thurs though:
Not sure if it’s better to do half hearted drawings, or none at all? Well, I guess it’s always better to draw than not to..I’m still getting back into the habit, and it doesn’t always come easily.
One thing is the fact that there is still clutter about that depletes my energy. So, I’m going to have a think about the best consistant way to tackle that without feeling overwhelmed.
Here’s my craptacular “before” sketch of the bookcase in the office, and tomorrow I’ll clean the bookcase and sketch the “after” version when I’m actually awake enough to care about putting some life & color into the sketch!
I’m also going to start up daily walks again, which Cameron suggested would help my energy, as it was working wonders last year. Perhaps this is a good time to try “Vein of Gold”, by Julia Cameron, again. Lately, I haven’t been the best about morning pages (3 pages of fast writing in the morning) and I find they really help me to meditate, get centered, set goals and clear any confusion. They also produce some memorable and strange dreams! Morning pages, an artist date per week (time alone to find inspiration by doing something special or going somewhere) and walking are the 3 main tools in this book to help get creativity going. The 1st of April would be a good point to start. Perhaps I’ll stop this habit of being negative about my art! I just realised that, despite my lack of effort or concentration while drawing, these sketches are important and don’t need to be judged.
On a hella good note: It’s raining!!!! YAY! And I got some pansies and impatiens at Bunnings today! Double YAY!!
p.s. Kaffy and Zach!!! WOW! AWW! YAY!! Yiddle baby foot!!
March 30th, 2004 at 10:21 am
Far better to draw half-hearted ones than none at all (my current state at the moment) I think (there is something about unfinished sketches that appeals to me, can’t quite put my finger on it) Your dog sketches look great Amy, and the bookcase is cool…reminds me I must tidy mine too!
March 30th, 2004 at 1:00 pm
Walking/hiking/running … any type of ambulatory sharpens the mind and quickens the intellectual pace. Have you ever read Rebecca Solnit’s "Wanderlust" or browsed the Situationist/Surrealist theory of derive (wandering randomly with the purpose of delving into the environmental unconscious) or Nietzsche’s walking madman Zarathustra (mad in that he is sane in a crazy world, as Carl Jung said "show me a sane man and I will cure him")
Thanks for the inspiration ;)
March 30th, 2004 at 10:40 pm
Thivai,
No I haven’t, but I’m about to write those down! Glad I could inspire you! I’ve gotten inspiration from so many others, that I’m grateful to be able to keep that energy going and even pass it around! Wow!
Thanks for looking!
Cameron,
Yeah, I agree with you. I’ve always loved looking at the works in museums which are studies or partially done sketches. I was blown away by Picasso’s early life drawing. Charcoal and pencil sketches. (But just as impressed with all his stuff) On the subject of seeing artwork in person…I highly recommend it to everyone because it’s completely different than seeing it in pictures, posters, or on T.V.
The bookcase is cool..for a good reason. It was made for my husband (the other-other Cameron) by his Dad when Cam was in his early teens. I think it’s beautiful..love the design of it. And it deserves to be clean and organised to bring out it’s beauty. Can’t treat it with such disrespect any more!
Thanks for the feedback! Yeah..I do like the dog sketches too. Funny how stepping back for a day or week can really help me to see better!!