Creativity Every Day

A quick sketch of my son Sekani, it actually makes him look younger than he really is.  I used pastel on his clothes.  Have you given yourself time to be creative today?

Drawing Every Day

When I first started drawing I started out doing portraits in graphite, before I then explored all the wonderful technique and materials that are available

I loved how flexible the pencil could be and how many different shades and tones you could get

Here are some of the other drawings I did way back when I didn't know that I really, really wanted to be an artist, but kept the feelings locked deep down inside.

I gave up being creative for around 5 years complaining that the reasons why I didn't draw was because I didn't have a studio, didn't feel creative, didn't have the right material, weren't around inspiring people, had too much clutter, the sun wasn't shining in the right direction, you name it I could give a reason for it. 

This is my current space and the kitchen table is to the left of the picture, its a lot tidier now, honest! I have been doing a lot of sorting and clearing :)

Alongside the work I currently do I've started sketching again, seeing the importance in being creative every day, you can take a pencil and pad anywhere. So I intend to make a committment to do a sketch on a daily basis and upload it say 3 times a week, it doesn't need to be finished, but its important to do something. I have been sampling Derwent Inktense pencils and their Graphtint and I have been looking at combining some of my images with poetry....

 

More next week, stay blessed!

Journal Pages - a taste...

I have been spending more and more time journalling and sketching over the past few months. 

I had decided that all the focus that I was giving to not having a studio needed to be spent in decided what to work on next and actually produced the work.  I have been making a space for myself in the corner of the kitchen which includes wallspace and 3x4 floor space and the edge of the kitchen table, and its beginning to feel quite cosy especially when there is no one else in the house!  Things are coming together in that I can reach my books and have been sorting through and organising my art materials and I know when I least expect it the studio will come.....

Trying different styles and techniques, and materials until I find combinations to suit me

Really enjoying the process, and the freedom of letting go and diving into creativity!

Wondering how I managed to exist without it

I have been using watercolour pencils and crayons that I brought over the Christmas, and stamps and really enjoying experimenting.  More to come....

Faith

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.......

Changing your mind

I took the decision recently not to do a course that I had been given a place for, I had put in great effort in writing the essay, filling out the form and attending the interview on the day.  A month before I was due to attend I began to be filled with doubts.  It wasn't doubts about my abilities, but more about the direction.  It took asking myself a lot of questions, looking through my journals, and eventually I had to accept that I was allowed to change my mind.

I strongly believe in the power that Art and creativity has on the participant - passive or active and the viewer, and have seen the benefits first hand when I ran the art workshops with the elderly with dementia over a period of two years.  And I will continue to pursue and encourage others to find that creative spark - however small to bring about change, that will impact on their health and well-being.

As I move forward, I am having a reshuffle of my creative space, reorganising and making it more accessible and inviting.  Making room for new inspiration and adventures to come.....

Have a blessed weekend!