Sometimes you just need to tangle
Zentangles
08/26/2010
03/08/2010
01/04/2010
The holiday break
Today the girls went back to school and the house is very quiet. But the day started with the hectic school routine of making sure everyone is up, lunches are made and everyone gets out the door with what they need. Then the quiet descended over the house and Itook some time to reflect over the last two weeks.
I did not feel like sketching much during that time. We went for a walk in the local park and did some exploring and I did do some sketches then but I never colored them in. I let my sketchbook sit in my purse and did not pull it out. Perhaps it was because it is a new book and I have trouble getting started in new books. Perhaps it was because I did not have time with the holidays. Perhaps I was just not in the mood.
I think the actual reason is a combination of my mood and the new book. I did not want to feel like I had to sketch because it is what I do. I wanted to read Harry Potter and knit my Christmas gifts and create Zentangles. I wanted to flow with my moods and live in the haze of the school break. The only problem with this was that I forgot to pay attention to the laundry so I did have a marathon laundry session which resulted in having to fold a large pile of laundry one evening.
I received a zentangle kit for Christmas and I have been enjoying the tiny bits of creativity I can accomplish in a small moment of quiet. Don't misunderstand me, I do not need quiet for drawing in my sketchbook. Frequently I can do this while I am busy with the regular day to day things by putting my book on the "countertop of doom" with my paints and I work in bits and pieces. I involve the girls in my sketching work and they are completely used to the patience they need for me to stop and draw. They have their own sketchbooks and sometimes they can use a page in mine to draw something if they forgot theirs. I would say that N prefers to use the time to play in Nature and explore while J will sometimes prefer to draw.
But now I am again ready to get started on the new year. I feel my creativity has been rejuventated by concentrating on other forms of it for a couple of weeks and not feeling bad or guilty about it. I was able to spend a few moments thinking of what I want to accomplish this year. For the month of January I will be focusing on Nature Drawing and working through Cathy Johnsons book "the Sierra Club Guide to Sketching in Nature" so I will be sharing the work I am doing for that here in the coming month.
For now, here is a Zentangle
