I've come here for some grounding today. I think I had my revelation and needed to just draw and draw a mish mash of anything, with no structure. When I came to this point of no return a few months ago now, I spent the first chunk very emotional, the second chunk reading insane amounts whilst drawing a lot and then the last few weeks calming down but still drawing and reading a lot in every spare moment.
I'm dotting these around to show how much of a jumble my brain is (not that it's a bad thing obviously)
The rest of my jumble so far can be seen here on Flickr
Last week, my mind came to a point of rest and it still needs rest. However I feel this worry, like I have to keep the pace, but I've realised today how important down time is. Julia Cameron talks about "filling the well" which means you take time to replenish, I think this is very important, for everyone. Cameron (The Artists Way) talks about going on 'artist walks' which basically means you try and take a few hours a week at least to do something for you, go see something, go to a museum, go for a walk, buy a few things that feel precious to you. Basically allowing yourself some time for your brain to relax and fill up that well again. After my jumbled month, my crappy inner critic reared its head again. I had this vague idea that I would (after a bit of time) start to pursue freelance illustrating. My critic has been on my back about it, pulling me away from the starting line and pulling me away from why I'm drawing again in the first place. Its only my own head and my own pressures doing this and it's come from years of this, years of feeling like I have to strive and do and justify. I recognise it and I'm telling that critic to back off. It means perhaps closing down with pressure for a little while, going for walks, taking pictures, reading. Having time to remember why I've come to this point and to hold on to that.
Some pictures I've taken on walks:
Hair flowing out of a shop in Soho
A demolished building on my way home
Cats that rest near my brothers house
Some views of Richmond on a sunny day
Ducks in Regents Park
Until next time.
