It took me a long time to start referring to myself as a writer. I think it was ten years of professionally writing that finally made me realize "Um, yeah, this is what I do..."
This is what I do...
I write. And I LOVE it...
But calling yourself an artist is something else entirely. While I do believe writing (and all creative mediums) are art, that term seems so hoity-toity.
Surely I can't call myself that.
But I'm starting to believe that being an artist is really a state of mind. Last week, it dawned on me that part of the reason for my funk is that I haven't been creative. At all. After you release a book, your extra time is spent getting the word out...because if no one buys it, you probably won't write another one.
It's a lot of pressure.
But I've been feeling off and I think it's largely because of that lack of creativity.
So, I sat down and started doodling one night while I was watching TV:
I decided to doodle for Sophia, who seemed to need a bit of extra encouragement. I thought of her and all the things I wanted to say to her...and I doodled. I've always been a doodler, and I've always collected quotes on pages like this...
Though I didn't color it till days later and only then because I had downtime while Ethan was writing a proof for his story problem. {I am not the parent who should be helping him with this. It's a sure-fire way to make sure he isn't successful.}
Then I started surfing the web and I stumbled upon a few doodly painted pieces and I thought "I've never doodled in paint..."
And then I thought "But I sure want to try."
I mostly do mixed media, so having just the canvas as a background was sort of weird. No texture showing through...would it turn out?
The jury is still out...but the point is, I actually had fun. I unplugged my brain, pulled out the paints and just doodled. In living color.
It was a little sloppy and drippy and I wanted it that way. Full of imperfections and perfect for the bare walls on my scrapbook space...
I started with two different shades of pink and yellow paint and then misted with similar colors... and then I just kept adding to it with pencils, markers, lots of paint, water...
I honestly can say I just played.
It was such great therapy...so good for my soul. I felt happy as I worked on it, happy as I kept adding to it. I tried something totally different and while I'm not 100% sold on it, I'm 100% sold on doing it again!
As I tell Sophia, you have to work to get better...at anything...and that includes art. That's why I am THRILLED to start Brave Girl Art School.
It started this week, but I'm having computer issues...so I asked Melody if it was too late and she said NO, which means it's not too late for you either!
And let me tell you, Melody gets it. When I told her about my painting experience, she said, "It's therapy, isn't it?" And it is. It just really is...there's something about looking down at paint-covered hands...or finding a stray turquoise dot on your elbow later in the day...
So how would you like to WIN a spot in Brave Girl Art School?
Brave Girl Art school is one of the prizes in my Sweethaven Scrapbooking Challenge... but I'm also giving away another spot today, winner to be announced tomorrow {lots of winners announced tomorrow!}
All you have to do is leave me a comment and tell me...
What is it you most want to learn right now? What is the work you're longing to do?
I'll enter you to win a spot in this amazing class taught by one of my dearest friends, the fabulous Melody Ross.
If you want an extra chance to win, just SHARE the link to this post somewhere on this here world wide web and come back and tell me you did. See, it's all about sharing around here. I'll choose one lucky winner to join me as a student in this class...and I promise, we'll both be happier for it.
