Circles

Watercolor sketches I've done lately

Circles have spoken and are still speaking to me right now as I try to revive my drawing practice.

In Zen Buddhist painting, ensō symbolizes a moment when the mind is free to simply let the body/spirit create. The brushed ink of the circle is usually done on silk or rice paper in one movement (Bankei, however, occasionally used two strokes) and there is no possibility of modification: it shows the expressive movement of the spirit at that time. Zen Buddhists "believe that the character of the artist is fully exposed in how she or he draws an ensō. Only a person who is mentally and spiritually complete can draw a true ensō. Some artists will practice drawing an ensō daily, as a kind of spiritual practice."^[1] from wikipedia

The circle has been serving as a template for the daily watercolors I've been doing for the past few weeks. It cuts through any resistance that may arise as I decide what to draw or paint. It just is, so I don't hesitate and dive right in. It's a good exercise in restraint to let just enough white paper peek through in certain places.

Luli Sanchez website here

I'm respecting watercolor as the discipline it is. Anyone who has tried it knows you can't go back and add your lights if you decide you need to later on.

another Luli Sanchez

Daily drawing challenges have never been my thing so it feels right, finally, to be painting/ drawing again on a daily basis. I think it was because of the circle.

Nurturing the Idea Machine

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Acquaintance of Kelp Forests  Kelp, Driftwood, Vintage Silk & Lace 56 x 41 x 41 by Christina Chalmers

where I discovered this

What helps me stay on the creative track...

1- Exercise
A lot of my best ideas come in the last mile of a run. Endorphins put their spin on my thoughts, and even if they sometimes don't sound as exciting to me once the euphoria has worn off, I'm always thankful that I wrote them down while they were fresh.

2- Respecting the mind/body connection
Another sure fire method to stoke the creative fire is to practice meditation or yoga. The key to this is to be consistent, people!

3- Hanging out in the studio
This is as calming as meditation. It's productive too, because you often end up organizing and cleaning, which in turn frees you up for the next big project.

4- Travel, even if it's just to the closest big city or new neighborhood
New sights, sounds and smells, meeting new people, eating different food and seeing everyone else's creativity can jumpstart you out of your creative rut.

5- Creating and reinforcing new habits to best serve my current needs
I was having a hard time carving out a full hour in the mornings for writing and decided to write just a few minutes, with no pressure to reach a number goal, every morning before work. When I saw this 250 word challenge, I realized that I had been consistently hitting 250 and that it's a reasonable goal for me. Setting the bar low takes the pressure off, and I find myself wanting to write more.

What tricks have you found over time to help you in your creative practice?  
 

Going Flowery

Wintertime makes me want to make new things I've never made. Like these flowers.

Small, fun, and fast using materials hidden away in a far corner of my studio. 

Instant gratification.

What has the weather where you live inspired you to make?

Planting Seeds for 2013

via here

 “Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson

I have decided to live one of my dreams and finally create a real cutting garden for spring flowers. This local farm tells how they do it, but my little plants are quite a bit younger than theirs. I was hoping they wouldn't come up at all until spring. But our weather got really warm and the poor babies thought it was time to sprout. They're so cute and green and we're getting ready to put them to bed for overwintering tomorrow. Spring pics to come.

On a less literal level, what artsy seeds have you planted lately? Or maybe you're prepping the soil for a fertile future?

Happy Solstice in a Sacred Place

"This is an absolute necessity for anybody today. You must have a room, or a certain hour or so a day, where you don’t know what was in the newspapers that morning, you don’t know who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody, you don’t know what anybody owes to you. This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be, This is the place of creative incubation. At first you may find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen."

Joseph Campbell, in a 1985 interview with Bill Moyers

Hope you have a wonderful solstice! It's a great day to get outside and enjoy nature, the ultimate sacred place.

Good Things are Happening

Brow Chakra (Third Eye) indigo, turquoise, mauve

Not sure if it's still available, but I'm doing this meditation series. It helps you adjust your expectations and understanding so abundance can come into your life. I've been working on this for several years on my own and it was really nice to have Deepak's take on it (as you see, we're on a first name basis). A little Deepak Chopra is never a bad thing!

This may have inspired me to do a new series based on colors associated with the chakras.

Root Chakra, red, mauve, brown

Crown Chakra, violet, white, gold

These are out of order as chakras go, and there are also a few missing. I'll have to retake the pics and get them into another post soon. Tomorrow's another studio day, for me that's bliss. What are you doing this weekend?

Sale in My Etsy Shop

Kayaking near my house yesterday, on one of the most beautiful and balmy autumn days so far.

The sky was absolutely gorgeous. Of course my camera battery died as soon as we got out on the water--I was lucky to get one picture (first one at top). But then my daughter let me use her Canon Rebel, which I may be inheriting:)

There's a 15% off sale going on in my Etsy shop through November 30. Pop on over there and use coupon code HOLIDAY15. 

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!