Where and How to Begin
1/01/2010 06:27:00 AM Posted In felt ornaments , ink drawings , Sewing , Zentangles Edit This 21 Comments »
Well, this is embarrassing, but here I am. I started this blog for several reasons, but one of the main ones was that I was hoping that it would help prevent the periodic episodes of artistic paralysis. I have experienced this a number of times and when it happens, it is a source of many emotions - all of them negative. I feel anxious, pressured, inadequate, and clueless, just for openers. In the past I have stayed in that terrible place for over a year at a time. I don't think what I'm describing is "artist's block" - at least not my understanding of what being blocked means. I think of being blocked as having a sheet of white paper in front of you and being unable to make a mark on it. It's not knowing where to start and it's being filled with self-doubt.
I haven't posted since Nov. 11, and the more time went by, the more impossible it seemed to ever write here again. I haven't drawn anything and I haven't kept up with the Creative Lettering Class I joined. I haven't made an ATC, knitted the sweater I started last winter (and am almost finished with), ..... well, you get the idea. I did make the elephant Christmas ornament for my niece, but it took me forever because .... I don't really know why.
So, anyhow, I decided that it just had to stop and that I'm the only one who can fix this. Pretty obvious, isn't it! Yesterday I posted messages on a couple of the art group websites that I belong to (another thing that I haven't been doing - not even reading the postings), then I spent quite a bit of time working on a Zentangle. It seemed like it was something I could do and that it might help set me straight. I feel good that I was finally able to start And finish something, even as humble as a doodle. I'm optimistic that I can sustain this and that I'm back, and most of all, I'm grateful and thankful for all of you who have been supportive of me during my fumbling along on this blog.
So, Happy New Year everyone, and may we all continue making art, growing, exploring, and daring to try new things!
I haven't posted since Nov. 11, and the more time went by, the more impossible it seemed to ever write here again. I haven't drawn anything and I haven't kept up with the Creative Lettering Class I joined. I haven't made an ATC, knitted the sweater I started last winter (and am almost finished with), ..... well, you get the idea. I did make the elephant Christmas ornament for my niece, but it took me forever because .... I don't really know why.
So, anyhow, I decided that it just had to stop and that I'm the only one who can fix this. Pretty obvious, isn't it! Yesterday I posted messages on a couple of the art group websites that I belong to (another thing that I haven't been doing - not even reading the postings), then I spent quite a bit of time working on a Zentangle. It seemed like it was something I could do and that it might help set me straight. I feel good that I was finally able to start And finish something, even as humble as a doodle. I'm optimistic that I can sustain this and that I'm back, and most of all, I'm grateful and thankful for all of you who have been supportive of me during my fumbling along on this blog.
So, Happy New Year everyone, and may we all continue making art, growing, exploring, and daring to try new things!
