In drawing class last night we attempted a ball with shadow. This was my first class. About 4 years ago I did a oil painting class but haven’t done anything since, other than my own little doodles.
Really nice to get back into the classroom as a student. Normally I teach, so to be on the other side of the table was a total joy. I recommend classes. Scare yourself.
Catch you tomorrow xx.
Sometimes it’s just the little things. Not the big issues, the conflicts at work, or the pressures on our time. What makes life unique is just the small stuff. Playing, sharing some food, having a laugh.
Catch you tomorrow xx.
The creative process needs to have more value than the outcome, why, because if it doesn’t you reduce time into only being of worth if productive. Yesterday, I planned out a birthday card to paint. This birthday card is for a 6 year old boy and 6 year old boys, don’t really care for cards. So, this time of planning, designing and painting is absolutely about me engaging in process – a really good exercise in being present with your creativity.
I still have more to do on this, I want to put a ‘6’ on the car in blue glitter, and stencil ‘Happy Birthday’. I could easily purchase a card, (some people may think that my time is wasted), but the enjoyment in creating something is rewarding – you can’t purchase the process.
Catch you next week xx.
Saturday falls lightly into place. My footsteps, feel youthful. I breathe easy. In the distance a bird cleans its wings in the angled light. Saturday has potential. It is spacious. Thoughts can be moved about at an easy pace. The breeze curiously enters the house. Saturday reigns supreme. Golden amongst the others. Clouds drift, the sea changes from green to blue. Somewhere a dog barks.
Couldn’t post yesterday. However, today is Saturday and I have a day off. It’s been a busy week back at work and I’m already feeling the grind. I just finished planning a birthday card I want to paint tomorrow – so I will show you how that goes, also, on Tuesday night I start my drawing class. Really excited to get back into some formal art training.
That’s it for today – hope you are all well. Catch you tomorrow xx.
Thursday. Energy, a pre-peak. A taster, that is probably better than the weekend. Traffic, lights, faces, no longer in 'lock down'. Pizza and bear, Easy to forget to wash hands, to scan the code. Never want to go back - to that. Like flowers leaning in to catch the last ray of sun. We lean in, to each other.
This is not a poem, a poem takes time, takes a poet. This is just some words about going out and getting pizza and bear after work, doing normal things in a world that has been and is very (un)normal.
Catch you tomorrow xx.
Not feeling well today, so just sharing something I found in Essentialism: The disciplined pursuit of less, by Greg McKeown:
The life of an Essentialist is a life lived without regret. If you have correctly identified what really matters, if you invest your time and energy in it, then it is difficult to regret the choices you make. You become proud of the life you have chosen to live. Will you choose to live a life of purpose and meaning, or will you look back on your one single life with twinges of regret?… whatever decision or challenge or crossroads you face in your life, simply ask yourself, “What is essential?” Eliminate everything else.
Love this, I think it has true worth. Catch you tomorrow xx.
On Sunday I challenged myself to photograph my walk in detail. Today the challenge was to photograph my inside surroundings in detail. The light wasn’t great, as there is a lot of dark clouds, but I did the best I could. Also, some images are micro, so you won’t be able to know what the item is but I liked it for texture and colour.
Like these images together, I think the colours and textures work. I moved them around a bit, but have now settled on this.
I also think this collection works well. Instead of focusing on the actual object, just thinking about how the images create a collage is interesting. Fun activity, that took me way longer than it should have, haha…
Catch you tomorrow xx.
Back at work today after a 2 week break. Only had 1 week off and the other was working on my upcoming interactive installation: At The Horizon.
Great to have time away, feel less stressed, but it is so easy to fit back into bad habits. So, I listed down some aspects about work-life that I want to change – so hopefully the time has given me some valuable reflection that I can actually put to good use.
I sketched this little image a while ago, however it fits with how I sometimes feel about work. But at the same time, so fortunate to have a job.
Today I bought, You’ve got This: Life-changing power of trusting yourself written by Margie Warrell. At the moment I’m collecting self-help books, so this looked like one I would enjoy. Like usual I will share anything I find of value or any helpful quotes.
Catch you tomorrow xx.
I set myself a challenge today. I often walk along Cornwallis Beach, and post pics, like yesterdays post, and while the photos are lovely, they are always vistas. So, I decided to take more detailed micro photography and show my walk in 10 images.
I had to take more than 10 to get enough to edit into something interesting. It was really fun to notice the detail around me. You should try it.
Catch you tomorrow xx.
Yesterday I didn’t post as I spent the day with family. I drove down to Hamilton, picked up my sister and visited our mum. She’s been sick over the last week, when it was her birthday, so this was a post-birthday outing. We went to this awesome cafe for lunch and just enjoyed each other’s company and great food.
I stayed on in Hamilton for the afternoon and then went to a theatre play No Exit that my niece was acting in. Beautiful day.
Today back home, doing some odd jobs, not much really to share.
I did go for a delightful walk on Cornwallis Beach this afternoon. Here are some pics for you.
Will be more creative tomorrow. Catch you then xx.
Kick: Creative Action 