Last Month of the Year

What a journey it has been this year. None of it was what I had anticipated at the start and there have definitely been some unwelcome parts of it. But I'm pleased that I started doing some art regularly.

Exotic Fern

Busyness and Blogging

I haven't blogged for a couple of days because other things came up. I'm glad to say that I still did my artwork and the latest piece I did today was inspired by a floral arrangement that I saw when I was dancing this morning . . .

Core

I felt that the title of this drawing could be read in many ways.

Composing shapes

It's amazing how shapes develop out of each other if given the chance . . .

Irregular shape composed from triangles

Dealing with the Dark

I don't like this time of year much and the shorter days but this is also an opportunity to catch up on activities we don't do at other times of the year. I have a stack of books I could read  . .  and some crochet . . .

Curves and Crescents

Thresholds

I was at a retreat yesterday which was very powerful and moving but one theme that came up was that of thresholds. Where am I comfortable and what is the threshold that I need to cross? It inspired this picture.

What comes next?

This is the question I often ask of myself as I sit down to draw a picture . . but usually something arises spontaneously and there's great magic in that!

Plants

I just love drawing flowers and plants. They fascinate me so - so here's another one!

Dancing

It moves the energy and lifts the spirits . . .

Changes . .

Everyone's feeling the changes, politically, socially and in so many ways - and it's unsettling . . . .

Which has nothing to do with the artwork unless it's to move forward with grace and flexibility . . .

Dancing Vines

When things go missing . . .

One of the photographs I thought I took this afternoon just totally disappeared and I can find no record of it anywhere - very odd!

This idea came out of nowhere and a bit of frustration when the idea I'd previously tried didn't work.

In Haste

Drawn in the late evening, in haste . . .

It's a Blue World

Networking

This is a drawing which grew and gained clarity as I went along . . .

Networking

Wake-up Call

Yes - another wake-up call after Brexit but this time it is the Americans who are feeling it most and they have my deepest sympathy and compassion for what has happened and what so few of them really wanted. But it is a wake-up call that we can't leave what needs to be done to politicians or those in power because they've failed us and now it's time for us to take back both our power and responsibility!

Wet, Rainy Day

But great for doing other things like dancing and swimming - and doing some art!

Irregular Shapes and Sizes

Repetition and Stamina

Today was not an easy one for me. I felt out of sorts and like everything was against me. I couldn't get inspired by anything and felt that everything I was doing was crap. But I still continued to draw something because that's my practice, to come to the page to draw however I feel. I know from experience that it's only too easy to let my mood dictate my creativity which then often takes a nose-dive into confusion and depression. So I do my drawing anyway, as my practice, whatever the mood.

Wind-blown Tree

Unexpected Sunday

My plans went out the window today when my computer mouse stopped working - so I decided to make the most of the disruption caused by having to get a new one by doing my other shopping at the same time and exploring new shops.

Which has absolutely nothing to do with the picture today which is entitled 'Co-operation'.

A Traditional Celebration

Firework Night - and many people believe that Guy Fawkes might have had the right idea. And I wouldn't necessarily argue with that in the current political situation.

 

Unfolding

Little by little, if we so allow, we unfold to become who we truly are . . .

Choices and Inspiration in Creativity

It struck me today how much my creativity is affected by my choices. If I hadn't gone for a walk this afternoon, I would not have seen the gorse on a Cornish wall framing the scenery and wouldn't have been inspired to draw this picture. I wonder what other choices I would have made?

Evolving Art

My art post for today, gradually evolved for itself.

New Month

I have no idea what I'm going to do for this month except keep doing one piece of art every day. I'm really pleased that I've kept this practice going for so long and want to continue to do this. While it's challenging sometimes it's also very fulfilling!

Time Passing

So we're at the last day of October already - time has passed so fast this year - and it's Halloween too!

 

Being Adventurous

Today I tried a new technique for my drawing/painting, having no idea what would emerge - but on the whole I'm quite pleased by the result - an encouragement to be adventurous!

Cornish Sunset


A little later I did 'Autumn'

Relaxation, Recuperation and Enjoyment

That has been the theme of my experience of today from singing gorgeous music at a choir rehearsal to a beautiful walk to the coast and back in the afternoon. This picture is based on a pond I saw on my walk.

Looking into a Pond

Balloons in Soft Focus

An idea of a moment . . .

Tax and General Busyness

Most of the afternoon was taken up with preparing my tax information for my accountant. It felt really good to do something liberating and creative!

Feeling Proud of my Efforts

I have been doing some art each day for many days and though sometimes I like the results rather more than on others, I'm still proud of myself for keeping going and persisting in my creativity. I want to celebrate that!

Unlikely Sources of Inspiration

I saw the street lamp outside my house. Because the air was damp and it was also getting dark, there was a beautiful misty aura around it. It gave me inspiration for the following:

Change of tactic?

I've written a few posts about my journey of creativity and am considering a change of tactic or even subject. I will still continue with the art and when anything feels juicy I'll share it here.

Stone Circle energy

From a thought that I had on my walk today (not surprisingly to the Stone Circle but to the sea),

Phases in Creativity

As I explore my creative journey more fully I find that I have various phases which can last for one day or many. Often it is plants, or geometry but now it might be going to be architectural!

Rest, restoration and Creativity

I find it really important to give myself to unwind and to feel into new concepts around creativity.

A small walled garden

Using materials at hand for Creativity

Sometimes I know that I would love new and better tools or resources but there is a simplicity and creativity which comes with using what we can find to hand to produce art.

Autumn leaves against a Sunset Sky

Creativity and finding support

Often when we start on something new, it can feel very vulnerable to share it with others. That's why it's so important to have a group of people who understands what we're doing and who are willing to support us in our creative efforts. I have a number of creative friends and it's so wonderful to be able to talk freely and openly about where we all are and to receive honest, loving feedback from each other as well as support to continue moving forward.

It's OK to go blank

There are times when I want to create and I have absolutely no idea what to do. The tendency then is to flounder around looking for ideas rather than allowing the blankness to be and seeing what will come forth in time . . .

Spontaneity and Creativity

Sometimes I find it hard to know what to do next when I'm creating. But often if I'm prepared to sit there and pause for a moment a germ of an idea will come and then all I need to do is to follow this . . .
This piece is called Autumn Migration

Nature and Creativity

I frequently find that nature is a strong inspiration in my creativity. Here is a drawing of a Physallis (Cape Gooseberry) fruit skeleton and leaf that I drew today

Creativity and knowing when to stop

I can find that it's easy to become engrossed in a piece of work, experimenting with this and that and wanting subtly to improve what's there in front of me. But there comes a time when a piece of work has to stand as it is and even the smallest alteration can ruin the whole thing. It's a delicate balance between improvising on the spot and knowing when something is complete.

Creativity and Learning New Skills

I find that the ability to be open to learning new skills allows me to adapt what I know and experience to different forms of creativity - trying new projects and seeing what works. Then adding to that skill set and so on so we have many ways to express what we want to share in the world with others.

Humility and Creativity

I find myself inspired a lot by what I see around me, particularly in nature, but also from other sources. This came from a shop window display I saw earlier today. I acknowledge my need to be open to what's occurring around me and humble enough to attribute where I get my inspiration from! Thank you Stones, in St Just!

Direction and Creativity

Sometimes I can become stimulated at the idea of a project which can last for a month or two. Other times there's just a sense of waiting  . . . for something to emerge.

Creativity and Going Round in Circles

Sometimes I feel I'm going nowhere with my art. But the question then arises - is there a destination or is it a continuous process of unfolding  . . .?

Allowing Creativity to Emerge

We are all inherently creative. It's part of our divine nature but often the feedback we've had from our environment hasn't always been positive! So often we can close down from that creative part of ourselves and tell ourselves that we're not creative.

We're all creative and we can all learn to move away from the conditioning that we've received and to explore our creativity with joy, innocence and excitement.

Creativity and Joy

For me there's a real push to be creative. And a sense of tension as the work is being done but often joy as well; and nothing can beat the experience of joy at a successfully completed project! There's a huge sense of self-fulfillment that's present then!

Experimentation and Creativity

Sometimes I've found that when I start out with a fixed idea as to how something looks, it just doesn't work out. This happens sometimes when I'm writing as well as drawing. This afternoon I felt convinced that I wanted to do some flowers - but it just wouldn't flow or work out right. Once I let go of the idea that the drawing had to have flowers, the process flowed completely freely and enjoyably.

Creativity and building up Elements.

Sometimes we have to build up ideas from small elements, the idea of light creating shadows, a particular form or part of it - a shape. And then we can build up from there to something more complete. Similarly, in music, a note or collection of them or a particular rhythm can be the basis of forming a tune.

This picture was built on the basis of a heart shape.

Creativity and repetition

Repetition of our creative skills otherwise known as practice is such an important part of exploring our capacity and potential. Little by little we build that creative muscle as we learn to perceive our environment and lives from a different perspective and practice utilising our creativity in the service of whatever art/craft we wish to pursue.

Trusting the flow of Creativity

Sometimes it's obvious what the next piece of the process will be. It can sometimes feel almost tangible - and those, in some ways, are the easiest times. Less easy are those occasions when I have actually no idea what will emerge. There can be small hints, often for me it's a shape, and so I start with that and see what follows, what inspiration will bring.