The Do Write Blog for Creative Nonfiction: 365 Days of Creativity

Showing posts with label 365 Days of Creativity. Show all posts

I haven't posted in a while. I have been creative -- either in my drawing or my writing -- but I haven't wanted to post because of Google. Google, you ask? Yes, a few weeks ago Google decided I must surely want the whole world to see my stuff (I did post it in a blog after all), and they've indexed my art. Now, when you search my name, you get my not-ready-for prime-time material in all its glory. I think that has made me shy. I definitely did not intend to share this widely. Maybe I should have expected that, you say. Again, I did post it online. Honestly, do you know how many blogs are out there? Most of them are never found, and I was happy to have mine be yet one more anonymous pearl in a sea of pearls. So now, I'll only post some of my stuff -- whatever I actually feel like sharing on Google. Otherwise, I'm keeping them to myself!

Lately, I've been obsessed with horses. Perhaps its because of spring time. I used to take riding lessons, and spring always reminds me of being out in the arena with a horse getting my ass kicked. Here is my homage to the horse. (Yes, the proportions are wrong, but who cares? Google, you say? Damn you!)

Time Is On My Side: Day 205-213

Time is on my side -- yes it is!

Not a sentiment I often feel, but that song has been playing in my head for a few hours now. Although, I must admit it isn't the Beatles' rendition that sticks out in my memory but rather that super-frightening movie, Fallen, starring Denzel Washington. The truth is it feels like that song is taunting me because time is certainly not on my side at this stage in my life. Ok, I'm not likely to die tomorrow, but I am -- in the ever-so-polite words of Carl Jung -- in the afternoon of my life.

What's a girl to do but contemplate life . . . and draw. So here are my visual images created in the last few weeks.

Musical Note

Sandtray Venus

2:45 PM

Pink Bird's Nest

Springtime: Day 202-204

Punxsutawney Phil says there will be six more weeks of winter this year, but I'm feeling spring in the air already. Perhaps it's because winter has been so mild in Northern California, with very little rain and not much cold to speak of. What excites me most, I must admit, is watching sunset come later and later. Tonight, the sun set after 5:30 -- just a few weeks ago, I was watching it set at 4:45! I'm excited and ready for spring.

When I drew this picture, I immediately thought of the earthworms that come up out of the soil at springtime. So, here is my Springtime Earthworm:

The New Me: Day 140-176

It's hard to believe I did not post anything in December, and I barely did much visual art to begin with. On the flip side, I have been writing more, so perhaps I got most of my creativity out through my words!

It's a new year and a new me. I've moved to a new home, and this small portrait is a work in progress of my new place.

I have also spent some time thinking about where I will focus my attention this year. I have lots of interests (never too many!) but concentrating on all of them at once just leads to paralysis. So, I did this exercise -- I call it the Scarves Exercise -- that helped me hone in on where I want to spend my time (no, I won't explain the exercise).

Here's what it looked like when I was done:

At the end of it all, I did get some great clarity. I've decided to focus much more on my scholarly writing. This is the year of the Scholar Me.

... and here is my artistic rendering:

My heart of hearts.

'Tis The Season: Day 139

Cornucopia

Grace: Day 138


Grace

I am moving in a few days, and although I've moved too many times to count this one is proving to be a challenge. I have lived in my current home for 7 years -- the longest period in one place in my adult life.

The house has served me well. With all the ups and downs, this house has provided a safe place for me to grow and to learn, to begin new relationships and relinquish old ones. But I'm ready to start something new, to move to the Bay Area and to spread my wings even more. I'm excited to be closer to my sweetie and to partake of Bay Area culture.

Lots of new things (and hopefully good things!) are coming my way.

This little portrait is of the house I leave behind. She's got some personality! When I tried to give her a name a few years ago (some fancy French thing), she was adamant that her name was Grace. And the time I've spent here has been filled with just that . . . Grace.

Thank you and goodbye, Grace. May the next person who shelters within your walls find as much pleasure, safety and peace as I did.

The Collective: Day 99-137

I haven't been doing much art at all -- life is simply too hectic. I'm moving both home and office, and I've just completed my teaching obligations for the semester and am preparing students for exams. I've really missed my art, and the truth is I should not have stopped. It helps give meaning and color to my life, and when it is missing I simply shrivel up.

Although I didn't manage to draw every day, I did have some artistic moments in the last month or so. Not bad. Besides, I know the way back, and my art and writing are just happy to see me.