I set up the week with two open-ended, leisurely studio days. I had half a dozen pictures in progress, aiming to finish them — but the priority was enjoyment above all. No art have-to’s, only want-to’s. This was going to be fabulous.
It didn’t turn out that way exactly. I did make it into the studio, but just for half an hour—to attach my new tabletop cover and add a little pastel to one drawing. Sometimes, pushing through is what I need. Just being there in the studio matters.
But this time, I needed a break. A reset. I turned off the lights and headed out. Plenty of other things to do.
That evening was life drawing at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (Go Figure!). Two and a half hours with other artists— focused, relaxed, doing something we love together. The session was a lifesaver. A safe place to drop into something worthwhile. I arrived feeling anxious. I left feeling bolstered.
The next morning, my weekly meeting with two artist friends was a bounteous discussion of our work. Later that evening, another small group artist meet-up, this one featuring a guest artist with ample Q & A.
Back in my studio today, I finished two pictures.
This is an important thing we do as artists, maintaining our resiliency. Sometimes alone, sometimes together. We metabolize the hard days and make something of them.
Creatively.
A closer look:
Had fun with different media -- all working large on 18" x 24" paper. I find tremendous value in the moment of doing these, immediately afterwards talking with fellow artists, and later in the review of what worked, didn't, and what to try next.
This pose - we had 20 minutes. The first 15 was getting it all down. Too much down. The second drawing was 3 minutes. Just right.
1 minute warm-ups. 15 minute meditation.
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