I started by drawing in coloring books. That led me to wanting to create my own art somehow. but I was clueless how to break open my creativity and could barely draw a stick figure.
I got books on drawing and watched video after video online. Read books on left brain, right brain, no brain. And I just couldn't make any headway. I was completely frozen creatively, certain I couldn't draw a straight line. Then, I stumbled onto the website that changed my life regarding art: Zentangle(R).
Zentangle is an art form and method created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. I started by playing around with the Zentangle method and that gave me confidence when I couldn't draw on my own. I am so grateful to the folks at Zentangle for getting me over the hurdle of my own judgmental attitude and showing me a way to draw for a non-artist. I began creating tangles and learning simple patterns.
However, eventually, I found myself too constricted by their rules and frustrated by my inability to learn some of the patterns that were just too complex for my frazzled brain. My mind yearned to be completely unrestricted, so my art journey evolved to become about complete free form doodling that allows recognizable images come through, which means that I just draw simple shapes inside of random lines and let the picture show itself to me through the process.
Though I always come back to my soothing repetitive line drawings, my journey has included many forays into other art forms.
So, on to the rest of my journey.
My first non-disaster was a fun artist journal (following the instructions of Teesha Moore on YouTube for her 16 page journal):
Here are some pictures of my finished journal:
Journal Cover
Inside Pages
Then, after reading the book, Dying with Confidence: A Tibetan Buddhist Guide to Preparing for Death, by Anyen Rinpoche, I made a Dharma box, that contained all types of papers (such as my will and my living will, life insurance policies, notes to my son, etc.) and other meaningful items in the event of severe illness or my death. Here are pictures of my box.
Cover
Inside Bottom
Inside Top
I wanted to try all types of art media to see what "spoke to me." I had a fun time with Donna Downey PanPastel workshop videos that taught me how to create art using Panpastels using all kinds of gesso and crackle paste, etc. I loved PanPastels, but I had a terrible allergic reaction to them. But the magnificent way they spread on paper was amazing. I highly recommend them to anyone who can tolerate pastels.
I tried watercolors, pencils, colored pencils (I really despised those for some strange reason), gouache, inks, stamps, and stencils. But none of them spoke to me, though I do use watercolor for art journals just as a wash. I wanted to use Copic markers, which are beautiful and easy to blend, but I reacted to the chemical smell. While I adored the texture of crackle and other pastes, they felt too labor-intensive.
Graphite pencil was too hard for me learn as I don't have the patience or eye to draw realism. Plus, I love abstract art and I craved color. Oils and acrylics were immediately out when I read about how chemically sensitive people react to them. Fortunately, the Pitt Artist Brush Pens come in gorgeous vivid colors, which was fabulous, and they flow beautifully.
I tried drawing on small and big paper (the biggest piece I did was on 20x30" paper - see below), watercolor, coldpress, hotpress, rough, pastel, and mixed media paper, and finally, on Ampersand Stampbord (scratch technique).
Eight months and nearly $1,000 later, I came back to the beginning and realized I love drawing lines and simple shapes over and over with my Pitt Artist Big Brush Pens, Pitt Artist Brush Pens (regular size), and Sakura Micron (05) black pens. While I have had a fascination with ATC (Artist Trading Cards) and ACEOs (Artist Cards Editions and Originals), they are too small for my taste (2.5"x3.5") to use exclusively.
Update: I have now switched from the Sakura Microns to Pitt Artist Pens because I love how the Pitt pens flow. The Sakura's got too scratchy and just lost their "flowingness" too quickly for me. I have also started using the regular Pitt Artist Pens more than the Big Brush Pens. As someone with strong chemical sensitivities, I have found that the only safe media for me are these India Ink pens and brushes. I am just grateful that I found a beautiful, color medium to use at all! Plus, they are lightfast and archival.
My preference is to draw in Strathmore Mixed Media (90 lb) Visual Journals (3.5x5) and sometimes, on Strathmore Bamboo ATC stock. I love the fact that I can create a finished piece in one sitting by using small paper. I don't have the patience for longer pieces. I've started using Strathmore 5.5" x 8". And I've even done some 9" x 12" in the past few months that take a few days to complete.
Until recently, I was too embarrassed to show anyone my artwork as I was afraid people who know me would laugh at my efforts to create art. But for me, it has truly given my life meaning. Creating these little pictures that I can work on sitting in front of the TV and complete in one sitting is really meditative and good for my spiritual health. Doing this art has healed my soul and mind on so many levels. I find it a profound meditation and it keeps me patient waiting at the many doctors' offices I frequent. When I am overwhelmed by dizziness or fatigue, focusing on these drawings actually eases the symptom.
Now, because of the fulfillment this practice has given me, I want to share what I have learned to help others who may be creatively stifled and feeling that they have no artistic abilities to find and express their creative voice, whether they yearn to do so or just feel a void. It is my hope that you find some comfort, joy, and freedom in this stop on your journey.
Susan B.
No comments:
Post a Comment