Art as antidote for Cabin Fever

and keeping the creative fires burning

Yes it looks picture postcard pretty- but there is a time when enough is enough. Enough blowing snow. Enough snow squalls. Enough ice dams and icicles as long as my body . Enough grey sky blending into white snow. Enough being housebound as all roads are closed. We are 20 minutes by car from the nearest small city and ten from a variety store which sells overpriced essentials /heavy on snacks, lottery cards and alcohol!

What else to do but.. Cook from scratch with whatever is left in the fridge and cupboard. Feed the dogs the cat’s food (they love this scenario!) Bake in imaginative ways. Become grumpy and irritable with my partner. (Ha ! Of course that’s not me!)

Tackle the necessary evil of trying to stay on top of the layers of snow and ice with ice picks and roof rake.. My aching arms and shoulders tell the tale..

..Read.

AND make art! With less to distract me or divert me from what I love art offers a very enticing escape.

Working on two pieces -recycling paintings no longer loved for our Jet Pack group -with a bird theme.. I am appreciating this monthly project which keeps me making art with a loose deadline-and accountability to the group..

A couple of sketches of people from our recent urban sketch group date at the local YMCA

I am considering on challenge for myself -and borrowing the concept of a week of drawing 100 people and - and extending it to -a month of 100 people. It’s definitely more doable for me! I attempted this project two years ago and managed about 80 people in a week but it was while under quite a lot of personal pressure to complete!

I enjoy drawing and including humans as my subjects in art-and this will encourage me to draw daily for a month ! I will include sketching; observational drawing from life, drawing people from photo reference and comic people in this project!

Just thinking about this makes me excited..;-)

Are you setting up any challenges for yourself over the next month?

Does weather or season have an impact on your creativity ?

Thanks for reading Ageless Artist!

Heather