It was a bit dour and gloomy outside this morning as I walked my dog down the muddy road . Her hound-ness was in ecstasy with all the new sniffs in the wake of melting snow. The birds were in full vocal swing and although it’s still chilly and the branches are bare their chorus was defiant and joyous.
Thoughts were spinning around my head as I walked avoiding deeper puddles and ice bits . I considered the fact I am alive and free and that I don’t laugh enough.
Sometimes when I type into my phone a message which turns out to be something totally nonsensical it makes me hysterical with laughter. (I should check more often before sending ! )My own gaffs are fodder for self deprecating humour. A joke relayed to me usually results in a half hearted response -but offer me a moment in daily life that goes awry and I am doubled over. Of course I won’t laugh at someone else’s expense (unless they are finding it funny too!) Daily life can be ridiculous sometimes and of course does not always go as planned. At times our missteps can be truly funny.
I can take myself too seriously -especially when nervous or anticipating the worst. It’s pretty difficult to let go of the mess our world is in - but I feel there is a place to take a break too.
I have to remind myself to smile more . To let loose a bit.
To relax a bit into my daily life and creativity with lower expectations and higher attention to letting go. Making art offers the gift of flow and escape
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This past week I decided to play.
I made a huge mess..and the results of my playing were not pretty.
I have never studied printmaking but am determined to learn as I go . I invested in a second hand pasta maker, prepping some tetra pak plates and a brayer and some inks . I have been watching several instructional videos to guide and inspire me.
I was determined to finally try my hand at making prints at home after watching Margaux Kents video ..She offered promise and courage to dive in!
and Artist Ruth Ander who has a loose expressive style of printmaking on Youtube :
Of course there are so many more and one can quickly go down a rabbit hole of tutorials!
So it was indeed fun. It also made me smile . I didn’t use gloves and have very black fingers to show for my efforts. It’s a huge learning curve for me -but exciting to try something new and out of my comfort zone . The smudges on my face and hands certainly made me smile. It’s been a while since I have created a huge mess in my working area and enjoyed getting covered in ink .
What have you tried lately that evokes playfulness and lively experimentation?
Love the mess! I’m trying to improve my botanical illustration skills. It’s brought a new depth to my usual mixed media work. I’m excited to see where I continue to grow and it’s fun to see where you’re learning and growing! Indeed, more smiles. Thanks for sharing!
Having fun.. good for you.