Tags
Art, Daily doodle, Journal, mind stream, random words, stream of consciousness, Writing, writing a novel, writing exercise
Whether you are writing a novel, making a scrapbook or greeting card, or painting a piece of art to hang on a wall, I think everyone occasionally has the experience of wanting to create something, but not knowing what to create. In making one of these blog posts, I usually start out drawing, and the writing comes to me as I draw. Sometimes I don’t know what to draw, like today. I started in the center of the page and began to scribble, hoping an idea would come to me. However, well into a frenzied scribble, all that came into my mind was “Where am i going what am i doing?”
If this were purely a writing exercise, I could have written random words that entered my mind, stream of consciousness style. I think the results would be comparable. In this case, I wasn’t satisfied with what I had done. I had created the scribble so fast and without any effort at all, and I felt like I hadn’t learned anything. So I created another drawing. I returned to poppies as a subject matter, because I liked my results yesterday.
Then I went back to the original scribble, and I thought, what if I slow down a little and add some detail to make it more interesting? Maybe it was simply unfinished. Perhaps the frenzied scribble was just a starting point – an ice breaker. So, I slowed down and began to add detail to the shapes I had drawn.
It boils down to simply getting started in any random way, and continuing from there, wherever your imagination carries you. When the imagination is unlocked, no blocks have the power to contain it.
Great drawings. Love those poppies. When I don’t like something I do, maybe it’s because it’s not as finished as I though. Think I’ll go back to some projects I did and take a good look at them. Thanks for taking the time to show us your work and the steps you take.
Hi Joanne, Sometimes one of the hardest things to figure out is when a project is done. Thanks for the feedback.
Tim
Thanks for posting every day Tim, I think that’s a real commitment and it your posts always lift my day 🙂
Hi Sarah, That’s great to hear. It makes it easier to stay motivated when you people are watching!
Tim
I have to agree, that sometimes that first “oomph” you need to get started can be hard to come by! I’m thrilled if I find inspiration somewhere amidst my own simple surroundings; but I must admit that I often have to search out that inspiration, just that one little flicker of an idea or nudge of some kind…. And when I do, next thing you know, my head’s absolutely racing with a thousand more ideas!.. Now, if I could just remember to write them down!!! (0; Love all your sketches today.. especially the poppies! ~tina
Hi Tina, It’s great to hear you can relate to this post, and that you love the sketches!
Tim
Well said Tim … I think many of us are too critical of ourselves. We need to just ‘let our imaginations carry us’, as you so eloquently stated.
Hi Bonnie, I’m glad to hear that you agree. I think there has to be room for creating without criticism, because I think that’s the most liberating way to create. As soon as criticism enters the picture, I think it becomes more about seeking approval from others – which is OK, too, if that’s what you want. I create art as a profession, and the ability to be self critical of my work is really important for that part of my creative life, but I also need to balance that with freedom, which is what this blog is all about. Thanks so much for joining in the conversation.
Tim
This is a great post! When I first started reading I sort of connected drawing and writing – when I have writer’s block, I can doodle on a page until it turns to scribbles and then to writing! Thanks for an inspiring post.
I’m so glad you you’re inspired by this post! Thanks for the feedback.
Tim
That was a very refreshing start this morning. Kind of hits home. Very well done. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day!
Diana/b4ustamp
Hi Diana, I’m so glad you’re finding these posts relevant. I hope I can keep it up without repeating myself – the future will tell!
Tim
Oh, I like how this developed. Your final really has a zentangle look to it! TFS, Karen
Hi Karen, I need to learn about zentangles!
Tim
I agree Karen, I enjoy Zentangles myself. I am working on a Journal using that as the main focus. Tim, you don’t need to learn, you already have it down. LOL I don’t know if what I am going to say is the right terminology, but Zentangles to me is just filling in spaces with doodling, and trying not to repeat the pattern on the same sheet. It is a fun, quick and easy past-time project. You can take 5 minutes or spend a whole day just doodling. Some people start off with drawing a square (any size, beginners usually start with a 3″x3″ sq.) then either divide that into smaller sections or draw shapes and then doodle away. Good luck, I hope you find it enjoyable.
I love the final result of your drawing. The details are focused and took time to do. I can imagine you having to slow down to carefully add the details. With writing you start with a theme or big idea and then you have to break it down into details. Drawing and writing seem to be very comparative. I think we can all related to getting blocks at times and then when you slow down and think about it, the block seems to disapper. Thank you for sharing this with us!
~Sharon R
Hi Sharon, Yes I think there are many ways that writing and art are related. Yes, I think exercises can be a good way of breaking through blocks. Sometimes the biggest block is simply getting started.
Thanks for your input,
Tim
Wow that was a big improvement from the first to second version! I wouldn’t have thought to just go back and rework a drawing, usually I just toss the ones I don’t like (which is most of them.) Thanks for the new perspective.
I’m glad you found this post helpful, and I’m glad it inspired you to rework some older pieces – that’s an interesting idea.
Tim
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I love all the extras you added to the first doodle. It just changed the look completely and gave it so much more depth.
And the flowers are simply gorgeous!! I could see them on a card. 🙂
Hi Rita, That’s a good idea to put those flowers on a card – thanks for the feedback. I think I will go back into these at some point and add color to some of them.
Tim
There are certainly a lot of particulars like that to take into consideration. That is a nice point to carry up. I provide the thoughts above as normal inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you deliver up where a very powerful factor will be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if greatest practices have emerged around things like that, however I’m sure that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both boys and girls really feel the affect of only a moment’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.