Frustration is...
Not drawing for nearly 15 years and trying to pick it up again.
{I wrote this below the drawing that I'm not going to show you.}
I found a vintage scrapbook with a pretty olive green hardcover at a garage sale this summer and decided to turn it into a family art journal. It's sitting on the coffee table (an old black chest that I would like to paint eventually). I was inspired to do so after reading so many posts of family shared art on one of my favorite blogs, Cakies. I feel so inspired to include the kids in art projects and to foster their creativity whenever I read Ruby Ellen's blog. I love that. (P.S. Love my vintage couch but not the worn upholstery. It's my dream to slipcover it. some year.)
Going back to the sketchbook, I picked it up the other day during the heat wave we had and tried to do some sketching. It didn't take long to become increasingly frustrated with my lack of remembrance of techniques and the various pencils used in the trade!
No sooner had I pulled out all of my old tools, tools with which I was once intimately familiar with, that I felt ready to give up. Colored pencils and various drawing pencils all appeared overwhelmingly mysterious after so many years of abandonment. I couldn't remember what a single ones purpose was. Not.one.
I think also the perfectionist in me flared up and threw a fit because I couldn't just fall back into it.
I haven't touched the book but for that one day.
{Above, this is the first still life I ever did. I think I was 16. I drew it my first year of art in high school when I was a junior. I had the.best art teacher ever, Mr. Fisher. I credit him for my lifelong love of art. When we walked into the class that first day, he told us anyone can learn to draw so long as they had the will. I tell my kids that same thing every time they say they want to draw. And I tell them to draw every day.}
{Another still life from my first year of art. Sadly, I don't even remember what medium this is...?? Charcoal pencil?? maybe. But what is the white?? It's drawn on some kind of blue paper. I'm clueless and frustrated by all that's been forgotten.}
I'm totally crazy over the art journals I've been seeing out there for the past year or so -- they're so incredibly inspiring. And I want to learn how to do all of the beautiful layers using vintage components and sketches. I love the idea of doodling for art.
{An unfinished collage I started near the end of my second year. I was 17. It's a bit smudged after being in storage all these years. Although, I had a super great art teacher, I always feel a bit disappointed that I don't have my sketchbook from my second year, my senior year of school. He lost it and I wish so badly that I had it.}
I know the only way to get anywhere is with practice. Lots and lots of practice. And perseverance.
And probably YouTube. I bet YouTube has some great videos on drawing and creating art journals. I want to make pretty things. But for the moment, I'm still throwing an internal temper tantrum so it's holding me back from trying again. But I will eventually. Drawing was one of my favorite things to do ever. Wish I'd kept up on it all these years!
Have a fabulous weekend!
