My mother is an artist. She taught high school art until retiring just a few years ago. Obviously, art has always been a part of my life. From a young age people have told me how creative I am. But long ago, as a young girl, I found that my need to be perfect got in the way of creating my own art. I got frustrated easily, because I couldn't make my drawings look perfect. I couldn't draw things the way I saw them in real life. So I just stopped trying to make art..
Instead, I stuck to creative endeavors that allowed for and even required perfectionism. I did lots of home improvement projects, sewing, photography, and anything else in which the end result looked *exactly* the way it was supposed to. The satisfaction didn't always come from creating, though...it came from creating it “perfectly”.
In the last month, I have been inspired by a number of different women to follow my artistic needs. I have three young children of my own, and in wanting to instill and encourage creativity in them, I looked to Amanda Soule for inspiration. Amanda is a mother of four, who writes a blog about raising children in a creative home. She also has written two books. In her book, Creative Family, she had described an activity she does with her children that she calls family drawing time. I felt that I could incorporate such an activity into the lives of my family. I saw it as a way to connect with my children artistically, and allow myself the freedom to explore my own art again. So now, each day after school, we spend a few moments together at the table, unwinding by tapping into our creative selves.
Just a few weeks after beginning our family drawing time, my mom came for a visit. Her presence catapulted us into a place of artistic discovery, creative expression, and a sense of family serenity that I can't get enough of. My mom has such a calming influence over the house. Her art pulls us into her world. And I found myself wanting more and more from this world.
At the same time all of this artistic exploration was occurring, I had also discovered a book called Journal Bliss, by Violette. She describes how to incorporate art and doodles and drawings into journaling. I love to write, and write daily, so I liked the idea of being able to mix art and words. Her book helped me see that that my art is valuable. That my art can fulfill my life.
Between the lessons I learned from each of these three women, I have learned that not all art mimics reality. In my perfectionism, the struggle always came from not being able to draw a perfect horse or paint the vibrant colors I see in a sunrise. But now I'm learning that doodles, scribbles, and cartoon-ish drawings are okay. My art is okay. And I can incorporate my love of written expression into my art!
I can be me in my art. I can BE.
It's so wonderful to meet you Heather and to see how you are so involved in nurturing creativity in your family and yourself! I'm so happy that Journal Bliss has inspired you a bit while you've been exploring your creative path!
love, Violette xo
Posted by: violette | April 15, 2010 at 11:53 AM
I love the idea of family drawing time. We have already allowed our kitchen table to be taken over as a central family art table. My three kids are artists and it took me 40 some-odd years to realize I am an artist, too. I've just been playing around doing other stuff before now :)Creative family time is special, for sure.
Posted by: Sue | April 15, 2010 at 12:56 PM