100 Day Project

April 30, 2016

Some time ago while spending too much time on Instagram's 'explore' page I stumbled across the 100 Day Project founded by Elle Luna. I'd been going through a bit of a difficult time with my love in hospital with excruciating pains which turned out to be kidney stones and a readmittance with a possible infection and norovirus. While at home feeling helpless I made four really quick postcards. They took a matter of minutes each and after I felt so much better, art has been my meditation and comfort for a long time. With this in mind I decided to go for it and join in with the project by making a postcard each day.

I'm amazed to have reached day twelve, already I've experienced a range of emotions with the project. I've felt stress at still drawing at 11.30pm, I've torn up a postcard and started over, I've stared at the blank paper feeling totally uninspired and I've wished I'd done one differently. I've also felt relief when one turned out better than expected, pride at seeing the collection growing and happy to have something creative to look forward to in the day.

100 days is a long time and I don't know if I'll make it until the end but so far I'm enjoying it and I hope it'll teach me to stress less with my work and enjoy the process of making something each day.

Do you find art and creativity helps when you're feeling low? Does it act as a meditation for you also?

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Drawing on Bodmin

April 10, 2016

Over Easter weekend I visited my dad in Cornwall. I took a little bottle of Indian ink and a few brushes and was excited at the opportunity of doing some drawing 'en plein air' on Bodmin Moor.

I found a quiet and secluded spot, sheltered from the elements with a view of a beautiful windswept tree. I could hear just the birds and the wind and watched as the clouds rolled on by, some full of rain and hail, others fluffy and cartoon like.

I lay down my little green mat that I take on our walks and took out my materials, including an old glass salsa jar I've repurposed as a water container. I made a few marks in my A6 postcard pad, the tree in front of me and some quick marks to suggest the rocks and stone wall.

After, I clumsily gathered my materials, juggling an ink pot and water container to another spot with a view of three trees.

I took out my larger pad and started with some broad but faded marks before attempting the trees, I managed two before hearing my phone ring, my dad, other half and brother had finished exploring the nearby quarry I'd sent them to and were impatient for lunch, I quickly started on the third tree before my dad appeared. I asked him to take a few photos of me drawing before I packed my things away.

I could have easily stayed all day, though the weather wouldn't have allowed it. The beautiful peace and tranquility that comes from being creative in the wild, drawing directly from nature cannot be bettered.

#mysundaystudio

January 17, 2016

Today I was starting a new drawing with my Indian ink, mid way through adding a new inky mark I looked at my 'studio space'. It's nothing special, just a drawing table in my room with curios all over it; a ball of string, postcards, paintings leaned against the wall by other artists. There was a postcard of a painting by Edvard Munch that my friend brought me back from a recent trip to Norway. I decided to take a photo as it was sat pride of place to send to her. I then thought that it would be lovely to engage with other creatives by asking them to share their studio spaces. Whether it's a huge loft or a lap tray with pencils and a piece of paper on.

Since finishing university I've found that making art can be very isolating when you don't have a shared studio. I used to relish going for tea with my classmates to discuss art and life every morning on my BA, on my MA there was no such ritual and I really missed that community spirit.

I tweeted my studio photo and created a more curated version for Instagram and felt a surge of excitement when a few people joined in! It felt so lovely to see their spaces of all shapes and sizes or even just to see their current work in progress.

I've decided to keep up the hashtag in the hope that more people will join in, every Sunday any time of day you can post a photo of your studio space, real or curated or a photo of what you're working on that Sunday ~ use the hashtag #mysundaystudio and if you want to tag me too so that I don't miss you I'm @claire_leanne88, you don't have to follow me or encourage others to follow me, this is about creating a community and encouraging discussion.