Into the Fire

3 responses to “Making good . . .”

1. 

   BK Jackson

   January 26, 2017

   Good for you!
   My writing remains in a deep freeze right now–I do not now have any motivation or desire for it and I don’t know when I will.
   However the other area of my life that I have long wanted to develop is to learn to draw and paint. I don’t have time for it during the weekdays, but I have made it a point this year to do a little drawing each weekend–to give myself permission to screw up and not worry if it looks like crap (do you see the connection with the writing barriers? *-)
   I was inspired to get back to it because I was doing a home office re-organization slowly over the last two months, a little each weekend. I discovered two horrifying things:
   1. I have a giant stack of empty spiral notebooks (signifying all the writing not done)
   2. I have an accumulation of at least 6 sketch pads of various sizes, plus canvas paper for painting, and each pad has only one or two drawings or paintings in them–there are MANY sheets blank.
   It really hit home when I realized I’ve had one of those sketch pads for a VERY long time. In it I have a picture I drew while sitting on top of Mt. Mitchell (outside Asheville NC) in 1989. ***1989***. That’s TWENTY-EIGHT years ago.
   To draw that little in 28 years is a crime. I also noticed something else–some of my drawings from those years were very faint and tentative–as if I was afraid to look at my own work on the page.
   So this year, I decided enough is enough. I practice my drawing every weekend and I practice it boldly. Who cares if I mess it up?
   And the most astonishing thing this year is I seem to have quite an interest in learning to draw the human face. I’ve NEVER had an interest in drawing people before. Animals and landscapes, yes. But people, no. It takes a lot of work to catch the essence of human expression. While I haven’t captured that essence yet, it’s not too shabby for a starter either.
   More than half the sand of my hourglass has run out & I don’t have time to waste. I want those sketchpads filled and I want to have to buy other ones. Then I want to start applying those skills to canvas with paint.
   And then hopefully, somewhere along the way, finishing those novels will become a priority. But not right now.

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2. 

   Nicole Petrino-Salter

   January 26, 2017

   Excellent pursuit of innate creativity, Brenda. I’m glad you’re designating time for something with which you’ve been gifted and inspired. That’s the whole thing. To do what you’re meant to do when you’re meant to do it. Good for you, and I have no doubt this new leaning toward faces will prove rewarding and significant. You’re certainly right: catching the essence of the human expression is a marvelous and meaningful task.
   I’m hoping my freeze is beginning to thaw. At least I still like what I’ve written. That helps.

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3. 

   Brenda S. Anderson

   January 26, 2017

   Yay for you! Not an easy thing to do.

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