Making more vacation space

Several inches of rain fell here in Chapel Hill this week and renewed us. Still adjusting to the end of vacation, I decided to focus on creating vacation-like energy as I went about my appointments and obligations. I happened to think: What if I could recreate the feel of vacation here at home? This felt like more than just "stay-cation" stuff. I wanted to really re-capture the energy of newness, exploration, beauty, choice by seeing things with fresh eyes. On vacation, we knew that our time was limited, so we didn't dawdle or putz. (I'm a putzer par excellence.) Lots of serendipity came about, including this quote: "Create a life you won't need a vacation from." I needed to remember the things that were energizing about vacation, especially places, and try to find similar ones here. I'm a beginner, and know that I want to continue on this path. 

Here's what happened in my 3.5 inch square journal:

These two pages were soaked with an ink spill. I like how it worked out.

I saw this phrase on a bumper sticker this morning.

Wishing you "bonnes vacances" wherever you are!

Reflections on the #100 Day Project and more!

Miss me? Lar and I enjoyed a relaxing exploring Connecticut and Rhode Island for a week. Our trip took us to Hartford,  New Haven, Trumbull and Monroe, Milford, Silver Sands State Park, Mystic Seaport, Pawcatuck and Newport. Our sense of time took a hit--what? It's only been a week since we  were there? So much to process and remember, not a lot of journaling time. I did take a small Moleskin journal, but didn't do any visual recollections of what we saw. (I usually make "Postcards to Myself", which you can see in earlier posts.) I saved lots of brochures and ticket stubs and maps and started a collage yesterday, which I hope to show you down the road!

But I digress. I wanted to share some thoughts on my 100 Day Project, in the hopes that maybe you'll give it a try!

• In the beginning, I intended to use different papers in neutral colors with a variety of colored ink. After a couple weeks, I found I enjoyed the opposite: colored backgrounds with sepia ink. This brought me joy and motivated me to create. Lesson one: I really love colored backgrounds.
• Twisted tendons made it painful to draw. I started using collage, stamps, stencils. This brought me joy and motivated me to explore. Lesson two: Art doesn't have to be hard. Explore ease.
• When I didn't create, I didn't create. Lesson three: Don't beat yourself up. Ever. Read that again.
• Sometimes, I didn't use a Zentangle pattern. But I always used the principles of Zentangle, especially the following: Everything begins and ends with gratitude and appreciation. Anything is possible, one stroke at a time. No mistakes. Trust the process. Lesson four: Zentangle is not just about pattern art. The Eight Steps go beyond the tangles, and connect us with our inner creator.
• Once I found my rhythm, I had to keep it up. I've started daily art again, this time in a 3.5 inch square journal. I had to. I missed it. Right now, my modus operandi seems to be putting down a background in the morning and adding bits and pieces during the day. This is comfortable and works for me. When we went on vacation, I took 6 3Z triangular tiles, thinking I'd do one each day. It didn't work, and partly because the shape is less familiar to me. Lesson five: Find what works for you, and do it consistently. Pay attention. You will probably change. If so, adapt. If not, continue. Refer back to lessons two and three.
• My final take: Remember that this project is about process, not product. (Like Zentangle.) Find your joy. Have fun. Explore your artistic identity. I am thrilled that I found my "voice", at least in this moment. I learned to try some new techniques. I gained some flexibility in my expression. I worked to please myself, not others.

It's not too late to join in! No worries if you do it differently. You do you!

And, in closing, this week's entries in my 3.5 inch square journal.

Have fun!

#The 100 Day Project: Days 96-100!

I did it! And I wanted to immediately share the results with you. I'll share my thoughts on the project in my next post, with some suggestions if you want to start something similar.

And the whole she-bang!

Cheers for now!

#The 100 Day Project (9): Days 89-95

95 Down. 5 to go.

One clinker this week, but I really liked everything else. (And the clinker at least had a humorous side to being a clinker. Made me smile.)

Here's what happened:

And the class photo:

A few things I was thinking:

• Begin every day as a beginner as you look for good things to add to your plate. The sea is always taking away and giving back.
• Play. Especially when you have a lizard on your tile and an upside down "L".
• Be you. Always. Even if no one else likes red and purple. (This ink came from another antique ink bottle. Vermillion.)
• Senator Cory Booker recently posted a story about a 1974 Muhammad Ali appearance at Yale. Someone in the audience asked for a spontaneous poem. Not missing a beat, he replied: "Me. Whee!" We could all use some of that enthusiasm for who we are!
• Remember all the gifts.
• Another fortune cookie fortune. Patience. Ah, yes.
• The clinker, with a splash of irony. This tile is overflowing with layers, where I covered what I didn't like!

Five more tiles, and then time to reflect on where I am now. I hope you'll stick around for the conclusion of my 100 day journey.

And in conclusion this week, I offer two larger pieces:

Faux eco-print, 6x6 in.

4x4 in.

#The 100 Day Project (8): Days 82-88

The effect of sleep deprivation on creativity. This would be the subtitle for this post, if there were one.

The cat passed his inspection on Friday and is now allowed outside again. No more waking up at 3 am to crying.

I saw the orthopedist for a shot in the achy wrist, and most of the aches have diminished.

We're looking up here, and grateful! Grateful to have made it through the week, through more 2x2 inch art pieces.

Here's what happened:

In case you're wondering...

• Why did I try to draw a Northern Flicker? I happened to spot one in my yard Tuesday evening, for the first time ever. After identifying it, I read about how it's considered a symbol of harmony, balance, creativity, endurance, strength and courage. I could use all of that, so I decided to give it a go and mark the moment.
• What's up with "handle"? I was inspired by the xray of my wrist, and how all those little bones fit together to create this incredible tool that we so often take for granted. I am grateful for these bones, and how my hand allows me to handle life.
• Is that a Panera bag? Yes. This morning my dear Lar kindly went to Panera just to get my favorite breakfast: a butter croissant and coffee. He is love.

Enjoy your sleep and creativity.

#The 100 Day Project (7): Days 75-81

This will be a short post. It's been a long Mother's Day here, preceded by a long week nursing our rescue cat as he learns the ropes about living inside and we learn the ropes about, well, him. I haven't had a nap today, and can hardly think! You will probably realize, by the following tiles, that my energy has been low lately. (Maybe yours has, too? It is that time of year when we change activity levels, with the coming of warmer weather and longer days.) I thoroughly enjoyed making these, and finding ways to make art without too much strain on my hand and wrist.

I have used two fortune cookie fortunes and a picture of a Greek town from a cookie box. (Cookies!) "An unexpected relationship will become permanent." "You desire recognition and you will find it." The tangles were partly inspired by the free "Be Well" lessons for Mental Health Month that Zentangle is offering from May 11-May 31 on their YouTube channel. I hope you'll check it out.

#The 100 Day Project (6): Days 68-74

I'm 63. I have those "senior moments" where I may go into a room and forget why. I think many of you are in the same boat.

But this week, fraught with anxiety about the cat we are rescuing, I frequently had Tuesday and Thursday mixed up. I invited a friend to the cinema on Tuesday but said it was for Thursday. I went to my Thursday lab appointment on Tuesday. This incident was particularly vexing for me, because it involves getting up early and fasting, two of my least favorite things, especially since "fasting" means no coffee. But I dutifully drove to the lab in a neighboring town, pulled out my phone for online check-in, and saw that I was 2 days early. Aargh. Thursday, not Tuesday. No mistakes, right? Rather than getting worked up and chastising myself for yet another mix-up, I decided to treat myself, as I usually do after these lab appointments. I put in my order for my croissant and coffee at Panera. (I love Panera.) I found a table in the sun, pulled out my tile from my purse, and immediately found myself thinking, "Why am I here?" Not in the everyday way of "Why did I come in here?", but rather "What is this moment truly about?" The answer wasn't very complicated. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the simple pleasures: sunshine, soft music, hot coffee, a buttery croissant. And after I left Panera, I continued to be aware of the pleasures, the little things of the day. And on Thursday, I repeated the same delightful Panera experience...after the lab appointment!

Distress ink background, Lindy's pigment swatches and sepia Micron PN

I have kept up my daily drawing for #The 100 Day Project this week. I've continued using stamps and collage as it is easier on my hand and wrist. You will notice that Day 72 is only stamps, on a prepared background. (Preparing backgrounds has been especially relaxing this week.) This was C-Day, when we took the cat to be neutered. The vet found a hernia that he mended. This has complicated the whole affair somewhat, but my beloved Lar,  aka Catmandu, has adapted valiantly.

I have a few comments on some of the tiles from the project.

Day 68

525,600 minutes in a year to love and be loved.

From "Rent"

One of my favorite songs, and tiles.

Days 73-74 and 74 bis

I bought this antique ink bottle and reconstituted the ink.  I painted the black tile with the ink, and drew my design with a Signa Uno pen, which, to my disappointment, remained white. So I tried a white tile, covered with the ink. The Signa Uno pen remained white, but the Gellyroll from Sakura let the blue come through. Yay! The upper right tile is on white paper. I used white distress ink on the stamps. The blue came through. Yay! This experiment made me happy, and reminded me that it's okay.

The whole bunch. (Comblee=brimming over with joy and gladness)

Wishing you moments that allow you to enjoy your humanity this week and always.

The 100 Day Project (5): Second Wind

A wonderful rainy last day of April to invite you into my world and share what's going on. It's Day 67 of the #100 Day Project, and I think I've found my second wind. I've made art a morning activity this week, and found it gets me into the day peacefully but with something important checked  off my list. This week, I've done more "Words to Remember". Each one came during morning meditation, and served as a helpful reminder during the day. I tried to use some collage, stamping, stenciling and "stacking" to simplify the drawing and give my hand a break.

Days 61-67 

Other stuff...

I made some colored backgrounds with Lindy's Magicals.

And returned for some high focus Reticula and Fragment work on white with a sepia pen.

Ahhhh!

Tomorrow's the first of May. My friend Anne-Yvonne recently reminded me that "En mai, fais ce qui te plait!" This common French proverb says: "In May, do what you will!"

Whatever you do, "May" it be fun!

What a month! #The 100 Day Project and Project Pack 20 or TADA!

I see it's been a month since my last post. Believe me, it's not that I've been sitting around twiddling my thumbs. No, they and my other digits have been hard at work on the #100 Days Project and Project Pack 20. There were certainly some fits and starts, interspersed with torn muscles and arthritis pain. I definitely lost my momentum with both projects. I lost my confidence, too, as my inner critic found hers. I forgot to tell her, "Thank you very much for sharing. Now please go back to your seat and wait to be called upon."

There were definitely "meh" moments, especially with the 100 Days Project. Coming up with a weekly theme was challenging enough, but a daily idea? And just keeping up with the numbers and the photography was hard for me!! Honestly, I got behind and caught up by doing a couple a day. Mea culpa! I think that's okay. I just want to push through and move along as best I can, learning to recognize my creative energy when it appears, and give it all my attention. Lately, I've been doing the small pieces in the early morning, after my morning journaling. This is working well now, but will probably change with the summer weather, when I need to be outside early before it's too hot. I will cross that bridge...

First, here's what 60 Days of tangling looks like:

For those of you who may be bothered with the "missing tile", Day 2 has 2 sides.

Days 28-32 (I decided to photograph the remaining days of the 100 day project from Sunday to Saturday.)

Days 33-39, where I gave myself a break from the words to remember theme.

Days 40- 46, with words when they came to me!

Days 47-53

Days 54-60

As for the Project Pack, I decided to do a large piece rather than the 7 individual ones. I used a colored background--spring pinks and peaches and violets! I modified the blossoms a bit for the composition, and tied them all together with the vining background. The drawing went fairly quickly and seemed to flow. The shading. Took. A. Long. Time. But it was a zen experience that had me totally focused. As you can see below, it was worth every minute.

A detail showing the before and after shading effect

Before shading and vining background

The completed piece 10.5 x 10.5 inches

I've done some other pieces, too, that I'll feature next week, along with the 100 Day Project work.

Until then, take care and happy tangling!

The 100 Day Project (4): Words to Remember

"Stuck" best describes how I've felt since the last post ten days ago. At the time, I mentioned I was experiencing some growing pains in multiple areas of my life. These have continued with less growth, more pain, and just an overall feeling of being stuck on so many levels. I missed two days of the 100 Day Project, and then thought, "What now?"

Luckily I receive a weekly email from the organizers of the project, to encourage reflection and growth. I decided to address their questions in today's post. I invite you all to consider them in your life, our major act of creativity.

• What's giving you joy? Using a freestyle calligraphy, lots of white, border tangles and watercolors was fun for me. 
• What is not giving you joy? Doing all of the above on a 2 x 2 inch square is tricky! I inevitably smudge something, or lose my grip on the small surface when I try not to smudge and then get a wobbly line or color where I didn't intend it. As I write this, I think that being more patient and letting things dry before moving on would solve the problem. But I intended for these small pieces to take 30 minutes tops.
• What are you learning about yourself? I can be really impatient!! My fingers and hands are not always as nimble and steady as they once were.
• What are you committing to this week? I would like to continue with words to remember, and use some organic tangles.

Here's what happened this week:

Day 21/100

Day 22/100

Day 23/100

Day 24/100

Day 25/100 A milestone!

Day 26/100

Day 27/100

I have started another project on a 10.5 in x 10.5 surface. I'm using blossom tangles, as inspired by the new Zentangle Project Pack 20. The videos are free if you're feeling stuck and need some ideas! Pictures coming soon...!