Happy Creative New Year

I have small art journals that I started in about 2003 because I simply had no time to paint any more. I started art journals and I got much more serious about photography.

These small art journals were my art outlet because when you’re working 50-60 hours a week, there really is no time to do traditional oil paintings. These little art journals have 100 sheets and I use both sides, so that’s 200 images per journal. It took me about 5 years to completely fill the first one and about 3 years to fill the second one. I started the third one in June of 2009 and I have 29 sheets left.

Yesterday, I was feeling down and restless. I didn’t know where to go or what to do, so I finally pulled out my current little art journal and my Berol colored pencils and my drawing pens and just started drawing. It felt really good. I haven’t been drawing much, but now that it’s really cold and with holiday obligations, I have not had much of a chance to go out with the camera for the last week or so. I got out the drawing journal out of frustration.

Getting caught up in what I feel might sell, marketing my work (which I still have not figured out how to do) and trying to please everyone else has made me realize I’m not happy with what I’m creating. Oh, don’t get me wrong, when the weather conditions are right, and I have the time, my principal love is still photography, but I have been drawing all my life and I think one of the reasons I’ve felt really unbalanced and unhappy is the fact that I HAVEN’T BEEN DRAWING. It’s a necessary part of my life, like food. I need it to stay healthy. Recently, I started playing around with making some purely digital art and I like it, but the minute I start making marks on paper, it really feels like “coming home”.

I have three blank journals after I finish the current one, so it’s not like I have to go out and get the supplies. I’m searching for more balance, and when I pulled out that little journal yesterday, I think I found a way to get there.

Here’s to a new year and lots and lots of images. Do your thing, whatever form of art it is. Write that novel, make that sculpture, arrange those pixels....but like they say in the Nike commercial, “Just do it”.

Happy creative new year to everyone!