Into the branches: Part 2

Back into a creative project

First off ~ A very happy new year to you.  I hope you found your own silver linings one way or another despite… well, everything.

I started a small creative project I wrote about in November (you can catch up with that here).  The basic premise inspired by illustrator Campbell Walker and also in part by my favourite make of 2020 was to draw the same thing every day. 

The project started off pretty well.  The leaves were still clinging to some branches, bare on others.  One hazel branch I sketched had one last leaf, curled at the edges as though bracing in readiness for the fall.  These weren’t intended to be great works of art or hours of task mastering imperfections.  They could be a meander or a quick impression. Mainly it was a moment to take notice and create. 

It wasn’t exactly the same thing every day (Is it cheating or not?).  As you can see lots of different types of branches.  I thought as I move further along the choices I gave myself would become more defined.

Creative project: Out of the weeds

The daily sketch offered insights. Some things were more mutterings to myself. I will get myself a proper sketch book, instead of using blank writing pad.  As though emulating the season, leaves of paper would become loose and would fall out, a page here, a page there. I would gather them up into a pile only allowing them to scatter again when looking for something-a-rather. (You know how those something-a-rathers’ can be when you need to find one).

Then the insight of how a creativity can be stunted or change focus when unexpected life things happen (as life has a tendency to do).  Obvious really – I have always concentrated on growth, how ideas develop and never looked at the fall back and my own reaction might be affected creatively. 

On a day of receiving unwelcome news I couldn’t find a pencil to draw.  I didn’t have the energy to look. I picked up a thick nibbed pen, unintentionally drew a blackened charred stump which I can now look at with a detached interest.  After that I didn’t draw anything for another week.   

I do want to say here everything is and will be okay, suffice to say it nothing to serious or insurmountable one way or another.  And I hope I don’t come across as being deliberately obscure.  I will write a future blog post about the situation we find ourselves in as it is part and parcel of how we live and work –  it is not for now though, the process will be a little more interesting and I will have more to say, as we move forward.

So back to the branches…

Afterwards, I was a little haphazard, sometimes drawing, sometimes not.  I don’t see it as a fail as such but I am going to have a do over.  That is the great thing with these type of projects… It’s a ‘Back to the Future’* creative deal you can start over, no consequences, limited hassle.  This time though a little more indefinitely (and with a proper sketch book or at least some sticky (paper) tape to stick loose pieces in one).

I know a couple of you liked the idea of routine.  How did you get on and whether it gave you anything to think about?

I leave this here – an excerpt from a poem I heard on the radio some time ago and a link to the source I took the excerpt from.

*Proper 80’s reference.