I was looking through an old sketchbook today, and I was overwhelmed with thoughts like, "This is what creative freedom looks like." "I made this back when I didn't give a 'blankety-blank.' " And, "Oh, yeah, I guess I do know how to keep a sketchbook." I am not saying I am the most talented artist ever seen. What I am saying is that today I noticed there was a time in my life when I wasn't worrying so much about creating art. I was mostly concerned about expressing my thoughts and feelings through art materials, writing, and poetry. I guess I want to get back to doing just that.
Well, what I mean to say, is that I want to fill up my sketchbooks and journals again in a way that feels freeing, joyful, meaningful, and good to me. I want to go with the flow more, not less.
Allow me to share a few photos from my old sketchbook.
When I reflect back, I remember being proud of some things, like these sketches:
Do you recognize this face?*
I remember feeling brave when I made this collage:
Making this collage felt brave because I used my own hair, and "messy" oil pastels. Part of me was concerned that the oil pastels would ruin the rest of the sketchbook. Would my hair get "nasty" somehow? I can tell you now, that years later, this collage and the surrounding pages are just fine. Nothing was ruined. Everything survived the mess.
At the time of creating the above sketches and the "messy" collage, I was following my instinct on what I needed to do. I wanted to learn how to draw faces, so I studied large magazine faces. Some of my favorite sources for interesting faces came from Bazaar magazine and Interview magazine. (In case it is really bothering you, the male sketch from above is Perry Farrell* of Jane's Addiction.)
Let's get back to the insights from looking in my old sketchbook. I looked at what I created, and it looked like fun! The images looked free and expressive. Some of the images were simply charts from exploring art media. Here's an example:
It's just a chart, but I love color and shape, like most artists do.
What I really want to say in this post, and what I really want you to hear is, "ANYTHING GOES". Next time you do something "artsy", I want you to feel the creative freedom that I felt when I looked back at my old sketchbook. I want you to feel proud of yourself and brave for trying something different. Trust your instinct and let go of results. Enjoy the process and the freedom you have to experiment with art supplies.
Sometimes when I am feeling low or in some kind of a rut, I think, "It truly is a privilege that I can play with art supplies for fun and personal expression. Not everyone in the world has this freedom."
Here are a few final tips:
If you are feeling the urge, follow it. If you are feeling stuck, start with a scribble. If you want to get better at something, practice. Anything goes, and YES, you can keep a sketchbook. You can make art. You can express your thoughts and feelings on paper in a way that feels satisfying and gratifying.
Many Blessings and Happy Creating!
Briana
