birdgirl takes octopus for his afternoon flight...finished this today...Kumari just learned how to say octopus, she really likes them..
This January I read a book called Writing with Pictures by Uri Shulevitz,
who mentioned that you must always draw from life,
to keep the ideas coming and have references to work from,
even if your artwork is from the imagination.
A huge realization for me! No wonder I was in a rut with my art!
I had been drawing only from my imagination for the past 10 years.
A few years before Kumari came along, I felt like I was doing the same thing
over and over again.
I was inspired by the book and started sketching from life again….
it has really helped me get ideas for new work as well as improve my drawing
skills.
I was also reading Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit around the same time.
Her explanation of a dancer’s work process is a good analogy. They stretch and
do exercises to get their body warmed up before they can work on an actual piece.
Even if you’ve been dancing for 40 years, you still have to do those warm ups
the same as a beginner. I realize now that drawing requires the same
commitment.
wondering if anyone out there has gone through a break/block before?
Would love to here comments on your process to get going again….
I love this!! It inspires me to dance again . As you know i have also been going through a dance block which i need to shake. I am starting to work out more and need to start doing yoga. I have a goal to to finish the Salt Rain piece by January
! Thanks for this Chamindika it’s great!
I love it Chamun. I love your art because it ALWAYS tells a story. Xoxo.
I’m really excited to see you drawing again! I’m hoping that soon you’ll have 3x or 4x shirts because I really really want a Brown Soul t-shirt and of course I want to support your wonderful work!!
hey stephanie, I definitely will have 3x and 4x, I was going with American Apparel in the past and they didn’t have those sizes for women, it totally bugged me so I am looking for another company with nicely cut shirts for women in larger sizes, I’m so sorry I didn’t have any before, I do feel bad about that!
I love reading about your process. It’s so generous of you to share works in progress and your reflections on creativity… As a writer I definitely go through fallow periods and I appreciate your reminder to replenish my motivations and sources of inspiration all the time.
thank you Minal! yes, replenish is a good way to put it! I was wondering what you do during the fallow periods? I was also wondering if you have a specific routine for writing ? I’m having a hard time managing time.