I am a Renaissance woman in more ways than one. The past 3 years and in particular the past twelve months have been explosive and I’ve discovered things about myself that I had no idea were a part of me.
One of the most interesting discoveries has been the fact that I’m an artist in addition to being a writer, a business woman, and most importantly a mom. I’ve been posting pictures of my projects and experiences throughout the year.
It still boggles my mind to think that I dipped my toe into the proverbial water and took a drawing class less than a year ago. Since then I’ve taken 3 more drawing classes, a print making workshop, and I learned how to make paper.
In the past months I’ve discovered that I have a passion for working in ink. For anyone who knows me, this is completely counter – intuitive. I’m a perfectionist, if there’s a chance that it won’t turn out right; I’m more inclined to not even start than to make a mistake. So ink, particularly on my hand made paper seems like it would be an unlikely creative outlet.
Earlier this fall, I combined various things that I’d learned and I created my very first book.
This started out as a drawing and turned into something quite different – I changed course along the way a few times – the biggest being that I cut all of the edges off of the cover and made the edges of the ‘book’ uneven and well – like the edge of a forest.
I finished my last class of the year a few weeks ago. As our last project Anne had us create an abstract drawing using a most unusual approach. The process will be a separate post, but the outcome was quite intriguing.
True to form, I didn’t finish it during class time and it took me more than a few sessions to complete this drawing in ink, water color pencil, and a bit of white charcoal. I can’t describe it, but this drawing unlocked something within me.
A few weeks ago, I started drawing a trilogy. Only I didn’t know it at the time. I sifted through my stack of hand-made paper from the summer. I held a thin piece of paper made from flax up to the light.
I saw crinkles and creases. I also saw trees and teardrops. It was as if my pen had a mind of it’s own as I began to trace along the creases and crevices to create patterns and mystique.
After I finished it I sorted through my paper and found another piece with similar imperfections. Too thin to write on, too many creases to be of value, but just right to create on.
I found one more piece of perfectly imperfect paper in my stack, refreshed my paintbrush water and let my imagination do the work.
Who would have imagined that I had exactly three pieces of paper that were equal in their imperfections and in their potential for beauty?
Hi Beth,
Great post. Have you read “Little Bets” by Peter Sims? You would love it. it would definitely add fuel to this new found fire of yours.
Hi C.A.
thanks 🙂 I haven’t read “Little Bets” I shall have to add it to my reading list.
Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my post – it truly means a lot.
Beth
What a lovely series! They will look wonderful displayed together.
Thanks Kathy – they were fun to work on!
Beth