Little life lessons
A daily practice, luck and gratitude, studio and life balance, and new adventures
Hello again!
I’m just stopping in for a little update post before I jump back out of the studio again. It’s been an interesting few weeks, with some travel, trepidations, and, as it is with life - a few lessons learned along the way. One constant, though, is my desire to try new materials and techniques to help me better define the art I want to make going forward. As a means to that end, I’m continuing to add to my 100-day botanical drawing series, which I started on April 1.
100-days of Botanical Drawings
For anyone who has endeavored on a daily art (or anything) practice, I’m sure you know the struggle. It’s hard to show up (both physically and mentally) for anything every single day. Knowing that I had travel plans in the middle of my 100-day challenge, I was at least mentally prepared for the “failure” that was doomed to occur. Twice now, I’ve gotten myself a week behind in drawings. Instead of worrying about whether that “disqualifies” my attempt at 100 days of drawing, I went into this project fully aware of the possibility and made a backup plan.
If I had a day when I couldn't draw (for whatever reason), I made sure to take a photo of a plant, flower, or critter to draw later when time and mental capacity returned.
Since part of the challenge also included adding a daily headline and contour-ish drawing to the back of my daily drawings…
… I also made sure to take a screenshot of something semi-newsworthy each day, whether or not I had time (or will) to do the contour drawing.
Instead of feeling defeated, I feel in control…
In this instance, I’m happy I took a few past life lessons and applied them to this current project. Instead of feeling defeated, I feel in control… even though I’m currently a week behind again, I have faith that I can buckle down and catch up this weekend because if something is important to me (which this project is, for reasons I’ll explain at a later time), I know I will follow through.
Little life lessons
1. Give yourself grace
2. Set yourself up for success
3. Have faith in yourself
4. Be persistent
5. When all else fails, refer back to Little Life Lesson 1
Of course, it was easy to excuse myself when I missed days due to travel, and even more so after a few more little (okay, maybe larger) life lessons were unexpectedly thrown my way…
A Training Day Collision
As I mentioned in my last Artist Note…
… I am training for a marathon in December. I was proud of myself for keeping my training going during a family trip to Colorado earlier this month. Running while on vacation is not my normal routine. (Another reason to give myself grace on the 100-days catch-up I had to do later.)
It was during a training run after I returned home, however, that I received a few more life lessons on which to reflect.
On the more humorous side of things - Little Life Lesson #6:
6. My Face ID doesn’t work when my face is swollen like it’s been attacked by a raging swarm of bees.
Yes, while on what was supposed to be a 9-mile trail run, at mile 6, I was coming down a hill (shortly after the first photo below), lost my footing in a way I’m still not sure what happened, and face-planted with a mouthful of pine needles and what was turning into a quickly swelling face (photo two upon returning home), yet somehow missing every other part of my body in the fall.
I feel incredibly lucky. Nothing broken. All teeth accounted for. I somehow missed a large section of rocks both before and after the area I fell. Not even a bruise anywhere else but my face. It could have been SO MUCH WORSE.
Almost 10 days later, my face still has a few bruises that are healing but are basically back to normal. The experience, though, really took me out of my regular routines - not that I couldn’t do the things I needed to do, but rather, I was just shaken up enough to need time to process the harrowing experience. Even so, I was back out and running two days later… just not on the trails (yet). And I have even more gratitude for the life I have and the moments I get to experience.
Bigger Life Lessons
7. Be present in each moment (aka pay attention to your footing!)
8. Life is precious and fleeting. Appreciate the moments before me.
I share this experience also as a reminder to maintain a more holistic perspective on the expectations and frustrations that arise as I navigate my way in the studio and outside the studio, too. Even as an artist, it’s important I balance my life, family, and work in a way that keeps me fulfilled, energized, and engaged while meeting the needs of my family and community responsibilities.
As I continue to appreciate my good fortune in surviving my fall, living an artist life, and having relationships I care deeply about, I am also excited about what’s ahead.
Next week, I have the privilege and pleasure to attend a 10-day artist workshop in Eastern Oregon. I am excited about the opportunity to commune with other artists and learn new skills. This weekend, I’ll be pouring over my packing list - a list that requires art supplies and meal planning along with the usual travel needs. And I’ll need to be ready for some birding while I’m there, too!
I’m sure I’ll be bringing home some new Little Life Lessons from this adventure (as well as new art techniques!) when I get back. Until then - I hope you enjoy the few life lessons I shared above - and watch out for those slippery trail rocks!
Happy Holiday Weekend,
Jennifer