Who knew a box of art supplies can teach you so much about yourself
@Shadowspub and I were chatting the other day. After I told her I was redrawing and painting the castle once again she made a statement that has stuck with me in ways I never would have thought possible.
"be careful you don't get caught up in perfectionism" ~Shadowspub
Swatches of all the new art supplies
I had just received the Sketchbox 2020 Holiday collection the night before and swatched all the art supplies that came in the box. The watercolors were beautiful after I swatched them. I wasn't too happy about their color until then.
What I did love about the newest watercolors was the tone of them. It was the perfect tone I had been looking for when drawing the castle the first time. I also wanted to try and simplify the castle so it would be easier to replicate when adding it to more drawings as the background.
"The castle needs to be something I love and can draw easy"~Snook
Loving the simpler design and the perfect tone I was looking for
All true statements yet Shadowspub's words about perfectionism have been having a gay old time in the back of my brain. I have so many characters now with rough sketches that I have not shared. I also have drawings all painted that I have not shared.
The question is: Why Not?
Adding markers into the mix made me happy
Why am I not taking everyone along for my journey? Why am I not documenting my journey? When did I last make so many things I am proud of and not rushed to share them in a post? All good questions I need to find the answers to so I can get back to being me.
The me that writes stories and posts them with misspelled words. Me that just wants to share what is meaningful to me with anyone that wants to stop by and see how I am doing. Me that knows what I do is not perfect and doesn't care. No one is perfect, me least of all. I live by those rules.
It is not being perfect that matters. It is the journey, what you learned, and the fun you had along the way. Again, why am I not sharing that? What has changed? I am working on my lifelong dream. One would think I would be eager to document the experience for myself and share it with friends.
The best answer I can come up with is I am afraid I will fail in the end.
This would explain a lot about what is happening now, and in the past when opportunities had presented themselves. I froze and did nothing.
The difference now is I am in love with each of the characters I have come up with so far. I want so badly to tell their stories. To get them down on paper along with all the drawings I want to make that go along with each story.
Each story will take months and months to finish. Skill level, learning, all take time and I do not want to wait months and months to share what I am excited about each day. The journey is being lost to me if I do not document it here and that is the best part.
The final newest, simpler, drawing of the castle. I am loving this version!
The dream will always be there even if I share along the way. The hope will always be there too. It is time to take something so personal and let it out into the world to fly for all to see. While it might end up in a finished story someday, each day I do not document the joy I am having creating characters and storylines, I am doing myself more harm than good.
I need to remember that each piece of art has its own story. Stories I do not want to get lost in years to come. If something grander then a post comes along one day then it was meant to be. If I just end up with my journey written out about each painting then it wasn't meant to be but nothing will happen if I just sit here afraid to share the good, bad, and ugly.
Thank you @Shadowspub for your statement that ended up deeper than ever imagined. Very Firm Handshake!
Help someone smile today. It can not hurt you.
Snook
All photos are mine unless otherwise stated
This brought tears to my eyes.
You.
Just.. you.
I love how you capture all that is pure and good and lovely so easily. You make my heart swell with pride in having known you.
I hope that someday again - I get to see you and be in your presence and just enjoy you.
Until then - I'll get snippets of you here and there... and smile at my beautiful friend!
I love you!!
I hope you are doing okay. You have been quiet and that is never a good sign.
sending lots and lots of love your way!
^^^ All of this. ((hugs))
Love You!!!
I understand your fear. No, incorrect. I understand my fear and suspect it is related somehow to yours. At least the ultimate 'freeze up' is the same.
Seth Godin says to learn to dance with your fear, to know it.
I have a suggestion: Write a couple of words for each storyline and location. I really understand not sharing everything too soon, but I will forget or mix together character details and stories if I don't give them a word or two to separate them. Sort of like those picnic plates with ridges and distinct areas in them to keep your beans out of the coleslaw.
Your castle looks good, a serviceable place with lots of stories to tell about the Kings and Princesses that have lived there.
I'm looking forward to them. At what ever pace you are good with releasing them.
In my sketchbook, I have pages for each character and a rough outline of their beginning story so I do not forget cuz there are a few I have already forgotten :( so learned that the hard way.
I need to find the balance of sharing the little things that make me happy and realize it doesn't have to be the final version. I think that is the hard part. BUT I have never been perfect and look where I am today....so thinking it is working so far why change?
The hardest part is/was figuring out WHY I wasn't sharing. What was holding me back from doing so..... I hope I have it figured out now but let's see what happens :D
it is 2020 after all :D
You had me at Shirtless and...
LOL seriously tho... failure is a pathway to success. And if you fail, you get back in the saddle and do it again, and again... and again if necessary. ;-)
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Yeah, I thought the added R was a good choice :D
LOLZ Indeed ;-) Well played.
Oh, and Yes'em LOLLL
LOL! You made me laugh, and then came out with wisdom. As did Shadows. I fall into perfectionism all the time, but my goal for my latest book release was to ease off the pressure. I still made Shelta's Songbook the best I could, but I tried to let go of expectations for timing, success, and all the things that are out of my control.
It's the journey, definitely. And if we're able to have fun along the way, and learn from mistakes made without beating ourselves up, it's a lot less scary. Sending big love to you both!
(Also, the castle is gorgeous, Snook.)
So happy I made you laugh!!! That made my day!!
I saw your Twitter post and was happy you were a bit easier on yourself this time around. HUGS
and Thank YOU!!
:D Glad that you got a laugh, Lord knows we need some humor to carry us through at times. We are often our own worst enemies, I too find myself in the same boat as you and Snook. Sometimes we have to take a step back and let the chips fall where they may, and enjoy the ride.
Time for me to get back in the damned saddle too. Hope you and yours have a good holiday.
Right back at'cha! And agreed. So much of life is doing what you can and then trusting, knowing the outcome of our actions isn't ultimately up to us. It can be tough to practice, but also freeing in a way. Big hugs!
Have you made any art while shirtless? (inquiring squirrels want to know 😜)
Thrilled that you're sharing the journey with us. (Please don't ever forget, for every one person who doesn't see the beauty in what you accomplish - there are at least three who celebrate getting to see what you share.
Perfection is subjective, so I equate it with joy. YOU being happy, YOU having fun, YOU getting excited, YOU showing pride in trying again and again - THAT is perfect in my eyes. 💕💕
Your castle is 100% completely gorgeous! When can I move in?
🌺🌷 🌸
Thank you, oH very wise one!! HUGS
and Sooooooooooooooooooooooon
hubby got a deer so it has been crazy here today and tomorrow will be too
Love You so much!!
The only failure you will make is not being true to yourself. From what I can tell, you have found a new passion and therefor, far from a failure. I'm happy you have and share it with us. That is an achievement and feeling of release many will never know because they aren't themselves. As for the shirtless...bwahahahaaa! My mind went way too many places on that one. Much love sweets!🤗
You are correct!! Sometimes it is scary being yourself for the whole world to see though.
MANY HUGS
Ah, yes the "joy" of perfectionism that can be the cause of (almost) shirtless-ness. That's good advice and I also need to pay attention.
And this -
I am grappling with a couple of things that are wanting "out"...I shall how that unfolds. One is partly written in my midnight notebook. The question is whether it stays there or moves on to my blog.
Also, sometimes your imperfection is someone else's perfect.
I think you know the answer to this. When you post it PLEASE tag me in it so I see it.
If I can do this you can do yours. Let others enjoy seeing your creativity. Life is more fun if you share with others what moves you.
Deep breaths
sending so much love and strength your way!!
I started to read this yesterday and got interrupted, so I saw Mr. Toad before I read this. I am so glad you are sharing your characters with us! And if they happen to change along the way, we can always meet the new version. I am glad you are having so much fun with this story, and the art work.
Thank you for being along with me on this new journey. <3
This post has received a 100.00% upvote from @fambalam! Join thealliance community to get whitelisted for delegation to this community service.
Thank You!!
I agree with my dear friend @brisby: your castle is magic :)) What an inspirational blog.