Better from far away

[smokingboot]

I did my first ever water colour last night.





A friends sister-in-law is starting an art group down in North Yorkshire, so she asked if she could test out her starter lesson with us. Who could say no? My work was very much the weakest out of the three students, but the meditation of sitting there and concentrating in a relaxed way was perfect. My mood has been difficult recently and this just blew it far far away.

Increasingly I enjoy arty shows, all spin-offs of the Great British Bake-Off formula; The Great Pottery Throwdown, Landscape Artist of the Year etc. Because I have always been very bad at such things, I just ignored artsy crafty stuff except to buy or/and admire. Now it comforts me somewhat to see the kindness and cleverness of hands. Words are still and always will be my first love. But if I do this more often, I will get better at it and it will make me feel good without any expectation of success.

Comments

[mallorys_camera]

Personally, I'd rather be an illustrator than a writer.

But such talent as I have is exclusively channeled into words. I can barely draw a straight line. It must be a hand-eye coordination thing because I actually have a fairly good sense of composition, & I take good photographs.

[smokingboot]

I am the same as you when it comes to talent. Words are my home and my craft, and I know myself, expect myself to be good with them. I do not think I could live if I couldn't write, it is a part of me easily as essential as the need for sex or company. If I have to fill in the I AM A box, the last word is forever WRITER.

Art is the opposite. The acceptance of no talent means something else. It's a very different kind of feeling.

[mallorys_camera]

I do not think I could live if I couldn't write

Same.

[bleodswean]

I love those trees! Watercolor is insanely meditative and can be improved upon with practice, no question! Keep going!

For me, writing is about bringing a scene to life. I also attempt this in other mediums.

[smokingboot]

Thank you, I am going to try. It was wonderful, the most pleasant kind of quiet. It settled my mind in a way that yoga or pathworking does not. I guess that is because my brain is always looking for the route. Here, my brain didn't even pay that much attention to the painting we were learning from. I would just mix, say, the most beautiful brown claret purple and use it, not because it suits but because I love it. Such a child!

When I write, scenes, moments, feelings are everything. Doing this is my home.