As You Learn to Begin…

Have you ever found satisfaction in that one shape that you carefully sketched on paper? “Finally, that almost perfect circle!” You lean back in your chair and feel like you have accomplished much with such a small gesture. Yet, to anyone else, it really is not that impressive—something that small, simple, or perhaps insignificant. For you, it is motivation to add the next layer tomorrow, even if you are not sure what the entire vision is for it yet.

Many times, you can have this vision of what you hope to create— maybe, of who you hope to be. I have found myself lost in my ideas and attempting to balance bringing them to fruition while expending more energy at my day jobs and life’s demands. The creative process can feel slow, almost too slow… finishing that one idea that you’ve been thinking about working on for the past two weeks. Or maybe longer!!

Take a deep breath. Take a look in the mirror. Look into your own eyes and remember exactly who you are. Apart from the demands that call for your attention, and even the creative goals that call your name. Separate yourself for just a moment. Despite being tossed by life’s demands and trying to balance your ever growing goals, there is growth in the small moments that you do take to sit down, and express your idea. And, you never know what can come from it… whether that is a perfectly drawn circle, a scramble of words and thoughts, or some colors slapped on a page.

Some days, just allowing it to be what it will be has needed to be enough for me. Rather than becoming so frustrated by lack, (lack of energy to dedicate to art, lack of time) it has helped me to learn from the small pieces, letters, or color slaps in a sketchbook that guide me to the next creative thought. Because eventually, those small moments have become finished pieces that I am very proud of. Do not underestimate your small, seemingly, insignificant moments. Exhale. And keep returning, again.

I hope that through Sketchbook Letters, I can share the encouragement that I have found in Sketch-booking and how those sketches have led to greater artistic pieces!