So recently I rediscovered the love of just sketching for the sake of sketching. Actually taking out my sketchbook and a pencil and just working out my ideas on paper.
However, today I am going to talk about the things I do when I am trying to relax. I have loved drawing since I could pick up a pencil and for years my favorite pastime has always been to draw and create. Which most artists would probably relate to. Whether you start drawing young or discover as you get older we all have a similar moments of discovery. I remember going to the art store and getting supplies, begging my mom for a new sketchbook I didn’t need, taking every art class my school provided just because I could. Art was always something I loved to spend my time doing, and before I made it my job it wasn’t something I expected to ever have a career in.
However what happens when your favorite thing to do becomes your job? Drawing and illustration are still my favorite things yet that does not mean they have to be the only thing I ever do. For years I worked myself to the edge of my creativity and definitely close to burnout thinking that the only thing I should be doing with my free time was more art.
Then my kids wanted to learn to crochet those little characters. I had seen amigurumi before but when my kids said they wanted to learn how to make them, it meant that I had to learn how to make them so that I can help them. What happened when I learned how to make them was that I found a fun release for my creativity that was not tied to work or deadlines. I could create something fun that was more of a meditative relaxation, and a step away from all the drawing.
This also opened up my brain to new ideas. If you haven’t heard it before they say that doing something mundane or monotonous can unlock creativity and inspiration. What I found was that by crocheting these little characters I would get hit by inspiration more often and found that my work was improving through having the mental downtime to do something simple and repetitive. I would get struck by ideas for the project I was stuck on or had little inspiration to start, noticing my work was improving ( I still feel like I always see the flaws in my work, but I also felt like it was getting better and more consistent ).
Prior to finding this not monetized and purely fun activity I was really feeling the burnout creep setting in and I write this to remind you all that the burnout is real and we all need these activities in our lives. While I fully support the draw everyday side of having a creative practice, I also think we need to have things in our lives that are purely for us and just help us grow and evolve in ways we didn’t expect them to.
I leave you with this, think about the things you do purely for you and please try to make them part of your practice. Your brain and your creativity will thank you for taking that time for you. If you feel like sharing I would love to hear all about your hobbies!
While I normally would share a messy sketchbook page at this point, today I am going to share the most complicated project I ever attempted and like my art all I see is the flaws, but I can assure you that the one-year-old I gave it to loved it!
Till next time keep failing creatively, and see you next week with some good news.
Thank you so much for joining me on my journey.
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Carolyn Sehgal 