The Creative Prescription explores the benefits of an artful life. Share a journey of inspiration, creative exercises and prompts that make everyday life, a canvas of self-discovery.
Journal and art from the week
Hello from my holiday retreat in Wales!
The hubby, Daisy and I are taking a much-needed rest away from the noise and bustle of Brighton. To enjoy some essential time away and a change of scene to reflect, because lately, my body and mind have been bogged down by too much. Which has led me to several days in bed and a course of antibiotics. My body has told me to slow the heck down and take a break. Both physically and mentally.
This week I want to share some notes from my journal, written whilst recovering, about the importance of my drawing practice as a language of expression.
Journal Excerpt: Sunday 30th July 2023
When it comes to work, I have no ideas. Nothing original or mindblowing. I just adore the act of drawing. The sensation of pencil and pen gliding on paper, Images born from nowhere, just allowing fanciful flowers to take shape.
No grand masterpieces or stories here. Would it be vacuous of me to say I like creating something pretty? Not for any other grand gesture other than celebrating the beauty of feminine and floral forms that inspire me in nature to pick up a pencil and pen.
Developing a Language of Expression
What I have noticed, however, is that by practising these motifs over and over again these past months, I’ve started to develop a language of expression. So when I feel the need to create, I can pick up my pencils and pens to draw out my invisible feelings or just satisfy the need to indulge in the creative process (often in front of a good Netflix series or listening to a podcast!). Without ‘looking’. Just going with the feeling.
I started to doodle floral forms a year or so ago because I wanted to be able to draw flowers. My intention was that simple. To get away from the screens that had led to burnout and take part in the purely analogue act of creation.
This practice has led to making pieces of artwork I could never actually have envisaged. They were born out of the process. As my daughter reminds me - “practice makes progress’.” And I would like to add unexpected outcomes.
Learning from our musical cousins
Unfortunately, we’re so often fixated on outcomes these days.
Artists, we need to learn from our musical cousins.
In music, the process is very much the outcome. We don’t hurry the musician to finish the piece they are playing to get to the end. We enjoy the journey they take you on through the organisation of tone and melody.
At the end of a piece of music, you are left with feelings and emotions appreciating the journey that took us to those sensations.
Therefore, as in music, we appreciate the process not the outcome, it needs to be the same with art making.
Like the musician enters their own world of flow as they perform, they take the audience with them.
Creating for themselves. Not the audience. This is how it must be with the visual arts too.
Stay creative x
💫 Inspiration to Draw On
📚 Book Recommendation
It’s no secret that my favourite department in a bookshop is children’s books. With their colourful designs, and illustrations, they hold fun yet profound stories, often with hidden and deeper meanings.
This week I bought the newly released ‘Invisible Things’ by illustrator Andy J Pizza and his artist wife Sophie Miller.
In Andy J Pizza’s wonderfully wacky style, this colourful book explores the depth of human experience and encourages readers to look past the visible to connect with the things that are not seen: feelings and emotions. This is a powerful tool for children to explore issues around mental health and wellbeing.
If we could put on a pair of magical invisible glasses and see all the feelings, ideas, and other invisible things that populate our world, what would they look like? Could you see an itch? Could you describe hope?
But grown-ups this is very much for you too!
I recently ran a creative break workshop at work where I asked participants to draw their feelings/sensations as a character. It was really powerful! Expect a creative prescription, inspired by this book coming your way soon!
🎵 Music to Move Your Pencil To
Last week we lost an incredible but tortured soul who both inspired and terrified me equally as a youngster. She was the epitome of the tortured artist with a voice that was beautiful, and fierce yet vulnerable. She was the epitome of that over-used word, authentic. Nothing compared to Sinéad O'Connor.
🎨 Get Creative- Journalling Prompt
I loved the Midsummer creative retreat from
where she encouraged us to escape to the digital Isles of Curiosity and Wonder. To explore and store our creative ideas and inspirations.The first prompt of the 5-day series was given by the brilliant
one of which I’d love to share with you today:1. What has peaked in you at this moment? What are you ready to let go? What would you like to keep?
💬 And Finally…A Quote to Live By
“An artist’s job is to be themselves at any cost.”
~ Sinéad O'Connor, activist, singer and songwriter
Thanks for reading. For more, I draw botanical-inspired illustrations and keep a library of creative exercises for you to try instead of scrolling on your phone.
If you enjoyed this and know someone who might appreciate it, consider sharing :)
Hullloooo across the ponds and over to Wales! I hear your voice when I read your words. This part in particular “take part in the purely analogue act of creation.” I might need to put that on a post it!