A Day In the Life.. Page 7 The Fiction Project color pencils
I completed the fiction project last week and mailed it off to Art House Co-op in Brooklyn, NY. In the end I filled 30 pages with sketches and writing - that includes an author page, and two pages of tid-bits and explanations. I had initially torn off two pages to experiment on, and another three pages when I had difficulty with the page with the rangoli. I scanned the pages to my computer so I will be posting them slowly on my blog :) I sprayed the completed pages with Krylon acrylic clear coating so the color pencils will hold up and not smudge on the remote chance that it will be handled and looked at a number of times!
The project was exciting, fun and stressful all at the same time. I was sketching, drawing and thinking about the book every single day and I felt daily practice definitely improved my skills. I am looking into another project to keep up the daily practice :). Giving my best and not being hung up on perfection freed me to enjoy the process. The project pushed me to sketch things I would have overlooked or afraid to tackle. I hope to give some of the sketches full treatment in larger versions. I was excited to see the end product - a book authored and illustrated by me - not perfect or amazing, but a small accomplishment! Strangely, I did not mind mailing it off.
Now, about page 7: on a daily basis, I do not care for chores - will gladly by-pass them whenever I can! Over the years I have noticed how my elderly or unwell relatives and friends have fiercely insisted on doing the daily little chores as they negotiated their days, and that made a great impression on me. I wonder, why, when, how or if, the perspective will change for me.
The project was exciting, fun and stressful all at the same time. I was sketching, drawing and thinking about the book every single day and I felt daily practice definitely improved my skills. I am looking into another project to keep up the daily practice :). Giving my best and not being hung up on perfection freed me to enjoy the process. The project pushed me to sketch things I would have overlooked or afraid to tackle. I hope to give some of the sketches full treatment in larger versions. I was excited to see the end product - a book authored and illustrated by me - not perfect or amazing, but a small accomplishment! Strangely, I did not mind mailing it off.
Now, about page 7: on a daily basis, I do not care for chores - will gladly by-pass them whenever I can! Over the years I have noticed how my elderly or unwell relatives and friends have fiercely insisted on doing the daily little chores as they negotiated their days, and that made a great impression on me. I wonder, why, when, how or if, the perspective will change for me.
13 comments:
I completely agree with your comments about making art everyday - especially when painting/drawing subjects you might not normally choose - and how beneficial that regular practice is. Congrats to you on finishing your book! That's something to be proud of :-)
Re: Chores.... I'm divided between the comforting familiarity and routine they bring to my life and the never ending aspect of them. I try to get them done as soon as possible so I can move on to something else!
I didn't even know you were doing a book like this, but it sounds wonderful! I can just imagine how much it helped. I may have to try that. I love the colors in this piece, and the words are so true. I find myself wondering that same thing when I'm cleaning up spills every single day. :)
Congratulations on finishing the project, Meera! That is huge! Do let us know when the book comes out in print. I'd love to see it in full.
Daily chores can be a source of comfort (when things are not going well, routine is what grounds me) or boredom (when I'm champing at the bit to move on to something exciting and interesting) for me, depending on my mood :).
Also, your post on Vivekananda (titled: Universal Acceptance) has inspired today's post on my blog. Thought I'd drop by and thank you!
That is terrific that you completed the sketch book. I can hardly wait to see the other pages!
Thank you Teresa. I need to be disciplined about daily practice. And I like to add what A friend of mine said- that there is security in doing chores.
Thanks Crystal! Doing the book was very exciting--especially since I wasn't sure if I could really pull it off by the deadline :) It was a labor of love-I just about was obsessed with since Dec of 2010!
Hema, Thank you! I don't think the book will be published at all for now :) i mailed it off to Art House Co-op and it will be in the collection of Brooklyn Art Museum. It is supposed to go on a 'world tour' in the next few months along with a few thousand other sketch book projects! Check out their web site for details. Any one can participate in the the sketchbook projects.
And thank you for the link to my blog from you post. Yes indeed, Swami Vivekananda is a very inspirational figure.
Thanks Kathy! I will be posting them in the next few days :)
Hi Meera...Your creations are an inspiration to me. I very much enjoy looking at your drawings.
I've been doing pen drawings lately in the mornings. I've never tried colored pencil for some reason.
Also, I agree with you about chores. They just get in the way of important things like painting.
It is beautifully done Meera, look fwd to your other pages from this project.. that sounded exciting!
Well, daily small chores help me to be in the present moment and it is a bliss!
Congratulations Meera! Now you are going to miss the daily practice. You will have to think of something similar to keep up. What a great project it was.
I love your daily chores post. I would gladly forget the dishes and sometimes do!! But I guess dishes need to be done and those clothes need to be washed...
@LamoreAllure, thank you! You are brave to do pen drawings --that shows you are confident in your sketching abilities :)
Padmaja, Thanks :) you are right about chores grounding you in the present -- but more often than not, I begrudgingly try to get it out of the way.
@Heera, Mangala, Thank you :) -I guess you and I share the same sentiments about chores! I am trying to come up with some project or so to keep me disciplined about daily art practice. Hope I will settle on one soon.
a chore is only one when one doesnt have the luxury of time. Arent chores the ones that accord us the fortune of watching the swishing by of a yellow wing through the window while making the bed. Or ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds amidst the water running while doing dishes
Congragulation on finishing. I love the cup of tea :)
or is it dishes to be washed....
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