Thank you!! Yes, I wish we could all be given an awareness of ways to constructively cope with our emotions starting at an early age and continuing throughout our educational lives...and hopefully continuing in a self-educational sense afterwards. But all I can do anything about is my own self-educational life. So...🤷♀️
I love this! Any creative effort, from writing to fabric design to photography to these lovely paintings starts with sinking oneself in the moment—imaginary or real. Thank you!
Beautiful work...as always. I love the Matisse quote, too. I was lucky to see an exhibition of his work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Blew me away! 💙💙
Adored this post, Sue - fascinating and enlightening throughout - "The emotional information happening within my heart and mind" in this context isn't something I'd consciously thought about, and wow, that's absolutely gold dust not only for art but for life itself. Terrific! 😍
Oh good!! I'm delighted to hear that you liked my post!!! Please take any gold dust you found in it back to your house along with these hugs 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
😁 Awwww, thanks, Sue! You know, my favourite thing about gold dust is that it doesn't need dusting, so it's much more welcome in my house than ordinary dust! 🤣
Such a fascinating post! it was so interesting to hear about your work with botanists. It made me think of the amazing drawings you can see at places like the National History Museum on London. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/hms-endeavour-250.html
I loved this quote by Mary Engelbreit: ‘Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion.’ Wonderful.
Thank you so much!!! Yes, that collection in the National History Museum is amazing - and so valuable on multiple levels. I pinch myself in amazement when I think of how many of those "museum pieces" actually began in or actually were someone's private field notebook! And I'm glad you liked the quote about not waiting for special occasions. I was tempted to add "stop and smell the flowers now because in a coffin your nose won't work" but decided to leave that out 🥴🤣
Okay, this makes me want to start drawing my garden. I don’t draw. Where should I start? I was reading in the isolation journals that it is good to try something you are not good at- creatively -so… this also made me thing of Braiding Sweetgrass and how she was told that science and beauty were not mixed- and yet… certain colors attract bees to plants- bees pollinate certain flowers for the beauty. Thank you
On the one hand I think beauty as defined by humans is subjective and yet on the other hand as you mentioned flowers bloom in colors that attract their pollinators. Without that attraction the pollinators wouldn't do their thing...and we humans wouldn't have the fruits and veg we need to survive. So I think beauty is as necessary as water, soil and sun.
I'm honored that my post created a desire to draw - and I hope you will! It's not about doing perfect drawings - it's about the exercise of really looking carefully. As for your question about where to start - in your garden what catches your eye today? Hone in on that one bloom, the one flower or leaf that delights you. Get up close. Don't worry about drawing the whole plant - or filling a page with a drawing - just try to draw or paint the one leaf or flower and write some words on the side of the drawing related to what you're looking at, what caught your eye... or a memory, or a quote or phrase that pops into your mind as you look. You can do this!! 💚💚
I loved what you wrote about courage. Sometimes I paint something I love, sometimes not. I find it does take courage to try the next painting, reminding myself to invest in the process.
Your writings and drawings are always evocative! Thank you!
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment!! Yes, it definitely, and always, takes courage - the good news is that the more often one nurtures that courage the more easily it comes. Courage is sometimes like a shy scared kitten that one must be willing to sit quietly patiently with - holding out a treat and letting it come to you. (The treats we hold out to tempt our courage are the pens, paints and paper)
So many encouraging affirmations of the creative process, thank you Sue! I love the Matisse quote and the image of the mouse sweeping the letters is beautiful!
Thank you so much!! I'm delighted to hear that you liked it all!!! I was thinking about the process of editing when I drew the mouse... sometimes I feel like revising words is similar to cleaning up after a party...
Love the sweeping mouse so much, and I put "The Art of Noticing: 131 Ways to Spark Creativity, Find Inspiration, and Discover Joy in the Everyday" on hold at my library. I'm #2 in line. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
Oh my!!!! Coming from you that is high praise indeed!!! And I'm deeply honored - I'll screenshot your comment and save it!! Thank you so very much!!!!! 💚💚💚💚
Sue, thank you for the 'mixed media' of your talented and creative painting that I can always use in my writing. I love botanical and am somewhat of an artist as well. I always admire your drawings and what they can inspire. Thank you again!
I love the expression on the bird in the first image. It definitely brightens my day. And I love the last bit of art too, sweeping together all the letters - so cute and meaningful. I was told years ago by a friend that I was different to other people he knew because I’d walk down a street and notice all the leaves on the trees. I’m not always as observant as I could be on what people do, although I do try, but nature always draws my attention. Being fully in the moment is such a joy. A lovely post dear Sue. Sending heaps of hugs and best wishes.
I think you an I may be twins because I do that too - I can tell you about the blooming dogwood tree, the ivy, the flower box that was just beginning to bloom, the color and pattern of the awning over the door of the bistro, maybe even name the breed of dogs being walked by people that we passed on our way to the bistro, I can tell you what we ate... but what the people in the bistro around us were wearing or saying ... well, I probably missed that. Lol!!!
I love your in-depth analysis of emotional intelligence and its artistic expression. It’s a shame more children aren’t privy to this education.
Thank you!! Yes, I wish we could all be given an awareness of ways to constructively cope with our emotions starting at an early age and continuing throughout our educational lives...and hopefully continuing in a self-educational sense afterwards. But all I can do anything about is my own self-educational life. So...🤷♀️
Thank you again for reading my musings!! 💙💙💙💙💙
Sue, I always too💚🙋♀️💙💚💖
The page being swept reminds me of my revision process
Good catch! Yes! The action of editing and revising was exactly what I was tongue-in-cheek depicting!!! 💚💚💚💚💚
I love this! Any creative effort, from writing to fabric design to photography to these lovely paintings starts with sinking oneself in the moment—imaginary or real. Thank you!
Absolutely true what you say!! And Thank you too!!!!! 💚💚💚💚💚
Beautiful work...as always. I love the Matisse quote, too. I was lucky to see an exhibition of his work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Blew me away! 💙💙
Thank you!!! I love Matisse too - we were lucky enough to see a Matisse exhibit at the National Gallery in Washington DC- it blew me away too!!!! 💚💚
Adored this post, Sue - fascinating and enlightening throughout - "The emotional information happening within my heart and mind" in this context isn't something I'd consciously thought about, and wow, that's absolutely gold dust not only for art but for life itself. Terrific! 😍
Oh good!! I'm delighted to hear that you liked my post!!! Please take any gold dust you found in it back to your house along with these hugs 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
😁 Awwww, thanks, Sue! You know, my favourite thing about gold dust is that it doesn't need dusting, so it's much more welcome in my house than ordinary dust! 🤣
Yes!! Gold dust when tracked into ones house just sparkles nicely and is a joyful thing to have!!! 💚💚💚💚
Such a fascinating post! it was so interesting to hear about your work with botanists. It made me think of the amazing drawings you can see at places like the National History Museum on London. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/hms-endeavour-250.html
I loved this quote by Mary Engelbreit: ‘Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion.’ Wonderful.
Thank you so much!!! Yes, that collection in the National History Museum is amazing - and so valuable on multiple levels. I pinch myself in amazement when I think of how many of those "museum pieces" actually began in or actually were someone's private field notebook! And I'm glad you liked the quote about not waiting for special occasions. I was tempted to add "stop and smell the flowers now because in a coffin your nose won't work" but decided to leave that out 🥴🤣
Thanks again! I hope your day is pleasant.
Okay, this makes me want to start drawing my garden. I don’t draw. Where should I start? I was reading in the isolation journals that it is good to try something you are not good at- creatively -so… this also made me thing of Braiding Sweetgrass and how she was told that science and beauty were not mixed- and yet… certain colors attract bees to plants- bees pollinate certain flowers for the beauty. Thank you
On the one hand I think beauty as defined by humans is subjective and yet on the other hand as you mentioned flowers bloom in colors that attract their pollinators. Without that attraction the pollinators wouldn't do their thing...and we humans wouldn't have the fruits and veg we need to survive. So I think beauty is as necessary as water, soil and sun.
I'm honored that my post created a desire to draw - and I hope you will! It's not about doing perfect drawings - it's about the exercise of really looking carefully. As for your question about where to start - in your garden what catches your eye today? Hone in on that one bloom, the one flower or leaf that delights you. Get up close. Don't worry about drawing the whole plant - or filling a page with a drawing - just try to draw or paint the one leaf or flower and write some words on the side of the drawing related to what you're looking at, what caught your eye... or a memory, or a quote or phrase that pops into your mind as you look. You can do this!! 💚💚
Deep breath! I will keep you posted!
I loved what you wrote about courage. Sometimes I paint something I love, sometimes not. I find it does take courage to try the next painting, reminding myself to invest in the process.
Your writings and drawings are always evocative! Thank you!
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment!! Yes, it definitely, and always, takes courage - the good news is that the more often one nurtures that courage the more easily it comes. Courage is sometimes like a shy scared kitten that one must be willing to sit quietly patiently with - holding out a treat and letting it come to you. (The treats we hold out to tempt our courage are the pens, paints and paper)
Keep drawing what you love!!! 💚
So many encouraging affirmations of the creative process, thank you Sue! I love the Matisse quote and the image of the mouse sweeping the letters is beautiful!
Thank you so much!! I'm delighted to hear that you liked it all!!! I was thinking about the process of editing when I drew the mouse... sometimes I feel like revising words is similar to cleaning up after a party...
That's so pure.😻
💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
🥰
Love the sweeping mouse so much, and I put "The Art of Noticing: 131 Ways to Spark Creativity, Find Inspiration, and Discover Joy in the Everyday" on hold at my library. I'm #2 in line. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
You're so welcome!! I'm happy to hear your library had a copy!!! Wahoo!! I hope you'll enjoy it!!
And thank you for your kindness!!! 💚💚💚💚💚
You're welcome. 🥰(I'll have my husband hold the ladder.)
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 🥰🥰 please tell your husband thank you from me!!!! 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
Will do!!
WOW! This is a phenomenal teaching essay, so clearly and eloquently written! It almost makes me want to start teaching again.
Oh my!!!! Coming from you that is high praise indeed!!! And I'm deeply honored - I'll screenshot your comment and save it!! Thank you so very much!!!!! 💚💚💚💚
When I read something this good, I get a big adrenaline rush, and I want to shout it from the rooftops!
Lol!!!! Don't fall off the roof because I need you in my corner!!!! 💚💚💚💚💚
And thank you so much!!!
Sue, thank you for the 'mixed media' of your talented and creative painting that I can always use in my writing. I love botanical and am somewhat of an artist as well. I always admire your drawings and what they can inspire. Thank you again!
https://writerswrites.com/
Awww thank you for your kindness!! 💚💚💚💚
I love the expression on the bird in the first image. It definitely brightens my day. And I love the last bit of art too, sweeping together all the letters - so cute and meaningful. I was told years ago by a friend that I was different to other people he knew because I’d walk down a street and notice all the leaves on the trees. I’m not always as observant as I could be on what people do, although I do try, but nature always draws my attention. Being fully in the moment is such a joy. A lovely post dear Sue. Sending heaps of hugs and best wishes.
I think you an I may be twins because I do that too - I can tell you about the blooming dogwood tree, the ivy, the flower box that was just beginning to bloom, the color and pattern of the awning over the door of the bistro, maybe even name the breed of dogs being walked by people that we passed on our way to the bistro, I can tell you what we ate... but what the people in the bistro around us were wearing or saying ... well, I probably missed that. Lol!!!
And thank you so much for your kindness!!! 💚💚💚💚💚
Totally enchanting!
Aww Thanks!!!