I’m so glad Lyns McCracken shared this. The title drew me in, and I really enjoyed the piece. As someone who has been journaling nearly 50 years (since the age of seven), I heartily agree in the power of that practice to help find clarity and comfort. I have just this year begun incorporating sketches (I’m very rusty in my drawing!) into some of my journaling. Something about reading your essay made me realize that while this is a new practice for me, it’s actually something I did without even thinking about it back when I was seven. Interesting.
I'm very rusty in my drawing again, too. I feel an extra pressure about it because I'm "supposed to be" an artist, so why am I having trouble drawing? Back to vulnerability! What I've been doing lately are two-handed drawings where you have a brush (or pen, or whatever you're using) in both hands and you draw with both simultaneously. It forces me to give up control, which kind of forces me to have fun, haha. For me, it helps bypass perfectionism. I'm just going to keep doing them until I'm relaxed enough to draw other stuff. (You can see a couple faces I've drawn this way in my Notes).
Your two-handed drawings are amazing and so fun. Thanks for pointing them out. And I love that idea ... not just that specific exercise, but the concept of doing something in a way that makes perfection impossible ... just takes it right off the table. Brilliant!
I'm sure I can't be the first to do it, but I came upon it during my last big art project where I was getting bogged down with trying too hard to paint everything "perfectly" (which unsurprisingly did not result in great paintings). I took a crappy brush and made it even crappier by hacking at the bristles with scissors. Then I painted with that, haha. I swear it helped me produce the best artwork I've ever made.
Oops, just realized that I'm talking about the project I'm writing about in this post! Forgot which post I was on 😬🙃
A couple of years ago, at my fiftieth birthday party - there was a wonderful jam of a bunch of us musicians that went on for a couple of hours. Some of my dearest musical compatriots were there, tunes were called that I did and didn't know, and we all plunged into them together. But as I've come to experience too often on Gabriola, there were many musicians who hung back because they professed not knowing how to join in on unfamiliar songs. And I hear that - because as I young person I learned via teaching methods and books, and was not trained to just jump in and wade along until I caught the current and swam.
Jamming was, however, the rebirth of my musical life as a 20-something playing in a band, writing music and revising old tunes, figuring out shit in front of other people, making mistakes, and getting past the feeling of vulnerability (or just accepting that it was there) so I could learn to make music in this new way. 25 years later, I am so grateful for this gift - that I had people around me who encouraged me, and were likewise stepping out of themselves into uncomfortable places to make new music and art.
Anyhow - at that party I was struck by the courage it takes to show up in a circle of strangers and play music, and how that courage is a kind of generosity because it allows others to do the same. And this is true for everything we put into the world - first we have to open ourselves up, then find it in ourselves (with the support of others) to step out - and with that we give to ourselves and others in the ultimate act of mutual aid, reciprocity, whatever we want to call it - that goes out into the world and makes more art.
I have been sitting with the mantra "courage is generosity" this week as I prepare two community offerings here on my island - both of which are pushing me out of my comfort zone. Allowing oneself to be and sit with vulnerability is where this all starts. Thanks for the writing and good luck with the upcoming workshops!
Wow, thanks so much for this rich comment that is more than a comment. How I wish I got more of these!
*Courage is generosity* indeed. It can definitely be a gift to bare your neck... it gives other people the permission to do the same.
Doing this journaling workshop in person definitely pushes me out of my comfort zone, because although I've done collage and painting workshops in the past (and not many), I haven't done the journaling workshop live. And it's a whole different ball of wax. But to not take any risks is to whither and dry up. So.
Good luck with whatever it is you're doing in your community on Gabriola!
This comment just inspired me to start writing my first newsletter in awhile - so I'll be elaborating more there on what's going on. Thanks for helping dislodge this thing I've been wanting to write about for awhile.
So stoked that this is happening....and at Aunty Collective! A beautiful welcoming space that is filled with positive energy. And like I'm not the type who throws around phrases like "positive energy" everyday. Congrats!
I’m so glad Lyns McCracken shared this. The title drew me in, and I really enjoyed the piece. As someone who has been journaling nearly 50 years (since the age of seven), I heartily agree in the power of that practice to help find clarity and comfort. I have just this year begun incorporating sketches (I’m very rusty in my drawing!) into some of my journaling. Something about reading your essay made me realize that while this is a new practice for me, it’s actually something I did without even thinking about it back when I was seven. Interesting.
I'm very rusty in my drawing again, too. I feel an extra pressure about it because I'm "supposed to be" an artist, so why am I having trouble drawing? Back to vulnerability! What I've been doing lately are two-handed drawings where you have a brush (or pen, or whatever you're using) in both hands and you draw with both simultaneously. It forces me to give up control, which kind of forces me to have fun, haha. For me, it helps bypass perfectionism. I'm just going to keep doing them until I'm relaxed enough to draw other stuff. (You can see a couple faces I've drawn this way in my Notes).
Your two-handed drawings are amazing and so fun. Thanks for pointing them out. And I love that idea ... not just that specific exercise, but the concept of doing something in a way that makes perfection impossible ... just takes it right off the table. Brilliant!
I'm sure I can't be the first to do it, but I came upon it during my last big art project where I was getting bogged down with trying too hard to paint everything "perfectly" (which unsurprisingly did not result in great paintings). I took a crappy brush and made it even crappier by hacking at the bristles with scissors. Then I painted with that, haha. I swear it helped me produce the best artwork I've ever made.
Oops, just realized that I'm talking about the project I'm writing about in this post! Forgot which post I was on 😬🙃
I love this so much!
Thank you so much!
This made me smile, cry and laugh all at the same time. In vulnerability solidarity, thank you xo
Thank you for your comment 🧡🧡🧡
A couple of years ago, at my fiftieth birthday party - there was a wonderful jam of a bunch of us musicians that went on for a couple of hours. Some of my dearest musical compatriots were there, tunes were called that I did and didn't know, and we all plunged into them together. But as I've come to experience too often on Gabriola, there were many musicians who hung back because they professed not knowing how to join in on unfamiliar songs. And I hear that - because as I young person I learned via teaching methods and books, and was not trained to just jump in and wade along until I caught the current and swam.
Jamming was, however, the rebirth of my musical life as a 20-something playing in a band, writing music and revising old tunes, figuring out shit in front of other people, making mistakes, and getting past the feeling of vulnerability (or just accepting that it was there) so I could learn to make music in this new way. 25 years later, I am so grateful for this gift - that I had people around me who encouraged me, and were likewise stepping out of themselves into uncomfortable places to make new music and art.
Anyhow - at that party I was struck by the courage it takes to show up in a circle of strangers and play music, and how that courage is a kind of generosity because it allows others to do the same. And this is true for everything we put into the world - first we have to open ourselves up, then find it in ourselves (with the support of others) to step out - and with that we give to ourselves and others in the ultimate act of mutual aid, reciprocity, whatever we want to call it - that goes out into the world and makes more art.
I have been sitting with the mantra "courage is generosity" this week as I prepare two community offerings here on my island - both of which are pushing me out of my comfort zone. Allowing oneself to be and sit with vulnerability is where this all starts. Thanks for the writing and good luck with the upcoming workshops!
Wow, thanks so much for this rich comment that is more than a comment. How I wish I got more of these!
*Courage is generosity* indeed. It can definitely be a gift to bare your neck... it gives other people the permission to do the same.
Doing this journaling workshop in person definitely pushes me out of my comfort zone, because although I've done collage and painting workshops in the past (and not many), I haven't done the journaling workshop live. And it's a whole different ball of wax. But to not take any risks is to whither and dry up. So.
Good luck with whatever it is you're doing in your community on Gabriola!
This comment just inspired me to start writing my first newsletter in awhile - so I'll be elaborating more there on what's going on. Thanks for helping dislodge this thing I've been wanting to write about for awhile.
Huzzah!
So stoked that this is happening....and at Aunty Collective! A beautiful welcoming space that is filled with positive energy. And like I'm not the type who throws around phrases like "positive energy" everyday. Congrats!
No, I'm not sure I've EVER heard you say "positive energy" 😅. But it's true... there are very good vibes at Aunty Collective.
You are THE COOLEST!!!! 😘😘😘
S T A A A A A A A P 😂