If you are a regular or if you have just landed on Tarantula: Authors and Art, welcome. This year, we hope that our stories and the artists that we present will inspire you to start your own creative journey, and our house team of writers will join you on this ride. Our contributor, Karen Grace, an art teacher, historian, and artist has a challenge for you! If a friend forwarded you this article, welcome; if you like it, share it or why not subscribe?
School started last week in my part of the world… maybe yours too? The air is chillier, the sun sets a little earlier, and the temptation is to focus on the end of summer instead of the beginning of something new. I’ve always loved the start of a school year, and I do really think of it as the start of THE year. The energy of the coming autumn is the best time to set new routines and habits. Back from vacation, everyone is getting a new schedule it seems so it’s possible to plan a little time to acquire a new skill, learn more about something you love, or even recommit to your health and fitness goals. (Who really wants to start a new running habit in the cold and dark?) The feeling in the air now is all about changes so we might as well lean into it and see where the winds will carry us!
I am feeling the call to creativity again - moving to a new house soaked up all my creative urges in recent months. It’s exciting and all consuming but now the frenzy of unpacking has slowed and I’m ready for a change of pace, ready to put pencil to paper again. It’s time to shift to being in this place, not just trying to get there, and spending a little time drawing will help me settle in and feel at home.
I’d like to make drawing a habit again but such a thing sounds daunting, so I’m going to start small, give myself an achievable goal, and I’m telling you all about it so I’ll be way too embarrassed to give up! I’m committing to ten minutes a day… just ten little minutes, for a whole month! Life is terribly full now but I can do that, right? Maybe you’d like to join me on this quest?
Today I’m laying the groundwork and gathering supplies. Tomorrow morning I’ll set a timer for ten minutes (before my day is overtaken by all the things) and draw something. But what? To make it even easier I’m going to pick a theme for a week’s worth of drawings - then I won’t get distracted about what to draw. I’ve got a pen, a fresh sketchbook, an idea, and I’m all ready to go!
Week one: Leaves
My new home is surrounded by a garden with a host of plants I’m only beginning to discover. This week, I’ll pick a new one each day.
I’ll check in each week to share my progress and my new theme for the week to come, just in case anyone wants to join me on this little art adventure. I happen to think drawing is magical but maybe you are more of a photographer or a writer or a sculptor… feel free to use your own medium. The point is to practice creativity and see if we can make it a habit together!
Wonderful ideas. Hope lots of people will join you.😊❤️