I often tell people that I make art for fun. That’s not strictly true, but it’s an easy way to sidestep deeper conversations about my art as a form of work. In truth, I don’t always find creating fun. Drawing and printmaking feel more like something I have to do, like breathing. It might sound dramatic, but when I go too long without drawing, I start to crave it, the challenge, the frustration and the strange satisfaction of pulling something out of a blank page. I make art because I need to. It helps me feel like myself. Still, it’s simpler to say, “I do it for fun.”
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I might shape a small body of work with purpose. So, I set myself a goal: 12 weeks.
Now, 12 weeks later, I’m glad I did. I put aside two evenings each week to make something in my sketchbook.
Some weeks, I gave myself little challenges, such as visiting an exhibition or joining a new life drawing group. It was a bit jam-packed, but it sparked something new, curiosity, mostly. I also set broader goals, like experimenting with different materials and completing an A2 piece.
The final challenge I gave myself turned out to be the hardest: sharing my work with others. Fortunately, that week coincided with my local sketchbook social, and so I went along. When people asked to see my work, I hesitantly handed over my sketchbook, but eventually realised it was not as awful as I had feared. It felt like the piece I’d been missing: community. A space to talk, to share and to listen. I left with a list of suggested sketchbooks, pencils, and new cafes to explore, and more importantly, I have a renewed trust in my creativity.
As for my 12 weeks, I still have a few days left. So far, I’ve filled my sketchbook and finished my coloured pencil A2 poster, much to my amazement.
I’m already making plans to start the process again, with a clearer sense of what works to keep me on the path of learning.
I’m really proud of myself for turning the need to create into something tangible. Earlier this year, I struggled with creative block, and it feels good to have moved through it.
I wanted to share this little ramble for anyone who might need a nudge to try something new, or to go beyond the occasional scribble, or to take a leap toward community and connection.
Be kind to yourself,
Martha
