Holiday Blues
How I'm attempting to navigate the post-holiday slump
After a holiday, I always assume, for reasons best known only to the big man upstairs, that I should leap straight back into painting; that the time away ought to have re-filled my creative well. But, as I type, rain is lashing down, battering the roof. Strong winds buffet the bungalow, gusts driving rain even harder against the window panes. Steam curls in wisps from my coffee cup. I’m exiled to the conservatory; plumbers are fitting new radiators bringing inevitable disruption. Our all too brief interlude in the sunshine feels a lifetime ago…
I’m suffering from a touch of the holiday blues, so now seems a good time to give myself a focus, to remind myself of my goals for this quarter:
A spring clean of my studio, leading to a…
Studio Sale
Develop offerings for paying subscribers of Substack
Post YouTube videos regularly
Continue experimenting with mark-making, colour and composition.
I used to set myself soooo many goals; too many to stand any chance of success, which just led to the old ‘compare and despair,’ and wails of ‘I’m not good enough’!! Now, I’m much more aware of my capabilities and of the need to set attainable goals, reminding myself that they don’t have to be ‘massive goals’: that each small achievement is a step in the direction of the life I would like to lead…
The above goals might look a lot, but as long as I remember to film myself experimenting etc, then, that’s the YT videos sorted. My studio space isn’t huge, and is already mostly (!!) organised, so spring cleaning won’t take that long. And the studio sale, well, I wasn’t planning on an ‘all singing, all dancing’ affair - something simple is the order of the day!
I will keep you updated on progress. Why not share your goals in the comments and let’s support and cheer each other on?!
And so, it’s back to the concertina sketchbook… To be honest, I’d forgotten how much I enjoy creating in this type of book. The ongoing narrative, the ability to alter the story by folding and re-folding the pages in a myriad of ways. No pressure, just capturing memories of the surrounding countryside…And, never one to waste anything, I find a bit of random ‘splashiness’ a great way to relax!
As you may gather, there’s an awful lot of coffee drinking goes on…
As well as daydreaming about travelling, I have also been enjoying the following this week:
The loose watercolours of artist Pamela Harnois on her Instagram account
The descriptions of the flora and fauna of the marsh/swamps in the book ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens
Coming home to clouds of blossom and the heady perfume of lilac
My concertina sketchbook from Jacksons Art
Helena Bonham-Carter reading ‘The Guest House’ by Rumi
This piano solo “New World” by Riopy - thanks for introducing me to him Mindfulness Man
And, harking back to the goal setting, I’ll leave you with this:
‘“E. L. Doctorow once said that, “ Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” You don’t have to see where you’re going, you don’t have to see your destination or everything you will pass along the way. You just need to see 2 or 3 feet ahead of you. This is right up there with the best advice on writing , or life, I have ever heard.”’ Bird by Bird - Anne Lamont
Until next time,
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Love this inspiration!