Artistic outlets

I must admit social media can be a fantastic outlet for artistic output, that is, if you know where to go and how to use them. In my initial poking around, I became aware that Instagram, Facebook, Twitter are the instantly recognizable places to begin. There are a few other sites out there for publishing one's art, but these three are the most immediate venues I can think of. As I've begun to be more active on my Instagram account, I've taken to following several uniquely creative souls that give me a taste into different mediums (cross-stitch, felt sculpting, pottery, etc). Facebook is the other place I go, but I find it's more concentrated, so more information  is available from the artist. Additionally, Facebook is great for becoming a part of different artistic communities.

The particular FB community I've joined is Daily Sketching Workout. It posts daily themes that can be quickly drawn and it's an active group of artists from beginner to advance. I've been following the page for quite sometime and in my earlier endeavors I have posted a few quick sketches, but as everyone knows, I fell off the band wagon. As I fire up the creative furnace once again, I am looking for a consistent source of ideas, and this is the place I will most likely go for ideas and to post for feedback. For now, this will most likely be the singular place I will participate in, however, in a year's time if I want more challenges, I will start hunting around for another interactive group to join.

And away we draw!

Grittiness

I've been going through some serious self-analysis over the last couple of days. Much of what I've been mulling over has been my lack of creativity, drive to create and digging into past memories of driving creativity. The process to begin the dig into my memory banks has been prompted by reading Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance (Angel Duckworth). The theme is what is grit (perseverance) followed by multiple stories of accomplished individuals. By exploring each narrative, as possible (it really depended on if she could contact the person and ask specific questions), I was able to reflect on my own process and came to a few conclusions about my own journey.

I gravitate towards stories.

The Time Wanderer

I grew up listening to a cousin read Little House on the Prairie series to us. As soon as I could read, I would consume books by the armloads - raiding my school library, the local library and sometimes the regional library. Helping the thirst along was the restriction of certain literary genres in my conservative religious household. Fiction was off limits. Interestingly enough, someone in the family was being home-schooled and their English textbook was my prime reading target. I often would sneak into a corner and read short stories. Once in a while, I'd be found and the book was confiscated. Another homework byproduct laying around the house was Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. I consumed it in 6 hours. In in high-school, I failed grade 11 Biology because I was reading young adult fiction, hidden in the textbook. Lastly, I discovered inter-library book loans at my college library and I began the raid for fantasy and sci-fi books, binge reading into the early mornings of school days.

So I have a thing for stories. 

Yet, I don't write stories - I draw stories. Well, not whole stories, but snippets, a snapshot of the protagonist. A friend once told me that each of my drawings is a glimpse into a story, a moment when the protagonist turns and we see a reflective look into the distance before they strive on into their narrative. This observation has just sunk in. Ever so often, I finish a piece that I really resonate with and I realize it's because I can see a story unfolding beyond the drawing. I want to know where they are going, what are they doing - I want to read the adventure.