As you might have noticed, I\u2019m not a trained professional artist. I\u2019m not someone who spends hours studying anatomy or perfecting their linework (though I wish I was\u2014I really do). For a long time, I posted what I considered to be funny doodles on an old Instagram account. It was fun. It wasn\u2019t perfect. But I showed up regularly, and you know what? I improved. Yes, really. It used to be worse. Do you want to see some of them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
With the regular practice came something else: ideas<\/strong>. I\u2019d have two or more sketch ideas in a day, just from life happening around me. But then\u2026 I had my son. And let\u2019s just say the creative part of my brain went quiet. For a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can say the same thing about writing. At some point, I had this clever idea: What if I combine drawing and writing? I can\u2019t see myself writing an illustrated book right now, though I\u2019m not giving up on this idea. And you know what? Producing anything at all has felt amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the last few years, I\u2019ve felt deeply frustrated. I was stuck. I want to be clear: I\u2019m not blaming motherhood for my lack of creative practice. I\u2019m often amazed watching my son draw. He never stares at a blank page. He grabs one and goes to town. No hesitation, no overthinking\u2014it\u2019s so natural. So joyful. Do I need<\/em> to draw? Do I need<\/em> to write?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, I do. I also started reading this amazing book: We Need Your Art<\/em> by Amie McNee. And it\u2019s comforting me in my adventure. It\u2019s like someone is reminding me that art doesn\u2019t have to be good, or useful, or shared\u2014it just needs to exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So yes, I need to do this. Maybe it\u2019s to stay accountable. Maybe it\u2019s just to let something out. I\u2019m aware I\u2019m shouting into the void right now\u2014but maybe, one day, someone will read these lines. And that small thought is enough to keep me going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Amy mentions at the start of the book, practicing art is often (if not always) belittled. To summarise, as I remember learning in school, I\u2019m doing this for me, but I do hope you find something for yourself too, and maybe get inspired to start your own creative journey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As you might have noticed, I\u2019m not a trained professional artist. I\u2019m not someone who spends hours studying anatomy or perfecting their linework (though I … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"saved_in_kubio":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[98,96,93,94,95,99,100,102,97,101],"class_list":["post-305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-creative-corner","tag-art-practice","tag-creative-journey","tag-creative-process","tag-creativity","tag-drawing","tag-motherhood-and-creativity","tag-personal-growth","tag-rediscovering-creativity","tag-self-expression","tag-writing","latest_post"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesketchyhouse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesketchyhouse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesketchyhouse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesketchyhouse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesketchyhouse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=305"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/thesketchyhouse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":331,"href":"https:\/\/thesketchyhouse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305\/revisions\/331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesketchyhouse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesketchyhouse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesketchyhouse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesketchyhouse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Just copy and paste the previous paragraph and switch \u201cdrawing\u201d to \u201cwriting.\u201d You get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, the blog sounded like a good middle ground. I don\u2019t have the time or skill to produce great writing and great drawing, but combined, they will support each other, like two drunk friends after a night out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not drawing, not even doodling unless my son asked me to.
Not writing, aside from a postcard I meant to send to a friend, and never did (Anna, I’m doing it this week, probably). A complete creative failure. That\u2019s how it felt. Doing less made my brain feel like it couldn\u2019t do anything at all. Call me Elsa the Frozen Queen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being a parent demands<\/em> a lot of creativity\u2014improvising daily life, answering weird questions, and making up stories on the spot. It’s just… a different kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I miss that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just a few articles in, and I already feel\u2026 lighter. Less tormented. Like some small rusty part of my brain is waking up again. The constant stress I usually feel is losing some power. I’m kind of proud of myself. I’m no Virginia Woolf or Yayoi Kusama and I will never be, so what ? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I don\u2019t need to share it. But I want<\/em> to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s the point? Where will it lead?<\/em>
<\/em>I don\u2019t know\u2014where will your adult tennis class lead?
Fun? Better health? Improved mental well-being?
Same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n