So last January 2022, I started a practice of daily drawings. My goal was 365 days of drawing and writing. I used these little 4x6 simple journals and jumped in. My only rule was I wasn’t allowed to use ANY pencil or eraser...just my black drawing pen. I was learning to let go of ‘perfection’ and to practice drawing, something I wanted to get better at. Everyday after work, I would draw a simple drawing or get inspiration from drawings I found on Pinterest. And then I would write something about it, like what I was thinking about how I did with the picture or what I was going through at the time. The journals became so much more. It was an emotional journey that continues today. I’m on year two, notebook #11, and I’ve even branched out to add watercolor to my simple drawings. But still, no pencils or erasers. I even added blind contour drawings and tried to come up with my own inspired drawings. I actually stopped recently for a few weeks because the end of school was exhausting, but have picked it back up...And I’m also one of those who has Julie Camron’s book ‘The Artist’s Way’ and have been doing morning pages at 5:00 AM since last summer :) Thank you Wendy for your continued inspiration...
This is an amazing idea Linda. I have huge hangups with perfection. and when I read that you don't use a pencil or eraser i freaked me out! Like when a cat jumps out in a horror movie kind of way. But I think I should do what scares me and try that for my 10 min. EEEk! Thanks for the great inspiration.
Yes! And it feels like the longer I'm out of the habit of drawing the more PRESSURE I put on myself to make SOMETHING OF QUALITY if/when I make the time to draw, as if I need to prove the worth of that time.
I don’t think I’ll ever silence that critical voice inside that I’m not making something of quality...I just have to put fear in the backseat, not be the driver!
Trig, I’m trying to draw something for my mom, and of course I want it just right, but the minute I took out a pencil and eraser, that ‘perfection’ crept back in my head! I totally put them away and just relied on myself. It may not be a perfect drawing, but I feel so much better about it!
I like the intention behind using pen and the connection to letting go of perfection. I’m inspired to try this for myself. Thanks for sharing your story!
Linda I love this! The drawings I tend to love best are always the ones where I've gone straight in there with pen or paint. You've just reminded me of this so thank you, I've lost my way a bit. I'm taking inspiration and starting a journal like yours.
“As we get older and things can start to feel narrower, how do we continue to create the life we want for ourselves? In the midst of change and hard times, how do we let go of stuff we no longer want, and how do we create habits of those we do?” THIS!!
this is exactly what I need right now. finishing a terrible year at school and waiting on a new job, my entire summer feels up in the air...
but I know if I draw ten minutes everyday it will ease this anxiety and at the end of it the awkward transition will be over one way or another. Thank You!
Hang in there and breathe! I had a very stressful teaching change two years ago (moved to a new school after 18 years at my previous one to be closer to home) and life is settling down finally...if I didn’t write every morning before school to ‘brain dump’ my stress, I’m not sure how I would have made it...and now I’m happy to add the drawing exercises :)
James Clear's newsletter is a delightful complement to Atomic Habits. I also enjoyed Make Peace with Your Mind by Mark Coleman, which addresses our inner critic that tends to accompany a daily drawing practice. I've been drawing daily for more than a year now, and I believe both books helped maintain my habit! 😊
Atomic Habits got me started writing every morning! I had to make a commitment to get up at 5:00 am each morning to have time to write before work, but now it’s part of my routine (except for the weekends...those writing times start about 8:00 am :)
That's incredible, Linda! James does such a brilliant job of reminding us how those everyday habits can lead to achieving greatness. It's super encouraging!
Totally in! In my practice there is a so no shame in not quite getting to every day. It has been a practice that I have stuck with more than any in my adult life. Other than walking the dog. I draw everyday, except a few days when I don’t. Great inspiration to start GUT off!
This quote hit me like a punch in the GUT - “as we get older and things can start to feel narrower, how do we continue to create the life we want for ourselves?” I’ve been feeling overwhelmed thinking about this, so I’ll start by drawing some circles. Thank you 🙏
I have a solid organ transplant. I share this because I became aware in my 30’s that my life is perfectly different. My transplant (whose birthday is 25 JUNE) offered me a second chance at life. Aging is (for me) another part of this second chance at life. I am reminded daily as I take my ant-rejection Rx’s that I am alive. Aging is not a problem. It is an opportunity. Mind you, I do have to remind myself, I am not lost. I am.
Hi Therese Agnes- your reply/thoughts make a lot of sense to me. My son’s organs were donated after his death in 2019 according to his wishes as indicated by his drivers license. It took us a year to be able to write letters to recipients and by that time, the pandemic was underway. No one was in offices and we’ve never known whether the letters were ever received. I would want a recipient to know that a chance for life was freely given. I think it’s interesting that you celebrate your transplant date as a birthday. I never thought of it that way. It is a beginning of a new life. I have also learned to think of life, each day, as a gift. I drew and journaled sporadically my whole life, but since my son’s death, I start a new journal each June 1 which is the day I returned after being in the city where my son lived and died. I grabbed a bullet journal I had when I had to go in a hurry and under stress and it was what I had to record details and then grief and everything else. I haven’t done it every day but it’s been very therapeutic for me. I’ve discovered artists, writers, doodled, posted images I like, illustrated poems, and so on. Doing Draw Together has been a part of this. I agree with you that to age is great. I’m looking forward to each day.
I am sorry for your loss. I know your son lives on in those gifted with his organs. I love prunes...my donor’s love. I had straight hair prior and now have curly hair. I eat peanut butter on crackers...same as my donor. I would recommend when you are ready to reconnect with the transplant coordinator at the hospital where you donated his organs. Tell them your story and ask to connect with the recipients. It is a common and often asked request.
Thank you. I have heard of experiences like you mention- so interesting! I have been a working nurse for 40+ year and wonder- don’t know the science behind it- if our cells contain “ soul” chemicals or whatever that make us who we are and how our ancestors fit in with that. We are far away from the organ transplant organization but of course with the internet, it’s easy to communicate. They have taken good care of us. I reached out once to see if there was any record of the letters. I have been thinking about writing again, but just haven’t done it.
I am in the middle of The Artist’s Way now. I have being doing the Morning Pages even before without knowing for 2 years.
I am in a long journey to feel more creative in every aspect of life. I did 30 day’s challenge inspired by Austin in the past and they always bring a lot of good feelings. Let’s how this one goes!
I am really excited to start this practice tomorrow morning. I have been struggling to find time in my week to draw the weekly assignments so this feels like the perfect time. I have been doing Morning Pages regularly for about a year and a half and I'm curious how this will be different! I feel much more comfortable writing than drawing so this feels more outside my comfort zone but in an exciting way!
at the beginning of the pandemic I began to doing 4 small drawings a day. I would give myself assignments like branches,clouds,whats on the table. a made a list of what I did for the day and maybe a line from reading.I kept it up until jan 23 when I got busy again. I have kept a Monday morning appointment with myself. I set an alarm and draw for 30 minutes with headphones on listening to classical music. I find its a great start to my week. often at the beginning of those 30 minutes I cant imagine how to go the whole time but at the end I am not ready to stop. I love your assignments and try to incorporate them into my own practice. also the interviews with other artists are great.I look forward to doing 30 day drawing assignment/habit later in the summer.
Yes, I'm in as well----this will be good. A great post too, btw. And I also have never read or even heard of ATOMIC HABITS (sometimes I think I must have been in a coma for the last 5 years.......or more). Thanks for keeping me, at least, in the know.
There's just SO much out there now to keep up with! It's a great book. I have the audiobook to listen to whilst walking (though I know I'm missing occasional graphics, charts and diagrams)
So last January 2022, I started a practice of daily drawings. My goal was 365 days of drawing and writing. I used these little 4x6 simple journals and jumped in. My only rule was I wasn’t allowed to use ANY pencil or eraser...just my black drawing pen. I was learning to let go of ‘perfection’ and to practice drawing, something I wanted to get better at. Everyday after work, I would draw a simple drawing or get inspiration from drawings I found on Pinterest. And then I would write something about it, like what I was thinking about how I did with the picture or what I was going through at the time. The journals became so much more. It was an emotional journey that continues today. I’m on year two, notebook #11, and I’ve even branched out to add watercolor to my simple drawings. But still, no pencils or erasers. I even added blind contour drawings and tried to come up with my own inspired drawings. I actually stopped recently for a few weeks because the end of school was exhausting, but have picked it back up...And I’m also one of those who has Julie Camron’s book ‘The Artist’s Way’ and have been doing morning pages at 5:00 AM since last summer :) Thank you Wendy for your continued inspiration...
This is an amazing idea Linda. I have huge hangups with perfection. and when I read that you don't use a pencil or eraser i freaked me out! Like when a cat jumps out in a horror movie kind of way. But I think I should do what scares me and try that for my 10 min. EEEk! Thanks for the great inspiration.
Yes! And it feels like the longer I'm out of the habit of drawing the more PRESSURE I put on myself to make SOMETHING OF QUALITY if/when I make the time to draw, as if I need to prove the worth of that time.
I don’t think I’ll ever silence that critical voice inside that I’m not making something of quality...I just have to put fear in the backseat, not be the driver!
Trig, I’m trying to draw something for my mom, and of course I want it just right, but the minute I took out a pencil and eraser, that ‘perfection’ crept back in my head! I totally put them away and just relied on myself. It may not be a perfect drawing, but I feel so much better about it!
I like the intention behind using pen and the connection to letting go of perfection. I’m inspired to try this for myself. Thanks for sharing your story!
Linda I love this! The drawings I tend to love best are always the ones where I've gone straight in there with pen or paint. You've just reminded me of this so thank you, I've lost my way a bit. I'm taking inspiration and starting a journal like yours.
“As we get older and things can start to feel narrower, how do we continue to create the life we want for ourselves? In the midst of change and hard times, how do we let go of stuff we no longer want, and how do we create habits of those we do?” THIS!!
As 85yo Jane Fonda recently said, we can’t live longer but we can live deeper, right now. And this is another way to do it too.
YES!
this is exactly what I need right now. finishing a terrible year at school and waiting on a new job, my entire summer feels up in the air...
but I know if I draw ten minutes everyday it will ease this anxiety and at the end of it the awkward transition will be over one way or another. Thank You!
Hang in there and breathe! I had a very stressful teaching change two years ago (moved to a new school after 18 years at my previous one to be closer to home) and life is settling down finally...if I didn’t write every morning before school to ‘brain dump’ my stress, I’m not sure how I would have made it...and now I’m happy to add the drawing exercises :)
Sending support! You’ve got this. It been super awesome seeing your drawings and I hope this community continues to be a bright spot in your day ☀️
James Clear's newsletter is a delightful complement to Atomic Habits. I also enjoyed Make Peace with Your Mind by Mark Coleman, which addresses our inner critic that tends to accompany a daily drawing practice. I've been drawing daily for more than a year now, and I believe both books helped maintain my habit! 😊
Atomic Habits got me started writing every morning! I had to make a commitment to get up at 5:00 am each morning to have time to write before work, but now it’s part of my routine (except for the weekends...those writing times start about 8:00 am :)
That's incredible, Linda! James does such a brilliant job of reminding us how those everyday habits can lead to achieving greatness. It's super encouraging!
I’ve always lamented that I never go back and re-read my notes or journals. So I’m going to draw over them!
Excellent idea!
Interesting idea...
I’m obsessed with Agnes Martin. Her work is what finally drove home the importance of abstract art to me. Happy to see her here again.
Totally in! In my practice there is a so no shame in not quite getting to every day. It has been a practice that I have stuck with more than any in my adult life. Other than walking the dog. I draw everyday, except a few days when I don’t. Great inspiration to start GUT off!
This quote hit me like a punch in the GUT - “as we get older and things can start to feel narrower, how do we continue to create the life we want for ourselves?” I’ve been feeling overwhelmed thinking about this, so I’ll start by drawing some circles. Thank you 🙏
I have a solid organ transplant. I share this because I became aware in my 30’s that my life is perfectly different. My transplant (whose birthday is 25 JUNE) offered me a second chance at life. Aging is (for me) another part of this second chance at life. I am reminded daily as I take my ant-rejection Rx’s that I am alive. Aging is not a problem. It is an opportunity. Mind you, I do have to remind myself, I am not lost. I am.
Hope this makes sense
Hi Therese Agnes- your reply/thoughts make a lot of sense to me. My son’s organs were donated after his death in 2019 according to his wishes as indicated by his drivers license. It took us a year to be able to write letters to recipients and by that time, the pandemic was underway. No one was in offices and we’ve never known whether the letters were ever received. I would want a recipient to know that a chance for life was freely given. I think it’s interesting that you celebrate your transplant date as a birthday. I never thought of it that way. It is a beginning of a new life. I have also learned to think of life, each day, as a gift. I drew and journaled sporadically my whole life, but since my son’s death, I start a new journal each June 1 which is the day I returned after being in the city where my son lived and died. I grabbed a bullet journal I had when I had to go in a hurry and under stress and it was what I had to record details and then grief and everything else. I haven’t done it every day but it’s been very therapeutic for me. I’ve discovered artists, writers, doodled, posted images I like, illustrated poems, and so on. Doing Draw Together has been a part of this. I agree with you that to age is great. I’m looking forward to each day.
Michele,
I am sorry for your loss. I know your son lives on in those gifted with his organs. I love prunes...my donor’s love. I had straight hair prior and now have curly hair. I eat peanut butter on crackers...same as my donor. I would recommend when you are ready to reconnect with the transplant coordinator at the hospital where you donated his organs. Tell them your story and ask to connect with the recipients. It is a common and often asked request.
I hope this helps.
Thank you. I have heard of experiences like you mention- so interesting! I have been a working nurse for 40+ year and wonder- don’t know the science behind it- if our cells contain “ soul” chemicals or whatever that make us who we are and how our ancestors fit in with that. We are far away from the organ transplant organization but of course with the internet, it’s easy to communicate. They have taken good care of us. I reached out once to see if there was any record of the letters. I have been thinking about writing again, but just haven’t done it.
I am in the middle of The Artist’s Way now. I have being doing the Morning Pages even before without knowing for 2 years.
I am in a long journey to feel more creative in every aspect of life. I did 30 day’s challenge inspired by Austin in the past and they always bring a lot of good feelings. Let’s how this one goes!
I am really excited to start this practice tomorrow morning. I have been struggling to find time in my week to draw the weekly assignments so this feels like the perfect time. I have been doing Morning Pages regularly for about a year and a half and I'm curious how this will be different! I feel much more comfortable writing than drawing so this feels more outside my comfort zone but in an exciting way!
Hooray! I think I may use plain old printer paper on a clipboard. Otherwise I get too precious.
And I just got a new sketch pad with exactly 30 pages! Kismet!
Yes!! I need this so much. Have been trying for literally years to maintain a daily drawing habit and keep falling off, so thank you for this!
at the beginning of the pandemic I began to doing 4 small drawings a day. I would give myself assignments like branches,clouds,whats on the table. a made a list of what I did for the day and maybe a line from reading.I kept it up until jan 23 when I got busy again. I have kept a Monday morning appointment with myself. I set an alarm and draw for 30 minutes with headphones on listening to classical music. I find its a great start to my week. often at the beginning of those 30 minutes I cant imagine how to go the whole time but at the end I am not ready to stop. I love your assignments and try to incorporate them into my own practice. also the interviews with other artists are great.I look forward to doing 30 day drawing assignment/habit later in the summer.
Yes, I'm in as well----this will be good. A great post too, btw. And I also have never read or even heard of ATOMIC HABITS (sometimes I think I must have been in a coma for the last 5 years.......or more). Thanks for keeping me, at least, in the know.
There's just SO much out there now to keep up with! It's a great book. I have the audiobook to listen to whilst walking (though I know I'm missing occasional graphics, charts and diagrams)
This is perfect. I had the habit a bit earlier in the year. Time to get back to it. And this makes it feel very achievable.