I'm making a concertina sketchbook and taking it to the Grand Canyon with a glorious set of brush pens (and a small, sturdy cushion and cozy clothes and a hat and sunglasses). Because I'm 81 and healthy and ready for awe.
I'm launching anew substack, https://21gardens.substack.com/. It's called 21 Gardens, and I want to write about each of the 21 community gardens that there are in San Jose, where I live. But really, it's about sustainability, community and growing things. Which is what my spirit needs.
Thank you, Wendy. I feel the need to engage with other sketchers. Yes, I want to be a “famous artist”, and put out a great deal of work to sell, but really I feel compelled to encourage timid folk to start drawing their communities. As a woman just starting an art career in her late ‘60’s, I’m both wildly enthusiastic and/but wobbly on a dim path to gather and develop COMMUNITY of CREATIVES. People in my financial situation will never (probably) be in a position to “retire” and will always ( more than likely) rely on having a “boss”, and/but now more than ever I feel ( again with the “feelings, not the thinkings) folk (me and as an extension “them/us/you) want individual empowerment. Expression empowers. Observation and creativity empowers. This is true. Right? I’m an urban sketcher and focus on “seeing” the objects and details but/and also a journalist that practices reportage of personal events; ex-sketching my cappuccino muffin at a coffeehouse, or capturing happenings like the goings-in at a farmer’s market.
Sorry. I’m beginning to bore and ramble. But also discovering that by writing and blathering I’m seeing a clearer path, maybe.
Thank you for providing this safe salon. Love, Beth ( the intrepid croneager ).
I made cookies, sang in a chorale concert and painted a beach scene. Still heartbroken for our country and in disbelief that vote was not in the least closer.
I am going to work on my newsletter to fill my cup. A new way of creativity. I will gather material in my sketchbook over the month and then share it with everyone to hopefully help fill their cups as well. Thank you Wendy - and sending love to all the artist and emotional first responders. Rest. Revive. Renew. ❤️
I have a show opening Saturday so I have been consumed with busyness-helpful-not helpful. AND I so appreciate your letter and want to print it and hang it in the gallery/cafe to help others here in PDX. I reached out to have a group grieving on Wednesday night. I made soup, 6 people came, it was wonderful. Community is essential. Thank you!
Good luck w the show!! Share pics in the chat?? Thanks for all you’re doing. I had another couple requests for a printable version - made this if it’s helpful: https://we.tl/t-VC8yzx1x4S
Thank you for this, Wendy! I’m a singer, and I’m feeling a great need to share songs of comfort- perhaps even make a Lullabies for Grownups album. I shared one last Monday in my Substack newsletter, Between Flights, and the response was lovely. https://lizcallaway.substack.com/p/the-comfort-issue
I love the “resolve any disputes with friends.” So important. I also love the yellow highlighter on the three-hole-punched graph paper. Use the materials that are in your hands where you are!!!
Wendy thankyou from Kiama on the east coast of Australia, far across the beautiful pacific ocean. We are shocked and scared here too about the future of our verything after the US election and all the other destruction of people and places that abounds. Your letter is so moving and inspiring, thankyou. Drawing brings me back to the beauty, wonder and absurdness of the world and more than ever caring for each other, hope, making things, yoga and swimming in the sea feel like acts of survival and determination. Thankyou for all your inspiration and ideas. This era seems to need a new sketchbook! Im off to find/ make one. Sarah
I'm making a concertina sketchbook and taking it to the Grand Canyon with a glorious set of brush pens (and a small, sturdy cushion and cozy clothes and a hat and sunglasses). Because I'm 81 and healthy and ready for awe.
I'm launching anew substack, https://21gardens.substack.com/. It's called 21 Gardens, and I want to write about each of the 21 community gardens that there are in San Jose, where I live. But really, it's about sustainability, community and growing things. Which is what my spirit needs.
In the forever journey of questioning what it means to be an artist and what it means to make things better- you are a guiding beam of light ❤️
Thank you, Wendy. I feel the need to engage with other sketchers. Yes, I want to be a “famous artist”, and put out a great deal of work to sell, but really I feel compelled to encourage timid folk to start drawing their communities. As a woman just starting an art career in her late ‘60’s, I’m both wildly enthusiastic and/but wobbly on a dim path to gather and develop COMMUNITY of CREATIVES. People in my financial situation will never (probably) be in a position to “retire” and will always ( more than likely) rely on having a “boss”, and/but now more than ever I feel ( again with the “feelings, not the thinkings) folk (me and as an extension “them/us/you) want individual empowerment. Expression empowers. Observation and creativity empowers. This is true. Right? I’m an urban sketcher and focus on “seeing” the objects and details but/and also a journalist that practices reportage of personal events; ex-sketching my cappuccino muffin at a coffeehouse, or capturing happenings like the goings-in at a farmer’s market.
Sorry. I’m beginning to bore and ramble. But also discovering that by writing and blathering I’m seeing a clearer path, maybe.
Thank you for providing this safe salon. Love, Beth ( the intrepid croneager ).
Thank you so much. I needed this!!!
Agreed. Me too.
I made cookies, sang in a chorale concert and painted a beach scene. Still heartbroken for our country and in disbelief that vote was not in the least closer.
I am going to work on my newsletter to fill my cup. A new way of creativity. I will gather material in my sketchbook over the month and then share it with everyone to hopefully help fill their cups as well. Thank you Wendy - and sending love to all the artist and emotional first responders. Rest. Revive. Renew. ❤️
THANK YOU WENDY. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED. SO ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU.
Breathing
Sketching
Meditating
Drawing
Seeing
Being
Sitting
Listening
Sharing
Trying
Trying
Trying
I have a show opening Saturday so I have been consumed with busyness-helpful-not helpful. AND I so appreciate your letter and want to print it and hang it in the gallery/cafe to help others here in PDX. I reached out to have a group grieving on Wednesday night. I made soup, 6 people came, it was wonderful. Community is essential. Thank you!
Good luck w the show!! Share pics in the chat?? Thanks for all you’re doing. I had another couple requests for a printable version - made this if it’s helpful: https://we.tl/t-VC8yzx1x4S
Thank you for this, Wendy! I’m a singer, and I’m feeling a great need to share songs of comfort- perhaps even make a Lullabies for Grownups album. I shared one last Monday in my Substack newsletter, Between Flights, and the response was lovely. https://lizcallaway.substack.com/p/the-comfort-issue
I love the “resolve any disputes with friends.” So important. I also love the yellow highlighter on the three-hole-punched graph paper. Use the materials that are in your hands where you are!!!
I’m sketching things I’m thankful for in my sketchbook. Thinking positive.
Thank you for your beautiful letter, Wendy ❤️ ❤️
Wendy thankyou from Kiama on the east coast of Australia, far across the beautiful pacific ocean. We are shocked and scared here too about the future of our verything after the US election and all the other destruction of people and places that abounds. Your letter is so moving and inspiring, thankyou. Drawing brings me back to the beauty, wonder and absurdness of the world and more than ever caring for each other, hope, making things, yoga and swimming in the sea feel like acts of survival and determination. Thankyou for all your inspiration and ideas. This era seems to need a new sketchbook! Im off to find/ make one. Sarah
I too made an emotional prep list and now I’m adding DRAWING with all of you! Thank you, Wendy.
https://readwriteeat.substack.com/p/be-where-now