“Morning Glory” sketchbook page/pen and ink
I’ve been very spotty about my “Breath of Salt Air” messages here. It has taken longer than expected to wind down and shift gears from the intensity of the summer season. As a working artist I need time and space to explore the internal and recalibrate where I’m going creatively. The Autumn season is perfect for that but where to start?
Drawing each day in a notebook is a perfect method to explore, experiment and discover what will be next in my painting. Drawing helps me access my creative self in a relaxed way. I can connect deeply and thoughtfully but without the pressure that stepping in front of a large canvas can produce. Before starting any painting, I need to build desire. I need to travel to a point where there is no question, I must get those colors down on the canvas. While most of a painting occurs brush in hand reckoning with the minute decisions that are a part of the process, there must be a spark that starts it all.
Where to begin? What idea is worth the commitment to canvas? Is my excitement and energy building and curious? Switching on the process with a daily sketchbook practice answers some of these questions. Plus, it’s just so enjoyable to draw from life like I have here.
Warmly,
Casey
