Week 6: Creative Practice Blog #5

 

Brain Doodles

By Camille Lazarus 

Creative Practice Blog #5

    This week was the same as the previous weeks, I continued to engage in my creative practice of colored pencil drawing. I have been exploring the topic of growth through the various nature scenes that I have created. Throughout my time spent coming up with ideas for the nature scenes, I have been envisioning places that mean a lot to me that are already existing and those that have fond memories associated with them. this week through my creative process in developing the scene, I was thinking of the future. A little log cabin surrounded by trees. A place where, maybe one day in the future, my family could be making memories too. 

    I have discussed a lot previously how I was very nervous coming into the creative art practices. I never saw myself as an artist, let alone did I think I would seek comfort when I was feeling down or stressed but that is slowly starting to change for me. I am finding myself thinking during the day of random scenes that would be good to draw. I am also allowing myself to really relax and let my mind rest when I am in my flow state of coloring. Though this is not something that comes naturally to me, it is very rewarding to be able to get myself in the right state of mind to allow myself to be and think creatively. I think this has helped my health a lot more than I have even realized. 

    I have loosened up my "rules" surrounding engaging in my creative practice. At first, I was sitting alone in silence with no distractions. Since then I have tried coloring listening to music, sitting with my roommates or family, as well as sitting out in nature. Regardless of location or the presence/absence of people, routinely engaging in my creative practice of drawing has forced me to change the way I think about relaxation time. When I engage in mindful practices such as drawing or meditating during the day instead of sitting on my phone or watching TV, I feel the effects throughout the day. When I engage in my practice, afterward I feel more clear and motivated to get through the rest of the day. Instead of sinking into black holes of scrolling on social media that not only adds more stress but also affects our mental health heavily. I am very glad I am now able to really get into my flow state when coloring and shading and fight off the insecurities in my head telling me I am not an artist.