I've always considered myself an artist... even when I gave up drawing. I'm not quite sure why so many years have passed since the day I last placed pencil to paper with the sole goal of creating an image. I don't even remember what my last drawing was. I just remember I was roughly 12 years old before I moved on. Little did I expect that it would be an artist's drought of 10 + years.
I began drawing again about a year and a half ago while I was in the midst of graduate school. I became overwhelmed by the newly 'adult' responsibilities laid before me and my inner child offered me a way to quiet my mind. It was a great way of taking a break from all the theoretical models and research jargon I've been mentally ingesting day in and day out. (Oh the rigors of academia however much I enjoy it..)
And something quite unexpected happened. It further strengthened the close bond that I already had between my mother and I. I knew she loved drawing but it opened up new conversations and discovery of who my mother was aside from just being my mother. I would show her each drawing and she would tell me a bit more about her past. I learned that my mother was once accepted to a prestigious art school but had given it up to pursue something more traditionally expected of her. And that she used to collect leaves and flowers on her way to school so that she could sketch its outline during break. I found joy everytime I was given access to a special part of her memory. I realized that her stories explained my love for art, it's been historically passed down to me in ways that up to this point I was unaware of-- it was part of my DNA.
That year, circumstances caused me to encounter new, varied, and complex emotions which interwined with my evolving understanding of self. Drawing was an outlet to understand these emotions.
Hence, I hope the following can be of use to anyone out there who have an interest in art yet feel as though their interest is somewhat more dulled than what one would like it to be.
1: investigate your familial connections-- there is likely to be a creative spirit within your family circle however close or branched out they may be. Being able to be in open dialogue with those who share your genes and passion for art helps put it into generational context and makes your love for art feel even more destined and special.
2: the next time you feel a certain intensified emotion whether it's sadness, anger, joy, pick up a pencil, pen, paintbrush, whatever it may be and see what comes out. I rarely draw when I'm bored. Art is an emotional endeavor I believe.
I've included random drawings of mine which tends to revolve around games and anime-- two things I can never outgrow it seems.
Enjoy and happy drawing/sketching/painting/arting!
