Book Recommendation - Mistress Shakespeare by Karen Harper

A good friend of mine recommended this book to me last Sunday. I have been unable to put it down. For the past few months I've been quite preoccupied with required reading for my Yoga Teachers Training course. But I needed a change of pace, and Mistress Shakespeare by Karen Harper was just what the apothecary ordered! I was lucky enough to stay in London for two months back in 2006, which seems so long ago now. It was truly magical to see Titus Andronicus performed at The Globe, as well as visit the location of the original Rose theater (now long gone). I've enjoyed every moment of being transported there again through this book. I absolutely cannot recommend this enough if you're a fan of Shakespeare's works or anything on the topic of Elizabethan London. Elegantly written, this tense, romantic, and often tragic story about Will Shakespeare and Ann Whatley, as told from Ann's point of view (written as her memoir), will pull you in and not let you go. A great read for a midsummer night. I highly recommend this book!

Buy Mistress Shakespeare at Amazon.com

My Empire Strikes Back Sketch Cards Are Away!

It's not a bad day when the assignment is "Draw Star Wars". Life is good. I did 50 cards for this release, which will be available in May. I think finally lost count of how many sets of Star Wars cards I've worked on since the Star Wars: Heritage set back in '04. Wow, time flies. You can visit the official Topps web site for details. www.topps.com

Illustration Friday - DETECTIVE

Inked it by hand and colored with Photoshop. I'm fond of this one!

Why Are Artist Drawn To Yoga?

The other day in Yoga teachers training, I was asked why I feel yoga appeals to creative people. The answers seemed simple enough. Yoga is like a well-choreographed dance that leaves you feeling pretty good inside. A good work of art has flow, just like Yoga has flow. Yoga is an art form into and of itself (as well as a science) which is obvious if you’ve ever seen a human twisted like a pretzel while standing on their head. Maybe THAT is the simple appeal to artists. It LOOKS creative. But there’s got to be a bit more to it than that.

To create a work of art, whether it’s music, a dance, a song, or a painting, the creator must tap into that space of no-mind, where creativity manifests. It’s almost a trance-like state where the whole world fades into the background and it’s just the artist and their process. In sports, it’s sometimes referred to as the “the zone”. You don’t really plan for it. It happens when it’s least expected. Planning, composing, designing, articulating, or mapping of the artwork is needed, but it’s an instinctive and intuitive process. Often, the ego takes a backseat, which is liberating, even if we’re not conscious of this while it’s happening. Yoga can also be the same gateway to no-mind, a state that artists and performers are already familiar and comfortable with. And that may also be part of what attracts artists back to yoga again and again. Interestingly, unlike art, where creativity cannot always be forced, you CAN literally just JUMP right into a yoga session and get into “the zone” fairly easily. That’s what a good Yoga class is designed to do. And I find myself relying on “the zone” to be there for me, just like the countless times I’ve experienced it in the act of drawing or sketching. There’s comfort in the familiar.

Most artists by nature are also generally pretty sensitive to energy, their own and others. Yoga, like the process of creating, causes an energetic shift in the body which can often be emotional. For example, I remember one of the first times I tried yoga. After an hour of doing postures and poses and twists that were totally new to me, and that were quite exhausting, I was nearly brought to tears in the sweet quiet of Savasana. Not because I was in pain. No, it was something less obvious, some emotions that were being released and not necessarily by conscious choosing. It was a little embarrassing but also a really great experience. A new practitioner might not be aware of how Yoga is moving and clearing blocked energy in the body, but I believe they may sense some kind of subtle energetic shift similar to the shift that happens in having purged oneself in the process of making art. I also think the meditative qualities of Yoga support and generate creativity, which keeps artists like myself coming back for more.

Sometimes the art-making process isn’t trouble free. We’re only human, and sometimes our ‘Art demons’ sneak up on us when we least expect it. It’s a sickening feeling, an evil trick of an ego that does not want to be suppressed. Thoughts go something like this: “I’ll never be as good as so-in-so. I suck and should’ve picked another career, something, ANYTHING, other than art (or music, dance, etc…). I’m quitting tomorrow and going to work at the bookstore.” I would say that it’s a rare artist who can say they’ve never experienced these painful moments. In a similar way, we have those moments in Yoga when the ego comes in uninvited. “Why did I come to class? I can’t get this bind, I’m not flexible, I’m not as young as I once was. I haven’t done a backbend since I was 10 and surely can’t do one now; FORGET headstands!” On and on the battle rages in our minds. But…with a little practice and gentle adjustments from the teacher, we get there. We GET that bind that seemed a million light years away just last week. We GET that handstand that seemed impossible. That negative voice of doubt is quieted. We get our minds under control, in the same way we do when we push past the Art Demons and send them off.

If you’re an artist, a dancer, musician, or any kind of creator and you practice Yoga, please share your thoughts. What drew you to Yoga in the first place? Do you sense a connection between Yoga and your art? Do you rely on Yoga to help your creativity?

Thank you for stopping by.

Namaste,

Cyn

Yoga and Art: An Exciting New Path!

As many an artist has said, I've been drawing since I could hold a crayon. Art school was an inevitability for me, as was becoming one of the lucky few who get paid to draw for a living. For the past twenty, I've been doing just that. And I've gone down many different artistic paths along the way, getting paid for all types of creative work from logo design to illustrating Star Wars trading cards. All in all, a pretty good run, I'd say:) I've also been athletic all my life. I've never NOT been involved in some form of dance or sport. In 1998, I added yoga to the mix, mainly because it felt pretty natural to me and I liked how I felt afterwards, all rejuvenated and lengthened. Admittedly, my practice was chaotic at best. I'd stick with one form of yoga for a few months, then take some time off, then try another form, and on and on and on. In the beginning, yoga for me was really about the physical benefits (weight loss, flexibility, etc..) although I was always keenly aware that something happened energetically in me throughout each practice. Still, I couldn't discipline myself to dedicate my life to practicing. I wasn't focused, the timing wasn't right, the moon and stars weren't aligned perfectly...

Fast foward to December 2009, and for a number of reasons, I decided to travel to India. It was life changing. While I was there, I practiced yoga every day for three weeks. And when I came home on Christmas Eve, jetlagged as hell, I knew I had been set on a new path, a yogic path, or lifestyle if you will. I immediately enrolled at a yoga school to accomplish something quite huge- to receive my Yoga Teachers Certification. As part of the training, I've been given all kinds of assignments, from book reports, to weekly 'asana sheets' (breaking down poses one by one in great deal complete with benefits and contra-indications), reading TONS of books such as The Hath Yoga Pradipika (my favorite so far), learning Sanskrit terms, anatomy tests and workshops, etc...It's thorough, to say the least. As part of the requirements, I had to pick a topic and apply Yoga to it, then present it in any way I like (for example, Yoga for Athletes, Yoga for Executives, Yoga for Depression, etc..). It seemed utterly natural to combine Art and Yoga, and my project became an illustrated booklet called Yoga for Artists. I interviewed a few colleagues to find out what kind of pains they suffer from sitting all day while drawing, and relied a lot on my own seemingly chronic art-induced aches and pains. I also included a short sequence that artists can do in their studio's when the backaches creep up. Since this blog post is already getting a bit lengthy, I'll let you download it and have a look yourself. And if you know any artists who might benefit from this, please pass it along.

Yoga For Artists (click to download)


These two paths of yoga and art seemed to have merged so naturally that I almost have to pinch myself. I feel truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to study Yoga to the depths that I have so far. It is indeed a lifelong journey, and that's why I call it a 'lifestyle'. As I move forward, I also plan to continue combining my art with yoga. I have plans for picture books, greeting cards, prints, all kinds of things to educate children and adults about this most beautiful ancient practice. I wish you all a beautiful day, filled with many blessings.


Namaste,
Cynthia

Happy Cats From A Happy Cat Owner

I have three cats. On any given day, at any given moment, these little critters make me laugh like crazy. Except when they leave little presents all around. Yak, as I call it, otherwise known as fur balls. Tucker, aka T-Bone, happens to be Top Paw. He's the oldest. He found me one day in Oak Park, IL. Just showed up on our doorstep and decided we were going to take care of him, which we happily have been since that night. Then there's Wynnie, aka Quarter Note Wynnie, aka Shoebox Wynnie (because when we adopted her she loved to curl up in a shoebox that was way too small for her and because she has tiny black feet that look like little quarter notes). She's the talkative one, always yappin' about something, much to my delight. And the youngest, Bella, who will stare at me in a strange, persistent way, much like Eddie the dog from Frasier. I love all three of them, a little bit more each day. I'm also allergic. And sometimes people look at me like I'm nuts, as if I'm supposed to just get rid of them. The allergies developed years after I adopted Tucker. If I had a nickel for every sneeze....

A Quick Yoga Sequence for Busy Artists

Yoga is a great way to stretch out the body after a long day of sitting at the drawing desk or computer. I do one hour of Ashtanga yoga every day, and feel so much less achy when I sit for hours at the drawing table or computer. In the past, I could only draw for about 2 hours pain-free, and then inevitably, my neck will ache, or my low back. This is a short yoga sequence that I put together for you. You can do this in the morning before you start drawing, or take a break mid-day and get into these poses, or end your day with this sequence. You’ll need a yoga mat or a rug. Do these movements very slowly and with awareness on your breath. This mini sequence should take you approximately 10 minutes. Let me know if you try this sequence and what you think of it, or if you have any questions about the postures which I'll be happy to answer. I'm very excited that I'm on my way towards Yoga Certification and happy to share my experiences of yoga (and art!) with you in this way. Now, hit the mat!

• Start by coming to the floor and taking a few deep breaths in Child's Pose. This will help you relax. It's also a really nice stretch for the lower back.

• Come onto all fours for a few rounds of Cat/Cow Pose. On an inhale, lift your tail bone, dip your back, and raise the chin. On an exhale, arch the back like a frightened halloween cat. Really push into the floor with your hands. Drop the crown of your head in Cat as your arch your back. Do 5 rounds of this, then return to a neutral position.

• On an inhale, press yourself back into Downward Facing Dog. It’s ok to keep your knees bent if your hamstrings are tight. Eventually, your heels will touch the floor. To get a stretch in the calves, alternately pedal your feet to stretch. Keep your back flat and press through the fingers. Take 5 deep breaths here then slowly lower down onto all fours.

• Sit back again in child’s pose. Your butt should rest on your heels. Stretch your arms in front of you, and keep your hands active, filled with energy. Take 5 long slow deep breaths.

• Do one more round of Downward Facing Dog (for 5 breaths).

• Come forward into a cross-legged, seated position for Cobblers Pose. The souls of your feet should press together. Hold your feet with your hands. On an inhale, slowly hinge forward from your hips, keeping your back straight. If your knees hurt, don’t do this pose. It may mean that your hips need to be stretched a bit, which you can do in a runners lunge. Or, you can place yoga blocks or folded blankets under your knees to support them. Take 5 long deep breaths here. Enjoy the stretch in your lower back too. It'll feel really good after sitting all day.

• Next, cross your right leg over your left. Place your right foot flat on the floor in front of you. Gently place your right arm on the floor behind your back. Place left elbow against the outside of your right knee, then slowly turn your chin look over your right shoulder to the wall behind you. Take several deep breaths in this pose, then slowly unwind and do the other side. This spinal twist will release a lot of tension you’ve been holding in your shoulders, chest, & back day all while drawing. Reverse the twist (left leg over right) to do the other side.

• Slowly unnwind, and push back into another Downward Dog and take 5 more deep breaths. Then rest in child's pose for a few breaths.

• End your sessions by sitting cross-legged, closing your eyes, and listening to the sound of your breath for 5 minutes. Ahhhhhh! That's better!

Where Have You Traveled? Tell Me All About It!

My passport is feeling neglected after only 4 months of non-use. My last trip overseas was to India in December and it already feels like it was ages ago. In September, my husband and I roadtripped from Chicago to Yellowstone, stopping in Boulder/Denver on the way there, and the Black Hills on the way home. Last May, we also snuck in a short trip to NY city. I'm feeling the travel bug itchin' again. Where should we go next? Maybe something exotic like a journey through the Amazon. The Himalaya's have been calling my name (mysteriously) for about a year now. So I suspect I may have to answer that call (it feels unavoidable). We're thinking of heading back to Sedona, AZ later this year (we were there in '08 and I fell in love with it). I'm not sure where we're headed next to be honest. And it's fun to imagine the wonderful possibilities. Wondering is as unavoidable as wandering.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear where you've been recently, or where you're planning to visit this year, or someplace you haven't been yet but hope to visit one day. Share your travels stores and dreams with me, won't you?