Sketch Book Give Away- Whatcha Grateful For?

Ok you guys, let's have it. What are you grateful for? You're cat's miraculous disinterest in shredding your furniture. Your short commute to work. Your local gym having awesome kickboxing classes. Your ability to draw or dance or sing. Your parents. Your kids. Gratitude is the key to living a peaceful existence. It keeps us from wishing things were different or thinking that they should be a certain way. It opens our hearts for more good to come in and even more good to go out. It's a the stuff of life. It can be as effective as prayer and grounding as meditation. It can change your life.

So now that it's the end of the year, take a look back and share what you're grateful for. Everyone who comments will be entered to win a hand-made sketch book from me and made by me (pictured above). Yes, a hand-cut, hand-bound, made-with-love sketchbook. Use it for sketching, keeping notes, writing recipes, to-do's lists, or even better, as a gratitude journal;) It's up to you.

What You Gotta Do To Enter
I'd like you to share at least 3 things you're grateful for. Nope, one is not enough. Three. Or more!

Enter by December 13th. Winner will be drawn at Noon, Central Time.

Leave your email with your comment so I don't have to backtrack through your blog to find your contact info (not that I mind, but time is short these days, so make it easy for me please:)
Ok, go!

My Hand-Made Sketch Book

I made this 4"x6" sketchbook today. Ok,let's face it, I'm no bookmaker. But I've been feeling a bit crafty (blame it on the holidays) and I had some bookbinding thread and paper left over from when I learned how to make a picture book dummy in Laura Montenegro's class a couple years ago. I used black mat board for the cover and glued some purple paper I found in a scrap pile at the art store.   I scanned and printed the bunny (which I drew about a year ago actually but it seemed fitting now) and the red ink is actually very sparkly but it didn't pick up in the photo. As you might be able to see, the glue is still drying. It felt nice just to play, and now I have a nice little sketchbook to use for...hmm...whatever I want.

Illustration Friday -BURNING

My apologies to the dozens of ants who suffered at my hands when I was a bored 9 year old with a magnifying glass. I'd like to think that in another lifetime, I'll understand the beauty of each of those tiny little lives and take a different choice as she has.

This was drawn in 1.5 hours with an H pencil in my sketch book.

A Meditation for Creativity

I often feel a huge amount of pressure as an artist. Whether it's to add something new to my portfolio, work on technique, or complete an assignment, at times I just can't seem to relax into being creative. And when the pressure mounts, I disconnect from Source, that place from which creativity flows without limit, without judgement, without interruption, without worry. When this happens, I walk away feeling more frustrated than before I began. So I began spending time meditating before drawing or painting or doodling or whatever. To say that I'm enjoying the results of these efforts is an understatement! So I thought I'd share my method here with you. If you try it, let me know what happens for you.

Before You Begin
If you're new to meditation you might want to use a meditation timer such as the one found here:
Mindfulness Bell

If you have an iPhone, there's an awesome app called iSamadhi. I use this meditation timer all the time.

I'd also suggest you turn off the ringer on your phones and find someplace free of noise and distractions. Also, if you're a cat owner, it's very likely, downright probable, that kitty will want your full attention the moment you sit down and close your eyes. So just be patient with kitty or maybe put her in another room for a while. I speak from experience. You've been warned!

Sometimes I perform a pre-meditation ritual (for lack of a better word) to help my mind and body prepare. I'll light a candle, maybe burn some Sandalwood scented incense. I always change into comfy clothes like pajama bottoms and a loose fitting t-shirt. Jeans or anything belted can be restrictive to breathing deeply.

If the room is cool, I use a space heater to keep toasty since the cold can definitely be another distraction (how swami's in the Himalaya's meditate in caves, I do not know).

What You'll Need
You can meditate seated on Yoga mat. I have an old worn down mat that I fold into thirds. It makes a nice cushion. You can also sit on a rug. Or, you can also just sit in a chair. I don't recommend lying down because there's a good chance you'll doze. Keep in mind that if you don't spend a lot of time sitting on the floor, you're going to encounter some aches in the knees and back after about 10 minutes or so, maybe less. So maybe for starters, try sitting in a chair at first, and then gradually, work your way to the floor. You can also sit on the floor supported against a wall or sofa. With enough practice on the floor, your muscles in your back will strengthen and you'll be able to sit unsupported without pain.

You'll also need a meditation bell or a clock.

A sketchbook or piece of paper and pencil so you can jot down your image(s) after the session.

No, Your Thoughts Won't Disappear Completely
Know that your thoughts will interfer and take you away from your focus of meditating. I hear a lot of people say that they'd meditate if only they wouldn't think so much! But that's the point of meditation! So yes, your thoughts will be a royal pain in the butt (gauranteed) probably for a long time. It may take months or years to really learn to control the thoughts. In the meantime, you'll still benefit from just sitting and relaxing.

The Meditation
You can sit cross legged on the floor or in sit in a chair with your feet on the floor. Either way, keep the spine tall.

Set your alarm or meditation timer for 10 minutes.

You can place your hands palms down on your knees. Close your eyes.

Take a 3 breaths and just notice at first whether your breath is shallow or deep. If it feels like you're breathing into the upper lungs only, just try to relax your belly which will allow your chest to expand. You'll be able to breath more deeply if your belly is relaxed, not tensed or sucked in.

Notice the feel of your breath in your nostrils. Is it warm? Cool? See if you can do several rounds of just observing the feel of the breath. Breath in through the nose and out through the nose. If your nose is stuffy, you can breath through your mouth. You're starting to quiet the mind by observing the breath. Every time your mind wanders to the noise outside or what you have to do later in the day just come back to the awareness of your breath.

Now, set your intention for this meditation. In this case, our intention is to open the way for creativity to flow in. So I might say a silent prayer such as "Universe, please create through me. Whatever I'm to draw (or paint or write), please just work through me so that I can create whatever I'm meant to create." You can substitute Universe with God or Cosmos or Creator or whatever you like. I think of this as an exercise in surrendering to a higher power and it's a beautiful feeling, very liberating.

Take several more deep breaths in and out through the nose. Perhaps recite your prayer/intention again.

If you like, imagine gold energy pouring into the crown of your head from the Universe. This is your creativity pouring in, your artistic essence if you will. Just be open to receiving it.

Take several more deep breaths and just feel the gold energy filling you completely, your chest, your fingers, toes.

Sit quietly, try to be still. The more still you can sit, the deeper you meditation will be. The movements of our body can serve as distractions.

Be open to receiving images of your next painting or sketch. You'll know when you're forcing an image to come. You'll also know when inspiration is truly working in you. You'll see an image and it'll just click with you. As an artist, no doubt you've experienced this many times. And once the image is there, just see it from all angles and perspectives. Take note of the colors you see, the mood, atmosphere, emotions, movement, etc... Just sit with that image for a few minutes. If your mind wanders come back to your image.

Take a few more deep breaths and give thanks to the Universe for its guidance in your creativity, and for your creative abilities which many many people so wish they had. You may even take your hands in prayer over your heart as you offer gratitude to Existence for being there for you.

When your bell sounds, just slowly open your eyes. Then return to your desk and sketch what you saw.

NOTE: Your legs might fall asleep in meditation. I've been meditating daily for over a year and it always happens even though I've tried different ways of sitting! I'll take that as another reason for gratitude, that I have legs in the first place, which some people do not.

I hope this help you. If you have questions or comments, just write to me in the comment box. And if you try this, I'd love to hear your results.

Namaste!
-Cyn

Illustration Friday - SPENT

Update: Color version posted on 11/08/10

Water color and graphite

They spent much time learning from one another and loved each other very very much.

I quickly sketched this one out for IF - Spent. Again, I just sat quietly and asked for an image to come through to me and this cute elephant appeared. Of course, elephants have been turning up quite often in my art lately, but I don't question it. I'm just the messenger. I won't be posting the process on this but the final piece should be up in a day or two! Hope you come back and check it out.