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- “I’ve got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom!”
Thomas Carlyle, Scottish Historian and Essayist, leading figure in the Victorian era. 1795-1881
It’s amazing what you’ll do when inspiration fails to materialise. I just couldn’t think of anything to sketch – a landscape? No, boring! Some animals? No, boring! I was at my wit’s end, trying to come up with something, so I decided to really challenge myself and do something I really hate – still life!
I looked around the kitchen and grabbed a couple of things lying around and just started sketching. Before long I was totally immersed in capturing the see-throughness of the plastic wrap and the vibrant colours on hubby’s favourite mug – even my hake lying close-by got roped in!
Moving out of my comfort zone and doing something new made me realise that we so easily become entrenched in the ‘known’, that excitement and passion can easily ebb away and leave us feeling drained.
“Often what we call procrastination, a lack of inspiration or boredom, is really just being trapped in the shell of our own comfort zone. Our comfort zone offers a safe haven, a trusted beaten path for us to follow. However the comfort zone can easily become, over time, our liability zone!”
- Dr. Sharon House – Creativity for Life
A quick sketch of some household goodies lying around done in my Moleskine 200gsm Watercolour sketch-book
A re-post from last year
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From my portfolio of Still Life
Greeting card – for a frustrated housewife – “Housework driving you nutty?! Grab your brush and a cup of coffee and relax!“
Easy-to-clean Laminated print for the kitchen or pantry
Poster for the Kitchen or Pantry
I am a watercolorist living on my little piece of African soil in Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa. The inspiration for my art is the wonderfully rich variety of Fauna and Flora to be found throughout this beautiful country.
“There is a fine line between dreams and reality; it’s up to you to draw it.”
Comments
Very nicely drawn/painted! ;-)
Thank you Paul!
– Maree Clarkson
Nice sketches. I find it helpful to go out of my comfort zone sometimes too. For me, that means landscapes! It does get the juices flowing.
It’s so easy to stagnate Anne, and I think getting the juices flowing is important. Thanks for your lovely comment!
– Maree Clarkson
sweet little painting, Maree…love the colors in your mug~
Thanks Sally, it’s one of those shiny, glazed ones and hubby’s absolute favourite!
– Maree Clarkson
WELL DONE !lIZ
Thank you Ms O’Connor!
– Maree Clarkson
beautiful card .. happy easter
Thank you Angel, and a great Easter to you too!
– Maree Clarkson
Great idea for inspiration Maree! I love how you did the clear wrap! Your writing with this is excellent! Quite true also!!!
Aaaw, thank you for your lovely words Angie! I really appreciate that!
– Maree Clarkson
GOOD FOR YOU, Maree, with your wonderful explanation of one way to help us as artists overcome “artists’ block”! And your fun illustration of one way to do it! I’ll give it a try the next time I’m faced with that dilemma!
Ah, thank you for taking this as inspiration Pat! I’ve discovered that I don’t have to “paint properly” all the time, some fun sketches are great for relaxing and getting ideas flowing.
– Maree Clarkson
I found it Pat – and thought I better put in the link! It’s by Pat House of “Creativity for Life”, a website I really love visiting! You’ll see the link on the right.
– Maree Clarkson
P.S., Maree, the paragraph you have in quotes – is that your own, and if not, do you know who is the author?" I would be interested! Thanks! ~ Pat
Hi Pat, it’s by Thomas Carlyle, written very small under the quote! lol!
– Maree Clarkson
Oh, I see! You mean teh paragraph, not the quote! No, it’s not my own Pat, that’s why I’ve got it in quotes, and for the life of me I can’t remember where I got it… I’ll try and do a search and let you know….
– Maree Clarkson
I found it Pat – and thought I better put in the link! It’s by Pat House of “Creativity for Life”, a website I really love visiting! You’ll see the link on the right.
– Maree Clarkson
Thank you, my friend! And Happy Easter to you!
The same to you Pat!
– Maree Clarkson