Sketch Therapy

Yesterday afternoon was a strange one for me. I was feeling all antsy and fidgety and really, nothing short of manic. I had had what was a rather frustrating morning on the torch. I ran into the problem I often run into where I find myself trapped in one frame of mind for so long (in this case, weeks of production mode) that once I am free to move on, I find myself stuck. It is what I like to call, Creative Constipation. The ideas are all there, but the have been packed in so tight, they can't seem to get out. LOL... horrible visual, I know. But it is so true. All the ideas want out at once and then it is insanely frustrating when nothing seems to be able to find it's way out.

I sent a text to my friend, Lindsey. She replied with pure genius. She has been taking part in the e-course Inside Out and loving the process. She sent a message back that said "Hmmm... why not some scribbling or doodling?" It was one of her favorite exercises in the course. She also suggested some journaling. The writing is where I decided to start.

I used to have journals when I was a young girl. Half of them I wrote in some weird celtic script I knew for some reason, so now I have no idea what they say, LOL. But as an adult, I find my blog is my journal. I tell this place most everything, so why would I need to journal? Oh how little did I realize how truly amazing it feels to just let the words flow. I filled two pages so fast I had no idea what I was even writing. I just let it out. Any word, any phrase, any thing I felt... I put it down on the page. So freeing... and such a release.

I sent Lindsey another message to say how good her suggestion had made me feel. She sent me back messages of smiles and suggested I add drawings to go with my words. My quiet time was quickly fleeting, so I turned to an exercise I learned in school. I set a timer (just 15mins) and sketched what was right in front of me. The end result is the drawing in the photo above... not to shabby, eh? Better than a poke in the eye! LOL... I imagine it would be better if I had more time. Makes me want to run out and get more of the style pen I used to draw it so I can sketch more of my afternoons away. It truly was sketch therapy.