pen and ink Archives - Dora Sislian Themelis Art

Doing What I Can Do

While I was waiting 20 minutes for a reaction, or none, after my shots at the allergist, I pulled out my little sketchpad and rapidograph and started sketching another patient across from where I sat. It was going really well until she got up and left. That left me with myself to sketch.

I have a confession to make: I haven’t painted at all this week. Can you tell? I know, fifty lashes with the wet noodle. Thinking too many things, bugged at some things, things I really can’t do anything about other than ruminate on the things. Things I do, don’t do, did, want to do, can’t do, not sure how to do, etcetera. So, I didn’t paint.

This week I must put aside all that resistance stuff and paint. I have a project I’ve been asked to do now and the thinking and planning has to happen. Negativity in all it’s forms, Mr. Resistance, the stalker (Hi!! I see you!), the weather, all must stop at the front door. I am going to be too busy to bother with all that.

What is Your Pencil?

With the excitement of the spring holidays dying down I was finally able to get back to reading some of the latest resistance beating books for artists. The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp is an easy read, if only I could sit and read it.

Still in the second chapter and I think I understand the ideas she’s trying to convey. Trying to make art-making a habit by finding the right switch to flip is a valid point. Some artists’ brains click on with certain actions or stimuli. Blasting rock music, lighting a candle, cleaning the studio might do the trick for some. I have yet to figure out what mine is.

Tharp suggests avoiding certain things as part of the creative ritual. Things like not multitasking, watching movies, adding up numbers (Right brain/left brain?), and playing background music. I guess these can be distractions to creativity. There are things that could keep me from painting for sure. I am easily distracted by a great number of things.

Living without some kind of distraction though is too monastic. I like a good distraction now and then. But keeping a comfortable environment helps. Clean, with loved items, surrounded by comfortable colors helps to keep my brain in my head.

Being prepared is the big one for me, and it seems, for most artists. That’s where the question came in: Where is your pencil? Better yet: What is your pencil?

What is your tool to keep creating? Figure that out and don’t be caught without it! Tharp relays a story of someone who, as a kid, wanted a famous person’s signature, but when asked for his pencil, didn’t have one. No tickey, no shirtey! After that this guy was never without a pencil. You just never know when you will need one.

“Pick your pencil and never leave home without it” says Tharp. Be prepared! Make something be a part of the ritual to create, whether it is a pencil and pad in my purse, or a camera in your pocket.

Ideas fly by my brain so much of the time. If and when I get a good one, and I’m not prepared- it’s bye bye. While I was waiting in the doctor’s office I whipped out my rapidograph and sketchpad to doodle my shoe.

I knew where my pencil was.

Sketching While Waiting

I finally found a chiropractor I can live with after trying out the “Rock Star” and some others. It’s not easy to put yourself in the hands of any doctor let alone someone who’s going to take your head and twist it around until it pops!

This chiropractor is a woman and after my intial visit I felt very comfortable with her office, her methods and sensitivities. No Rah-Rah-Chiropractic going on here, just normal procedures. She’s also involved in kinesiology, or muscle testing, and uses that before deciding how to proceed. Her office is attached to her house on a main street near where I live. It’s pleasant, cool and quiet, thankfully. The front office and receptionist is low-key like the doctor herself. She’s a mom too and we can relate. I told her my issues and she listened. Not like the other guy who ran people in without asking what their problems were, did some spinal x-ray like thing and said, “Whoa! You’ve got tons of red alert issues, and you need to come for 65 visits, and please pay for them today, in full!” Ah, no.

I had to wait a few extra minutes one morning and while I did I decided to take out my little drawing pad to sketch something. I didn’t want to be obvious and sketch the other lady in the waiting room, which I love to do. In a small room people are pretty aware of each other, not like a big room with lots of patients where I could hide what I was doing. So I fixed on my hands in my lap holding the pad and rapidograph on top of my handbag. You know, when no one else is available to pose I’m pretty reliable! I’m used to posing for me, isn’t that nice? Yeah, you can laugh now, I know it’s nutty, but “myself” is always around!

I’m off to have my body twisted and cracked now. I can’t wait!

Friday Photos

Hillside at Agriolivadi Beach, Patmos Island, Greece

on location

Agriolivadi Beach, Patmos Island, Greece

on location

Hillside church Santorini, Greece

from photographs

Hillside church at Santorini, Greece close-up

In the frenzy of travel, I sometimes remember to bring drawing materials for the times I see a scene and want to capture it as art, rather than as a photograph. Those times are few. Many years ago I did bring pen and sketchbook on our visit to family in Greece. Luckily, I packed these items for our beach day and drew some pretty scenery from life, which I prefer over photos.

The blue sky, azure beaches and non-stop sun was therapy for body, mind and soul. When can I return?