Strong Woman Sets Down Her Burden and Kicks Back with an Iced Coffee

The Strong Woman, or Carrying The World

5/100 in 100 6/16/10

pen on paper 5x8

My drawings have been all over the place, stylistically. Really, I haven't used the same technique or style twice. Granted, it's only been 5 days, but still. It's quite remarkable. I feel a little schizophrenic with the bouncing around.

I don't know what is going to come out of this project. I don't have a clear vision of where I want it to go, but then, I am also willing to make the journey, to stumble and to fall and to find out what it's all about while I am going along.

I just got my delivery of art supplies today. Some things that I've been waiting on so that I could finish other projects, and some other things that I've wanted to experiment with for a long time. And some things that I've needed.

That metal ruler in the picture, however, is the one I got for my first art class in High School. 1984. That was NINE. TEEN. EIGHTY. FOUR. I work with people who are younger than my ruler. And yet I love that ruler. It's because of that ruler than I got a beautiful metal Swingline stapler, instead of a cheapie plastic one. You want some things to last.

I also got myself a fancy shmancy self healing mat and rotary cutter. I made my own label out of recycled carboard with it. You mean I don't have to fight my way through thick cardboard with my wobbly pair of scissors anymore? I think I might have some more freedom to try new things, now.

I find myself flumoxed with where to go next, though. Perhaps I'll do a few more sketches in my journal to try out the new projects in my head. New supplies are so much fun, but they make me nervous. I don't want to ruin my supplies. I'll probably be even more all over the place with my style. Although, I'm really jonesing for some more abstract and/or conceptual pieces. I love Flying Girl, but I really love some of the more odd, poetic kind of work.

Oh heck. I don't have to make decisions on this. I don't have to have it all figured out.

And art supplies are meant to be used and abused and ruined and created.

To tell the truth, I have been much too stressed out. So many changes in my life at once and so many uncertainties. Trying to figure out everything instead of just going on the journey.

Trying to be in control of everything instead of being a part of it. D'you know what happens when you live like that? You start getting a scowl between your eyebrows.

I'm trying to relax and go with the flow more.

Take a look at the iced coffee with ice cream and dark chocolate syrup I made. YUM. It was really good. And I sat outside with it and sketched things in my journal. Strange things. Things that made no sense and were not set and were kind of smudgy.

And it was okay.