While I’ve fallen short of my intent to blog daily, I can tell you I’ve been thinking about it a lot more and decided that’s a step in the right direction. The act of thinking through blog fodder or even just reflecting on my day/week/month in order to glean something I might share, is part of my new self-imposed seven hour rule: spending one hour, every day of the week, being creative. It’s a take off on the five hour rule, practiced by everyone from Benjamin Franklin to Oprah to Elon Musk, who spend one hour, daily, Monday through Friday, reading, thinking or learning something new.
It feels good when it’s done, but it’s harder than I thought it would be. So, I’ve relaxed my definition of “being creative,” while I rebuild the artistic muscles I let atrophy over the last five years. Some days, part of my hour is spent scrolling through Pinterest and Etsy, letting other people’s creations inspire me. Other days, I listen to a podcast or search the library’s website for an audio book that might teach me something new when the weather allows me to resume my evening walks.
Last week, I spent a few days refreshing the dots that had faded on a bowling ball I painted a couple of years ago.
Dotting can be a tedious form of art, but can become almost meditative if I’m in the right head space when I do it. And what else does one do with an old bowling ball, other than turn it into yard art?
I can’t remember if I’ve shared these with you before or not. I call them my confetti pots.
No real skill or talent is needed for this kind of artwork, and yet it is artwork. And I’ve decided that low-stress, minimal set-up, almost mindless art practices are what I need for the seven hour rule. The same way yoga is a physical practice that also serves the mental and emotional well-being, I’m hoping these seven hours every week can serve all of me, not just my need to make things.
Leah, you’re exercising more discipline than I am in anything right now–and I believe that thinking about writing is just as important as the actual writing. I am wowed by the bowling ball–never seen such a creative reuse, and I like it. I’m filing that idea for use with children and youth (or adults if the right setting comes along). Give yourself credit for priming the creative-juices pump for others!
Sometimes I think a large dotting project would be fun/good for a group of people gathered for an extended period of time (like a retreat or weekend getaway). Similar to setting up a jigsaw puzzle that anyone can work on when they have a minute and everyone can contribute something to, dotting a large object could be corporately satisfying!
My dot art would never be so artistic! These are beautiful!
Thank you, Kathy! I promise, except for the occasional unsteady hand, dotting is the easiest of art forms and one of the few where, if you mess up, you just keep adding more 🙂
I paint Warhammer 40k 28mm miniatures both for the glory of the Emperor of Mankind in the 41st Century and as the kind of stress relief you mention. I need to focus my attention into a small space for a long time. I sometimes post pics of them on FB or IG. I like the pointillism (like George Surat) of your art.
“Focus my attention into a small space for a long time” really resonates with me. I think because I get overwhelmed by clutter and “stuff”, I strive to find projects that are small and won’t add to the chaos in my house. Cheers to the glory of the Empire!