The festive anxieties you write about completely resonate with me. I love getting back into the quiet post-holiday rhythm, which my family consider routine and boring, but to me, it's freedom.
Thank you for sharing, your writing and approach to creativity really resonates with me as I've been going through a similar shift developing my own practice. Seeing sketchbook as a safe place to have conversations with myself and be curious has been such a healthy way to reframe, instead of a practice rooted in fear and perfectionism.
Wish you well on New Year. I like the sketches you shared above. The anxiety about what to draw and what not to draw happens to me every day as well. But by luck I am blessed with several dogs over the street close to my house. So something always gets strong.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your sketchbooks! I love the idea of sketching as listening to oneself. And your one simple rule is a perfect one for an artist to live by. Wishing you a peaceful new year.
I feel you. Everything you said is true for myself as well. I totally feel the holiday burn out. Also today I posted my nine most successful posts on IG in 2024. And they were all so very different from each other and not at all what I like to do now at the end of 2024. I love painting abstract landscapes with wild patches of colour. Obviously nobody else does. 🤣 But that's ok. My art is for me.
Akiko, thank you for your honesty and vulnerability here… it’s so much like my own practice… I find it quite encouraging to hear it through another voice. Peace to you!
Thank you for sharing this. It means so much to know my experience resonates with yours. I don't have many artist friends nearby, so this connection is truly special. Peace to you as well!
Akiko, thank you for this. I always find your posts inspiring - and this post exceptionally so. I was moved by your description of your process, daily practice - and particularly how you have learned to listen to your own feelings. All of this applies to what goes through my head so many times and we should all learn to simply listen and create first for ourselves. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind words Tom. So glad to hear it resonated. I find it tricky at times to focus on just myself, but I think it's crucial for making art I like.
Thank you for sharing your work and words with us. Your posts bring me so much peace to read!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Rebecca. It truly means a lot!
The festive anxieties you write about completely resonate with me. I love getting back into the quiet post-holiday rhythm, which my family consider routine and boring, but to me, it's freedom.
Yes, totally the same! I hope you are already back to your quiet rhythm. I'm almost there <3
This is lovely! I love your perspective on the blank page, and “bad” work as a stepping stone ❤️✍️
Thank you Emma. Now I no longer feel discouraged when the work doesn't turn out well!
Feeling very inspired to get back into a practice. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for reading, Alicia <3
Thank you for sharing, your writing and approach to creativity really resonates with me as I've been going through a similar shift developing my own practice. Seeing sketchbook as a safe place to have conversations with myself and be curious has been such a healthy way to reframe, instead of a practice rooted in fear and perfectionism.
So true. Fear and perfectionism never seem to completely go away for me, so I needed to find a way to quiet them down. Thank you for reading!
I love your rule - follow what feels exciting. That is my favorite way to create.
Glad to hear. I made it into a rule as it's so easy to forget!
Loved this post, so refreshing and really inspiring!
Glad you did! Thank you so much for reading.
I love your reflections. They sing very true and made me chuckle a bit. Thank you,🙏
So glad to hear. Thank you for reading, Tamsin.
Wish you well on New Year. I like the sketches you shared above. The anxiety about what to draw and what not to draw happens to me every day as well. But by luck I am blessed with several dogs over the street close to my house. So something always gets strong.
Thank you for reading! Yes finding what to draw is hard, so I tend to go back to the same things like apples and pears on the table.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your sketchbooks! I love the idea of sketching as listening to oneself. And your one simple rule is a perfect one for an artist to live by. Wishing you a peaceful new year.
Thank you Anne! There seems to be so many should-dos out there, I just need to stick to the simplest one.
I feel you. Everything you said is true for myself as well. I totally feel the holiday burn out. Also today I posted my nine most successful posts on IG in 2024. And they were all so very different from each other and not at all what I like to do now at the end of 2024. I love painting abstract landscapes with wild patches of colour. Obviously nobody else does. 🤣 But that's ok. My art is for me.
Yes Stephanie, I love that. My art is for me. Thank you.
Thank you Akiko!
Best wishes for a really special new year ✨
Thank you Emily! Wishing you a year filled with peace and creativity <3
I always get a lot of quiet and peace out of your written pieces but also by watching your sketchbook. Have a wonderful New Year's eve x
Hearing that makes writing and sharing truly worthwhile. Thank you so much Claire x
Akiko, thank you for your honesty and vulnerability here… it’s so much like my own practice… I find it quite encouraging to hear it through another voice. Peace to you!
Thank you for sharing this. It means so much to know my experience resonates with yours. I don't have many artist friends nearby, so this connection is truly special. Peace to you as well!
Your posts are always so inspiring to me, thank you for sharing them! Today I needed that reminder about following what’s exciting.
Thank you for reading, Melissa! I'm just getting out of the holiday chaos and can't wait to return to my practice <3
Akiko, thank you for this. I always find your posts inspiring - and this post exceptionally so. I was moved by your description of your process, daily practice - and particularly how you have learned to listen to your own feelings. All of this applies to what goes through my head so many times and we should all learn to simply listen and create first for ourselves. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind words Tom. So glad to hear it resonated. I find it tricky at times to focus on just myself, but I think it's crucial for making art I like.