Finding moments

On the way back from the seminar last week I had to stop and have some time to myself. Have a moment,
So I stopped somewhere I have driven by for 6 years. A small graveyard near Wells.
It was interesting to walk around the the old grave yard and poignant too. Dr Colm O'Connr had spoken about the moments between birth and death and the adversity. Here I was in a grave yard surrounded by tributes to dead people!

I was too tired to draw. Felt it not okay to lie down on the grass and stare at the blue sky. So I sat their and centred myself. Breathing. After a while I picked up the graphite pencil and started to write.

I need to find somewhere
to stop
to rest
St. John's church Kilcannon
the noisy traffic flow finally 
stops
the bird song fills the air
melodic robbins and throbbing wood pigeons
as I sit in the sun and stare
I needed a moment...
how should I choose to spend it?
lie on the grass
on a graveyards fallow
I hear the pheasant
the traffic once again
speeding hurrying by
yet here in the graveyard
they are all dead
the daisy, the blue bell & forget-me-nots nod
the dandelion seeds paused
gentle grass sways
in early Spring time warmth
May is not here yet
I sit on the grass
exposed
stopped in my moment
enjoying the sun...
                  28 April 2011

Daily doodle plus

Each day as I get into my studio for work I sit at my desk by the window and choose from an array of art materials. These days I've moved back towards a 6B and graphite pencil.
I keep a packet of A5 sturdy paper to draw and doodle on. But I have to come clean about the doodle I'm working on a deck of cards the idea is to have them to use when doing 1:1 sessions.
The first doodle my pencil hesitated, I had the sense of resistance lack of flow - not knowing... I centred myself and allowed myself to express freely what I was sensing.
I had n't intended to share this but after a twitter conversation with Leia Cantor @mscator I thought it might shed some light in the darkness for others. After all that is what the essence of the cards are about.

Daily doodle (i) 22 April 2011. Roisin Markham

I started writing this blog with the intention of sharing the image following. But it seemed that it would make more sense if you knew what preceded it. There was a second page that explored 'what is my art about for me'. If I had four hours to paint in the studio that is where you would find me today. But I don't it's a religious holiday in Ireland today my family is around and I have other things that require my attention.
I have this morning to work... so here it is the darkness

Daily doodle (iii) 22 April 2011

This is an anti version of my experiences in the last couple of weeks and my life in general, so don't be concerned. It is just a sense of feelings and was good to express them. Obviously it was pencil on white paper but as an illustration  it is better reversed.
How freely do express yourself? is it an easy thing to do?

Daily doodle

Daily Doodle, 20 April 2011. Roisin Markham

Doodle? do you? paint, colour, scribble, draw....
I remember being at a Monica Auch workshop some years ago she talked about keeping a weaving diary. Everyday she would go to her studio and weave a line just in the sense of the day. She suggested writers, artists, makers should keep a daily practice of doing their craft like a journal.
For the last while I have started drawing again as a daily practice. Yesterday painting was declared after this was written

journalling is often my in to painting. Roisin Markham 

Do you have a daily creative practice?

Daily doodle

I've started to draw as a daily morning practice... thanks to doodling and drawing becoming more important for some of the 1:1 sessions I am working on.

Daily doodle, 5 April 2011. Roisin Markham

Do you draw? do you doodle?

Doodles part II

I continue to be amazed and surprised to find fun and free software on the web. it's amazing how do the developers earn money?

One fun one that I came across is called sketchfu.com I have been posting doodles there as a way to keep track of them, I'm drawing with the mouse and very quickly so they are pretty basic but you'll get the idea. See them under Havin_fun.

Here is todays doddle.

Doodles

http://www.wordle.net/ Wordle for word clouds!



They could do with a few more colour options but it is fun to use, and saves some time if the word cloud is for a blog or quick label. I have done word clouds in graphic programmes they take time.