I am always saving things because someday I can do something with it. Well, now I have 100 days to begin using the materials that most people throw away but for some strange reason I like to save.
I am using a photo of water lilies as my constraint. The plan is to render the image in 100 different methods. So far very enjoyable, opening my eyes to all the options. I can get stuck in a rut often, forget to get out of my comfort zone .
Spine: Creating game and card art for the new evolution and ecological systems modeling game Evolve! Mediums include pen and ink and digital work in Adobe Photoshop.
Rule: Spend at least 20 minutes each day working on the illustration or design for this board game.
Spine
I will be exploring ways to transform Lake Superior watershed landscape experiences into a visual form-experimenting with photography, pen and ink, watercolor, and narrative. The narrative explores the concept of bonding with the earth and the development of an ecological conscience.
Rule
Work on the project for 3 hours a day for 100 days.
Spine = Surrealistic images drawn with pen using the method of automatism.
Steps
1. put pen to paper (am using a 100 page spiral bound sketchbook)
2. clear mind of any preconceived ideas
3. tune into emotions, feelings
4. move pen across paper
5. allow design decisions to occur
6. when felt completion, notice first words of description, write these as title
7. date it
Rules
Complete one drawing each day.
Use at least 7 drawings as seeds to produce 7 works in mixed media.
Refined Spine:
-touch the holy everyday; “daily nurturing rapport with the sacred” (phrase from Carolyn Myss)
-explore “this”- touching the holy- without destroying the mystery of it. Some things are best not approached with thought or words. What magical, mystical, Graceful elements are present? What common elements? What [things/settings/experiences/mindsets/etc.] serve as portals, catalysts?
-with a light touch, investigate how to invite “this” more often, and investigate what circumstances make this likely. Investigate what circumstances make it unlikely or prevent or displace it.
[Why include a picture of our goofy beagle Ellie for this post? Although I am just starting out on this 100-day exploration, I know that one portal to a deeper experience is our beagle Ellie- being fully present with her and her life energy when she tucks in next to me and wants to be petted. More on this later.]
Rule:
Invite and explore this every day; document it with a few words, a sketch, a picture, or combination thereof.
Since experiencing these moments for me constitute a “successful” life, then exploring them should be at least as important as work, eating, sleeping, etc. The “dividends” it pays are both in and out of this world- literally! [Jim Morrison- “No one gets out alive”- my addendum: “but some get free.”]