Fun Way to Relax and Draw on the Couch

I made a graph on a sketchbook page and filled them in with little drawings of things I found on my daughter's flash cards.  Pretty random stuff here.

Life Flows Meditative Doodle

It's been a while since I sat down and allowed myself time to create a meditative doodle.  The way this finally laid out it feels like a stylized fish diving out of the sea.  I can't remember where it started but this is where it ends.  I felt connected and satisfied with this page when I was done drawing.  Created in my cute red Moleskine with Faber-Castell sepia pen and accented with Prismacolor colored pencils.

"Every person is responsible for all the good within the 

scope of her abilities, and no more..."  

-Gail Hamilton

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Life Flows

Would Have Been Better in a Song Meditative Doodle

Sometimes our minds think the same way we surf the net.  Furiously looking for answers to unanswerable questions.  The moments of void being immediately recognized and snatched back up by deep thought again.  "Clicking" from subject to subject not really finding any sense of direction or peace.  It would have been nice to have that sense of peace and quiet mental void with this doodle tonight.  Maybe that's not where I need to be right now.

Things Used for Unintended Purposes List It Tuesday
1. A large mayonaise jar lid to make hamburger patties on the very rare times that I don't have frozen
2. In my art space three utility storage bin racks for my markers, pens, watercolor pencils and colored pencils
3. A flower pot that came with flowers that I received as a gift and use it for scrap paper and pens
4. A hanging shoe rack in our utility closet to store the girls coloring books and games
5. Curtain hooks to hang our body scrubs in the shower

Education Moving Into the Future

Sometimes when I make a meditative doodle my feelings are intense or my thoughts are racing.  These work to calm and center.  During this session I was very deep in thought regarding our daughter's education.  After a four month trial with public preschool we decided to sign her out.  I've planned her educational needs based on her level of knowledge.  She is talented and I'm confident that one on one attention will help her to thrive.  Does anyone else home school and if so are there any great education resources online or local groups in New Jersey that you would suggest?

Healthy Growth and Stability

What things do we need to make us feel our healthy growth and stability today?  As I created this meditative doodle I furiously wrote these words in this order Love, Security, Affection, Time and Fun.  It's funny how fun didn't come to me so quickly, it's just not a high priority but essential none the less.  Gotta have fun and play once in a while right?  You may say love and affection are the same thing but let me assure you there are many people in life who are loved but do not experience affection.  Affection is as simple as listening and giving someone eye contact when they speak, a hug just for the hell of it, reassuring someone by holding their hand, acknowledging that person matters in your world.  Security is the feeling of safe well being knowing that you will not be hurt both physical or mentally as well as a sense of financial well being.  And finally time.  Time to do the things we enjoy in the life we live and not just exist but thrive.

Shared with Art Journal Every Day

List It Tuesday Room Changes

1. Tighten two bathroom cabinet knobs (Done)
2. Replace one of the bathroom cabinet knobs after tightening too tight and breaking (it was glass)
3. Switch out coffee themed table cloth now *I want a cup of coffee* (Done replaced with girls choice pink plaid)
4. Wash the paint from Isabelle's art project off the family room vinyl table cover (Done sort of a lot stayed behind)
5. Make the girls beds (Done but undone while they played and tucked stuffed animals and baby dolls in)
6. Pick up the toys on the living room floor (Done but will need to be done again before bedtime)

Spread a Little Love Today

Have you ever asked yourself, "What do I want more of in my life?"  I meditated upon that.  I learned that in my life it's just a need for continuation.  I have ample and enough but more tomorrow would be good and more the next day would be great.  Today is full of happy things that I want to continue each day.  Yes, more please...

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Favorite Family Foods for List it Tuesday
1. Lasagna it's been requested as a gift & birthday dinners and just an all around favorite
2. Birthday cakes during November & December I used to bake for four different birthdays
3. Spam with mac n cheese I only recently discovered this combo and love it
4. Dare Slim Jims and Tijuana Mama my guilty pleasures
5. Hot dogs, sauerkrawt, fried potatoes and stewed tomatoes memory of my Mom's favorite meal when I was growing up

Meditative Doodling Guided Art Tour Part Two

Have your puppy dog ears perked up and noted deeper level experiences? Good.  Don't know what I'm talking about read the first part of Meditative Doodling.

1. Whether it is one or a dozen captivations that you've remembered write them all individually on the lined side of each card.
2. When you have some YOU time alone to breath and think put on your comfy clothes, light your favorite candle, grab your favorite beverage do the things you love to do to relax then pull out a card, read it.
3. Flip the card over to the blank side. Stare into the blankness of the card and think about what is written below that blank page in front of you, how it feels, what it means to you. What were you doing when the thought presented itself, what made it special and interesting to you? Start with one line and draw don't question yourself. Be willing to draw what you see in your mind. You are right and what you are doing is the perfect illustration of that rightness.
4. Play as long as you like, add color if you want to. Don't logically question any of this, leave your thinking cap in the closet. When your done flip it back to the lined side and make simple notes of your inspiration and any deeper meanings you've acquired.
5. Tuck away your newly drawn treasure in your sacred storage place. Share it with no one. Feels good doesn't it?
You will do this daily, you want to, you deserve a moment to feel free and enjoy yourself.
 

Trees Need Each Other

While driving to town I passed some loggers.  I immediately became more aware of the forest and how many trees had fallen close to the work site.  Vibration from the trucks?  Sickness?  Storm winds?  Sure.  Maybe it was something deeper.  Some physical need that those fallen trees had taken from the other's still standing.  This is what I meditative doodled, how we are all in same way deeply connected to one another.  It's always easier to weather a storm, fight off sickness etc. with others in our lives.

Shared with Art Journal Every Day

Horrified Goodbye and a River Divide

I didn't have a chance yesterday to post my meditative doodle so after I finished tonight's I uploaded both at once.  Yesterday's inspiring thought came from a song I heard on the radio while driving home from town.  Train - 50 Ways to Say Goodbye it isn't high art but it was a celebration of the line, "she was eaten by a lion."  It made me laugh the thought of her surprise when she found out her demise. 

Tonight's doodle started from this thought when it came to my mind, "A river carves a canyon."  Who knows how flowers, bunnies and butterflies played into that?  When I was finished looking at it I think the divide was created with the dots path.  One little heart separated from all the other hearts.  Stay tuned for the second part of the Guided Tour to Meditative Art Doodling Monday to see what kind of fun you can have too.

Shared with Sunday Sketches

Meditative Doodling Guided Art Tour Part One

Let's dive into meditative doodling, you and me. Play along you know you want to.

1. Get yourself a pack of index cards, lined on one side and blank on the other.
2. Go ahead and splurge on the good container to keep them in or make yourself something special. I'm using a blue metal card holder there's something wonderful about both the color and the material that speaks to me. You'll know your container when you find it.
3. Any of your favorite doodle supplies pens, markers some people paint doodle that's fine too.  Buy some or pull out well used or unused whichever feels the best.
4. Set aside all your supplies and get out for a day or two and live life. When something captivates you remember it. I've done that with a cellphone draft text message while on the fly to help me remember. It could be something you saw, a song, something that was said anything that perks you up on a deeper level. Imagine a dog's ears shooting up out of a sound sleep, that's the inner you.

Got it? Have your supplies ready and let's get together Monday January 7th to build on this a little further.  

Introduction to Meditative Doodling

My meditative doodling is a way that I relax and unwind by drawing in a non controlled fluid way while feeling and thinking positively.  They are made for no other reason than to be in touch with my creative side.  This drawing is based upon a thought I had earlier today, "Add a lamp and while I'm there light the shadows."

Shared with Paint Party Friday

Bring Your Love Back to the Public Library

While I waited for the printer to spin out 150 pages of Mary Walker Designs 2012 blog posts for my first blog to book from digital form, I drew this.  Thinking about the importance of the public library in our lives.  What kinds of posters would they hang from their walls?  This is what I imagined.  As we transfer to digital lives we need to remember that paper hard copy is the best back up when the electricity is out.  Support your local public library.

Happy New Year 2013

I've been busy running around preparing for the new year but I still found a few minutes to doodle with the cute burgundy colored pen my Mom left behind today.  Yes an artist truly appreciates the possibility of a writing instrument being cute.  Happy New Year bloggy buddies!

Victorian House As My Mind Sees It

12-14-2012 I love to draw but I don't have much experience drawing things as I imagine them in my mind.  A lot of the things I draw come from reference images that I get creative with and change to suit my needs.  This wasn't about perfect line work, this was about being loose and free.  I've seen hundreds of Victorian houses in my lifetime this is the first time I asked myself to look within to draw one.  A lot can be learned from going to that deep dark cave of memory images and seeing what pops up.  Without looking at a reference photo draw yourself a Victorian House.

Shared with Inspiration Avenue

Little Chocolate Book With My Art Inspiring Words

Instead of going crazy stressing that I haven't been making great art I gave myself permission to have fun.  My "little chocolate book" is filled with pages overflowing with art inspiring words that I've written over the course of the last two years.  I love that they're not serious and maybe something bigger will come from this play exercise.  All I can do is lube up the engine with steady activity.

"Comforts" for List It Tuesday

1. A pile of art books on my lap while I sit in the back yard on the lawn chair in the sun reading them


2. Cup of tension tamer, sleepytime or peppermint tea depending on what the moment calls for

3. The moment when the pen tip hits the paper for the first line of a drawing that I know is going to be a good one

4. Driving 70 mph windows down hair blowing in the wind with the radio cranked to something crunchy and loud (Godsmack, Stone Sour, Theory of a Deadman etc)

5. Happy daughters

Thinking Without Thinking

A little doodle play to start my day.  I was kind of zoning out I want to think of my next painting subject but don't want to obsess over it.  I like to wonder with a pen and hope for the best.  If nothing else it gives me something cute to look at in my doodle sketchbook.  Do you find it easier to plan an art project or just work intuitively?

Been there, done that my most extreme moments for List It Tuesday

1. Whipped cream fight with another woman
2. Rode in a small boat next to a pod of dolphins
3. Partied at a bar until closing time
4. Rode inside a car as it flipped over
5. Taken into police custody

Fruits of Fancy

11-23-2012 To keep my hand going I started a doodle sketchbook with this mushroom drawing.  It's great to have something fun to play with and I'll share the doodles that tickle my fancy.  This one stacked up by starting with the peaches and finshing with a big 'ol watermelon.  As an artist everything is about stoking the creative fires, this is a way to keep mine burning.

Mushrooms are Fun

The battery light is blinking on my keyboard so I probably don't have a lot of time to talk.  Just sharing a little mushroom doodle I did tonight.  I've got no artistic direction just wondering around a bit until I find the next project to focus on.  Sepia pen and markers I liked it better with just sepia the markers didn't do well with this paper.

Pie in the sky Wish list

1. The roof repairs finished
2. Rear yard trees cleared
3. New garage built
4. Convert old garage to art studio
5. Muscle car with a V8 loud exhaust

Shared with List It Tuesday

Keep The Hand Moving

11-18-2012  Yesterday I played with acrylic paint in spray bottles my right hemisphere activity was completely gone.  Today I sat down and drew with no direction.  Right brain doesn't want to come?  FINE!  The hand is leaving without you.  I've been distracted by my oldest daughter turning eighteen soon and how my role in her life is about to change.  I believe that is what largely influenced what I created tonight.  At least I'm creating.  Done and done.  Does anyone else hum music when they are in the art zone?  I do, often.  Sometimes it's commercials or show tunes, how embarrassing right?   My song tonight was, "teach your children well..."

Shared with Paint Party Friday

Doodles from the Inside Cover

09-03-2012 From my 365 draw daily sketchbook.  Sometimes when I feel stumped with this challenge I doodle inside the back cover.  Drawing for a specific subject every day for a hundred fifty days gets boring, annoying, fulfilling and accomplishing.  Mixed bag of emotions there folks.  That might explain why the doodles are redundant.  Over and over patterns are soothing.  The words next to the girl's face are Think Positive, her face reminds me of Alexis Bledel although I wasn't trying for a likeness.

See the Draw Daily 365 drawings and other Sets in my Flickr gallery.