An update on my latest works-in-progress when notable Strides have been made.
As I noted last week, I finished the collection of drawings that I was preparing to give away at a free gift exchange being hosted at a local bookshop. I’m back to report that it was a rousing success! I mostly floated around with a cup of coffee, munching on donuts while discreetly watching people pick up my beautifully packaged sketches.
I definitely intend on doing another round, but I’m going to skip out on this month’s exchange so I can focus on wrapping up a few more things — one of which is this acrylic painting I started back in March with my shoddy supplies.
If you’re a subscriber and/or have been following my Notes, I’ve also finally returned to the realm of poetry [after about a 20-something-year hiatus]. I bought a three-pack of Field Notes notebooks, and my idea goes something like this: I want to dedicate each one to specifically practicing a few different poetry types.
I’ve only written one so far — an Italian Octave — to share with you all. Go easy on me, I haven’t actually tried this since I was a kid.
Thus far, I’ve been completely enamored with simply learning something new, as difficult as I’ve found it to be at times. I was never the best student in school, so to speak, and this endeavor is reminding me why. That being said, I never decline worthwhile challenges, so you can expect more poetry to begin appearing in this weekly segment. If anything, I just want to see how I improve over time by logging everything.
Isn’t that what Substack is really for, anyway?
Writing.
Perception.
Art.
Creativity.
It’s a documentation of not only improvements but our individual evolution.
I often find it difficult to reflect on my past work for several reasons — laziness, disinterest, and shame are at the top. However, I am also a person who believes in doing what I can to improve in all areas of my life. The sooner I suck it up and start deconstructing what I’ve accomplished thus far, the better off I’ll be as I strive to evolve, too.
The worst thing a creator of any sort can be is stagnant.
You’ll only know you’ve failed as an artist when you see your face next to the word “complacency” in the dictionary.