Come for a walk……
Rain has brought flooding and high winds have made walking ‘interesting’. Wild on the beach, struggling to stay on feet. But today a half moon moves through a blue sky. I went to the beach in search of rooks and started to walk up the hill. So beautiful. A long time since I have taken the readers of this journal for a walk, so come with me now.
The seas are still wild with the wind, and big tides pushing swollen rivers to flood.
I have been listening to the Illustration Dept podcast. No matter what stage you are at in your career I would suggest tuning in. It has been saving my sanity the past few weeks, listening to how others have experienced similar problems over the years ( I have been working for 40 years now- many changes in that time). But the main thing it has done for me is kicked me back to my roots, so, as much as I can, and when I remember, I am carrying a sketch book with me. Today I had intended to sketch the crazy rooks at the beach, but, too windy and I not patient enough…. so we walked, me and Pi, up high.
At the top of the hill, in the shadow of the wind the ponies soaked up sunshine instead of rain. So we sat for a while, Pi by my side, and drew, without glasses, so I couldn’t see any fine details of what I was doing. Sun, wind, outside, bird voices. Beauty.
Resting, restless, thinking.
I REALLY need to do more of this. But also, it reminds me so much of why I do what I do. On the episode I listened to Nishant Jain talked about ‘sneaky art’ Just drawing, being in the moment, away from the algorithms that keep us addicted to scrolling ( ironic, reading here in the digital world) It came as a timely reminder to me. I am weaning myself away, with sketchbooks, always with reading books…… and now with mending ( more of that later).
Back home, the cats are curled for warmth, the garden filled with birds, and it is time to go and work in my studio. I have so much to do. But before I go and shut myself away I wanted to show you this, new toy to me. I have been mending clothes. As well as giving me another focus, every act of mending feels a little like a rebellion against our throw away world. I am also embracing the moth holes in my clothes! I was lucky enough to be sent some beautiful hand dyed yarns for darning by Sue, who I met at random on the beach one day and hope to sit and sew with in the summer:
And so I have been ‘fixing’. Settles the soul. I bought this darner from Ministry of Mending, but there are other places. I have to say though, it is beautifully crafted.
I have so much more to say but time slips through my fingers and I need to go and put a paint brush in them, to settle my soul. I did manage to finish this, in between going to London.
And whilst in London fitted in too brief visit to family and drew Cai, who moves so swiftly.
And I bought this book that has been haunting me. It is Waterstone’s Book of the Year and they have a beautiful edition, but I bought it from an indie, Brick Lane Books in Brick Lane. Time spent in its pages is well spent.
This is a beautiful post, Jackie. It just made a dreary grey December day in Germany a bit brighter.
My friend sent me a beautiful postcard you made, On the Way to the Foxes Wedding, people danced to the music of the snow.
You are inspired, thank you, and thank you also for you handy little pictures of the sweater darning device.
Blessings,
judi
Thank-you<3
I saw this book only yesterday! What would be your thoughts on it?
Borderline buyer…
Paintbrush in hand, also.
Follow you will bright up my days.
I live in Coimbra, Portugal.
I teach in both an international school and in a forest school. Philosophy, Ecopssychology, Swimming.
Love what you draw in lines, colours and words. What you weave.
I will definitely follow you. May I?