Day 1: My newest 365 Days of Art Project

Day one - The Rooster Who Wishes He could Lay (Eggs)

I think I have got it. After a month of being finished with my "365 Days of Found Objects and the Writing They Inspire" project which ended in May, I have been longing for something new. I tried two new projects for a few days to a week each, but they just weren't getting me excited. (graffiti words was the first and the second was a word that I wrote about.) This one came in the back door which may always be best, it found me. I had a fabulous time drawing this rooster. Portfolio water soluble oil pastels on 3 foot by 2 foot butcher paper. A 3 inch rooster had mysteriously found its way into my hand as I rummaged through some sand play items. (Honest, I don't remember picking it up) It took me by such surprise that there was an audible sound of surprise that came from my mouth. I knew I had to draw it and I had an urge to go BIG! I thought of it as a study, but instead of it being a teeny tiny study, it was a big giant study of color. My fingers were ecstatic as they pushed and blended thick heavy globs of the oil pastels. I loved feeling the texture of the back drop that was under my thin paper. I loved that the paper was inexpensive and cut crooked. I loved that it was big and bright. I loved that I didn't care how good it was. I loved that it happened quickly. (40 minutes went by in a flash.) I loved that the rooster was sitting on his duff, like he wished he could lay eggs like his female counterpart.


I could get used to doing this. Could I do it every day? Could I carve out enough time to do 365 days of these giant daily studies? This first one took 40 minutes. Can I give myself that much time every day? Maybe it would even take longer! My past Daily art projects had a built in way of spending mere minutes if needed. Can I do that on a project of this size?


I am willing to try. It is time that makes it feel more like a spiritual practice. A visit to my inner self. The cultivating of an inner life. On this, "Day One: The Rooster" the year prior came to me. The difficult moments of working through old excruciatingly painful anxiety. Working through shame and embarrassment. Working through blocks that have brought me to a more vibrant and alive life. I felt gratitude as I laid down the thick colors. I felt hope and peace and forgiveness. 365 days of that? Oh, sure, every day won’t be this prolific. Or maybe it will. Whou knows. I am grateful to be playing with art materials and having something to do daily to feed my soul!


And, it got me writing this blog, which I had wanted to do on my last 365 Day Art Project but didn’t think I had it in me! Yippee!


Stay tuned!
Tish