This sketchbook project has brought him back with insults and doubts blazing. After rebinding my sketchbook with watercolor paper, I promptly left it alone. I made the excuse that I needed to do some practice sketching first. In my head I followed that statement up with, "so I can be sure and appear professional and good and not mess up the sketchbook. I may not have gone to a fine arts school, but that doesn't mean I'm not actually good." Some version of that kept cycling through my brain. After finally voicing it out loud to L one night, he said something along the effects of, "Just dive in. This isn't a competition. Even if it were, just be you." He's been giving me that advice a lot lately...the 'just be you' part. I do love that man for many reasons...that being one of them. So, I had a hand in this first round of battles with the Critic. Hopefully I can handle the bastard on my own from now on. But it's nice knowing I have backup if I need it.
The following is the first pages of my sketchbook project. The binding is slightly atrocious, so please overlook that :) I am quite delighted with it thus far though, and look forward to filling the rest of it up!
I <3 this :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous. I love this idea, as well as your willow.
ReplyDeleteOooops, just delated my first comment some how. I love your work and this willow. Don't let that inner critic get to loud, he knows nothing.
ReplyDeleteI love how you told your story with the details you put in the border around the title page. Your tree is a profoundly gracious host, welcoming us into your book.
ReplyDeleteSo creative! It's good though to know that on days where that voice just won't be silent, there are loved ones to remind us who we really are. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the book as it unfolds.
ReplyDeleteI love love love the willow tree.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! You're very talented.
ReplyDeleteI read this post a couple of days ago. I was so inspired but just felt like I wasn't good enough to contribute with my own sketchbook. I'm creative but just don't feel I'm any good at it. The urge is there. I had been thinking about your willow tree and thought about what you said. The critic. Soooo I've ordered my very own book!
ReplyDeleteAlways beautiful art from you. Thanks for the inspiration.
wow.
ReplyDeletei
love
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