Does your energy suddenly go lackluster as winter starts giving way to spring? Mine certainly does! Somehow, even though this past year has been unlike any other in my life (i.e. my work schedule has been much less stressful), I’ve found myself having that lazy, I’m-just-too-tired-to-work-anymore feeling. Fortunately, since this phenomenon seems to happen to me every year just about now, I’m not alarmed. I know that this mood will also pass. In the meantime, I’ve summoned enough energy to continue working on yet another alphabet illustration spread in my Moleskine notebook. So, it’s not with a heavy heart but with a playful spirit that I bring you my H is For Heavy (Art?) illustrations.
H is for Heavy (Art?)
My #1 remedy for the seasonal blues?
Is, of course, to find ways to focus my thoughts back into the present moment. These days I also have my very own little furry “therapist” to keep me tuned into what’s really important.
(When the lethargic feelings set in, I also try and give myself permission to take a break. After all, no one can go at 100% all the time; I’ve got the benefits and drawbacks of being, like the illustration in the bottom right corner, simply human.)
Creating on a regular schedule…
Also really helps. Sometimes, as in this short Found Object drawing video, I surprise myself with what emerges:
Even though the finished illustration isn’t complete without the yellow mushroom brush, I’ve decided to save it (sans brush) because seeing the little gallery makes me feel uplifted and happy!
What about you?
How are you keeping motivated? Do you get the seasonal blues, and how do you cheer yourself up? Let me know in the comments below ’cause I’d love to know!
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.
L. Frank Baum
I don’t know how you keep coming up with such imaginative creatures! You da best Xoxo
I think I got my creative genes from my mother…;-)
xox-J
Almost every day, I wake up and just want to go back to sleep, even after a year. Eventually, one of the cats demands food, and that usually does the trick. Lately, I’m scheming ways to score a vaccine, and that’s helping me to feel a little more optimistic. It’s still hard to believe some people’s bad and /or stupid behavior, and they don’t hide it—-they post it on Instagram! Anyway, lovely H series….
Hi Helen,
We, too, have taken to getting up later than we should (though we also go to bed fairly late, too.) Ever since getting Ziggy, my routine (usually) consists of getting up at around 7 to give him his food. Which he looks at and always saves ’til later. 😉 But if I DON’T give him his food at 7, he’ll poke me and otherwise “demand” that I feed him. Hee-hee! After “feeding” him, we roll around on the floor in a love-fest. Then I crawl back in bed. Sometimes I bring him back with me and he stays, or sometimes he goes off hunting and leaves us in peace.
Last week, he actually left me alone until 7:45 or even 8:15. Then this week, since I have to be up early for the NJSO work, he decided to get me up at 5:45 a.m…(maybe “just in case” I overslept?) Needless to say, I’ve got quite the dark circles under my eyes right now. Sigh.
Hope you find a vaccine soon! My fingers are crossed for you!
xox – Joana