Making Marks Revisited

Coming out of the Christmas season and into the new year, there's no better time to reflect on where you've been and to consider where you're going in the new year.  This year as I've thought back, I couldn't help but remember one of my favorite blogs from way back in 2015.  Something in my soul knew I needed this reminder.  Although I was still working "my paying job" at the time, it still applies to today.  As you read, just substitute whatever it is that has you running and possibly even burned out.  

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From December 12, 2015

Since pounding out pieces for a show more than a month ago, I’ve been on somewhat of a creative hiatus. It’s like my creativity, a sponge, was wrung and there was nothing left to squeeze out. In the time of doing basically nothing, I’ve not really been a very content person and I know this inevitably always happens. It’s a been there, done that kind of thing. I come in from the “paying” job burned out and feeling totally spent and the weekends are no better. Set the alarm clock so I can get up to paint? No, are you kidding! I have only wanted to sleep in and then take all that and wrap it up in the busyness of Christmas…oh my.

Speaking of Christmas and my self-inflicted season of discontent, I realize the underlying cause which I have sometimes overlooked. Actually, the cause is not that it’s been overlooked, but that I just haven’t prioritized it.  By prioritizing, I mean that my moments of creativity are a time of connecting with God and when I’m not engaged creatively, I grow quite silent and miserable. When I’m creating, my studio a.k.a. the kitchen is filled with worship music. It’s a time of thanksgiving, a time of talking about all my concerns, the problems I face, the world in which we live, my perceived needs and yes, even my wants (He wants it all). It’s also a time of just listening.  I’ll admit the listening part is hard to do.  If only I could shut up long enough. (My students would definitely agree.)

This morning with my alarm clock set, I was up at sunrise. I didn’t create anything exceptionally or remotely outstanding. It was just about making marks, committing the time, and reconnecting. Just making marks with no preconceived idea what the end product would be. It’s a matter of putting whatever medium is being used to the paper.

Today, it was chalk on newsprint. I looked for my charcoal, but it was nowhere to be found. Little did I know at the time that it was the color I was also missing. Love how that happens. With chalk in hand and Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately” playing, I began. The first marks were simple lines and dots following along with the movement of the music. Then, shapes take form, and then I see where it’s going. It may just be making marks, but sometimes that’s all it needs to be- a start, a beginning, a first step, asking a question like “have I told you lately that I love you.”