30 June 2010

Life is not that smooth. So when working hard, stop, breath and celebrate.


pretty patterns on a grass carpet created by light and shadow


We took a week off, not for a holiday but to concentrate on building my studio-to-be. It’s been ultra busy so far, spending all day out in the garden (the studio was originally a garden shed) under the sun. The thing is once you start something, you find another thing to be done and keep going off the track.. but I know it’s moving forward slowly but surely. It is in a way frustrating process, not being able to see WHEN I am actually in the studio. Wanted to get it done by this September ready for the next term, but it seems not possible. This is unfortunately the fact as we (husband and I) are doing all by ourselves when we could find the time off from work. And of course the cost matters too. So far, we did the floor and roof last year, which is now need re-felting. Sorted the gutter and entrance area. I am doing the ceiling at the moment, keeping air space and layering insulations. Then we found tons of other jobs to pick up in between... like the part of decking to be sorted out, garden allotment, oh let’s wash blinds while it’s sunny, sorting meal for my stepdaughter’s graduation, helping out the neighbor’s garden before his 80th birthday do etc etc...

Life does just not that easily follow as you wanted it to be. But I am learning to embrace that all. Stop and breath here and there, looking back what you have done so far each day and celebrate. That keeps a smile on my face and soul I believe.

This morning as I got up early, I took my skecthbook out for "doodling" during my breakfast. I popped into the local RHS garden on Monday morning using a "half-price" voucher that I kept from newspaper cut-out. Getting inspirations from some photos I took, I drew new ideas of my work on ceramics and prints.
When I see a garden, although I love the colours and flowers, I tend to more focus on something like, the shape of leaves, seed heads, outline created by shadow, roughness of the meadow etc etc. I guess this is simply because I cannot paint! If I can paint well (and I wish I could) I would love to catch those beautiful contrast of colours in this garden. Instead, I usually do line drawing. This seems working for me and easy to visualise how I can translate onto ceramics surface or screens. Anyway, this is what I “doodled”. I enjoyed ten minutes of “breathing” . Let’s get back to work. Start again.


stop, breath and celebrate!

10 comments:

  1. hi fellow flyer! What a lovely post. Your images are wonderful to look at and I am excited to see the stages of your studio - so happy for you! Thank you for sharing ♥

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  2. can't wait to see the studio - keep posting your blog updates on Flying Lessons on FB

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  3. lovely post, I really like the little sketches you did in the garden. I always look at the shapes and the lines. Everything around us has got the same few shapes, it's magical

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  4. Lovely Makiko!
    Gorgeous words and wonderful blog and images too!

    Let's keep flying high!!

    Cheers!

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  5. Pure bliss. Why not just SPLASH a little paint loosely over your line drawings...go on...be brave....experiment....and dont try and stay in the lines!

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  6. Lovely words and imagery Makiko... such a sweet post to share with us!

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  7. Hi Maki, Thank you for sharing these beautiful words, images from nature and sketches. I really like the cute picture of you too! I studied ceramics at art school and your blog brings me back to those days. I loved working with clay. Wini xo

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  8. Thank you so much everyone. Glad you enjoyed it. I will keep you posted for the further outcome of the doodlings!

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  9. Hi Maki I'm Kristy from flying lessons. I really relate to the idea that once you start something, you find another thing to be done and keep getting off track. Why is so difficult to stay on track? I am starting to think that slow and steady will win the race, a little here and a little there but not all at once because distractions are always there. I guess we just need to do the best we can to keep focused and as long as we keep going we'll eventually get there. But not as soon as we wish and in some cases maybe sooner.

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  10. Maki, so beautiful. And I so LOVED seeing your sketch book.....

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