"It is not what we do, but how we do it." — Stephen Nachmanovitch
My first coloring book page printed on Arches Text Wove paper, done with watercolor palette for my classes. For colored pencil or crayon, any paper will work.
Coloring books may seem like an odd place to begin with the subject of improvisation, but doing something simple that has structure, and that you enjoy, leads to play. And play leads to improvisation. And improvisation leads to joy. Coloring books give you the structure of lines and the freedom of color.
In this time of sequester, I am thinking of the danger of listlessness leading to depression. Yesterday, pondering all the upheaval that has happened over here — studio flooded, preparing for a road trip to see my Dad, the dreaded IRS (that’s three, so things will turn soon…) — I remembered what Brother David Steindl-Rast said: the antidote to listlessness, boredom, overwhelm, and fogginess is joy. Instead of taking a nap, I asked myself that question — what joyful thing will wake me up and change the course of this day? How can I change what I am doing, and improvise?
Improvisation, play and spontaneity are all components to this question:
How do we regain the freedom we were born with to sing, or speak, or write, or paint? This question is not only for makers, but for everyone: How do we regain the freedom to do whatever it is we are doing wholeheartedly? As a child in a family with no interest in art, I spent hours with my sister and our box of crayons, coloring. We were completely content.
I am inspired by the idea that whatever you loved to do as a child, whatever you did wholeheartedly, is a thread to follow to find yourself now.
I also want to contribute to local businesses that are suffering during this Covid crisis, so there is an optional donate button on the same page, if you wish to contribute any amount to our family-run local art store, Preston Arts.
The coloring book pages are based on an alphabet that I have designed for my classes in monoline form. This alphabet, named “Quadrat”, is accessible to calligraphers and non-calligraphers. I will go through the entire alphabet, posting them one at a time.
I have been reading i am through you so i, by Brother David Steindl-Rast. The title is from an e. e. cummings poem. In his book there is reference to poetry, and his love for Rilke. Here is a poem that reminds me of how engaging with what you love to do becomes transforming:
From indescribable transformation flash
such creations-: Feel! and trust!
We suffer it often: flames become ash;
Yet, in art: flames come from dust.
Here is magic. In the realm of a spell
The common word seems lifted up above…
But is as real as if the dove called
To seek its invisible mate.
— “Magic” by Rilke, 1924
“Feel! and trust!” What do you do that brings you joy? I’d love to hear from you.