And so she decided to write a blog...

Here we are Tuesday 18th April and I decided - ok, just start. So hello to you. I'd love to open up a conversation here about creativity, about how doing creative activities can bring us a greater sense of purpose, fulfilment, self knowledge but also bring us to connect with others in ways that bring us to more joy.

I don't have all the answers, there are so many things I don't understand but I feel like I want to be part of something that helps build up each of us and not push us down.

So let's start with the basics - drawing. What an amazing form of expression - just a pencil and piece of paper. What shapes could you draw? While sitting in a garden you can simply begin without judgement... so many of us say... yes but I can't draw. What if you could learn? Could this be a way for you to find some inner quiet? A way to slow down, reflect on an object and let go of all the things on your 'to do' list? Why, yes!

Drawing . There's a lot to consider when learning this new skill - many of us have a pre determined idea of what we can and can't do with a pencil or pen. But drawing is a SKILL. Yes, you can break it down into tiny steps and begin practicing the basics - with a pencil you can practice using different pressures to see what kinds of marks you can make. There are tricks and tips for drawing, for example, if you stand up and use your shoulder joint (ball and socket) you can make a pretty good circle by just following the extension of this movement. Last year I had a lovely year 7 art class and we really got into these basics - they were constantly amazed, even shocked, at the simplicity of some of these tips. I find it so limiting when people say 'oh, forget it, I can only draw stick figures, I'm hopeless' or other similar statements. No one has your hands, only you have your hands. Imagine if you just started, every day, making a circle? How confident would you be after 2 weeks? After a month?

Then you can take it a little further maybe... I remember I was feeling really disheartened this day - I can't remember why, I just started with a circle and began adding leaves and more leaves. In the end I started to notice my mood lifting - perhaps it was just a distraction or maybe I was able to just allow that mood to drift away and be replaced with the lovely contemplative one that came to me as I drew ...

Anyone else had a bit of a transform while doing a creative activity?

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