Automatic Ad Code Snippet:

Chalkboard Quote: A Minute of Quiet

September 14, 2024


You are a minute of quiet, in a loud shouting world.” – Gabriel Gadfly

What a beautiful thought. 

Words have power and I chose this month’s chalkboard quotation as a meditation on what it means to be in my art studio.

I love the quiet. I love the quiet when I’m reading a beautiful book, hiking in the woods or canyons; I love the quiet of the soft wind; I love the quiet of painting and only hearing the soft scritch-scratch of the pastels on the paper.

bca1a232-2733-4eef-bef9-111079c4f22c-1

Have you ever been in your studio painting and it is as if time has stopped and the quiet of the moment completely washes over you? Have you lost track of time, forgotten to eat, (forgotten about the laundry?!), and felt as if time was lost and someone else was painting?

In these still, small moments, I feel a surety in my work that brings me to the real point of today’s quote.  

What is your art’s purpose?

What is it saying?

This week, I want you to create a moment of quiet. Surround yourself with your work (even if you have very few paintings). I want you to sit with them in the quiet and grab a pen and some paper. Now, I want you to write down 25 words that describe what you feel and see when you look at those pieces.  

These could be good things or even bad. You may hear a negative critic whispering in your ear.  (you can politely tell it to be quiet).

There are no wrong “words” but we do want to steer our thoughts towards the positive.

These are a few of my favorite things…

(Just as we wouldn’t tell a child who is learning to walk….”how amateurish!”  “You can’t even walk?!” “That was a really bad step you just took…” we’re not going to berate ourselves over our work).

Try to focus on the good words you want to convey.  What do you want your work to be about?

What is your art’s vocabulary? 

img_3788-1

These are some of my words: 

• soft

• soothing

• memory

• peace

• stroll

• distance

• hope

• tomorrow

• further

• glow

• light

• quiet

• ending

• embrace

• remember

• color

• wash

• smile

• holding

• together

• reminisce

• edges

• distinct

• warm

• gentle

• unhurried

Some of these words only make sense to me…other’s are more general. This exercise is harder than you think! Look at several paintings, let them speak to you. Think of unique words. If you struggle with this, or your words are all negative, why?  If 25 is easy, bump it to 50 or 100!  

These words form your vocabulary.  This is your main idea, your story. 

This is your brand! 

Are there any words you want to change or eliminate?

Which are your top 10? 

Which ones do you feel most exemplify YOU and YOUR work? 

If you’re “not quite there” – which words do you hope for?

Tape them to your backer board on your easel. Put them in your studio where you can read them everyday. If your words change, wonderful! You’re further defining and curating your art!

There are no rules, this is your work, your art, your space. You get to say what enters, what leaves, and what stays. This is your quiet space, your time to silence the outside shouting.

As you do this, I would love to hear some of your words (only if you’re comfortable…please keep it clean! ha).  

I want my work to BE “a moment of quiet in a loud, shouting world.”

What do you want your art to be?

xoxo,

Bethany

Some Favorite Supplies

I'm Bethany

I believe in  the act of creativity  in small everyday moments  to make life more beautiful and meaningful..

Read More

Shop my Favorites

www.dickblick.com

Popular Posts:

Subscribe Today!

Immerse yourself in a world of color inspiration, studio meditations, and be the first to learn about new work and blog posts.

Subscribe to the Newsletter

comments

Leave a Reply

Instagram

follow me on