Daily Doodles

The end of a rather tiring but lovely summer holiday is here, they are back at school and I have some time to  write my next post.

So I was telling you about why I've started working with a painting coach

"I'd found myself painting regularly in public, getting commissions for work and had this growing visual song within me that needed some way of expressing itself. But with canvas in front of me and paint on my brush I didn't actually know what to do with them. I'd been to art foundation college, studied as an art teacher but no one had ever taught me how to paint! When I came to the canvas my lack of technique and experience was making me feel inadequate and rather vulnerable in the public role I'd found myself in. I have asked Pattie to help me overcome this, to help me grow in technique and ultimately to find my unique visual voice."

It started with 'daily doodles' - sketching while I pray and seeing what comes. They often became impromptu poetry writing and bible study sessions as God spoke to me as I drew. Here are a few of my first ones.

From reading these you can see my frustration to find time and space to be creative, and a rising urgency and desire to find my voice and worship.

As the days went by I began to see shapes repeating and developing – seed pods, things unfurling. A subconscious connection with the creative awakening taking place. Pattie encouraged me to put together a Pinterest board on this theme and linger through the images whilst listening to music (she calls this an Eye Gate)

I was taken completely by surprise that poetry regularly accompanied my doodling, it just seemed to naturally appear – this was the start of God calling me into a new season of using words (which I'd always thought I was rubbish at). In seeking to find my visual voice, God had snuck in a sneeky plan to help me find my written voice as well! Pattie commented on what I'd written and suggested I start writing a blog, which I laughed at as a ridiculous idea that I would never have the confidence or ability for. But look at me now!