drawing therapy

It has been crazy-central over here ... first Halloween ... with school parade and classroom party

 

their group won the mummy-wrapping contest

Then Cowgirl had a martial arts tournament which we had been intensely prepping for during the past two weeks, not with copious tears from all.  The day of the tournament I had a great seat for photos, but sat dumbfounded as she pulled a performance out of her hat that was unexpected given the lackluster practice sessions.  

waiting for the judges scores

Finally, we are back on track with renewed enthusiasm (a new mentor and a gold medal work miracles) and life is easing up.

Except I have been  subbing as a  teacher's aide in Cowgirl's school and the past few mornings barely finish my first sip of coffee when the phone rings. I am blown away by how exhausted I feel after a day of work! Two sessions (morning and afternoon) of preschoolers does me in.  Of course, the fact that today's group constructed a farmyard out of massive plastic blocks and then held pig races complete with loud squealing and oinking may account for excessive fatigue!

So it is all I can do to find a way to ground myself and transition back to home time and down time.  Lately, that has meant sketching. When we have a block of time, Cowgirl and I pull out the paper and sketchbooks, sit with mugs of tea and settle in with some quiet, attentive practice.

Cowgirl makes me activity pages, to ensure I keep my dragon drawing skills up

colouring sheet for a Thunder Dragon from my Birthday Activity Book

There are also new species of creatures to discover, such as this Pegle (Eagle/Peacock, very rare)

note: it is pronounced "pe, gel ... pegle!"

And perpetually popular, monster trucks (this is an illustration from her latest book "Thud!" We got to read an advance copy and she will celebrating with an author's party at school.)

As a grown up, my imagination is flabby and so I have been warming up with what is more readily visible ...

Moose eating/Moose resting

Drawing what is near and dear to my heart (and a generally still and agreeable subject)

 

My drawing skills, such as they are, have become woefully rusty.  My November intention is to practice more regularly with the hopes of sharping my eye, developing some technique and cultivating imagination.

Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them. (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince)

instructions for drawing a Rearing Up and a Meditating Dragon

 
Thankfully, I have a wonderfully imaginative and patient instructor teaching me to remove any barriers to my imagination and let things rip.