Practice Any Art
November 9, 2013
Ink and watercolor sketch of trees at dawn, Green Lake
“Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or how badly, not to get money or fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.”
— Kurt Vonnegut
It’s just getting light when I run around Green Lake on these November mornings. There is one point along the path where the shadows of the trees reach close like long fingers in the indistinct dawn. Everything is golden or dark, no grays.
Rosemary's Blog 
November 9, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Art is lovelier – the second time around! It truly is a beautiful piece.
I think it’s interesting that Vonnegut included “reportage” and “essays” in his list. I like that.
November 9, 2013 at 7:17 pm
I liked that, too. I thought of you when I read essays, which you do so well.
November 10, 2013 at 5:05 am
oooooo I am going to put this quote on my Tea Time section, after that I will move it into Noticing Nature! There is also a comment section on a blog that has promoted discourse(or snarky comments from people a bit less patient with her) about how a person labels themselves, particularly as writer, photographer, and what these things mean. There is an accusal of lying and where lying begins after the materialistic view of what defines a person ends. Let me know if you would like to see the blog. It does at this point have a bit of a feeling going along with it that can feel broiling a bit. You know how people can get when they want to see another being a snob OR when they feel that their own definitions of themselves aren’t enough or might be threatened?!
November 10, 2013 at 9:27 am
I’m generally all for people defining themselves. Definitions can be aspirational, too, something you’re growing into.
November 10, 2013 at 5:08 am
do the hatches go in or on before or after the watercolor? do you use one of those older black bulby things with the metal tips that you dip into the inkwell to do it?
November 10, 2013 at 9:26 am
The ink hatches went on at the end because when I finished the watercolor part I felt it did not have enough umph — too bland. So I used a fine Staedtler black ink pen to start the hatching on the shadows. In the end, I really liked the hatching on the trees because it gives a sense of foliage.
November 10, 2013 at 10:03 am
Thanks! I like this one it’s interesting.
November 11, 2013 at 9:26 pm
I love this sketch! It’s different from your usual, realistic style and it’s very evocative. The quote is wonderful and so is your very poetic description.
November 11, 2013 at 11:09 pm
Thank you!