oooh i’m so intrigued by the idea of shifting from a “goals” to a “systems” mindset. might have to check out that book, thanks for putting it on my radar!
also, best of luck with inktober! hope you have fun with it & i’m excited to see what you create!
Thank you for the invitation to join this enticing – and daunting – challenge. I’ll join you, though I’m probably biting more than I can chew here. I saw your post late last night (Oct. 1st), so I’ll skip “Dream” for now and will go straight to “Spiders.” I won’t have time to go shopping, but I have accumulated a small collection of ink-related materials over the years due to our living in Hong Kong part of the year: brushes – I treated myself to a big second-hand bamboo brush during our last trip – rice paper, accordion books, art books, etc. I also have nibs, calligraphy pens from childhood, but, most importantly, I have my dad’s ink pens with which he designed our home on his massive drafting table. So, I’d say I’m set though I’ll have to find a way to rotate between oil pastels – the medium I’m currently working with --, photography projects, and ink.
Regarding my intention, I know I find it very hard to keep to a specific timeframe. I admire people who do as it is indeed hugely helpful to build in a new habit. I’ll keep working on budgeting time realistically, but in the meantime, I intend to create one ink drawing a day once the house is quiet at night – there’s no telling when that happens precisely -- in my attic atelier.
SPIDERS: I can’t think of spiders in art without thinking of Louise Bourgeois’ monumental sculptures as well as their ties to textile and text. To me, spiders imply an ability to weave and occupy space as needed (vertically, horizontally, etc.). My spider is an anarchist, an ArachAnarchist, weaving invisible webs of dissent. Meanwhile, she is being outperformed as an anarchist by the powers she is trying to unravel.
I’ve never used my Instagram account (amp84580) though I meant to post some of my photos! I know, it’s pathetic, but that has been my reality. I’ll post the Inktober drawings there as a good excuse to start sharing.
I wish you a rewarding month of October, Kelcey, as you complete this challenge and attend to everything else in your rich life as a creator. Amitiés.
Oh my gosh, Anne! I just clicked over to your instagram account and saw your stunning ArachAnarchist! I hope you'll keep drawing and posting! Wow, what lines, what style! And your post here is a poem in itself. I'd love to see your art supplies one day--and revisit your attic atelier!
this is great! i don't have a plan for inktober, but i do have plan for THINKtober. each day i will think of at least one thing. starting small! atomic habits is great! and atomic habits ARE great.
love,
myq
PS have you read "4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman? it's fantastic.
Hi Kelcey, Loved this post. Also just started reading your book Keepers, and even though I was extremely sports impaired as a child (and, quite frankly, still am) I am loving this book! I couldn't remember where I learned about it, but must have been here. Anyway, just wanted to share how much I was enjoying it.
Oh wow, thanks so much! I'm always glad to hear when a non-athlete picks it up and enjoys my book. I enjoyed exploring connections between my former sports life and my current art/writing life. And doing research about women's history that got me fired up :)
I'm about a third of the way through it and I absolutely love it. I was just graduating from high school as Title IX came into being, so it is fascinating to me to see how much it has affected the ambitions of young women who benefitted from it directly through sports. Not that it would have helped me via sports (ha ha always the last person chosen for any team, but that's a whole other story) but the whole concept that women were as capable as men to do ANYTHING.
Your story telling makes even things I have no knowledge of understandable. But what I love most is the conviction that everything is and should be possible for anyone motivated to succeed in the thing that is their passion. That comes through from the first page.
I need to read Atomic Habits! I love the idea of system vs. goal. Thanks for this!
I'm finding it really insightful!
Good tips. I always appreciate hearing how others track and build in systems of habit and accountability.
Thanks! I'm finding Atomic Habits helpful as I try to set one up. Always open to other input too!
Yes! I also will be timing my drawings and I have cut out my paper. They are small but all different sizes. Rectangles and squares.
Excellent! Good luck!
My wonderful mother-in-law, a retired high school librarian, would love the date stamp. 😉
Haha! I mean, let's be honest, who DOESN'T love a date stamp?! 😁❤️
oooh i’m so intrigued by the idea of shifting from a “goals” to a “systems” mindset. might have to check out that book, thanks for putting it on my radar!
also, best of luck with inktober! hope you have fun with it & i’m excited to see what you create!
Thanks, Hannah! I'm appreciating these very concrete ways to think about habits, goals, systems, etc!
Hello, Kelcey.
Thank you for the invitation to join this enticing – and daunting – challenge. I’ll join you, though I’m probably biting more than I can chew here. I saw your post late last night (Oct. 1st), so I’ll skip “Dream” for now and will go straight to “Spiders.” I won’t have time to go shopping, but I have accumulated a small collection of ink-related materials over the years due to our living in Hong Kong part of the year: brushes – I treated myself to a big second-hand bamboo brush during our last trip – rice paper, accordion books, art books, etc. I also have nibs, calligraphy pens from childhood, but, most importantly, I have my dad’s ink pens with which he designed our home on his massive drafting table. So, I’d say I’m set though I’ll have to find a way to rotate between oil pastels – the medium I’m currently working with --, photography projects, and ink.
Regarding my intention, I know I find it very hard to keep to a specific timeframe. I admire people who do as it is indeed hugely helpful to build in a new habit. I’ll keep working on budgeting time realistically, but in the meantime, I intend to create one ink drawing a day once the house is quiet at night – there’s no telling when that happens precisely -- in my attic atelier.
SPIDERS: I can’t think of spiders in art without thinking of Louise Bourgeois’ monumental sculptures as well as their ties to textile and text. To me, spiders imply an ability to weave and occupy space as needed (vertically, horizontally, etc.). My spider is an anarchist, an ArachAnarchist, weaving invisible webs of dissent. Meanwhile, she is being outperformed as an anarchist by the powers she is trying to unravel.
I’ve never used my Instagram account (amp84580) though I meant to post some of my photos! I know, it’s pathetic, but that has been my reality. I’ll post the Inktober drawings there as a good excuse to start sharing.
I wish you a rewarding month of October, Kelcey, as you complete this challenge and attend to everything else in your rich life as a creator. Amitiés.
Oh my gosh, Anne! I just clicked over to your instagram account and saw your stunning ArachAnarchist! I hope you'll keep drawing and posting! Wow, what lines, what style! And your post here is a poem in itself. I'd love to see your art supplies one day--and revisit your attic atelier!
dear kelcey,
this is great! i don't have a plan for inktober, but i do have plan for THINKtober. each day i will think of at least one thing. starting small! atomic habits is great! and atomic habits ARE great.
love,
myq
PS have you read "4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman? it's fantastic.
THINKtober! I love it! What did you think today?
I've not read that book, but just added it to my cart. Thanks for the rec!
think you very much!
today i thought "think you very much"
and i hope you like it!
It's perfect! Think YOU! :)
Not ready to commit to an every day thing just yet, but I like the idea of it. All the best to you!
Thank you!
Hi Kelcey, Loved this post. Also just started reading your book Keepers, and even though I was extremely sports impaired as a child (and, quite frankly, still am) I am loving this book! I couldn't remember where I learned about it, but must have been here. Anyway, just wanted to share how much I was enjoying it.
Oh wow, thanks so much! I'm always glad to hear when a non-athlete picks it up and enjoys my book. I enjoyed exploring connections between my former sports life and my current art/writing life. And doing research about women's history that got me fired up :)
I'm about a third of the way through it and I absolutely love it. I was just graduating from high school as Title IX came into being, so it is fascinating to me to see how much it has affected the ambitions of young women who benefitted from it directly through sports. Not that it would have helped me via sports (ha ha always the last person chosen for any team, but that's a whole other story) but the whole concept that women were as capable as men to do ANYTHING.
Your story telling makes even things I have no knowledge of understandable. But what I love most is the conviction that everything is and should be possible for anyone motivated to succeed in the thing that is their passion. That comes through from the first page.