The sound of silence
“Silence is of different kinds, and breathes different meanings.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Villette
Dear friends,
Thank you for joining & I hope you’re all well:)
In The Studio
Last week, my husband went on holiday visiting his best friend and for the first time, in at least 1 or 2 years, I managed to get our house for myself. Apart from my workmates, I haven’t seen anyone for a week.
I’ve felt both scared and excited, as an introvert I treasure any moment spent alone but I don’t know how to be bored AND alone at the same time. I used to deal with this negative feeling using food and online shopping, must admit I did it on day 2 but I challenged myself and decided to use this week as an at-home art residency.
I gathered some glossy art books & lost myself in them: Valoton, The Impressionist, Degas and Sisley, their use of colours, light and shadows create marvellous atmospheres that I need to add to my work. I’m too precious when I’m painting, trying to create something perfect but every time I think that I’m ruining my painting, I can feel a switch in my head, “Let it go, just do whatever you want” and well, I find something more interesting than what I intended to do.
But the minute I’m feeling amazed by what I’ve done perfectionism and anxiety are back.
There will always be a gap, between where you want to be and where you are, between where you want to go and where you are, the easier it becomes, the more you progress, the more you want to achieve. The horizon will always be far away but it does not mean that you’re not moving. It can become a new land, a new way, a new experience that you would have never tried if you had kept your eyes on the destination.
The more we do, the more we fail, the more we fight, and the more we experience things that make us better, and more equipped to create.
Let’s ruin some artwork, let’s expand what we think we are and can do.
Things I’ve loved
My dear Pippa is back on Substack
Stella’s blog is always like a warm hug each Sunday
Discovered Charlene’s voice, thanks to this post about rituals
I wish I could live in Charlotte’s pictures <3
That’s all for now,
Wishing you a lovely August & See you next month,
Lyly <3
"as an introvert I treasure any moment spent alone but I don’t know how to be bored AND alone at the same time."
I feel you here. My issue is that when I have necessary alone downtime, I worry I'm not "achieving" and find it hard to relax, even though that's what my body craves.
Great post, thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the mention, Stevelyne. I’m so glad you’ve had time to do a mini-artist in residence at home. Ahh yes! I can relate to the perfectionism. I’m better at noticing the voice-let it have its tantrum- then say to myself, are you done for now? It’s not easy for sure.