Art for Self-Care: Upcycled Fabric Bags

 

I love creating items I can use in my daily life or give away. I had an old zippered bag in my purse that I used to carry first aid items in.  That little bag had worn down to a bedraggled state.  Time to refresh and replace it!  

I dug out some small fabric scraps that had been given to me, and found a vintage thrifted zipper to create the pouch below.  

When I've snipped the last thread end on a small project like this, I feel such a joyful lift to my spirits. "I made that!" I say to myself, and immediately put it to use.  

One of my self-care secrets is to prop my creations where I see them as I walk by, so I can celebrate myself and my creativity.  Every time I reach into my purse now for my lip balm or car keys, I see this gorgeous little zippered bag, and I smile.  

"I made this!" echoes in my head. 

Imagine if we all had these cheering thoughts throughout the day -- that would lift our hearts like springtime sunshine.

The zipper on my old bedraggled bag was still sturdy, so I carefully picked out the stitches and removed it.  I used it to create the pink and yellow bag above, and gave that one away to my oldest kid.  Another smile to think of them putting it to use and feeling loved.

The tiny, purple bag now holds palo santo incense sticks, and will also be given away. I like to have these sorts of little gifts on hand to share. 

I now look at every cast-off piece of clothing in my rag bag with an eye to designing more little bags, wondering, "Where can I steal a zipper from?"

I hope you find time to sew some fabric scraps together to create joy in your life!

Art for Self-Care: Nature Sketching

A constant in my life over the last few years has been hiking with David. Our routine hike takes us down 5 miles of trails through woods, past meadows and over streams to a backpackers' camping area in our local state park.  At first, we hiked for fitness, and to be together.  

When the lockdown began, I started tucking my nature journal under my arm on our walks, and sketching when we stopped for water breaks.  While I immersed myself in drawing a May Apple or a wobbly cherry tree, David would read the news on his phone, finding it less stressful to digest the news out in nature.

I filled one nature journal, and started another by in mid-summer.  Having hiked 730 miles since April, I continue to add sketches on each hike.  It helps to have this routine in my life, & to create and connect with nature.

Kathryn in Blue

 

I often hear my students say of their drawings that they're "not good enough." Or, they'll compare their work to another's, saying that their own is "not as good" as a classmates drawing.  I understand that feeling.  I often "hear" the voice of what I call the "Nattering Nabob of Negativity" sitting on my shoulder telling me I'm doing it wrong as I create.  Not useful, but a common human experience.

As a result of that critical voice, when I step back from my work, I often think I've done a poor job at trying to represent our model.  But, the next day, I take a second look at my work, and find that I can look with a less judgmental eye and see the beauty of what I've created.  When I'm drawing the figure, I've learned not to listen to that negative voice, and to just keep drawing, keeping my eye on our model as much as possible, and keeping a positive attitude.

Today, after creating the drawing above, I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. I could see that I had gotten Kathryn's head too large, and I could see a departure from my usual realistic representation. I decided that instead of illogically disliking everything I turn out, I am going to arbitrarily like everything I turn out -- My opinions are all subjective anyway, and at least that way, I can see the successful aspects of my drawings more readily.  Why not?

I think the Nattering Nabob of Negativity makes us think that disliking our work represents a more cultured or humble outlook, or that of a serious art student striving to improve.  Putting anyone down doesn't seem encouraging to me.  Putting myself down least of all.  So here's to self-encouragement! May we all practice it as we create.

Because of the uptick in Covid-19 cases, models now join our Zoom class virtually like everyone else.  It's harder for everyone -- Kathryn had to construct a studio in her basement, with lights and curtains. Much more technical complication than when she models in person.

Though I always draw from a computer monitor, even when the model is in my studio (I want to draw the same image as my students), this time, the image coming back seemed cooler and bluer in tone. So, I reached for cooler colors than I usually do when drawing Kathryn, creating Kathryn in Blue.

In spite of all the challenges, Kathryn picked up her hula hoop and brought us some beautiful poses.  Here are her 3-minute gestures:

Feathers & Old Books

Nature has provided me with some amazing feathers -- primary & secondary wing feathers from a Wild Turkey, a primary feather from a Great Horned Owl, and a variety of unidentified plumes.  

And, I have been drawn to using pages from an old dictionary that was gathering dust in my barn loft art studio.  In my collection for years, I had never cracked the old tome open to read it. Now that I am putting it to artistic use, I find that I search each page I pull out for interesting words before I create -- drawings, India ink brush paintings, letters to friends, even grocery lists.  The extra layer of text creates a toned background & a pleasing complexity.    

Forest Bathing with Mayapples

Out hiking yesterday towards sunset, the gray day cleared, and we stopped for a water break.  I took a moment to sit at the edge of a colony of Mayapples and sketch. The sun shone through the greening trees, the Wood Thrush warbled musically, and a sense of calm and gratitude washed over me. 

This is the beauty of forest bathing -- simply sitting out in nature for its healing benefits.  Like meditation, when I sit with my nature journal on the forest floor and open my senses, I am immersed in the present moment and the beauty of the place.  All thoughts of troubles and the outer world fall away, and I can be still and peaceful.

It's a wonderful form of self care.  Try simply sitting in a natural environment, focused only on what you see, smell, feel and hear. Turn off that phone!  Adding a sketchbook and a pen gives you a way to focus on one element at a time, and create a record of your experience to thumb through later and double your benefits.  

Nature Journal: March Green!

You can cancel the St. Patty's Day parades, but you can't cancel nature's greening.  Right around St. Patrick's Day every year near my home, the grass awakens from its winter dullness and flushes with vibrant green.  What a feast for the eyes! This morning, I decided to try to capture the colors I could see out my south windows.

New Classes for the New Year!

If you are ready for a fresh art project, new inspiration, or just a way to schedule some time for creative self-care, I invite you to join me in these upcoming classes!

Pittsburgh Figure Drawing Meetup

Guided Workshop: Drawing the Model

It's difficult to get started in figure drawing if you're not enrolled in a fine arts program, or able to commit to an expensive, multi-week course. In our 3-hour workshop we'll guide you through proven drawing exercises designed to get your eyes, brain, and hand working together to capture the human form on paper. Attendance is limited to 8 so our instructor can provide one-on-one guidance. Models will pose nude. Materials provided. $25 cash workshop fee. Instructor is artist and figure model Betsy Bangley. Models are Kathryn and David. Seating is limited. Free street-side parking.

Sunday, Jan. 5th, 2-5 pm
Metta: A Healing Arts Community, 5118 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
Register online at the Pittsburgh Figure Drawing Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Figure-Drawing/or email: betsybangley@gmail.com

Community College of Beaver County Continuing Education

I'll be teaching these courses at the Community College of Beaver County.  You can register online for these courses here: https://my.ccbc.edu/ICS/Continuing_Education/
See the full catalog here: https://www.ccbc.edu/college-catalogs


Figure Drawing -- Back by popular demand
Do you enjoy drawing and want to take on a new challenge? Expand your artistic skills and connect with humanity by learning to draw another human being. Our models will dress in athletic wear, and will hold a variety of poses to observe and sketch. Each week we will start with quick gesture drawings and then work on proportions, foreshortening, hands & feet, and the face through longer drawings. Bring a pad of newsprint, drawing paper, a soft pencil, and charcoal.
Mondays, February 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th, from 6-9 PM
Cost: $59 + a $49 Lab fee

NEW! Handmade Paper Studio
Create your own artsy & unique papers out of a variety of upcycled materials in the first class. You will craft your paper into a journal, stationary or other creation. All materials are provided, though you can bring dried flowers, glitter, a favorite essential oil, or other items to include in your paper.
Wednesdays, April 22nd and 29th from 6-9 PM
Cost: $39 + a $10 Lab fee

New! Pen & Ink
Learn to capture natural scenes with the simple, sharp lines of pen and ink. Learn a technique to minimize the stress of inking, and allow your creativity to flow. You will be drawing natural scenes and subjects using reference photos or natural objects brought into the art studio.
Thursdays, April 9th, 16th & 23rd from 6-9 PM

Cost: $49 + a $10 Lab fee

Bike Ride with a Painting Break

In celebration of Labor Day, I hopped on a bike with a pack of art supplies on my back and zipped down the Pan Handle Trail towards Bulger, PA.  Though the town name didn't sound promising, the expansive, rolling landscape was inspiring, and I stopped at the crest of a broad hill to paint.