The Daily Practice

Masts & Sails- one of my daily ink paintings on the studio desk

Why have a daily practice? People often say to me that it is marvellous that I can keep creating every day over 10 years. Sometimes it even surprises me!

For the past two months I have been inviting viewers on Facebook and Instagram to join me every morning as I create my daily 10 x 10cm artwork. It’s only for 10 minutes each day and I have loved having friends I know and others who are new to me, commenting, watching and sharing comments as I create.

It has really helped me stay focused during this time of social isolation. It is so important, this connecting over the invisible energy waves of the internet. Because in many ways, that is what the internet is, a place to share our energy and connect.

I hope I have shared my energy with others and inspired them to see that it only takes 10 minutes of time to make something that evokes a feeling or expresses the idea of something. Even when I make mistakes - such as spilling the yellow ink all over the studio bench, there are actually no mistakes.

People also ask me what is the ‘secret’ to a daily practice. Of course there is no secret. The only prerequisite is turning up - to your tools, your materials, but mostly to yourself. Because a daily practice is like any form of exercise or meditation, it is a commitment to something you think is worthwhile. You feel that without it your life would suffer. You would not feel that same sense of joy and optimism that such creativity brings.

So I guess that is my secret. That the urge to create is stronger than the urge to sit around and do nothing. I would rather set the alarm for 6.30, roll out of bed, have a shower and get dressed and turn up in my studio, than not.

As today is also the end of May, I am also making this the last day I have a 7am live session on social media. I will not be abandoning my practice, only my live ‘performance’. Until then, keep creating…..

Sunburst - the artwork resulting from a spill of yellow ink.