Recently I saw someone on twitter talking about the idea that we should all leave our comfort zone every single day.
This is my comfort zone.
Yup, it’s my bed. I drag myself out of it daily. If things get on top of me, I retreat. That might be a physical reaction – I get so exhausted that I can barely keep my eyes open. Or it could be emotional, when I feel so frayed that I just need to stop, and cocoon.
Sounds a bit pathetic really.
But I’ve been pushing out of my comfort zone in all sorts of ways recently. Trying to open up the bits of me I’ve been squashing down all my life. Sometimes that unsquashing is exhausting, and I have to step back for a little while – yes, I napped this afternoon.
But the steps forward I’m taking, and displaying those attempts is helping. I think.
So today I did this. I took some pictures of Smallest, and then I drew from them.
This was the first stage, but I wasn’t happy with it.
So then I added some extra shading.
It’s still not quite right. I think I haven’t quite got the perspective right – she’s looking down more in the photo than I’ve got her. And she’s not that impressed with the finished object, although she was very happy that I was trying.
I shared it on instagram and twitter. (Icons in the sidebar if you’ve a desperate urge to follow me for more pictures of pictures, with additional wordy rants on twitter 😉 ) Someone asked what I was using – books, or videos. I’m not really using anything. I did watercolours out of the Anholt book last week, and last year I did a couple of sessions with the artist anatomy book that Big is using. (I’d link it but I can’t remember the exact title, and there are a *lot* of artist anatomy books on Amazon!) But mainly what I’m doing is looking, lots, and drawing. Lots.
There’s a new form of comfort in this I’ve found.
Comments
6 responses to “Leaving the comfort zone.”
it is very recognisably Smallest 🙂
Thanks. She’s not completely convinced but hey.
Portraits are really difficult especially when you know the subject as you want to capture their personality as well as their features. The portraits you have blogged so far are really really good. Have to say I’m rubbish but what helps me is to grid both original and my paper before drawing to help me with proportions. Keep going you are inspiring me to have another go.
Ooh, that’s a good tip thank you, I’ll give that a go. And thanks for the comment, really pleased that my efforts are encouraging.
Loved your post! I think people who create have to leave their comfort zones on a regular basis! xx
Thanks Ross 🙂