On Using Our Hands

…”she connects the importance of using our hands with the way in which we understand and find value in ourselves and in others. There’s something so honest and pure about her thought — that we gain a deeper, more meaningful relationship with our own humanity and our greater world by using our hands.”

I wanted to share this post from the OnBeing blog. I was deeply touched by Renate Hiller’s words. I agree with her in that we have, at times, lost our connection to each other, the earth and spirit by not using our hands as technology becomes more and more commonplace. Whether used to create, to heal, to touch, to hold, our hands, as editor Trent Gilliss states, grounds us.

Engage with your hands. Put down the technology. Make something. Dig in the dirt. Clasp them together. Shake your hands in the air like you just don’t care!

A World Through The Hands

The Challenge of Drawing

I recently joined Craftsy’s 31-Day Drawing Challenge. Well, “joined” may not be the best word. I’m not submitting what I create on the Craftsy site. Rather, I’m sharing my drawings on my Facebook page and here in blog-o-land.

So what is this “challenge” exactly? If you go to the above link, you’ll see that Craftsy has provided a prompt for each day in August. Interpret the prompt in any way you want. Yes, the suggested format is drawing. But if you’re not into drawing or sketching, then write a poem, make some music, do an interpretative dance, take a picture. Paint a picture. Let the prompt inspire your creative muse. The format isn’t important. Letting your creative juices flow is!

My challenge is trying not to be too literal with the prompts. That’s probably why I made it through the first three and haven’t picked up my sketchbook since then. That and well, just setting aside the time. I’m trying not to put pressure on myself as I find myself falling behind (uh, oh, see the tiny beads of sweat breaking out on my forehead.)

That making time thing and just doing it, well that’s a post for another day.

Anyways, here are my interpretations for the first three prompts:

“Grow” Inspired by the baby robins that were in a nest outside our kitchen window.

Grow

“In Bloom” The Black-Eyed Susans are bursting in our yard.

Black Eyed Susan

“Flutter” This brought several images to mind. Butterflies. Wings. Eyelashes. I chose a large turkey feather as inspiration.

Fluttering Feathers

What will you create with the prompts in the 31-Day Challenge?