Penstemon
Pen & ink & watercolour
Copyright Jeanette Jobson
Pen & ink & watercolour
Copyright Jeanette Jobson
When you come to the edge of all the light you have, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly. (Patrick Overton)
After a long absence I've started running again, as I mentioned in a previous post. That in its own right isn't anything to be overly excited about, but to some it seems as if I have had a temporary lapse of sanity by the comments I have had.
1. You're not getting any younger (I'm 53)
2. You'll hurt yourself.
3. You're doing what? Why?
4. (my favourite) Why don't you do something nice and gentle instead?
I am moving slowly, quite slowly in my runs, well more jogs than runs at this point. On the treadmill, my speed averages at somewhere between 4 and 4.5 during runs, with walks about .5 below that. In road work, its more of a challenge as I have to play dodge the traffic, dodge the dogs who think I'm fair game and dodge the moose sometimes.
During runs, I listen to my iPod, a running podcast that helps me change speed, timing etc. I also think a lot during those longer runs when I try to reach the same zone that I am in when I draw. Its called a 'runner's high'. Its that point in time when your body and mind stop protesting at the abuse you're giving it and accepts it. You sail along and think you can go on forever and it feels very similar to the feeling when drawing of losing track of time and space and letting your mind and body take over to concentrate only on the task.
So despite those who doubt my ability to do this, I will and have done this. My leap of faith will teach me to fly.
4 comments:
Since the motorcycle accident I had in 1994, I can't even walk without pain. I'm glad someone can run. Now you make me feel old. I am 58. Going to dinner tonight with my parents for their 59th anniversary.
What I wondered was where you were going to get more time. I have always burned the candle at both ends and still do. But now in the morning I have to drag myself out of bed.
For the Drawspace colored pencil class, do you feel like you are standing in front of the starting blocks at a race track? I laughed when you said "Ok slow down".
I will have trouble with the color studies. I have been playing with some color and have practiced on a line drawing of a morning glory and can't seem to get the colors I need. I am brain-dead when it comes to figuring out what colors to mix.
nawww, you're not old. I'm sorry you had some injuries that leave chronic pain, that must be hard to live with at times.
Time. I can always make time for things I want a lot. I sometimes drag myself out of bed in the morning, but often I'm up very early, but I'm not a late night person, usually in bed fairly early.
I know everyone wants to go go go at the cp class and I hate holding them back, but its necessary to do the not so exciting parts before you get to the real thing.
Take out your blues for the morning glory, start with your palest colour and using light layers work up in strength and you'll get there. In the blues you should likely see greens, purples, yellows, try some complementary colour, like orange too and see what you can come up with in your test palette.
Beautiful painting! And well done to you for re-starting running. You're putting me to shame!
...a very good blog entry. I started to run again, too, but I think my speed is somewhere between 3 and 4...I should have gone running( or should I say-walking?) today, too, but I wanted to paint instead...
I like your Penstemon painting! Nice watercolour!
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