- Rumi -
The other day my grandson, Emmett, and I were drawing when he asked me when I started to draw in an art journal. I told him that I started when I was very young, probably about his age. Upon hearing this, his curiosity took over and he wanted to know what got me started and why I continued doing it.
Truthfully, I don't remember thinking about it ... I just felt a need to do it. However, how do I explain that need in a way that a 6 year old will understand. So instead, I took him into my bedroom and we sat on the floor in front of a wooden chest that holds all of my finished journals. We began to flip through the pages of each journal.
There were sketches of his twin brothers, when they were born and how he became a big brother. There were earlier sketches of him when he was a toddler. Sketches of him with his Great-Grandmother, who is no longer with us, and they are reading books, napping and playing together. Sketches that brought back memories of special moments they shared with each other. Then he was able to see sketches of himself as a baby that he couldn't possibly remember ... but I do.
As he looked through these journals I explained that each sketch told a story about special moments in our lives. They were captured with a drawing and a few choice words so that I wouldn't forget them. How drawing a picture gave me time to savor that moment longer than merely snapping a photograph. How it helped me see the value of each of these moments and how blessed I am to have them.
I also explained that keeping an art journal was a form of meditation. I'm not one who likes to sit still for very long, this was something a 6 year old could relate to. I'm always on the move and have multiple projects going on at the same time. Drawing is my way of meditating. When I'm drawing I'm unaware of anything around me, all my senses are focused on a single subject.
After seeing the journals and talking about why I made them, he looked at me very seriously and said, "I would like to keep an art journal too." Another special moment. So ... we went to the shelf where I keep a variety of sketch journals and he picked one he liked. Then he opened it, and without hesitation, he began to draw the story of his life on the first page. It was one of my proudest moments, not only as a grandmother but as an artist.
So ... no matter what your age, whether you're 6 years old or in your 60's. No matter what your drawing ability, pick up an art journal and a pencil and begin to draw and write about the special moments in your life that tell your story.
You'll never regret it ...
