Creative Gravy: Sticks and Stones

It's a balmy 4 degrees today. Overnight, frost fairies visited apartment #5, taking liberty to etch all of the windows. I love the patterns--they catch the light so beautifully! I'm pretending that I live in a cathedral. :) But enough about the cold! I've been buzzing around the studio (finally!) returning Order to chaos. Finals really did a number on my organization! I spent yesterday wrangling oil pastels and finding proper homes for paint brushes, every one getting a good cleaning. I've also managed to get a few new etsy wares posted, something I've been just itching to work on! My brother was a sweetheart, giving me a much needed ride to Micheal's to get new paints and a gallon of gesso. I L.O.V.E. the feeling of brand new paints! You feel recharged, like you could make anything! Normally, (Art Snob Alert!) I would mix my own color variations, but sometimes a girl has got to splurge! I helped myself to some fushcia, a little lime green and a bouquet of varying violets, lavenders and a to-die-for royal purple. Alright, enough babbling--let's get to the Gravy!

Brain Baster: Making Creative Gravy
Part III

"Brigid" Molly Roberts 2008

So at this point, your studio is your sanctuary and your creative cauldron is bubbling with prompts. Now it's time to give the knuckles a crack and let your fingers do the walking! These are short easy-as-pie exercises that are meant to help get your body, mind and eyes all on the same page. These may not be techniques you want to use solely to make pieces, but then again--maybe you do! :) Even if you are not an artist or even remotely interested in drawing this exercise proves to be both mediative, liberating and gleefully grubby! A perfect way to shed stress and get out of the holiday hum-drums.

Gravy Maker #6: Sticks and Stones

Sometimes we have days where we're sure our hands belong to someone else. Our self-talk is grouchy and we're convinced our fingers or pens or hips are being stubborn just to spite us. Tension is a killer. This exercise is designed to literally loosen your creative muscles through movement.

You will need some, all or any of the following:
Sticks (both long and short), little stones, shish kabob skewers, old silverware, old yarn, feathers
a bit of charcoal, pencil, crayon, pastel, tape and a spot of ink or very viscous paint.
To work on, large pieces of newsprint, tag board or old newspapers work well.

This works best when you take your work surface and make it vertical to you--so tape whatever it is you'll be drawing on up on a wall or place it on the floor. (Make sure you have the floor or wall covered with some rubbish paper!) Now, the fun part. (FINALLY.) Take your crayon, or charcoal or pencil and tape it to the end of your stick. (If it's too cold where you are to go stick hunting, a long paintbrush, knitting needle, ruler or even a long kitchen utensil will do the trick.) Make sure it's secured tightly as you don't want it to wiggle out mid-drawing. Hold it in your hand, feel the weight--does it feel awkward? Perfect! You're doing it right. Now that you have a silly looking drawing wand and your paper is a good distance from you, it's time to get creating! Draw a picture of yourself, your pet, your studio, your favorite food, something you wish for or just make marks that reflect how you feel!

Does it look awful? Are the lines wobbly? Then you're doing an amazing job! This isn't about masterpiece making, it's about being aware of your body and paying attention to the Beauty and personality of the marks you're making.

Now try dipping your wand in a little ink or paint and explore what sort of marks it makes. Try tying a bit of yarn to the end of the wand, leaving an end hanging off like a little tail. Dip the tail in ink and try to draw with that. You can create beautifully wispy and unexpectedly expressive drawings with this technique. (This works best when the surface is placed on the floor.)


Try dunking little stones, marbles or beads into ink or paint and roll them around on the paper. You can drop them from above, skip them across the surface or cradle the paper and encourage the stones to rock back and forth. Use forks, skewers or old spoons to sketch. Maybe your fingers want to get in on the action too--or maybe the soles of your feet would like to take a dip? It's an experiment! Work with colors you love, colors that resonate with you. And then try working with colors that make your nose scrunch. You never know, it might be a love affair waiting to happen!

When practicing any of these exercises make a conscious effort to remain relaxed.
Don't worry if these are not works you'd proudly display in a museum.
It's supposed to be silly.
Don't try to contrive and control the scribbles. If they wander, let them wander.

Leave room for Happy Accidents to occur.

If anyone actually tries this exercise, send me a picture and I'll post our pieces en masse! And if you try any techniques not mentioned here, let me know! These are exercises I hope to use with students in the future--any constructive suggestions or comments are always welcome. Tomorrow, I'll be posting more creative calisthenics to help get your Gravy grooving!

Until then--

Sticks and Stones may break my bones, But Oooh Damn do they make darling drawings!
Happy Experimenting and Merry Making!~*