I love to draw! I started drawing way before I was able to write and it’s still one of my favourite things to do. In this video I talk about why drawing is such a valuable tool to nurture creativity. I hope you enjoy it and as always,
Till next time,
Share the Love!
I thought I’d try something a bit different and post a video, rather than writing my blog. I loved how immediate the creation of a video is, though I have to say, the upload took a ridiculous amount of time! As always I follow my usual mantra of being “perfectly Imperfect’ and all things considered, I think it turned out really well. Big thanks to Ben for overcoming those sneaky technical issues, that threaten to dampen (or tsunami) my enthusiasm!
Till next time.
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And maybe give art journaling a try, you never know where it might lead!
I’ve been working hard since I last wrote here. I’m developing skills in photographing and the editing of my artwork, I’ve exhibited my work in several group shows, I’m making new friends with other artists for fun and collaboration, posting on social media, painting, attending workshops, you name it, I’ve been there, pushing, forcing myself into increasingly uncomfortable places, far from my comfort zone.
Growth Has It’s Season Gouache and Acrylic on Canvas 12 x 12 inches
There always seems to be so much to do and with every step forward, more questions arise! With each new direction, or decision, fear and love my life long companions whisper in each ear, each one fighting to be heard, in an endless battle for supremacy. I know I’m not alone, all of us experience this battle. The further from our comfort zone we get, the louder fear becomes, whispering at first, then nagging like a shrew; “You can’t do it”……… You’re too old, young, fat, stupid, poor, whatever put down perfectly fits our personal repertoire of insecurities. Fear often has the loudest voice as it has shame, guilt and failure as allies, but if we listen closer, beneath fear’s undermining soundtrack, the sweet tones of love sing a different tune. The song of love resonates with our destiny, our greatest passions and desires. The song of love has truth, serendipity, miracles, magic and so much more as allies. The song of love resonates within our cells, harking back to a time when we were new and fearless, when life was a beautiful, safe adventure.
My commitment is to continue to look at opportunities and challenges and make my decisions based on love, not fear. Fear will undermine, doubt and be suspicious of adventure and opportunity, begging us to stay put, to not take risks, to be careful, to ultimately be less. On the other hand, decisions based on love feel exhilarating, like plunging into a cool stream! The energy feels expansive and exciting, still challenging, but somehow, just right.
Communion Gouache and Acrylic on Canvas12 x 12 Inch
I’ve got lots of work to put up on the website in a new gallery for 2015, but as I mentioned, there’s so much to do. I’m working on some products for sale and want to get a professional portfolio done for licencing designs and approaching galleries. It would all happen a lot faster, if I could just clone myself! Anyway, I’ll pop a couple of images up with this post and check me out on instagram @emeljurd to see loads of my drawings and progress images of paintings as well as a few random shots of our new puppy Eddy. Good luck with your challenges and decisions and remember, love, not fear!
Til next time,
Share the Love!
As you know, I have started an informal collaboration with a writer on Instagram. He contacted me this week with a short story and asked if I was inspired, could provide a drawing. For Instagram purposes, his stories can only be 250 words long and I realise now, my drawings should be in a square format, or they will be cropped and lose details from one end. Fortunately the image is not hampered by these restrictions here on my website! Please enjoy ‘Reflections’ by @jcenno, illustrated by @emeljurd check us out on instagram. Oh and I’m still working on my website and will be today, so it may look different, or a mess, depending on how much work I get done. Let me know if you like the collaboration idea and/or my new look website.
REFECTIONS.
The ornate mirror hung off the wall innocuously. It’s silver filigree of curves ran around its border like a river of mercury that never ended. I stood in the doorway watching Kristy wash her face. The white basin that stood before her caught her restless dreams and drank last night away.
She was the strongest woman I had ever known but today might be the day. As she padded her face with a small towel, her eyes peeked every now and then into the mirror. Eventually she slowly lowered her towel and stared at her reflection. As tears welled up in her eyes, her hands gripped the basin; a mixture of anger and sadness. The unbearable loss, I knew she was feeling, began to take its toll. The mirror silently reflecting her anguish.
With sudden fury she threw a cup causing a rippling web of splinters and cracks across the mirror. Kristy crumpled to the floor sobbing.
I knelt down and gently wrapped my arms around her.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
I knew exactly what she was referring to but asked anyway. “For what? There’s nothing to apologise for. It was beyond your control.”
She knew exactly what I was referring to and didn’t need to elaborate. Instead she said, “I broke the mirror.”
I answered, “Reflecting on the past can make us stronger but there’s nothing wrong if it doesn’t.” I looked at the fractured shards falling in the basin and added, “Besides it’s just a mirror.”
Hello my dear friends and supporters, Thank you for reading my posts and checking out my drawings and paintings, your support and feedback means more to me than you can ever know. I have something very cool to share with you in this post, something that coincidentally is very timely on this Valentines weekend. One of my followers on Instagram saw this picture I posted and asked if he could write a story about it. Instagram is quite difficult to write a story on, as it limits your comments to 250 characters. I was blown away by the beautiful story @jcenno posted with my drawing. I hope you enjoy it and check him out on Instagram for more stories and check me out @emeljurd to see lots of shots of my drawings, paintings and other creative exploits I also promise that I am working behind the scenes and will be updating my website soon with a new look, new paintings and PayPal!
The Key
The Key by JC Enno
The tear glistened like a liquid heart as it fell into the dirt. I’ve known her for longer than I can remember. Watching her grow toward the sunlight, persevering through the winters and embracing the springs.
Each time she opened herself up, she knew it might lead to limbs breaking and hearts splattering the ground like fallen fruit. Each time she would pick herself up and grow stronger. Sometimes I helped but most of the time I just listened.
I had only one concern. She grew stronger yes but her key was soon becoming out of reach. In a branch buried so high amongst the colourful leaves of her soul that only birds or angels could reach it.
“I’ve had enough,” she shouted, shaking every leaf and fibre of her being. “There’s only so much a person can take. Every time it’s something else, some flaw, some quirk that they can’t stand.”
I stood amongst the remains and knew each piece intimately; that’s where she took things too seriously, over there was where she wasn’t serious enough, behind that is where she wasn’t pretty, next to where her looks made him jealous, toward the back is where she was considered boring and beneath that is where she didn’t spend enough time with him.
I asked, “You know it’s your imperfections that I adore the most right?”
Surprised, she let out a shuddering breath as I felt a metal object fall from the sky and hit me on the head.
Til next time,
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emel jurd 