Weekends come, and we are all running around, trying to split them between doing what needs to be done (I cleaned some kitchen cabinets today), having some quality time with ourselves and our families/friends, and maybe doing something a little different - going for a walk, reading a book, trying a new recipe, just being more creative for a change.
Today, here in Europe, the clock goes one hour back - making my mornings brighter, my evenings longer, and my days shorter altogether. Today is perhaps that perfect day when I share some of the ways in which I invite creativity into my life on an everyday basis. People who attended my workshops over the years, and some of whom became penpals and even friends, inspired me to pursue this idea. In each workshop I give, I share a bunch of simple exercises that help people explore their creativity and let themselves be who they are - these perfectly imperfect creatures full of hope, playfulness, and the need to create. So, I wanted to share some of these exercises with you. It feels necessary in the current state of affairs.
This whole last week, I taught kids and adults many different ways to create something, to use natural materials that they can find in the park (branches for Halloween masks, for example), and just to make - to bring their ideas to life. Sometimes it was a map, often it was Frankenstein.
I also sat down and created a little curriculum for these Map Your Days newsletters that start today and will go (for now) until the end of the year. If you were waiting for a sign to be more creative, this is it. Join me!
Why am I creating it on a Sunday, when you probably just want to drink a nice warm drink or a glass of wine and watch that Beckham documentary? Because this is just a prompt to create; most of us need to wrap our heads around the fact that they actually CAN and ARE creative. So yes, today is that perfect day to start thinking about it. Just thinking. And if you have already been doing that - or if you are ready to kindle this creativity that each of us has, grab the nearest pen and paper. Here is the prompt!
Materials:
Pen, pencil, marker, or whatever you find around you
Paper - it doesn't have to be done in a notebook, and it probably shouldn't be done in a notebook because we tend to get precious about notebooks. Yes, speaking from personal experience.
A mirror
Back in 2018, I did a whole year of these random "spaghetti drawings," most of them were autoportraits. The official name is: blind contour drawings. Every map-making workshop - for people of any age - I start with this. It connects us to other people, it connects parts of our body better (eye, brain, hand), and it makes us take ourselves less seriously. Hurray!
How does it go?
Put the mirror in front of yourself. Put the paper in front of yourself. Grab a pen.
Now touch the paper lightly with a pen while looking at the mirror.
Start drawing what you see (i.e., your face) without lifting the pen from the paper and without looking at the paper (you are looking at yourself in the mirror). This is why it is called a spaghetti drawing - it's a one long wanky line drawn with your pen.
How funny is your drawing? I know that mine is hilarious.
The best part of it is that it is always funny! Sometimes it is perfectly balanced, sometimes your eyes are over your ears, and sometimes you smile - showing your teeth - while you are drawing yourself and you get scared by your own autoportrait. It's a great life metaphor.
Try it and share it here, clicking reply or on Instagram, tagging me @sonjabajic... I cannot wait to see yours!
Mapping your life starts by letting yourself notice the life around you (more than usual). Welcome to your small creativity journey; I hope that you enjoy it.