When I took my sabbatical, one of my goals was to reconnect with my hobbies and interests that I hadn’t had the time to pursue in adulthood. I loved to draw as a kid and realized that I never allowed myself the time to indulge in any artistic endeavors anymore. I was always too tired and felt insecure that my drawing abilities were nowhere close to what they once were. So, I decided that I would spend at least one month training with a local artist during that year.
I found an artist in Bali who had a small gallery and taught private classes. We met at a local café once and week where we had class overlooking the countryside. Over the course of a month, I learned how to draw again and felt an artistic spark inside me grow each week. I carried my small sketchpad and pencils around with me for the rest of my travels. I bought hand-woven bags from the Hmong in Sa Pa to store some of my supplies. I returned home feeling invigorated and determined to keep this passion going.
Except I didn’t.
I have barely drawn of my own accord since that time. I have picked up other artistic hobbies, but I not drawn or painted.
I owe it to myself to keep this spark alive. I’ve created a new goal to draw and paint images from my travels over the course of the next year. To get started again, I’ve ordered a few beginner-friendly watercolor workbooks from Emily Lex Studio and I will be sharing my journey on my socials weekly.
I can’t wait to start this journey.