It inevitably is.

Older people have long been my favorite to draw. Faces, hands, all parts really. The way the arm connects to the shoulder and legs to torso. How to match a strongish silhouette with the emerging sense of fragility? I think pencil did that best for me here.

The only drawing I got in this week was the life drawing session on the Island. Thankfully, that appointment is on my calendar — part of my hard landscape and a commitment I look forward to.

Honestly though, it’s not like I had a particularly full calendar this week that crowded out my drawing time. I did have commitments to handle. Some quite wonderful even (subject of a future post). But time wasn’t the cause of this not-drawing episode. It started by taking one day’s break from my drawabox.com lessons. That felt good. Surely another day wouldn’t hurt. When it turned into four days, it did. So on day five, in an act of great willpower, I pushed hard to finish those four pages of plant constructions homework. But in the act of turning it in, I learnt that the homework was not four pages of plant constructions, but EIGHT. And, did I watch those other SIX videos in the process? What?!

Shoulders slumped, I head to the gym. Weight lifting will be the answer. It inevitably is. Exercise automatically takes hold of me on a number of levels. It’s absorbing and provides a shot of mental energy.

Thankfully, I’m back at my table, on day three-in-a-row of drawing. Renewed. And lesson learned (again): It’s easier to do something every day than to do it every other day (or every five). I don't have to think about the set up. I show up and the doing happens. I know this from 20 plus years of going to the gym. Of course it’s the same with drawing. Like exercise, drawing gives me mental energy and propels me forward. Meaningful rewards — reason enough to draw.