In case you need this reminder as much as I do...
Last week I did several doodles and none of them turned out even close to what I wanted in my head. I can look in my sketchbooks and see periods of being disappointed in what I’ve created and thinking I’m finally empty and finished, but I can also see a pattern of continuing on and creating things that surprise me and remind me I still have more to give. I suspect we all have these. In our lives and our art…times when we think we’re failing so badly and times when we’re absolutely nailing it.
The trick, I think, is in not giving up even when it’s dark.
So today I’m sharing an old piece from an old sketchbook that I didn’t share before because it was crooked and imperfect, but that now I sort of love. Maybe we’re doing better than we think.
“Even at your darkest you are still someone’s light.”
Keep shining, friend.
Hugs,
Jenny
PS. There’s something to be said about sharing your failures so here’s one of the doodles I did this week that didn’t turn out like I wanted, because the art may not be what I expected but the message is still true.
“KEEP GOING.”
I just went to your talk in Ohio. I was the one that was 4 hours away that you replied “COME”. I did. I drove up and stayed in a hotel (with major anxiety and OCD) and got to see the most amazing human being, YOU! It was THE trip of my lifetime. I told my best buddy Jenny from SoCal, that I met on here. I shared with her all the experiences I went through and how exhausting but exciting it was. That I stood in line for the meet and greet but had to leave because I was crying and I didn’t want to look like an idiot in front of you. All I wanted to tell you was that you have saved me over and over again. With books, art, social media posts and friends who I write/email. I can’t imagine not having my like minded community surrounding me. My friend, SoCal Jenny said this:
“I think Jenny is the perfect example that goodness multiplies in real time. Love multiplies-it does not divide. Any and all goodness that someone does in life has ripple effects that they may never see in their lifetime, and her purpose driven life to help and uplift others by bringing awareness of the importance of mental health, empathy, and self love helps so many people more than she would ever think.”
What she said was perfection and I hope she doesn’t mind that I shared. We all feel it.
So whenever you don’t feel good enough, please remember all the love that is put out in the world for you. You could draw a face with a stick figure body and put inspiring words under it and we would love it just as much as something that took you a year that you packed away because you didn’t like it enough. We love you because you are flawed like us. You feel things like us. And you have brought so much hope into our lives.
We are all a little crooked and imperfect, so why should our art be any different? I love both of these drawings! Thank you for sharing them.