I love my tea. To me it is an experience, a signal to sit and enjoy.
I start my day with a pot of tea, a small jug of milk and a favourite tea cup. I change my cups out during the day so that the first cup of the day remains special. Listening to the early morning call of the birds, the wind making our wind-chimes tinkle and that amazing air quality that seems to come just when the sun has risen. I find this a joy filled, relaxing and inspiring time and very good for planning for creative time in the days activities.
Tea, as a socially well-known beverage ,is made by pouring hot water over ‘tea leaves’. The tea leaves can be herbal or leaves from the Camellia bush. There are many different types and some teas are associated with specific countries ie Chinese green tea, or Roobois african teas. The leaves and water are left to steep for a few minutes for the flavour to develop and I like different flavours for different times of the day.
I find that tea and creative contemplation go hand in hand and make for a soothing, calm environment in which to design, combine and compose all those images and ideas that float around, like tea leaves in a half-full cup, in my head.
I use lots of sketchbooks in different sizes as journals to get my ideas down and make sure they don’t escape for someone else to do. I will use any scrap of paper to write or draw my ideas as they ‘float’ into my head – then I transpose those ideas into the journals and expand on options for colour, materials, shapes and embellishment. Making lots of notes as I go, and enjoying every step with a faithful cuppa beside me on the desk.
I also use a drawing program/application on my I-Pad along with the Apple Pencil. The program is called Procreate and it is an amazing and affordable program for all things creative. I don’t get paid in any way from Apple or Procreate…. just saying. I have included photos at the bottom to show some renderings of a tea cup that I photographed with my phone in an Op Shop (thrift shop). I imported those photos to Procreate and drew over them and then coloured the drawings.
This type of “playing” allows me to experiment with colours and shapes to see if it would be a viable project to transfer to fabric using fabric painting, applique, beading and/or embroidery. I also use this technique for portraiture, landscapes and to design applique shapes.
If you want to try it and have an I-Pad and Apple Pencil, it is below $20 AUD and YouTube tutorials are readily available. I particularly enjoy tutorials by James Julier on YouTube.
Make your favourite cuppa, grab a sketch pad, I-Pad or journal and jot down ideas as they come along. Doesn’t have to be perfect, this is for you! Add your initial choice of colour, note your feelings, write down a string of words, explore the last dream you remember.
These small moves are the building blocks to the start of your creative journey. Share them with me if you wish by leaving a comment.
