Art Every Day, 27/30 II, Productivity
It was so good to have a whole day off work. To watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade brought a bit of melancholy as I remember the excitement my children had as they watched each year. Traditions have gotten a bit lost.
To keep upbeat, I worked on my new blog A Winter Journal, Notes from the Upper Peninsula. I made a post and then added webcams links and other links to help people understand the wintry place in which I live. I am going to like this blog, especially once I catch a sunny day to take photos on, or a day when I have freedom while the sun shines (seems I am working more than usual).
I am also starting research for an article on Seasonal Affective Disorder. I am going to focus on natural and organic approaches to fight the affects of S.A.D., perhaps looking at diet adaptations in societies that function in low light for extended periods of the year.
As artists and writers, how do you motivate yourself in winter? During the Holidays?
My motivation last year was to take photos of plants in black/white and sepia. I contemplating doing a color a month series this winter. It might be a challenge coming up with a color other than brown. We shall see. Off to look at your new blog.
I am only half joking when I say, in the heat of an endless string of sunny, hot days of summer, that I suffer from RSAD, Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder (I made that up, by the way. Since I think my sister and I are the only 2 people who suffer from it). I’m sure that it is a result of having grown up in the scorching desert where there was simply too much sun all of the time. Even after decades of living further north and east, I still need respite from too many sunny days. Consequently, I find winter almost as stimulating as spring…heck…I love all of the seasons.
The only possibly helpful hint I can offer up is this: Look for the details. Walk around the garden, or down the woodland or park path with a picket size magnifying glass…or a camera with a macro lens. Whenever I get stumped by weather or anything else that dampens my emotions and my creative output, I try to remember this exercise of searching out the marvels that go undetected by our “normal” everyday eyes.
Kim:
I left Marquette 30 years ago on Nov. 28 and a part of me misses it every day. I’m in Los Angeles now and call me crazy but I miss the snow. In California every day is another g** d*** sunny day. :-)
Keep up the blog posts, I love ‘em.
Barry
Barry I will try to get out there an take photos just for you! We got a few fresh inches last night–driving home around Teal lake to Marquette was awful!
But I work until after dark tonight–so maybe the photos won’t be today. And I am actually jones-ing to take photos.
Zephyr–I think your right there Has to be the complete opposite–we are a worl of dualities.
Trina–thanks for the feedback!