11 Comments
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Heather Hough's avatar

Oh my gosh. We also have a dog named Finch! Thank you for sharing. This is much needed encouragement to get me beyond the 'deer in the headlights' brain block when it comes to committing to a sketch book.

Tara Kate's avatar

How funny! I hope your Finch is as sweet as ours. So glad to help encourage to you get in your sketchbook!

Rainbow Roxy's avatar

Thanks for writing this, it clarifies a lot. How did 'essence' emerge?

Tara Kate's avatar

You’re welcome, Roxy! I’m glad you found it helpful. For me, essence is connected to a sense of clarity, a feeling that I’ve tapped into the living truth of the bird. It usually happens when I stop being self-conscious and let the drawing become more expressive or abstracted. That’s when I sense I’ve found the “essence.”

Josh Gosfield's avatar

These recall to me Leonardo. (The bird claw studies!) And his love of nature and man made things (I love the pickup) that he so diligently and reverentially recorded in his sketchbooks. You’re in good company Tara.

Tara Kate's avatar

Josh! You are being exceedingly generous in placing me in the company of His Highness, Leonardo! Thanks for the amazing and kind words!

Josh Gosfield's avatar

Well, Tara, you are drawing the nature that’s out there for your eyes to see and if I’m not mistaken that’s exactly what our friend Leonardo did too. So at the very least you are art-habit-comrades

Walk With Me's avatar

What a marvelous post. Very encouraging to me about evolution of self and how to honor where you are in the moment. Thank you.

Tara Kate's avatar

Miriam, that is music to my ears! I am so glad you found encouragement in my sketchbooks, too.

Donna Druchunas's avatar

Lovely. Thanks for sharing.

Tara Kate's avatar

Thanks, Donna!