Stick Figures

A couple of my kids are really into drawing and a couple are really into editing.

Over the years, I have told them that it would be awesome if they created animations for me.

At the end of Christmas break, my daughter asked if I might want to entertain myself with her computer drawing pad.

She’s always reminding me to explore my creative side. She recognizes that I love it, but have pushed it down so far, I’m having a hard time pulling it back out. She has me play with her colored pencils. Or her watercolors. Or her markers. She challenges me to come out of what I think I can do (not much), and walk into what I am capable of doing.

When I do decide to try, I have to keep my eyes on my own paper. She has an incredible natural ability, molded by art classes, and honed by years of practice, practice, practice. Not only are we completely separate individuals, with different abilities, we are separated by years of development. Time she has spent working on what happens when she puts pressure on the pencil, or when she holds the tool with soft, light hands, to make a subtle, understated swipe.

I need to focus on my own paper, and work at my own level.

And right now, my level is stick figures. They’re harder than you might think. Just trying to get the head drawn takes several tries. And the straight line for a body? It’s hard to get straight. She helped me with facial expressions and movement. And then how to put it on the computer.

I appreciate that she drew some people and let me trace. She shared the basics and then let me find my own style.

I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. Because this is all brand new, but very exciting! I can’t wait to finish the cartoon and share it.

Soon.

But until then, I will show you what I am doing. This is a snapshot of me creating joy.