Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Textures of A Morning

This is the view I wake up to each day. The squirrel on the fence scampered off just before I snapped this shot.

These are the photos I was messing with on Sunday in my alternative office while sipping on a latte.

And this is the heart healthy breakfast I just ate.

Sometimes in the morning, even though the morning is crisp and clear, what to begin with is not. So we nose and nudge around, maybe have a coffee or steep some tea, waiting. Taking stock of the morning's cues. Ahh, the sky IS crisper today. That blue of sky, those dapples on the roof speak more of fall than summer. I look at those Chandeleur base camp photos again. Contrast is an important word for me this week. How does that play out today? Then, hm, no, not a smoothy this morning. I need a little crunch. And as I wake a little more this, what's at the top of my 3 Most Important tasks? Words or pictures first?

Some mornings the muse needs a little bit of coaxing. A little look out the window. Another shuffle through the sketchbook, a bit of nourishment. It's a quiet time, expectant, but dreams in the night last night are not quite worn off. This morning that design email will have to wait. I have the need to draw textures and contrasts. This is how it is sometimes when an artist is in process. A gentle need, a quiet rasp of graphite across a page. Non verbal coaxing. And letting go.

My gentle early morning brain doesn't always give me the big plan, it just says here, here's where we'll start. Some mornings it is like this. The day is just waiting for me to figure out a color. To play with some line. Then I can puddle paints, or slather glazes, or cut and glue some shapes. I have no idea exactly what we'll do today, but my muse does. I just have to show up. I'll need another cup of tea... yep, sometimes the muse whispers as a pencil leaves a mark. Says come over here, just look, look right here at this. Forget those numbers, and those to do lists until later and just marvel at this little bit. But it is a loud whisper. So I listen.

Sometimes it is just like this, how is it for you? Do you jump right up, and meet the day...or linger just a bit?

11 comments:

Parisbreakfasts said...

I jump out of bed compulsively!
After all hot chocolate is waiting..well it will be once I make it at 4:30AM...
Cheerios?
are you still allowed to eat those?
Oh yes...bioflavanoids of course :)

Janice C. Cartier said...

Sheesh, 4:30 am just like the bakers. There's Paris Breakfast delivering up dreams for us.

...hm, hot chocolate...those bioflavanoids would love some of that. ( those grains do make my nose itch a little bit.)

Anonymous said...

Janice,

I jump out of bed and get going. I used to be a hit-snooze-seven-times person, then got up groggy, until one day I woke up and said, I get 20 minutes of crummy sleep because I want to get up too early for my body, how dumb is that?

Solution: Set alarm 15 minutes later and never hit snooze again. I get slightly more solid sleep, and 5 extra minutes to my day. Works for me.

Cheerios and bananas used to be my favorite breakfast. Now milk and I don't agree, so I do toast or bagels. Brings back pleasant memories, though.

Regards,

Kelly

Janice C. Cartier said...

Kelly- I love that " wanted to get up too early for my body". Some mornings I wake up before dark, just eager to pop up. Then on a day like today, those dreams again...it's a little slower for me...and always right when there's a puzzle....
I don't do milk often but I was craving my favorite long ago breakfie, usually I do a piece of fruit or a smoothie.

Anonymous said...

The last few days I've woken up to the chimes of "the bus will be here in 10 minutes -- we need our lunches!" so I guess it is up-and-at-'em right off the bat though not by choice. As for breakfast -- can't touch it. Now it's only coffee (didn't drink the stuff before the kids, but then I didn't have to be up at ungodly hours either...)

Yes, I linger in front of the computer before I start work. Check the news to make sure the world isn't blowing up, scan some blogs, and of course check emails from overnight.

Then it's make my to-do list and start striking off the numbers...

~Graham

P.S. is that a happy squirrel? I hate happy squirrels in the morning, as my latest blog post will attest...

Anonymous said...

P.P.S. - Love your view! I work in the basement, which severely cuts down on my distractions. Well, partially anyway... there's still the 'Net.

~G

A Brush with Color said...

OK, I admit it--I hate getting up in the mornings. I'm a total night owl, but I DO get up early a lot of mornings, I just don't like that act of getting out of that warm cocoon...

I love the whole notion of early mornings, I just don't like attending. For most of my life, I've pushed myself to get up early. I walk around in a coma for the first half hour and usually take a shower in dim light as it's just too much stimulation that early. I'm laughing thinking how ridiculous it is, but it's true. I'll be up VERY early tomorrow, as I have a flight to catch. I'll nap on the plane, for sure...;))

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading how you spent your morning. It sounds so relaxing! I tend to want to get going. It'll be nice to have a break in routine some days.

Janice C. Cartier said...

LOL- guys...so funny. I can see us all stumbling , hustling and just greeting the day.

Graham-That squirrel is so damn happy some mornings that it ought to be a crime...and there is a squawking bird somewhere too. I tend to raise a questioning brow at both of them.

ABWC- they should have dimmer switches in every bathroom that sounds great. I showered by natural light in Santa Fe...very gentle and soothing before padding off to get my tea. Not so much here.

Evelyn-it was relaxing. It was a conceptualizing day. Breakthrough even. So the quiet was a good thing.

Anonymous said...

AH...mornings. I have been freshly tuned, and ready to listen. My most favorite mornings are ones that allow me to be quiet and listen.

Often I wake up with a clear understanding or know what I should do, but if I don't take the time for listening...it is gone.

Thanks for sharing yours with me...although Cheerios is not my favorite. :-)

Janice C. Cartier said...

Harnony- I love those kind of mornings. Listening ones...it's usually fruit for me, or a smoothie...some tea..or if the Gods are smiling a vanilla latte. Glad to know you are are freshly tuned..om ;-)