EDM Challenge #140: Draw an Envelope

Here's my drawing of an envelope. I'm not crazy about it, but I finished it and decided to post it anyway. It's made of kraft paper.

I drew it while watching a PBS show on Charles Schultz, the artist who drew "Peanuts". Do you ever draw something and remember what TV program you were watching, or what music you were listening to, or what what was going on in your mind at the time, or how you were feeling? I find the associations amazing!

I'm still working too many hours and going in on the weekends. But, I'm trying to reclaim my inner space and outer life. I'll remember that and Charlie Brown when I look back on this drawing. At least the string is not tied shut and the flap is half open! I take that as a good sign that escape is imminent.

I guess art really is therapy!

Emma Pod

EDM Challenge #141 - Draw Something With Bristles

This weekend I tried drawing several things with bristles. I started with my purple, battery powered toothbrush and drew it three times. It still looked lame. Then I tried drawing my old utility scrub brush that has lots of bent and curvy bristles. Bad. Then I settled on some of my hair painting bristles and these looked OK to post.

I have highlighted and dyed my hair since I was in high school. I also used to give myself perms. I can't begin to count the times that I've screwed it up - too light, too dark, too frizzy, too burnt, too orange, even too purple once! In college I highlighted my hair too light and then gave myself a too frizzy perm. I finally bought a hat to cover it up and a boy asked me out because of my cute hat!

I've learned the difference between ash tones and warm tones. I've learned to use drabber (that involved the purple hair in an attempt to correct the too orange). Over the years I've collected a number of hair implements. Here are three, with bristles. I have another one that I may add later...

I used to pay someone to do my hair, but they make mistakes about as often as I do. So, I just do it myself. I've learned through trial and error (and 10:00 PM trips to the drug store). By now I have a whole beauty supply shop in my bathroom and can fix just about anything!

Emma Pod

EDM Challenge #139: Draw Something with a Handle

I've truly been a Pod Person for the last few months. Since May I've been working in interim management jobs that require way too much of my time. Over the summer I filled in for a woman who had a baby. I dealt with moving a department, packing up and storing stuff, planning an office remodel, and hiring some replacement folks. That job was campus based and it was great experience, but very busy.

Now I have a one year interim position and am again working with remodels, merged departments, hiring new staff, and overseeing various multi-campus office locations. It's a challenge and I'm learning alot of good stuff. But it has been overwhelming!

So, tonight I decided to start my drawing again. I even bought some new paints recently. These 10 hour days and Saturday office visits have got to stop!

I was thinking about how to get a handle on my life, my time, my work, my body, my mind....and tried to think of an image that would help. I started drawing a handle holding all of those elements in one piece. I was reminded of this old garden tool and went looking for it. It's at least 20 years old. I probably bought it in Iowa City, Iowa. It used to be shiny blue, but now it's worn, bent and rusty. But it still works!

So, I'm going to use this old thing as a metaphor to remind me to keep a handle on work, self, body. I think I'll take it to my office. I'm going to work less and stress less about it. I'm going to recapture my sense of self and creativity and home-life. I'm going to exercise more, eat better, and hopefully my face will quit breaking out.

Most of all, I will quit trying to be perfect!!

Emma Pod (and trying to stop)