Could my whole life be a holiday now?
You die. Then they sell your furniture.
Most summers I try to work less. While Pie is at home I try to just tick by with work so that my publishers are happy and we are happy too. But usually I end up feeling stretched too thin, one hand drawing, the other doing the washing, one foot waving at the visitors, the other foot trying to enjoy a quick paddle in the sea. Too much! I don’t do ANYTHING properly!
This summer was different. I have taken two nice long months away from work, PROPERLY AWAY, not half-ish away, not, ‘oh I will just quickly illustrate this book before breakfast’ away. For the first time in years I stopped and it has felt amazing. Everyone keeps saying I look well, and I can only think that’s because I don’t feel torn in all directions. I 100% recommend taking some time off if you can.
What I have noticed is that while I have been in NO WORK ALLOWED mode (not even a tiny work list is allowed, that’s the rules) my brain wandered to other forms of creativity.
I really got into gardening and my Mum helped me make this new Derek Jarman inspired gravel garden in front of Gerry’s printing cabin.
We also made two terrariums but I must confess, the fern I took from the garden wall has died already. Maybe I didn’t water it enough. Any tips welcome!
We are in the middle of a succulent-experiment. We have tried loads of ways of propagating succulents over the years and just for fun, we are seeing which succulents will propagate this way. I’ll keep you posted.
I have also made new net curtains for all the windows on the front of our house. Our house faces straight onto the street and people love to stop and stare in, as do I with any house without curtains, it’s one of my favourite hobbies. It’s so rude when people put up net curtains! How am I supposed to see in? Anyway, I made net curtains.
After that I decided to make us some Good Ship flags. I did an A-level in quilting years ago, I used to make quilts from men’s stripy pyjamas I found in charity shops. In fact I used to make my own clothes when I couldn’t find what I was looking for in Darlington Tammy Girl (the place to be back in the 80’s!) Anyway, it’s been ages, but during my summer off I got the sewing itch again.
Tania has made some beautiful graphics for our new Good Ship Illustration business course (which launches later this year, I’ll keep you posted) based on maritime signal flags. So I decided to make some actual real life flags based on her designs, not quilted but appliquéd. Happy times!
Anyway, Pie went back to school last week but I didn’t start work again. I have been thinking:
Could my whole life be a holiday now?
Maybe it’s a mindset thing. If I stop jumping around and trying to do EVERYTHING, and just follow my creative brain wherever it leads, maybe life can always feel like a holiday.
I had a chat with my old life drawing teacher, Eric Larmont the other day (he is an absolute legend in Putney Art School circles). I said to him, ‘Do you think if I only do the creative tasks that excite me then work will always feel like a holiday?’ He said, ‘Let me tell you something about death Helen. You die, then they sell your furniture.’
Excellent! Not the answer I was expecting, but maybe it puts things in perspective, one day I will die and they’ll sell my furniture, so maybe I had better do what I like while I am here.
Anyway, on the ‘could-my-whole-life-be-a-holiday-now?’ I’ll let you know how that’s going six months from now.
How is your summer going?
Love Helen
Hey Helen! Firstly, I genuinely was finding myself thinking: Helen looks so well! Glad to hear you’ve had a proper restorative break 😊
I often find myself pondering similar thoughts. How to keep the work feeling fresh and alive! I try and make sure to leave what I call “space around the edges”, so I’m not filling every single crack of my day with stuff. Although I feel so lucky to draw for a living, I am learning I need to be careful not to overwork, which tires my body and brain out. Do you think keeping yourself energised in general helps life feel like a holiday too?! I’m trying to allow myself to “bunk off” and have tea with a friend in the middle of the afternoon, take a proper lunch break, and also allowing myself time in the day for looking at my calendar, and all the planning stuff that I can tend to avoid, and then become a burden. Anyway, sorry for the ramble, and thanks for the inspiration! I’m off to do some sewing! 🧵 ✂️
This is my second year making books, and it’s an education! I learned this year that publishing gives you a lot of holidays... when your work is “in circulation”.
This could take anywhere from 2 days, 2 weeks to 2 months. (Even 2 years!)
Since nothing actually happens on schedule, and the publisher normally gives you work before they go in holiday, it has been hard to plan something.
But I think I’m going to try to make a rule to have a mini holiday every time I submit something.
I’ll tell you a secrets though, drawing for a living, feels like I’m always on holiday:)