The Quicksilver Workaholic

Watkins Mill Croissant, originally uploaded by Cathy (Kate) Johnson.

This is one of my contributions to Danny's new book, which he's written about here: http://www.dannygregory.com/2007/09/an_illustrated.php (Of course I missed that at the time, since he posted it on our wedding day!  We had a few other things going on...)

I'm delighted to be part of this project, and I can't wait to see all of the other artists' work...the book is called An Illustrated Life: Drawing inspiration from the private sketchbooks of artists, illustrators and designers, and from the samples I've seen it's going to be a true inspiration and a real treasure!

Actually during the process of collecting art and interviewing all of us, Danny kindly shared pages and pages of things that were coming in...WOW. That really got my creative juices flowing, as I'm sure he knew!

Keeping a journal has been an ongoing part of my life for 30 years and more...all sorts of journals, from a simple garden journal to a record of my spiritual journey to a diary to the kind of illustrated journal I keep now...I believe very strongly that it helps keep me sane, or what passes for it. If I can respond to what is Out There, if I can interact with it, if I can STOP, and see, and try to catch a bit of my response...it's essential for my wellbeing.

My sketches take me back to a moment in time...whether beautiful, calm, nervous, touching, anxious, loving. This one, above, reminds me of lunch with my darling friend Susan at Scandinavian Country (http://scandinavian-country.com), and the many times we've sat and discussed life and loves and books; later that same day, I went out to paint at the lake--my magnet. (I feel like the Artist in Residence at Watkins Mill State Park, I've painted and drawn it so many times!)

I've drawn my new husband dozens of times--and my late husband Harris before that. I've sketched my changing panoply of cats over the decades, remembering each one as a treasured member of the family.

I've explored nature, and my response to it. I've used my sketches as learning tools, asking questions and finding answers.

I've celebrated the precious everydayness of life, and the excitement and challenge of change, of travel.

I've discovered the integrating, centering nature of journaling--thanks in large part to my friend and fellow artist/journalist Hannah Hinchman, whose A Life in Hand; Creating the Illuminated Journal, which changed the way I thought about journaling back in the late 1980s. Thank you, Hannah!  (Alas, that book is only available through the secondhand market now...)

Many of my journal sketches and paintings--as well as my feelings on the importance of keeping such a record, for me--appear in my own new book, mentioned yesterday..Creating Nature in Watercolor; an Artist's Guide.

The most responses I ever got to my old Watercolor Magic column was the one entitled Painting Through Pain...I still get letters today, more than 2 years later.

Danny's book will bolster that truth, as his did own book, Everyday Matters...it's still got a treasured place in my bookshelves!