A couple of nights ago and for the second night in a row, I found myself tossing and turning for hours.
Not even the gentle rumble of Paul's breath would help me drift off to sleep.
My mind was pondering over what seemed like a million jumbled thoughts - quiet thoughts, which seem so loud when they are all clattering around in my head at once.
The previous night, I had given up
on sleep and got out of bed at 1.40am and didn't actually go back to bed
at all.
This time, I quietly climbed out of bed at 12.20am and tip-toed down the creaking stairs. I felt like I was the only person in the world who was awake.
Alone with my thoughts I wished my art studio was in the house - I might have been able to paint myself to sleep. Instead I found myself watching endless vintage episodes of 'Home and Away' and browsing the Land of Blog.
It was then that I came across this quote that Crystal Cook had shared by Julia Cameron...
"Remember
by being willing to be a bad artist, you have a chance over time to be
an artist, and perhaps, over time, a very good one."
Finally, I felt restful and validated and at 3.40am I climbed back in to bed.
Last night I felt so tired. And this time I drifted in to a wonderful deep sleep within minutes of climbing in to bed. And I slept solidly.....
.....that was until 3.28am, when my mobile phone rang!
It was our daughter, Adele.
It turned out that it was her turn for a restless night and she needed to talk about her own worries.
Wearily, we chatted until around 4.30am and I think she felt better for it.
I, on the other felt like I had been woken from the dead, lol! But we do anything for our children don't we?
This is how I hope both Adele and I will be sleeping tonight...
I just love drawing babies - especially when their faces are all squashed up :0)
Just before I go, following my last post, I came across this really old watercolour sketch I did from memory when I returned from climbing Ben Nevis a few years ago...
It felt so odd to be looking over the clouds!
At the bottom of the mountain it was a misty, dull day - but at the top it was bright sunshine and so warm, even though it was covered in snow!
I hope you are all having a good week :0)
Wish I loved drawing babies...that's what I'm suposed to be doing! Yours is lovely, so cute. Love the quote, which I shall try to remember when things aren't going to plan.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sharon!
DeleteReally? Ooh, I'm looking forward to seeing what you will be doing too! :0)
Sleepless nights are something I think we all have from time to time.
ReplyDeleteYes, sleep like a baby..!!! your drawing is adorable, love it. BJ
Thank you Barbra. It's very unusual for me - I love my sleep! And it takes me days to get over a sleepless night these days, lol! :0)
DeleteYour baby sketch is adorable, with the face all squinched up on the pillow. And I love your "quickie" of the summit of Ben Nevis - simple and beautiful. Well, Sandra, here's hoping you and Adele get some full night's sleep now! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Kathryn.
DeleteI did sleep just like a baby, thankfully. Another sleepless night and I'd have been a zombie. Instead I am just a little grouchy, but I'll soon get over that :0)
Lovely work Sandra. Have a creative art filled week.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nora. If only - I am working all week to cover holiday! But I hope to make up for it over the weekend :0)
DeleteThis is so, so lovely Sandra!!! I just adore that sweet face you captured. And I have always loved that watercolor sketch too. isn't it funny how sometimes the person we need the most always gets to us right when we need them? Glad you and Adele got to talk. :))
ReplyDeleteThank you Crystal. I thought you'd like the baby :0)
DeleteI hadn't realised I had posted that sketch before. Maybe I did! It nice to come across really old sketches like this because it's a great way to see how we've evolved isn't it? :0)
The baby sketch is really cute...
ReplyDeleteThank you Ashok :0)
DeleteI hate when you go through those patches of not sleeping... and you could have chatted to me... I would have been wide awake and in the studio!!!! I am glad you have found some peace and quiet in your brain and hope you catch up on some sleep... I have never drawn babies, though Phantom did a major work for school based on babies that was awesome... she loved your drawing of one...xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Tracey. And I'm glad that Phantom liked it too ;0)
DeleteWell next time I'm awake I'll see who's on Facebook, lol! I don't do well without sleep. I'm neither a night owl or an early riser! I'm one of those who does well on 9-10 hours sleep! Not that I get it very often at all. Usually its 8 hours for me, but any less and I get really grumpy! :0)
Muy interesante su blog, hermosa la obra del simpático osito, he votado por ella espero tenga suerte y pasaré seguido por aqui
ReplyDeleteMuchas gracias! Estoy muy agradecida por su voto. Es usted muy amable: 0)
DeleteY gracias también por visitar y tomarse el tiempo para comment.m lo agradezco mucho: 0)
I hate those times when the thoughts running round in your head just won't let you sleep. like you I don't function well if I don't get enough sleep although I still never manage to get the early night I promise myself every morning when I drag myself out of bed!
ReplyDeleteI love your drawing of the baby - you captured that squashiness perfectly!! I admire you for all your adventures - cycling John o'Groats to Lands End AND climbing Ben Nevis!! Good on you. the watercolour is perfect - it really does give the feeling of being up in the sky!
Thank you Nicola :0)
DeleteI've slept okay since, thankfully!
I was watching 'Monkey Business' the other day and thought it might be nice to draw a different type of baby - the monkey variety - One I am sure you would like even more than a human one ;0)
I imaging there huge, saucer eyes would be lovely to draw :0)
Here am I wrestling with blending, struggling to get that soft, delicate, seamless touch, and what do you do? Post a picture that has the softest, most seamless blending I've seen for ages. I just love that baby face ... and the painting of Ben Nevis is awesome. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you John! But you? Struggle? Really?
DeleteI am thinking of that amazing daffodil and the incredible portrait of Churchill and I saw no evidence of a struggle, lol!
I usually use cotton wool balls to blend, but this time I used my finger because I didn't have one to hand - It worked a whole lot better too. Other than that it was just a 4b pencil on smooth paper :0
Hope you have both slept well since you posted this.
ReplyDeleteNice drawing. Can't say more - I'm not a baby person :?
Babies are adorable - all they do is sleep, eat and look cute! perfect models :0)
DeleteThe painting and the drawing are simply beautiful! Nicely done! I love baby faces that are scrunched up too! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Heather! Lovely of you to visit and leave a comment. Who can resist a baby, lol! :0)
DeleteI know the feeling ... the speed and energy of thoughts at that time of the night could drive a tractor!
ReplyDeleteLovely picture of the baby!
The Ben Nevis scene is really fantastic ... I love that sort of scene!
I'm almost back in blogland ... will try to catch up next week
Thanks so much John! :0)
DeleteHello Sandra,
ReplyDeleteI liked the design of the baby. It is natural, gentle and soft ...
the watercolor also has a special flavor ...
Congratulations and thanks for posting requests always marked by the kind comments. A big hug
Thank you Antonio :0)
DeleteSandra - what a beautiful baby portrait and a very accomplished water color of Ben Nevis! Hope you are sleeping well at night now and using all you creative energy for the making of art!
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan! The watercolour was just a quick sketch and didn't take long. Sometimes they're the best :0)
Delete
ReplyDeleteMorning
A deep all night sleep is far too infrequent for me! An unbroken sleep being a nice surprise in the morning.
The baby picture is really cute and squishy and all babies are sweet asleep! But, during the night awake? Nooooooo! It is probably years of that that broke the pattern of my sleep in the first place!!
See you soon
x
Can't wait Mam-mams! Thank you! see you soon xxx
DeleteAww, that is a sweet baby! And I know those restless nights very well! But you are a very good artist and growing all the time! Funny thing about your daughter calling in the middle of the night... mine did the same thing two days ago! But her credit card wasn't working, probably because she just moved to Arizona, and she wanted her dad to instantly fix it, of course. :) They always need us, no matter how old they get or how far away they move.
ReplyDeleteThank you Katherine! Yes, you're so right! I'm 41 and I still don't know what I'd do with out my Parents - I'd be lost!
DeleteI must try the credit card thing, lol ;0)
I'm glad you like the baby. I really enjoyed drawing this one ;0)
Hi Sandra.
ReplyDeleteNice to see your still working hard. Thought I would catch up as I lost track of everyone when I moved blogs. How are the Bear sales going? That one at the header is looking very professional! are you in the galleries yet?
Best,
James.
Nice to see you again James! Thank you - I'm glad you like the bears :0)
DeleteThey are going to be featured in next months Teddy Bear Times magazine, which is very exciting :0)
I must now find where you have gone!
Yes I read that earlier, well done!! that is a great break for you and I hope it leads to lots of commissions!!
DeleteThanks for visiting the blog. Like you, I have recently decided to suspend OCA and go it alone. I appreciate the feedback from tutors etc but it was starting to hold me back from doing my own stuff.
Anyway look forward to seeing more work and good news.
(now lets see if my avatar works this time.....)
DOH!
DeleteOh! I've just got what you mean by Avatar, lol!!
DeleteI hope you don't have too many more restless nights! It warmed my heart to hear that your daughter called you at that time of night/morning! I so hope my boys feel they can call me any time. Love your baby sketch, that also warms the heart:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Carrie :0)
DeleteThere is something about a sleeping baby isn't there? I hope mine doesn't have another sleepless one for a while, lol ;0)
What a beautiful post, Sandra!! and I absolutely LOVE the sketch of the baby! There's something about that familiar, squashed up face that we all love!! of course, I always love to hear from my girls but if they call me up in the middle of the night, I would probably have to call my cardiologist!!! LOL....I always think of the worst..that's the pessimist in me! Hope you sleep well tonight!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilda - Yes, I too woke up in a disorientated panic! There's an awful feeling of dread when the phone rings in the middle of the night isn't there? :0)
DeleteHI Sandra I too have not been sleeping well. But your baby drawing and mountain painting are wonderful. I can feel the cold air.. I hope you rest well now. love to you,Diana
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Diana.
DeleteMaybe it's something in the air! I hope you also soon get back in to a normal sleeping pattern :0)
Super drawing of the baby - so adorable - and love the Ben Nevis painting - I've climbed Ben Nevis twice for charity - the first time it was freezing cold on the top and no view at all, the second time I was in my Tshirt on the top and had views to die for!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sharon! We were soaked when we got to the top - not because it was raining, but because of the rolling fog! It's a lovely thing to be able to say you've done isn't it? :0)
DeleteHola Sandra!! que dibujo tan precioso! es un bebe guapisimo, me gusta mucho también la acuarela de las nubes y la nieve.. maravilloso tu trabajo, sigue inspirada!! un beso!! :)
ReplyDeleteGracias! Estoy tan contenta de que te guste: 0)
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