This week’s Colour Me Positive theme was Kindness and the prompt was a quotation from the Dalai Lama: “Be kind wherever possible. It is always possible.” There was an additional, optional prompt to use stamping but I ignored that and focused on the quotation. Pushed for time this week, I kept things simple. Monochrome, ink, using a fountain pen rather than my dip pen so I could work on the page while watching a movie with my kids, and doodles with some simple typography for the quotation. Simple and easy – just like an act of kindness.
A Pict in PA 
That’s the sort of quote that should be hard to argue with, but here I am wanting to argue. There are times when the fear of being unkind keeps women from doing what they need to do, which is tell some asshole off. Maybe, in an ideal world, it’s possible to do that kindly, but I haven’t gotten large enough or powerful enough (because I do think you need a certain type of power to be kind in those situations) to do it that way yet.
I totally get where you are coming from. I choose to see being kind as more related to compassion than to politeness, if that makes sense. I consider myself a kind and compassionate person, trying to contribute to society as much as possible,committing random acts of kindness along with charity, but I also have no problem calling people out on their BS or arsehole behaviour. You are right, however, that doing so requires a secure context. This then is the problem with pithy quotations and gobbets of wisdom: they need to come with small print.
Agreed, on all counts.
I love that quote and try to live by it. I also love what you can produce while watching a movie with your boys!!
Thank you. I have been drawing from as soon as I could hold a pencil in my chubby fingers so I am confident enough with line drawing this number of decades on to be able to multitask. Also, I did not state that I was totally absorbed in the movie. There are only so many times you can watch the same superhero movie without zoning out a bit. Drawing at the same time actually, strangely, kept me focused more.
🙂
Laura, this is so elegant. This would take me a month to do. I love your typography. It is something I would like to improve on. I also really like your quote. Very nice piece!!!
Thank you very much, Laura. I am not very precise with my doodling (no zen for me) so I just do whatever I feel like doing and it is amazing how quickly it gets done. The typography is really just a very considered version of my own handwriting. I am pretty lazy that way. I keep meaning to try different styles of writing text but I rarely do.
Whatever you are doing, it’s working beautifully for you!!! 🌹🌹🌹
Why thank you!
It looks beautiful 🙂 imagine that, as a poster on a wall… that would look fabulous! 🙂
Thank you very much, Noemie! You are very kind and I always appreciate your encouraging words.
I mean it though! I’d love to have your paintings on my walls!! 🙂
Thank you. That’s a lovely compliment.
How many paintings/drawings do you produce weekly?? 🙂
Ha! Not that many actually. Whatever I need to do to stay on top of the art courses at the moment and then I paint in my altered book when I find the time. My husband works late and sometimes away from home so I have free time in the evenings to pootle around with art. I’m probably doing more at the moment also because it’s winter and I’m staying home more. I’m not as prolific as I would like to be and I have lots of projects waiting to be done.
I love your doodled lady and your lettering! Her expression is so serene, I could use a hug from her.
Thank you very much, Carrie Lynn. My husband thought she looked bored. Ha ha!
Aww she does not looked bored at all. She exudes someone I could sit with in a bench and be instant friends.
beautifully done!
Thank you very much.