Creative Process
When people first see my artwork, they usually ask me two questions. First, "how did you come up with this idea"? This painting of a turtle began while I was at my beach condo drinking my morning coffee. Sounds simple.... well sometimes it is exactly that. My view faces west and overlooks a freshwater lake which is home to many varieties of birds, fish and of course turtles. The water was extremely clear, and the turtles kept sticking their heads in and out of the water. The sun was just breaking out on a new day and the light was shining perfectly on the water giving various shades of greens, blues and oranges. I quickly grabbed my sketch pad and started drawing away.

The second question is "how long did it take you to finish it"? I have honestly tried to write down on the back of the drawing what time I started it and when I stopped for the day. Unfortunately, this usually only lasts for about a day or two at the most and then I am just back to drawing. One of the methods I enjoy using is called "Zentangle" which is basically a form of doodling. It gives you a "Zen" feeling and consists of free flowing and relaxing patterns which can be lines, dots, and simple curves. You can see on the turtles shell the different patterns of circles, lines and various squiggles. The funky sea life and plants are just from my imagination. We all have busy lives, and our brains need time to rest. Pick up a pen and just start to doodle, you will find yourself slowing down and relaxing.