I’m suffering from a kind of lockdown brain fog. I think it’s curable, but I’m not altogether sure.
One of the bright spots of my pandemic days has been making these watercolour sketches that I have been doodling away on through out the last few weeks. They are mostly very small, very abstract and some people say they look like graphic images of the dreaded virus itself. I had no particular starting point or aim. I just had some scraps of paper, some very old paints and time to kill.
There was great freedom in having nothing better to do. There were many hours of wondering how to be productive or useful. But in the end, at my age and with all things considered, there was nothing to do except stay at home, out of harm’s way. As the world begins to open up, I feel institutionalised into a whole new way of living. It will be hard to get used to freedom, and even harder to know how long this new freedom might last before the next wave.
There are lots more images from my sketch books here Pandemic Sketchbooks 1, 2, 3
Oh, my, that was beyond productive! They are beautiful, and I love the additional ones where you group them–sort of like a quilt. “Love is the quilt that keeps us all warm” (Si Kahn).
Thank you so much! I love that they make up a kind of quilt! Isn’t that very much our heritage from “her indoors” and the kind of stuff “the woman of the house” would get up to. This was very much ME in the pandemic lockdown. Hope you are staying safe and well too!
These are wonderful! I totally understand your perspective…mine as well.
All hanging in there!! OMG though you have extra issues with who is in charge. OMG! My heart goes out to you all. Stay safe and well. Great to hear about your Mum as well xx
Gosh Catherine, you took the words right out of my mouth & I shared your experiences & expectations! Personally I reeled from one day to the next in isolation, some days I wrote the list & ticked them off with great satisfaction, other days I did absolutely nothing but sit in my conservatory & read munching away on fat laden foods & deciding there was no right time to pour a glass of wine! If I didn’t have my dog my motivation would have gone out the window. I too am finding it hard to bounce out & about & get quite annoyed that there are people where I want to be. Weird ah! I am going to believe that there will most definitely be sporadic outbreaks of the virus however I refuse to believe there will be alarming waves. We know the drill now & it aint going to happen!! Not on this little green isle.
Ah Sue I’m laughing at the image of you munching away on fat laden foods and drinking a glass of wine!!! It was an amazing time for giving up all the expectations we have ourselves for sure!!! Haha! It suits an introvert like me too. Full permission to mooch around and stare out the window haha!! Yes we all have to hang in there now and see what the next bit brings. Fingers crossed C x
I love your sketches, Catherine. And your perspective on lockdown. Thank you for sharing both!
Aw thanks Colette. Hope you are staying safe and well and still enjoying your own painting….x
Bottom centre – take that, you virus! The cat is winning the battle.
Haha! Brilliant. I see it!
I see rock pools 🙂
Thanks Andrew you do see rock pools! All the time!!!