Sketches,Doodles, Coloring & reflections.
Hello! My name is TealPhotog, most call me Teal! 😊
*feel free to skip this intro & any of the reflections I post with the art. That part is more for my own processing, but I welcome questions & comments on that as much as I do tne pieces themselves. *
a few Facts about me:
📸 Yes I am a photographer, but you won’t see my photos here, unless they are from my phone. I am slooooowly building a photography business,& want to protect my product.
🎨 I absolutely Love color Psychology & color theory! When I post color pieces. I will likely make reference to that at some point!
✍️ I have ADHD, non specific learning disorder ( dyslexia?), & CPTSD. Why are these relevant?
- Growing up in church I would doodle all over any piece of paper I could get my hands on, in part because of ADHD.
- I grew up hearing that my hand writing was sloppy, I struggled coloring in the lines, drawing a straight line, I get certain letters & numbers reversed etc. So nothing here is going to be perfect.
- This is one way I am using art as therapy. Specifically, to lower the voice of my inner critic. In many ways, growing up I was made to feel my best wasn’t good enough. If the criticism I received constantly was constructive, it wouldn’t be so loud. Sharing my art here even if I do t even share it with family, is a small step towards silencing that critical voice, that doesn’t even sound like me, but those who fed my “inner Critic” rather than my “inner Coach”
*phew* That was a lot! Thank you for holding space & spending time with me. It means so much!
I hope you enjoy the art, and my ramblings, I hope you find something you need, & / or something to make your day a little brighter.
with Gentleness,
Teal 📸
Artist Statement: This scene is one I have drawn many times. This time had more detail in general, but especially the tree top. 2 new elements in this version 1. An owl because the image needed something, it’s one of few things I feel somewhat comfortable drawing, & I like them. 2. A swing. This was inspired by a fellow cups member. When I see them in the chat, it always has a very calming/ relaxing effect on me.
Reflection: This is the drawing that prompted this thread. I drew it a few weeks ago in small group & the church service itself. I have always doodled & drawn as a way to keep myself occupied while listening, & yes it helps me focus. At some point along the way though I stopped.
Why? Probably many factors, but the 2 most prominent are 1) being told often to “stop messing around & pay attention” that would be more distracting to me because then it took all my concentration to stay still & look at the speaker. 2) I was criticized a lot for “poor” handwriting, coloring outside the lines, & every little “stray” mark, not enough detail, “bad” technique was pointed out.
What prompted me to not only start again, but post about it?
I started again, as a way to stay grounded or provide distraction if something was said during a church function that triggered past trauma. And with a little luck, reclaim something I have enjoyed as long as I can remember.
I am posting because unexpectedly, Mom glanced over saw it, & said something long the lines of: “ Wow! That’s nice. I didn't know you had that talent” 🥹😊 when I did draw I never really showed it to anyone, because “it wasn’t good enough”. But now at the age of 30 a random small compliment. I am reclaiming & exploring something I “lost” somewhere in my middle school years.
@TealPhotog Thank you very much for this thoughtful thread. I love seeing you reclaim something others tried to squash. There is so much power in that. I suspect that is Candle's swing and I thinks its very fitting for a doodle from your healing journey. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your words and your art.
You guessed correctly! 😊 there is such a comfort in imagining sharing a swing with a good safe friend. I am thinking of a different style of swing for that. But I am not ready to try and draw that yet!
@CandleLight06 I hope you don’t mind me tagging you here. Thank you for inspiring me to relax & breathe! 😊🩵
Awww thank you so much for tagging me @TealPhotog you absolutely made my day! 💖
I'm glad I can provide some comfort and inspire the addition to your artwork. I love the drawing, and your authenticity in this thread. 😊
*Swings with you*
