Last week I said I would pass on some of the ideas from the Artist's Date - the companion book to the Artist's Way. One of the nice things about it, is it takes some of the pressure out of the Artist's Dates (ADs). I know when I tried to do this on my own before, I thought the AD had to really BE like a date - going to a gallery, a museum exhibit, a movie, etc. But this book has really simplified the AD idea for me. Some of the past week's suggestions have been as simple as go to a park. Listen to Mozart. Even (this one made me laugh!), get a new toothbrush. I liked these next two, also: "Make a portrait gallery of your friends." The next day's entry was to "Draw on whiskers." Here's a sneak peek at Days 7 and 8 (I love the little cartoons in this book, too): 
The suggestion for the seventh day is to "Buy a Sketchbook." It doesn't have to be a fancy blank journal, - although I love getting cool sketchbooks as gifts, when I buy my own, I usually go to Wally world or Tarjai' and buy a spiral bound, for under $5, like the Mead Academie sketch diary (the one I have right now even has a pocket in the front for stashing collage clippings, etc, in).
I have less anxiety about messing them up that way (see Wee and the Wolf's Jan. 1st post on this topic - just don't compare my chickenscratches to her gorgeous artwork). Even with the cheapo sketchbooks, I often have to "back into" - the first couple of sketches or doodles; I draw at the back of the book or even in the middle (yeah, that'll fool 'em - no one will ever look there!) After I've done a couple of sketches or a collage or two, the journal starts to look sufficiently "lived in"
that I can just let loose with any old thing that pops into my head. These may not be masterpieces, but I have fun making them, using whatever is handy...gift wrap, old magazines, colored pencils, or my grandgirls' crayons!
(Violette does some cool visual journaling. She mentioned on her blog that she's designing some collage packets she'll be selling, based on her visual journals - they might provide a good starting point).
I still have some room in this current sketchbook, so I think I might try Day 8's date - Make an artist's altar...that one really intrigues me! Or at least start hunting and gathering images, items, etc., for it. We're supposed to have a storm moving in this weekend; hmm - maybe I'll stay in and listen to music, draw portraits of my friends in my sketchbook (& put mustaches on them :|)
I think I'll just play it by ear...and go (or stay) where the mood takes me. At least now I feel free to make these dates as big, or as small, as I want or need them to be. I'm sure sometime during these 12 weeks I'll end up making an artist's pilgrimage to a museum or gallery exhibit; but for now - I'm still journeying inward to see what's there...
(If I get tired of pondering my navel, I can always try the suggestion for Day 13 - Take a Nap!)
Aack! I better finish up my end of the swap with Snowbear! Sorry, Snowbear - your goodies really will be on their way soon!
Tinker, I love your posts with all their photos and links and visuals - they're so texture-y. I like seeing your collages and sketches. I love your writing voice, too. In short, I love your blog.
Posted by: Jill | January 14, 2006 at 08:27 AM
yep, lovin your blog too!! :-) and what great ad suggestions!! the toothbrush one cracked me up too. lol!!
i really loved your intuition collage, beautiful! and the pilgramage drawing, also lovely!
have a wonderful, creative, indoors, altar-building, mustache-drawing weekend. :-)
Posted by: kat | January 14, 2006 at 08:42 AM
Thanks, Jill & Kat, for being so sweet!
p.s. BTW - I love both your blogs, too! Someday I'll figure out the typelists function so I can post my favorite blogs (like yours, if you don't mind)
Posted by: tinker | January 14, 2006 at 11:13 AM
Thank you so much for sharing this!
Posted by: SB | January 14, 2006 at 01:30 PM
I love the way you have set up your blog; a great balance of writing and art. The art journal is great too. Thanks for sharing so many pictures; my favorite part of blogs.
Posted by: melba | January 15, 2006 at 08:26 AM
""Make a portrait gallery of your friends." The next day's entry was to "Draw on whiskers.""
Hahahaha I SOOOOOOO have got to try that. Gonna add that into my next blog post to traumitize my friends reading it! *evil giggle*
Posted by: Jana | January 15, 2006 at 11:47 AM
I am pondering on my next Artist's Date. I am thinking of doing something with my camera, maybe. I like the idea of napping, though.
Posted by: violetismycolor | January 15, 2006 at 09:33 PM
Hi, I just found your blog through AW and I'm concerned you aren't able to leave me a comment - so thanks for letting us know. I will change that feature. Also I want to say I really enjoyed your blog. I read through all the recent posts and I feel so uplifted.
Posted by: Kara | January 16, 2006 at 09:37 AM
Wonderful stuff! I think I need that Artist Date book - it IS hard to come up with things, especially in a smallish town. And the sketch book part about trying to figure out where to begin - it has to be a universal thing to feel queasy over the first few pages. I skipped until about the third page in my new sketchbook, and then didn't want to mess it up with anything stupid looking!
Posted by: samantha | January 19, 2006 at 05:46 AM