taking art breaks again & imago Dei

I re-posted an old blog about why I take art breaks here back in 2021. Art breaks is a beautiful habit that was borne out of stressful times at work (while I was still in advertising and marketing.) It’s basically carving out a few minutes of my day to make art, any art I feel like doing… to breathe, to pause, and to just release stuff I have no words for.

I don’t know when or why I stopped so I wrote this blog to figure it out.

Perhaps it’s because when I transitioned into self-employment, I didn’t have much time to do it? With juggling the client meetings and presentations, admin work, logistics preps, etc. But I did make time for it before, no matter how loaded I was….

Was it perfectionism? Not wanting to make anything unless the conditions around me were perfect?

On the other hand, it could be because it’s become of my main source of livelihood…so unless I’m getting paid, I won’t do it?

Is it because I think I don’t deserve to make art for art’s sake when I haven’t met the income quota (I set) for my creative business? Perhaps, I’m not stressed enough to need to take an art break?

Or maybe it’s all of that, accumulating…making me believe art breaks just aren’t worth my time nowadays.

But how lovely it is to just make…for the sake of making.

No design briefs, no client to ask for feedback, no deadlines to chase after.

I got reminded of this gift a few days ago when I painted and drew whatever I wanted.

This drawing didn’t look like my reference… and I’m okay with that! (It’s supposed to be Joshua Hong of SEVENTEEN). So that called for another artwork, a watercolor painting this time for his modelling stint with Barrie in Scotland.

Doing this reminded me why I’d done it all those time years ago. It’s for the joy of making.
It’s funny how this reminded me how forgetful I am.
How easily I forget the main thing, the why, the reason why I did certain things.
And writing really does help with remembering.

Because after writing this monologue I’ve been having… it’s clearer now.

Art gives me joy because I get to do what I’m made to do as the image bearer of God.

In the beginning, God created.

And with every blank piece of paper, His creative nature flows in me and through me.

I don’t take art breaks because I’m stressed. I don’t illustrate to make clients happy.

I do all this because I get to. I get to reflect Him and encounter Him every time I draw—whatever it is or whoever it’s for.

And I also thank God for Joshua Hong… He might just be one of my k-pop biases, but God used him to inspire me to draw again… just ‘cause.


Thank you for reading this blog! My name is Gielizza. I’m a brand designer and illustrator who also enjoys fangirling over k-pop groups. Haha if you’re interested in having me for an art workshop or to work on an illustration project, just shoot me an email at hello@gratefullycreating.com or visit this page on my website!

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Japan, I was enchanted to meet you.