Rather spontaneously, I began writing daily haikus and painting quick daily “sketches” on January 1st. These little moments of pausing to be mindful and create have brought unexpected light into my life.
Each of these projects was intended to stand on its own - and I think they do. The haikus have been written with a desire to express and record a moment or a feeling from each day. The sketches have been painted without much forethought - just painting whatever comes to mind as I sit down to make them.
Two weeks in, I realized that I could add the words to the sketchbook pages and have a richer record of my days. And so, I tried putting them together - adding the words around the images.
Although they weren’t intended to inform each other, they each seem to add to the other. Together, they stand more beautiful and more powerful than they do separately.
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As I search for more light in my days, I want to continue this practice. And I would love to invite YOU into this practice as well.
For the month of February 2023, lets:
Add an image to a sketchbook each day
paint, draw, collage, etc.
Write a haiku each day
a poem with three lines - five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables
Add the haiku to the layout
Date the page/layout
If you feel inclined to share, photograph your layout and share using the hashtag #haikukandsketchchallenge.
That’s it!
Personally, I like to create my sketchbook page and write my haiku at two different points in my day. I like the idea of creating from different headspaces and I don’t like the two to be obviously connected. The “sketch” often takes between five and ten minutes for me to create - from idea to finished product. And the haiku usually takes one to three minutes. All told, I rarely put in more than ten minutes of time on a given day.
For you, this might look different. Perhaps you want to take your time with this project and create very detailed or intentional artwork. Maybe you would like your sketch to be a representation of your haiku. Maybe you want to do this every day (as I will be doing) or perhaps you would like to jump in only a few times during the month. This challenge is up for interpretation and there is no “correct” way to complete it.
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If you participate, please let me know!! I would love to see what you create and to hear how this challenge brings light into your life.
The easiest way to share with me is to use the hashtag #haikuandsketchchallenge on Instagram. I will be checking the hashtag daily. (If you share in stories, be sure to also tag me (@brookepetermann_art) so I can see and share what you create.) If you don’t want to share publicly, that’s okay!
More than anything, I hope you enjoy the same light that this project has brought my way.