being quiet
taking time to reset and recharge
yancey towne’s art making is an exploration of how creative projects help us to experiment with new ideas and stretch our edges to reach beyond what our minds imagine is possible. It’s a quick peek into yancey’s studio—learnings from the days, current projects, and a touch of inspiration.
Back in May I could feel the weight of my day job looming as big deadlines were approaching. Although I was keeping up with my personal practice, I could tell I was feeling unfocused and unsure of the whole point of it all. I felt myself entering the zone of overwhelm—work, projects, news. All of it was piling up, and while I am one who loves to keep pushing and juggling everything, it didn’t seem realistic and it felt rather flat.
So, I decided to step back and take an art hibernation to recalibrate—an unplanned break to get quiet and dig deeper into my practice. I was hoping to assimilate the learning I gained during my 365 days of daily practice and take my ideas in a few new directions.
Over the past few months I have realized how crucial a daily art practice is for my well-being. Making marks, moving paint, or working with fiber helps calm my nervous system and (after a lot of practice) silences my mind so I can be present with the process.
The process is where the magic happens. It’s where our creative ideas come face to face with the chatter of our mind and we learn how to sort through the noise to focus simply on what brings us a smile as we create. Over time, as our creative work grows and develops, we can begin to be more discerning and discover what about our work resonates with that deeper part of us, close to our core.
The more I keep showing up, the more curious I become—each step leads to new experiments, questions, and discoveries. It’s a wild, exciting never-ending adventure.
But, for that adventure to begin, you have to dare to start with a blank page, make a lot of bad art, and keep moving…💛
current projects
I have a couple of small work areas set up so I can drop in on a project at any time. Even a few minutes pushing paint, sketching, or weaving helps me feel settled and connected to my core. Making art nourishes the connection between my hands, heart, and mind.
rug: About a year ago I took a braided rag rug class with Ilka White and I’ve been weaving this rug ever since. It’s one of my favorite morning routines, to sit sip tea/coffee, read, and weave. I’m fairly close to finishing it now, but also, it could be another six months, ha! But speed isn’t the focus, it’s a meditative process that helps me remember connections.
sketchbook: After spending so much time drawing on the iPad, I was craving drawing with pen and paper—something I could carry with me to be messy in. I also realized I wanted to draw more from real life. Honestly, I’ve avoided having a sketchbook practice because years ago I told myself I was tired of drawing realistic. It’s funny to realize how the words we tell ourselves affect our habits. I’m giving myself the chance to be messy and just get on with filling the pages—to keep the pen moving!
illustration: Part of what inspired me to get back to a sketchbook practice is participating in the Style Play Challenge hosted by Lilla Rogers. She shared a list of 30 items to illustrate, one each day this past September. I took the opportunity to push myself to try new styles, to limit editing, and to work swiftly. I was gentle with myself about the deadlines, and I aimed to make a good handful of them.
paint: By taking a step back, I’ve seen a difference in my approach to painting, I’m less nervous about getting things right and even more curious about layers and lines. I’m experimenting with ways to bring hints of my creatures into my abstract work, so I’ll see how that develops.
If you’re working on a project of your own, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
Thanks for reading!
Yancey, we moved into a new home in NJ (a lovely apartment) and the pieces of yours I've bought over the years bring so much cheer and energy to our new space. I still love them all so much! Thank you for continuing to show up in the world with a big, open heart. XO