June' 2022 Newsletter

Graduation party and Summer plans

Hello Friends.

I was hoping unlike April (the month of Ramadan for us) I will have a lot more accomplished in the month of May.

However, unfortunately, I was completely useless due to my back pain. I get these severe lower back pains about once a year which last about six weeks. During this period I can not sleep at night as the pain intensifies so much at night that I have to get up and walk around to calm the muscle spasms. When it eventually subsides I lay in my bed, worrying that it would be back soon.

It's a terrible pattern, but a familiar one as it happens almost once a year. I guess bad posture, stress, and lack of exercise take their toll. But the good thing is I kind of know how it goes, so after very little sleep, my priority was to use all my energy on what was most essential for our family to keep things running smoothly and ‘Art-making’ certainly did not make the list.

This reminded me of this poem that I read in the Austin Kleon newspaper once and kept an image on my computer because it comforted me when my kids were younger and I could not find the time.

So I am hoping I will get to do some artwork now that my back is better and I have some time.

Ok, So some fun things.

Recently I have been hating cooking. But I have three kids and I am the cook of the family so when I have to cook, I love this recipe for Indian vegetarian Pulao. Really she is a wonderful resource of indian dishes and I really hope you try this recipe.

I recently read this article and loved it. I constantly worry that my career as a creative, an illustrator, and a storyteller is over even before it started. But this made me feel seen and gave me hope. So all the moms out there thinking and feeling the same, here is some hope.

https://www.romper.com/life/my-mother-artist-second-act

So for a long time, I had a real hard time drawing because I felt that I am not doing it correctly. Whatever that correct means! I did not go to art school, and this has stopped me from drawing for most of my life. I have overcome so much of this negative and critical voice so when I saw this class I knew it was for me. I love Inma Serrano. She is brilliant and she emphasizes on playing aspect of urban sketching, rather than drawing accurately. I highly recommend this class.

https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/3793-urban-sketching-capture-your-city-in-motion/course

That’s it for June folks. Please leave a comment and recommend a friend if you like this newsletter. Meanwhile, Keep walking because that is one sure way to keep your back healthy!! My new love is my pedometer on my phone.

I know I need to go for walk right now…

xoxo

Sumayya