Tiny squares of creativity

Tiny squares.

100 days ago I started something new, a tiny square filled with a drawing each day. I set the perimeters. One square a day. The square measures 3cmx3cm drawn on graph paper in rows of five. Numbered as I go, not in advance and not dated. I’ve missed some days here and there and so these can be back filled, not ever missing more than a couple in a row. Creating these has become a special ritual at the start if the day and something I plan to continue.This was not a 100 day project but reaching the 100 day milestone feels special and worth noting and sharing. Initially they were done in secret, I was fearful I might ruin the magic by speaking about it. Now I’ve reach 100 I will take this moment to celebrate before continuing on my way. It feels nice to be able to share and I hope to share more going forward as they don’t feel quite so vulnerable now.

The process.

In order to make this easy access for myself I drew out ten squares at a time using pencil. I liked using the graph paper, it took away the hurdle of needing to draw boxes accurately. Squared paper is also a cheap drafting paper and so instinctively it made the interaction casual. The 3cm x 3cm size was about what felt right as I drew out the first set of squares. I was so worried about not continuing past the first few days that the first sheet is on a cut off piece of scrap paper. I was relieved to find the 3 x 3 squares fitted neatly on to one sheet when I started the second page fresh. When I set off on the first one or two squares I had thought I would cut them out and mount them into a scrap book. This feels unnecessary now, they will remain together as a whole. I chose fine line pens to draw with as I always have them around - in bags, on my desk, in my pocket. It felt sustainable and would give a visual continuity and uniformity to the squares as they grew in number. Other than these rules about the structure and set up, what happens in the square is of the moment. Some are more elaborate than others and some are illustrative. What I enjoy, is the feeling of grounding when I do my square. It brings me back to centre. Most are just doodles. The important thing is pen connecting with paper. Why is that important? This all started as a way to try to remind me that my creativity is essential and worthy of priority and time. It’s easy to say later, not now, after I’ve done something useful. Each time these knock backs have dented my own confidence in my creative self. I tried repairing it by pulling it inline with structure and goals. My creativity hid like a child that’s been told off one to many times. These tiny squares are creating space both physically and mentally for my creativity to be welcome and I think it’s working. I’m beginning to flow more. I have even taken on and stuck with this writing challenge. I’m getting ideas again.

So much can be put off or held back as I explained in writing about the garden yesterday, overwhelm can be a real problem in starting anything. Creativity is about being. The friend who suggested these squares also helpfully linked the idea of squares of time. What can you give a square of time to that would make you feel better in some way. I see these blogs as squares of time. Exercise is another important square. They sew together to become a patchwork of a day, a week, a month, a year and ultimately make something beautiful as a sum of the parts. I am looking forward to seeing the next 100 laid out.