Creative Inspiration from a Broken Eggshell — Yes, Really!

 I spotted this eggshell on the road when I was running last week

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 and I popped it on my finger like a thimble so that I could carry it home without crushing it.

 At home, before adding it to the small collection of similar shells I’ve picked up over the years, I propped it on a white background to photograph and to marvel at its perfect, simple shape, and its marvelous colour.

I tried sketching it as well — more on that later and on my attempts to set up a sketching/painting habit — and I squeezed a few watercolour tubes, trying to think about how to see and mix to match . . .

I’m not quite done at work, and I won’t be until the end of June, but there’s so much more space already for thinking about creative endeavours. Time to be excited about finding beautiful bits of the world. . .

Sunday brunch this past weekend, which I’d thought was a good-bye brunch for The-Daughter-Who’s-Moving-to-Rome (and her little one, our granddaughter; Dad’s already there), turned out to be a — Surprise! — Brunch to honour my retirement. And my generous and thoughtful kids got me a Digital SLR Photography class. I’m not sure yet when I’ll take it, but I’m really excited about honing my camera skills.

14 Comments

  1. Susan B
    28 April 2015 / 5:32 pm

    Oh those colors!!!

    • materfamilias
      29 April 2015 / 11:26 pm

      ☺️

  2. Madame Là-bas
    28 April 2015 / 5:39 pm

    Nature is quite amazing! You will find more time for creativity. Teaching is creative too but with even teaching a few hours a week, I find my mind occupied with thinking about materials and teaching strategies.

    • materfamilias
      29 April 2015 / 11:28 pm

      There's no question teaching is creative, but yes, it takes over. Letting go of that obligation is already freeing. . .

  3. LPC
    28 April 2015 / 9:01 pm

    I see signs of your extra room for creativity busting out all over!

    • materfamilias
      29 April 2015 / 11:28 pm

      Yes, and I suspect it may look chaotic for a while…

  4. Lynn
    28 April 2015 / 10:05 pm

    So this is what almost retirement is like? Hmmm……sounds more enticing every day. Which granddaughter is moving?
    Lynn

    • materfamilias
      29 April 2015 / 11:30 pm

      I think it will be exciting and rewarding…my 8-month old granddaughter is moving (pictured in my last post, I think

  5. Pondside
    29 April 2015 / 12:34 am

    It's SO hard not to be envious of the freedom and determination that are yours. I will be reading with great interest as you find your third or fourth set of wings.
    The egg shell is lovely and certainly worthy of a starring role on a blog post.

    • materfamilias
      29 April 2015 / 11:31 pm

      I'm surprised at how ready I am for this, having fought the idea for the past couple of years. I like your notion of successive flights!

  6. Lorrie
    29 April 2015 / 5:19 am

    Wonderful color in that egg, no wonder you find it inspiring. There's a vibrancy in this post – so many new things to explore and learn as you move into this new phase of life. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts as you journey along.

    • materfamilias
      29 April 2015 / 11:34 pm

      Surprising how well the colour lasts, as well. The ones I found in other years seem not to have lost significant pigment. I'm pleased you're detecting vibrancy in this post. I must admit I'm feeling much more energy.

  7. Duchesse
    29 April 2015 / 1:24 pm

    What a coincidence, ma! Was thinking of you and wondering if you would spend more time drawing, as I so enjoyed the posts were your showed your lessons and work. And here it is- your intention proclaimed. I predict your retirement will be a rich, rewarding one- well, that's what one of my kids calls a BFO (Blinding Flash of the Obvious.)

    • materfamilias
      29 April 2015 / 11:37 pm

      I love that expression and might not be able to resist borrowing it. I have to say that when I look at my rudimentary efforts in my sketchbook, it's all too easy to find them laughably wanting, but I try to remember Process over Product. And Joy. joy counts!

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