Today I had a 'Gypsy Day Out'.
What is a 'gypsy day', I hear you ask? Read on....
Early this morning I collected up my pencils, sketch book, camera, binoculars and put them in my art satchel.
Adding something nice for lunch, a thermos and coffee plus a small, fold up seat to sit on, I headed out for a day of sketching and collecting reference material for some figurative works I'm planning.
With the 'spirit of a gypsy' I went off exploring. Not even sure where I would end up I headed for the beach. Good place to start I think.
To have a successful Gypsy Day you don't necessarily have to travel far you just have to be open to discovery and not have any pre-conceived ideas!
It's all about forgetting everything else; the housework, the gardening, the washing, the studio, etc etc. and devoting some of your time to learning to 'see, think and ponder' and just putting time aside for yourself and feeding your creative spirit.
I first read about it in a book called 'Creative Awakenings' by Sheri Gaynor. She calls it a 'Gypsy Spirit Day' in honor of her great grandmother who was raised by gypsies.
I loved the thought and decided I would simply call it my Gypsy day.
Here is what I saw on my Gypsy Day out...
Finding a comfortable spot in the shade I pour myself a coffee and get stuck into the finger bun I brought along.
On the grass a little girl in a white cotton dress chases the seagulls. Her soft blonde hair is gently lifted by the breeze. She is enjoying a carefree moment that should be the right of all children.
Sun drops are on the surface of the sea, jumping.... sparking, as the wind blows across the surface of the water.
The gulls make a cacophony of noise - vying for the last piece of bread discarded by the little girl in the white dress.
The breeze in gently - enough to refresh without the chill.
Although it's still winter it feels like Spring.
Everyone has come out to soak up the warm, invigorating sun.
Like coming out of hibernation I suddenly feel charged by the rays that seem to caress me back to life after a long cold winter.
Thoughts of beach walks, boogy boarding in the surf and picnics with the family under the pergola at home begin to take shape in my mind. Something to look forward to.
As I sit I also think about Paris where I will head to in October. Ian and I were there last year in Spring time and this type of weather can transport me back there in an instant!
Isn't it funny how a certain sound, smell or object can take us back in our memories to a previous time or place.
The warm sun makes me think of our many walks in the Tuileries on the rue de Rivolli in central Paris.
Parisians lying around in deck chairs soaking up the sun and working on their tan.
Gendarmes on horseback patrolling the park.
People out jogging, families having picnics and huge pigeons cooing and strutting across the grass trying to impress Mrs. Pigeon.
With all this daydreaming I'm not collecting much reference material, but it is refreshing me.
I take my little fold out chair and head down to the sand. Windang Island is on my left, someone in a canoe is out on the water and a family play at sand castles near the water's edge.
Just for a while I sit and listen. Absorbing the rhythm of the ocean, the smells of the salt in the air and sound of waves crashing on the beach just a few metres away.
I spend several hours just strolling along the beach, toes in the water. I don't even do much sketching but I still feel like I am charging up my internal batteries.
there is something about the sound of the ocean that is calming. I can feel it slowing my heart beat. I love it!
I wonder where my next Gypsy Day will take me? I've decided to make this a regular monthly practice.
How often do we actually stop and 'just listen'.
Life gets too fast and too busy doesn't it?
Ciao for now,
Liv xx
