Hagstone

I spent my precious solitary hours today finishing my self portrait, sat in my bathtub, with some of my daughter’s toys near me. It was a collage, an acrylic painting and an oil pastel drawing all rolled into one. I treated this work like a collage to erase the fear of failure. The knowledge that I can layer up mistakes, overlap or conceal is a great relief to me. It felt good to be finished/ I’m actively working with my menstrual cycle to identify what kind of work best suits my ‘seasons’ I used to ignore my period mood swings, thinking I was being erratic and hysterical but instead now I know that hormones can seriously mess with your head. This is my luteal phase, where I’m a real grouch and argumentative and highly sensitive. According to the book ‘The optimised woman’ this is the best and most productive time for editing and completing work and for journaling and reflection- this is the Autumnal phase before the hibernation phase of winter or the ‘period’ happens. Working to the rhythm of my body has been really an eye-opener and I’ve a lot more self compassion. I can be productive all month but I have to allow for different types of productivity depending on the seasons. Definitely worked for me today.?