Peggy Markham

Embrace "Mistakes"

I've been playing around with the concepts of art-making and relaxation for many years and I've realized that when you just relax and accept the marks you make, the creative process is much more enjoyable. A mark may curve the wrong way, or come out uneven; work with it. Make it something else. Sometimes it comes out better, sometimes worse. Leave it and pick another spot on the page to make marks. It all comes together eventually. It's a little like life that way..

How it All Began

In October 2012, I began doodling early in the morning so I could focus on something other than my nagging, never-ending to-do list and (other not-so-uplifting, internal soundtracks). I found it worked pretty well. It gave me a good start to my day, and I got hooked. So, I doodled and drew throughout each day. This practice peaked my interest in creating more art and I started taking watercolor classes, buying more art supplies (I’m addicted) and eventually renting my own studio space! This helped me get away from the house and focus on art more.

The first painting I did, I was really jazzed up about! The more I learned, and practiced, the more I wanted to share it with others. So, here I am hosting group painting events.

Now, I’m working on a mindfulness practice and learning to meditate. There's a lot of science that supports the benefits of meditating, including reducing stress and healing the body. So, I figured I'd try it since I have problems with an arrhythmia that's related to stress. It's a challenge to make me a priority. 

“Zenendipity” is a word that means to "relax into creative discovery"; to detach as much as possible from the pressures of life, both real and self-inflicted. It's also a good word to use as a reminder to increase my awareness of all the opportunities that may come along and for me to just be open to them...no pressure, just be, do, and appreciate.

Making mistakes is a necessary and unavoidable part of any process and actually ensures success. So embrace it, because you never know what you'll make out of something unplanned. Think about it: how much did you actually learn doing something right the first time? Experience is the best teacher. ​