I’m excited to say that I’m doing a talk at Glug next Thursday, so you can come along and see how I cope in social situations.

Tickets can be purchased here – http://www.glugevents.com/blogg/?p=3448

I stumbled on your website a few months ago now.

I was enchanted by your beautiful work, but on closer inspection your subject matter concerns me. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but have you ever had psychiatric testing in the past?

Only, the way you see the world hints strongly at you being autistic.

Are you autistic? I have been watching your videos on Youtube, and you seem to do very well socially. There are a few rocky moments, but overall you handle the social side of life extremely well.

If you have not been tested, I have taken the liberty of including a link to a health facility.

Now, the catch is, it is in Iowa (where I live) but I would be more than happy to offer you house room if you would like to get treatment (should you need it of course!!!)

http://www.magellanofiowa.com/

With greatest respect,

{Name Withheld}

**

Dear {Name Withheld}

Thank you for your kind email.

It’s always lovely to get comments on my work, and I appreciate and try respond to all feedback (positive and negative).

I’m glad you liked the videos, and I am relieved that I seemed of sound mental health in most of them. Now that you mention it, I sometimes get the occasional homicidal urge, but this is usually on the tube in rush hour.

Sometimes I get the most irrational urge to scream on the bus, and pull my hair out. Occasionally, when I’m walking past a cake shop, I have to hold myself back from sticking my face in the cake and motor-boating it.

I’ve always thought that most people are having these thoughts, but I could be wrong.

Rest assured, the moment I’m committed, I shall let you know.

With Kind Regards,

Lizzie Mary Cullen

**

Dear Lizzie,

I’m so happy you replied!!! I just want you to know, I’ve printed out your picture and I’ve put it up beside my icon of the Virgin Mary.

Now, when I pray, I will remember to pray for you and your journey to mental serenity.

I’m so glad you weren’t offended, as I’m such a big fan of your work – your one of London Bridge is my screensaver!!

But I have to say most people don’t want to motor-boat cakes, and I think that may be hinting at something more sinister in your psyche. Have you got a boyfriend?

{Name Withheld}

I’ve recently been reading some articles and blogs about creative processes. One thing that keeps cropping up is the concept of a ‘creative flow state’.

For all my life when I’m drawing, I’ve always taken it for granted that I can work for hours, and even days on a drawing without needing a break. Because my work is so detailed, this type of work approach really works for me. I sit down at my desk, and for hours, just draw. By the end of the ‘session’ I will have finished my drawing.

When I’m sumerged in these drawing states, I won’t even really need to think about what I’m drawing. It pretty much draws itself, and on closer investigation on this creative state, I like to think my unconcious mind is doing the drawing for me. To fully tap into my full drawing potential I have to, in effect, turn my mind off and tap into a deeper consciousness.

This state is invigorating in many ways. Namely, for me, when in this state all other worries leave me. Stupid things like insecurities and worries, stress and fatigue. They all kind of get tuned out, and my mind, which is usually flooded with running dialogue of to-do lists and constant noise is suddenly hushed.

This is all sounding very new age and hippy, and those who know me will think, ‘Where’s Liz gone, and who the hell has hijacked her blog??’ These ideas would have never interested me, until I hit the thing that plagues all creatives.

The block.

Recently, these ‘flow states’ have eluded me. For the past few months I’ve actually been concerned I’m losing my drawing ‘super-power’. Call me an egotist, but that’s what I call it! My special something, and something that defines who I am. Drawing has always been the thing I excel at, and after 24 years of it, I’m beginning to wonder where the spark has gone.

Enter the ‘Creative Challenge!’ I decided, instead of wracking my brains and worrying about whether or not I’ll ever get my emotional high from drawing again, I decided to change the outcome of my personal brand of creativity. I decided to start writing. For the past month, I’ve been writing a fiction book. Not to publish, or show anyone but just for my own creative benefit. And, 50,000 words on, I’m starting to feel that buzz of excitement come back.

I never thought that stopping drawing for a while would reboot my system in this way, but I guess sometimes you need to step back to really see something clearly. I’m still going to be off the radar for a few months while I finish this project, but it’s safe to say I’ll definitely have my groove back when it’s finished.

And now, to finish up this out-of-character insightful blog, here’s an inspirational image with a cheesy quote.

Over and out.

If you haven’t already, check out this latest example on Tatty’s Devine’s blog.

http://www.tattydevine.com/blog/2012/02/can-you-spot-the-difference/