On how small drawings made during a week of caregiving renewed my creative rhythm and reminded me that art is a form of presence.
Small Drawings, Big Joy
While I had intended to spend more time in the studio continuing long-term projects, things shifted my daughter fell ill early in the week. That meant adjusting my plans, caring for her, and being fully present at home. In the midst of caretaking, I found myself returning to a familiar comfort: drawing.
But not the kind of drawing that demands polish or resolution—just loose, spontaneous line work. Quick gestures – with and without rulers, triangles and compasses (cuz I love my geometry tools). Free of pressure to be anything in particular. Some of these drawings emerged in collaboration with my daughter Sajda, who was well enough to draw with me toward the end of the week, alhumdulilah. That alone was a special kind of joy.
art is a practice of presence
Nsenga knight
In these moments, I was reminded of something essential: art is a practice of presence. It doesn’t always need to be part of a larger body of work, installation or public exhibition. Sometimes, it’s just about being with the page, being with each other, and staying connected to the rhythm of life and its making.
The Long Arc of Artistic Practice
As artists, our work often unfolds slowly. There are pieces that take months—sometimes years—to complete. And while that deep, layered work is important for me, I also appreciate how vital it is to intersperse that labor with art-making that feels light and immediate.
Sometimes I need a drawing for right now.
A few years ago, I made a series of small drawings in this spirit. My daughter was just a few months old and I had had such a transformative experience birthing her. I shared the Sajda drawings in my newsletter, and people not only responded—they began collecting them. Some felt a deep spiritual resonance with the work and told me these pieces brought beauty into their daily rituals. That memory came back to me this week. I’ll be sharing my new drawings in the coming weeks through this blog and newsletter. Perhaps you’ll feel some connection to them too.
There’s power in small gestures. They keep the creative current flowing. They remind us that every line drawn, every color laid down, is an offering—whether for ourselves or our communities.