Scribbly Tattoo Parlour: Behind The Scenes!

Here's a look "behind the scenes" while I was creating the Scribble Project Tattoo Parlour last week. It was all created on my mum's big kitchen floor because these posters were too huge for my bedroom studio. Haha, sorry mum. Paint tins, kraft paper, sandwiches, everywhere!

Scribble Project Tattoo Parlour!

Yeah! This happened on the weekend. I painted these three cute bikini-clad chickas (plus one self-assured dude in loveheart boxer shorts) and let visitors at the Bend & Snap Market doodle tattoos alllllll over their bods and their fresh young faces! I really enjoyed doodling on their faces. That Mike Tyson-ey tribal tattoo on Latisha's face (we named her that and she didn't seem to mind it) was REALLY SATISFYING to draw. That's a warning to friends (and party strangers) next time you fall asleep within arms reach of my hand and a drawing tool. It's very fun. I cannot be stopped. Sorry in advance. You look good though. GREAT in fact. "Nice face tattoos" says everyone.

More event photos and nonsense-talking on my other blog THE SCRIBBLE PROJECT and "making of" photos on my instagram (@scribbleproject). Thanks everyone who had a scribble! Even the stranger who doodled a big steamy pile of poop on my cute love-heart tattoo. Teamwork yeah!

I can't show you what I'm working on just yet.... so here's this:

Life tip #1: keep a special folder on your desktop labelled "funny animal pictures" and add to it regularly.

Bed-desk

See that squishy blank space on the bed where it looks like my bum has been for the last few days? That's where my bum has been for the last few days. There, and in the corners of cafes ordering midday ciders on a laptop date with myself. This week is full of organising projects that will happen later. A book, a road trip, a travelling exhibition. I feel like if I just steam through all this kinda-boring planning stuff then one day KABOOM it will all happen at once and I can give my past-self a big stinken hug of thanks.

What else? I've been posting every day on The Scribble Project blog as usual. I love that blog more and more every single day! Have you seen the last few weeks of scribbles that have been submitted?? CRAZY GOOD. So as a "well done Lisa for doing ten minutes of writing" reward to myself, I made this:

This is how different scribblers have doodled over my "lungs" scribble prompt. Cool huh! Top row is Jem, Cendrine and Curiot. Bottom row is Marie, Dick and Jessica. This makes me happy to look at.

can we be real for a minute?

A few years ago I got depressed for what seemed like no reason at all. I've been umming and ahhing over writing a post about this for months. Normally the things that I share online are playful or funny, but I want to be real for a minute even though it scares me. It's so important we put our hand up and say "yeah I've been there, you're not alone" because this stigma we have around mental health doesn't help anyone. When you fall into that black hole it's easy to feel like you're the only one down there, but you're not. You're definitely not alone and it does get better!

I took this self-portrait while I was down that black hole a few years ago:

I'm not sure why I took this photo. Maybe I just wanted to ask myself what the heck was happening to me? I felt hopeless and full of self-loathing which was a new and scary feeling. I actually didn't realise I was depressed for a long time. Then a friend noticed and referred me to Headspace (a youth counselling service) and chatting with a psychologist there really helped. It also helped to tell my loved-ones and teachers (I was at uni) what was going on. A few of them had been through depression too, which made me feel less alone. I tried to get myself out of the house every day for a walk or to see a friend, little things like that. I also told myself to keep trying every day even though it often felt hopeless, and to be patient because it takes time to heal.

If you or a friend reckon it might be good to chat with someone then Headspace are great, give them a call. If you live elsewhere (outside Australia) then TWLOHA has a list of similar resources over here.

Since then I've created a doodling book called The Scribble Diary which is a simple way to vent your thoughts. You could use it as a daily journal which helped me. It might also be helpful for explaining to loved-ones and your psychologist what you're going through, which can be a bit icky at first but really is a good thing. I also have some free scribble sheets on my other blog that you're welcome to use.

Thanks for letting me share this. Much love! xo. Lisa