It's Jackie Smiles

So, as of today I am on day 60 of the coronavirus quarantine. Like many likeminded individuals who have started personal blogs at this time, I just wanted to find a way to keep myself and my mind busy and from slowly going insane due to the boredom that comes with a stay at home order.

It’s not easy filling the days with different things to do when all you really want is to do the things you took for granted and didn’t even realize. I miss going to the movies, and bowling, and going to the gym (even though I didn’t really go there all that much, to begin with) I miss picnics and beach dates and hanging out with my friends. I miss restaurants, and zoo days, I miss being able to hug and kiss other human beings.

This quarantine has really brought me such clarity on what’s really important to me. Other people. I love and miss interacting with other people.

I know the social distancing rules and stay at home orders are set to keep me and my loved ones safe, and this is exactly why I’ve cemented myself in place, in the comfort and safety of my own home, where I’m exposed to as few people as possible. Just me, my mother, and my younger brother, also add in the fact that my mother and I are both immunocompromised and it’s dangerous for us to leave the house, this gives me just enough incentive to stay home. Honestly, I’m just trying to keep us alive for as long as humanly possible.

As I’ve mentioned before, while missing the outside world and the normalcy of what it used to be, I’ve been doing my absolute best to keep myself busy. Little tasks here and there. Chores, binging streaming services, cleaning out my closet, reading, writing, surfing the internet, starting a very mediocre (at best) blog. However, I think my favorite way to pass the time is doing something creative. I’ve recently found my old sketchbooks from high school and when I started college. Finding them inspired me to, in a way, continue where I left off.

Since finding them I’ve been consistent and have been drawing every single day. I had almost forgotten how good it feels to create something, even drawing stick figures on paper, creating something with my own two hands gives me a strange sense of accomplishment and the creative outburst has such a releasing and satisfying feeling.

I’ve always been an artistic person, but if I’m being completely honest I haven’t picked up a paintbrush or any type of art supply in almost five years. I’m amazed I haven’t yet lost all my artistic skill and some of the pieces I’ve made have actually come out more decent than I had first expected.

Even though drawing in 2D and painting on canvases keeps me sane, I haven’t stopped there. I’ve recently taken up another form of art called resin. It’s the pouring of epoxy into a mold and making something entirely new. While in quarantine I decided to start making things such as necklaces and keychains and even some bookmarks to sell on an Etsy shop. Taking commission requests from people and friends who want something specific has given me opportunities to interact with others online and feel less secluded when I’m home.

So without really meaning to I started an art store side hustle to keep me busy and make a little extra during all the craziness that’s going on. In the next few weeks I’ll be making more and adding to my inventory so that very soon I can add a new page that links the Etsy shop to my blog. Look forward to it, and if you have any special requests feel free to contact me.

That’s all for now, stay hopeful, and keep smiling.