Bonnie Jean Woolger, Digital Imaging Supervisor in LITS Digitization and Digital Curation, is an accomplished and prolific artist. Even if you do not know her, you have probably noticed her in the Level 1 staff room in the Woodruff Library eating lunch and working on one of her intricately detailed drawings. Bonnie Jean says that she “cannot not draw” and that art is part of who she is. Bonnie Jean goes everywhere with a drawing book and selection of pens and pencils, and she also enjoys the resources of the LITS Wellness Committee’s coloring station in the staff room. She likes “regular coloring books too.” She finds the art supplies in the break room comforting and explains that taking a break to color and draw is meditative and gives her time during her busy day to be with herself. Bonnie Jean confesses that she is not good at taking notes but has discovered that drawing during meetings helps her focus and listen more intently.
The coloring station was established a couple of years ago and is still actively used. Like the puzzles in the staff room, some of the designs are collaborative projects—one person adds a little color here while waiting for a latte and then another adds a sparkly highlight there. The coloring pages are mainly from the Dover Pictorial Archive series, which allows for copyright-free reproduction of up to ten images from each of its books.
LITS Woodruff Library artists Melanie Bunn (Stacks & Storage Leader) and Brian Methot (Digital Photography Coordinator) have also contributed their own original line drawings. Stephanie Parisi (Assistant Director for Online Education in CFDE) colored Melanie’s Van Gogh drawing shown below. Brian drew the David Bowie sheet shown below. Do yourself a favor and take a few minutes out of your day to nurture your inner artist at the LITS Colors! station. Contact Julie Newton at jnewt01 [at] emory [dot] edu (Assistant Conservator) if you and your team would like to borrow art supplies or get a quick art project idea for a team-building and stress-relief activity.
