Extreme Measures

I did something extreme!

And it has nothing to do with these tiny little sketches......

I de-activated my Facebook account last night.  

I know!  Gasp!

You see I'd been noticing an addiction -

one of those addictions that's socially acceptable - no one really notices anything is wrong at all.

And as addictions do, it was encroaching on my "real life".

Subtly sucking time and energy away from what I really wanted.

Which is primarily spending more face to face time with my family and friends

(rather than messaging them online!)

AND more time painting, writing and generally being happier, more fulfilled.

That little internal voice kept tugging on my ear until I finally paid attention.....

"It's time to get outta social media.  You'll be happier with less distractions - more action," it said.

And so, I did.

I'm currently going through "Facebook withdrawals".

Way stronger than the feelings I had when just on a short term "media fast".

It feels vaguely like I'm "missing out on something".

But I'm also feeling a growing glimmer of spaciousness.

(Insert oooh's and ah's.)

So never mind these somber-crooked-faced sketches -

Truth is I've been too lazy/distracted/busy to learn how to draw smiling faces!

But now, I just may find the time......

How Things Change

Today, this painting looks like this . . .



Just yesterday, it looked like this.



Not a lot of change, but a bit of blue is good, don't you think?



And for a week, these little cross paintings had no "jewel" in the center,
no glint of gold within the lapis blue,
nor much shading to speak of......



But now, they're different - a little more depth, a lot more sparkle.
Just like my life since discovering I'm an artist -
which wasn't long ago . . . feels like just yesterday.

Surrendering to the urge to create has changed me.
No more corporate sales gigs, no more business suits . . . just paint spattered jeans and ruined manicures.
No more "9 to 5" - I seldom watch the clock anymore.
No brainy sales strategies to implement - instead, I let my heart lead.

Don't get me wrong . . . my "previous" life was not bad - not at all!
I enjoyed my success and had great friends, great clients.
It brought a life I couldn't have otherwise had, including my marriage and our home.

One blessing has been finding my "Art Tribe" .
They seem to see me . . . they understand my SoulTruth.
They understand words like SoulTruth!

I'm so very grateful for these enormous shifts.
I am happy to wake up every day curious . . . excited to see what's next!
Don't you just love how things change?

Be the Vessel, Part Three

I'm continuing to follow my fascination with all things "vessel".
It's becoming an obsession - one I'm happily indulging.



Here's what's "on the easel" today - well, what's tacked to the wall.

It's bigger than the others in the series.... about 2 ft x 4 ft.
Again, it's collage and acrylic on unstretched canvas.

Think there's a bit more to do on it, but letting it sit for a day or two before deciding.



Below are the three smaller ones I completed last week.
I framed them in open frames - they're recessed and touchable.









The vessels have also found their way onto my new art journal I bound using my favorite paper.

(Favorite paper you ask? Fabriano Hot Press 140 lb watercolor paper in the 22x30" sheets, of course. I tear the signatures to any size I like. The paper is thick, smooth and will take ANY medium!)

More decorating of the cover vessels is sure to follow . . .



I love the mushy softness of this journal....way more tactile than a hard bound book.





Signing off for now - but before I go....I gotta make a decision on what to do Friday on my "artist date".....

Here's 101 ideas here.

(Museum was done last week - looking for something a little lighter this week.)

Check this video - Julia Cameron, author of "The Artist's Way", discusses what an "artist date" is:

Be The Vessel

If you have been following this blog lately, you know I've been wrestling with the decision to continue blogging this year or not.

You see, I knew I'd be devoting this entire year to exploring my creative yearnings - FULL TILT!

Whether or not to continue blogging was the question.

Well, the decision is now made........I intend to blog the journey - so you may be seeing me more often, rather than less!



Today, I woke with an idea.
One you see the beginnings of here . . .

The idea is simply to
DO EVERYTHING I NEVER DO, BUT ALWAYS WANTED TO:

#1 - Use collage elements - it always seemed like too much work until now.
#2 - Use a deeper, earthier palette than my usual brights - touches of brights good, whole paintings . . . not so much - at least for a while!
#3 - Paint small, instead of my typical BIG canvases.
#4 - Consciously choose symbols I'm drawn to as the focal image, rather than smaller elements in a painting.



So I've begun this new series of small paintings - about 8"x12".
I will age these further by folding, wrinkling and curling the canvas.....then mount in a shadow box type frame.

As for the process . . . I cannot properly express how thrilling it is to hear a new idea....then have it manifest before you.

Its magical . . . as if I have nothing at all to do with it . . . to know, I am simply the vessel . . . the container from which it flows - and that happens when I trust, and simply allow.

*********

"The time has come to turn your heart into a temple of fire."
~Rumi

Wiping the Mirror

I've been re-reading Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way". Now that's a book I can read over and over again, yet still come away with wisdom that somehow seems new. I suppose one just "hears" what's most relevant to your life at the time....

In one section, Ms. Cameron writes about "wiping the mirror" - that time of change where you are letting go of old ways, and making way for the new. It's a time that things may be foggy and unclear.....what once fit, suddenly doesn't seem right anymore. It's a time to deeply listen to one's internal wisdom - one's soultruth. That's exactly where I'm at right now.

If you read my last blog post, you know I recently underwent major surgery. It was a decision I delayed making for over a year. I researched . . . I thought . . . I prayed . . . I procrastinated. Yes, I was more than a little scared. Sure, surgery is scary - especially those parts about pain, and recovery and gasp - being put to sleep.

But that wasn't really it.....well, it was and it wasn't. The scariest part was knowing I had SO much I wanted to do. Things I've dreamt of and planned - and for whatever reasons, haven't done. What if suddenly, I wasn't able to do that life?

Well, I did wake up. Now I have to make good on my bargain with the "Great Creator". . . the one I made before finally surrendering to anesthesia and faith in my brilliant doctor's skills.

Now fear is really gripping my heart. Now I have to do that life . . . I promised the Big Guy in the Sky. So I'm taking the next leap of faith and jumping in - feet first. I'm trembling. It's true.

In my last blog post, I expressed the desire to spend the year exploring my creative edge - daily painting, weekly artist dates and a major re-do of our home. I also mused about whether or not to take a blogging hiatus during this time. Now, I'm in a place that has me actually wanting to blog MORE, not less - just to document it all.

I can't say I've come to a decision, but for sure I've decided the following:

1. I will create - daily if at all possible. Painting will be my primary focus.
2. I will enjoy "artist dates" weekly, with at least 1 major date a month (ie. museum visits, art shows, etc.) This inspires me, educates me and generally, "fills the well".
3. I will re-do our home - mostly because I LOVE to do it - decor and fashion are true creative loves. AND our home could use a little TLC.

All of this must begin "softly" and increase over the next few weeks, as I'm still recovering from the surgery. My doc says I must go slowly - dang it. Even walking my "behavior-challenged" dog is risky right now, but I'm more than ready for a little risky business!

Doodle Dawdle (and big decisions)

Obsessed with the sketchbook today.....



I'm laying low (under doctor's orders) cause I snuck off and had some major surgery last week.
(A big secret to all but a few!)



Good news is that I feel so great, I've not even had 1 pain pill.....not one!



Bad news is, I'm not allowed to drive or do much of anything yet.
Seems my body's got some hidden healing to do.
So I've gone "underground".

Ya know, it's sometimes hard to accept the love you're blessed with - at least it is for me.
It's actually been quite difficult for me to receive all the food makin' and errand runnin' and chore doin' I've been gifted with.
I'm trying to "breathe it all in" and know it's okay to ask for help.
I'm so very grateful for such loving friends and family.
(I want to send each and every one of them a big sappy love letter.)



So, with all this freedom, it's to the sketchbook I've gone.



With oodles of time to dawdle and daydream, I'm making lots of yummy plans.



My creative heart is filling with so many ideas, that I'm tempted to take an extended blogging hiatus - for perhaps the entire year of 2012!



What? What!

I dunno. I just don't know yet. But I'm feeling pulled in that direction......



I'm dreaming of spending the year in total creative immersion.
Lot's of "what if's" are floating around.....
for instance, "what if" I did nothing but paint for an entire year?
"What if" I spent every day in the studio or on inspiring artist dates?
"What if" our home became a huge creative project in itself this year?
I'd so dig that.
And there's much to be done to flesh out the art journaling class I'm leading in the Spring.

So much to be excited about - so much I want to do.

So I'll sit with it during this forced downtime of mine and let you know what comes of it -
you'll be the first to know!

Fa La La La La

I've been away from the studio for so long it seems - doesn't the holiday time get busy?
Fun, yes....but busy busy!

So today I made a date with a paint brush and cranked out lots of painted papers....which became a couple of single signature journals. That's a lot of painting paper I tell ya!



I doubt I'll get much more time for paint and play this week, so I wanted to wish you all the merriest of holidays!



AND a very creative new year!

By the way.....anyone else out there choosing a "word" or "theme" for the new year? I've done it for a couple of years now and I swear to you it's a compass....a true north.

I went through a couple of try on words - One week it was SURRENDER, the next it was ALIGN. But I know what it is for sure now......it's SOULTRUTH. I know, it's made up and it's mine! Makes me actually shiver when I say it - so it must be right. Drop me a comment and let me know your's!

Day 23 - AEDM: Beginnings And . . . Pauses

Sometimes I get so cross . . . angry even.



Angry that I've got other stuff to do - stuff other than make art.



I've got a list and responsibilities and family and kids and holidays.



But then I remember . . .



I wouldn't have it any other way.



My art will always be there. I have no deadline to meet . . . except the ones I artificially create.



And it's okay to pause, to enjoy, to live life outside the studio. My Art Every Day Month may not be "art every day". And that's okay. So I'm pausing now for a day or two with just these "beginnings". Beginnings of art that may or not get completed any time soon.

But you can find other AEDMonthers here. Happy Thanksgiving to you all - enjoy the pause!




See you Friday - or not!
xoxoxo

I Do So Love a GOOD BOOK

Have you seen what the Queen's calligrapher and team have done?
They've created the first hand written illuminated Bible in 500 years.
I hear there will be a book soon....for now, look at some of these beautiful images and the video of calligrapher, Donald Jackson, discussing the process. Astounding.

Summer Break

Hello lovely ones!

Just a quick note to tell ya what I'm up to. I've decided to take a summertime break from blogging through July (maybe even August - OMG).

Feeling the need for a little un-plug! I'll be taking this time to do some deep internal listening - a rejuvenation of mind, body and soul - a summer of unbridled joy, love and art-making. Remember our summer breaks as kids? Wasn't it divine?

I know I'll return with oodles to share, including plans for new adventures! But this is not without fear of losing touch with you, I must confess. Know I'm thinking of you and hoping your summer brings a soul-break of your own filled with fun, laughter and a few laps 'round a cool blue pool!

XOXO!

A Day In A Painter's Life

This is how it sometimes happens . . .



Just as you're fully intending to spend the day painting something based on this....



up pops THIS! The dreaded inner meanie . . . the demon robbing me of my creative bliss. My gremlin.



My beginning strokes on canvas were so horrid!
(Wait! Is this only my gremlin speaking?)
Well, I won't dare show you THAT!



In quiet desperation, I literally fell to my knees, spreading all my supplies in a large circle around me. I began spreading paints on a large sheet of watercolor - still the gremlin growled.



So onto the smaller palette of my art journal, where I let him speak to me.



Sometimes it's the only thing you can do - just let him have his say.



A guy just needs a little space - to know I'm listening.....



Only then will he be silenced . . .



and I can begin again.