This is another page made with the left over paint from other projects. I had sketched the girl at one time months ago and then later came in with the planters and then called it good. I added details and a border on the side from a magazine clipping.
Today I was listening while I worked. My new goal is to insert creative in to the mundane. At work I am doing a lot of data processing and listening to books or podcasts really help.
Anyway, today I was listening and she was talking about wanting to start a garden. Then how that thought of a garden blossomed into wanting to know more about plants, and then a chain reaction ensued and then she wrote The Signature of All Things. She talks about what if she just ignored that small voice that asked her to start a garden. Read it.
Listening to her speak about that process reminds me of something I am currently following. All the sudden Jean Michel Basquiat has been filling my thoughts. I have always liked certain aspects of his art but have not really taken a plunge into the study of his work. I would wake up in the middle of the night after dreaming about a certain piece of his. Finally I decided I could not ignore it any longer. Now I am researching him, watching documentaries, movies, and looking at any piece of his work I can find. He inspires me. I did not think that could happen because of the way he died. I just never thought someone who lived such a troubled life and then ending his life with a drug overdose would ever inspire me. Now the way he lived his life and even his death have me looking at his work with a whole new set of eyes. He was kind and with a soft heart but also rough around the edges and street smart. This beautiful mess he was inspires my own creative path.
Dustheads by Bisquiat
Maybe I will paint a piece inspired by him and maybe I will just let his creative path give me some freedom in my own path.
I love journaling of any kind. I have several that I stay pretty active in. I have a quote journal, several art journals, sketch journals, mini journals, watercolor journals, list journal. Anyway I like having more than one journal to work in and so I have included two in this giveaway along with a lot of other fun items. I have small tutorials and displays here on my blog if you need tips for journaling.
To enter to win:
1. Follow my blog here, on Facebook, or Bloglovin.
2. Comment on this post and tell me what fills your heart with love.
3. Follow my facebook art page or my instagram @leaca_travels
Friday, February 7, I will announce the winner and ask for them to email me their address so I can send these goodies their way. I will be shipping this internationally so anyone can enter.
How do you live a creative life? I have been really thinking about this.
My situation now is this, I work now. I work 37.5 hours to be exact. My kids are in college or they are grown and have kids of their own. I do have two dogs that I treat as if they were human and one really acts like he is human. Mainly it is just me, my husband, and our two dogs. It does not seem like a lot to distract me from a creative life right? Wrong?
My brain has three stages of creativity.
1. I have creative waves. I will go weeks oooooozing creativity (I almost typed “literally” oooozing).
2. I have days when I can go through the motion and even find sometime to muster up something to do creatively. I mostly accomplish creativity at these times because I know what is coming next if I don’t. (see number three)
We all feel this pressure when we create sometimes. Some of us more than others. Some of us do it by putting pressure for money, deadlines, and others self made pressure. This pressure can suck the joy out of creating. For me I decided long ago not to play along. I never place a dollar amount on what I create. However, I do fall into the deadline category sometimes. It is a painful feeling to place pressure into my creativity. Creativity is a natural thing for everyone. It is a practice we should all partake of. When we place pressure on our creativity we lose our creative freedom and therefore do not see being creative as a fun, freeing experience.
How can we be free creatively?
1. By being kind to ourselves. NO harsh self talk. When these voices come into your head just ask them politely to go away and then see some good in what you have created or the creative thought you are nurturing.
2. Don’t box yourself in. If you are photographer and you want to paint. Go paint. I say this because I did this. For a lot of years I stopped playing in paint and just played with my camera. One day I decided to play in paint again and it is what I do most of the time. I still take pictures and I adore photography but it is not my path right now. Right now it is painting. So I am following it.
3. Start your creative process with the bold NO PRESSURE attitude. Just have fun and enjoy it.
4. Remember creativity is your God given right. You were born a creative, we all were. Do not put a place marker in your creativity. Don’t compare yourself to others or let them compare themselves to you. You do not have to be the best or even place yourself in some rank. “You are you. That is truer than true. No one can be you better than you.” Dr. Seuss
One of my goals in the past has been to learn from every experience I can. Knowledge is power. I feel strong when I am learning from those around me.
I am a list person and they make me happy. Let’s make a list out of this lesson.
What I learned about JOY from my mom;
1. Do what you love.
2. You do not have to be the best at something for it to make you happy.
3. Share what you love with your family and friends.
Most of the time I have already figured out my year and what I want to do with it. I will have a focus words and have broken that down into my “dreams” for the year. At the end of the year I am normally pretty happy with how my year concluded.
Last year was a great. I have a great life. I have a beautiful and very lovely family. Things are good. To be honest ever since my mom died I consider every year that no one in my family dies or is terribly ill a really great year. It is crazy how that one event changed so much of my thinking.
Anyway, this year I am struggling to pin down exactly how to accomplish everything I need to.
Highlights from 2015
1. I started painting on canvas
2. I took a class from my favorite artist…actually two of them.
3. I had my first semi solo art showing
4. Started daily creative rituals….most days.
5. Started meditation
Things I am looking forward to in 2016
1. My 25 wedding anniversary
2. More art shows
3. Creative everyday
4. Continue doing a 365 photo project but add weekly DSLR shots
5. Getting my grandkids for one whole month
6. My dad and Trish coming to visit this summer
7. Going to Cancun with family and friends in May
8. Having my work on display all summer at Tonglen Lake Lodge
9. A healthier, happier me!
Have you thought about what you want for your 2016?
