Chapter 8: Recovering a Sense of Strength

Living The Artist’s Way for 12 months has been a LOT harder than I thought it would be. For starters, I didn’t anticipate encountering a massive creative block 8 months into the project.  

 

I finally got back into the studio today and started painting again. But it’s been an emotional journey, since last month’s video blog, of questioning everything in my life from my creative routines to my spiritual practices.

When I started this project in January I naively thought this would be the year I took my art business to the next level. That was my initial motivation for doing The Artist’s Way again. But instead, the year has been less about creative expansion and more about spiritual growth.  
 

Watch the video to hear more about my journey and the breakthrough I had last night…

 

 

What would our lives look like if we chose to live from a place of trust…?

One of my reasons for not painting for a few weeks is because my husband Sean and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary camping in Grand Mesa National Forest in South West Colorado. We had a magical time reconnecting with our Spirits and each other in Mother Nature's paradise.

 



Entrance to Grand Mesa National Forest in South West Colorado

 

Our campsite nestled in the National Forest

 

 

Enjoying a meadow of wildflowers

 

Two Columbines - the Colorado State Flower

  

Above the heart shaped lake

 

The heart shaped lake

  

On a hike



Chapter 7: Perfectionism, Risk & Jealousy

Are you thinking of ditching The Artist’s Way?  I’ll admit it – I was. Or you did ditch it, but you’re thinking of giving it another go? Jump back in with me this month as I review chapter 7, “Recovering a Sense of Connection.” 

If you’re like me, and you’ve been full of insecurity and doubt lately about where you are on your creative journey, chapter 7 is the perfect read. In it, Julia discusses perfectionism, risk, jealously and the “practice of right attitude for creativity.”

How does Julia know exactly what we need to read, exactly when we need to read it? It’s a mystery to me. But I guess that’s why she’s the Queen of Creativity!

Abundant Time and Space

This week I’m diving into chapter 6, “Recovering a Sense of Abundance,” in Julia Cameron’s classic, The Artist’s Way. In the video I discuss how my perception of time, or my perceived lack or abundance of it, has changed (significantly!) since finally going on solo artist dates. I also share an awesome time awareness tip I learned from Austin Kleon in his book, Steal Like An Artist.

I can’t count the number of people who have told me they aren’t honoring their creativity because they don’t have the space. You don’t need a large space to be creative. How much space does a sketch book and a good Pilot pen (my favorite is the Precise V7 Rolling Ball Fine) take up? Not much! So space, or the perceived lack of space, is not an excuse for not capturing your ideas or expressing yourself.

Welcome to my studio! :)

I acknowledge that the challenge of not having a dedicated creative space, where you can leave your supplies out instead of constantly moving them out of the way, grows tiring. I know! Throughout high school I would paint on my bedroom floor and sew at my desk that was intended for doing homework. When I started painting again in my early 30’s I would spread out my art supplies on the kitchen table or the living room floor. A pain in the ass and disruptive to my roommates? Yes and yes. But not having a dedicated creative space didn’t stop me from making art.

On the right. Behind the chair is my 1st found bookcase.

My first dedicated creative space was an old dining room table in the corner of a 2nd bedroom/home office. I shared it with my husband in our first apartment. The four foot round table wasn’t much space to create on, but it was space that I didn’t have to clean up if I didn’t want to.

Inspiration Board

Bigger space is not necessary better space. For 18 months I had an off-site studio. It was about 250 square feet. Sometimes I slept there, sometimes I didn’t. What I certainly did not do was create art in it. For me it just wasn’t an inspiring space. And it resulted in a creativity drought.

The Helm

My current space is perfect for me! For starters, it’s in my home again. I don’t have to drive to and from, wasting precious time that could be used creating . Nope. I can shuffle in, at any time (even in my pj’s and slippers if I want!) to take a peek at my works in progress. I do that a lot actually. My bathroom is the adjacent room (great for cleaning up my brushes!) so I often wander into my studio when I’m brushing my teeth.

On the left.

While my current studio is not large, I am working on larger canvases (three 36 x 36” at the moment) and on more pieces simultaneously than ever before. I think what helps is I’ve found a balance between storage space and creation space. And it also supports me to put everything away when I’m done. Since the space is not large I don’t like it cluttered. But, more than that, pulling out my tools and selecting my paint colors is part of my creative warm up process when I come into the space to play.

Vision Board

A creative space need not be fancy or expensive. I don’t know about you, but when I’m getting my art on, I get my art on everything. If it’s in my studio, it’s subject to being splattered with paint. So I love that most of my studio furniture are things I found on the side of the road or discarded by a dumpster. They already have some mileage to them. A little paint splatter just adds more character.

2nd found bookcase.

My most recent found furniture item is a nifty chest of drawers with a secret desk drawer. And get this – I found it on my fist solo artist date two weeks ago! It has transformed the space. Even though it takes up space, with the addition of the surface top and the storage drawers, I have more space to create in.

Paint, mediums, and tools.

So there you go. You don’t have to have a large space, or fancy furniture, to rock your artistic endeavors. You just need imagination and to surround yourself with inspiration. To give you more ideas for creating your art space, following are more pictures of my current studio that I took today. Happy creating!

It's not a bookcase without books.

Found Chest of Drawers

Lookie here... It's secretly a desk! And that's also a found chair. I have a matching pair. :)

Storage

Studio Alter

My Angels. I was lucky to have not 2, but 3, Grandmothers. They are always with me. :)

Just Because - A Bonus Blog

My next Living The Artist’s Way blog post on chapter 6 isn’t scheduled until next week. But I’m feeling called to share things with you this week. So this is a bonus blog!

For the past few days I’ve been feeling full of self-doubt and insecurity. I’ve been wondering where my art fits in among so many talented and inspiring artists leaving their creative mark on the world. I’m not the only artist with the message to love yourself, honor your creativity, and to follow your dreams. So how do I stand out? How do I shine my light within a community of so many other bright lights?

 

I took my feelings and questions into meditation this morning. I set my alarm for 20 minutes. But before it went off I was tying my shoe laces as I listened to my intuition to go for a walking meditation outside.

 

Here in Colorado the wild flowers are just now in bloom. As I walked, I admired (and collected) a variety of wild flowers. There were SO many colors, shapes, and sizes – just in my back yard. Imagine the variety of flowers throughout Colorado, the United States, and the world!

 

 

That’s when I got it! That God/Spirit/Higher Power (whatever you chose to call “it”) didn’t stop at just one flower. The variety of flowers is boundless. With hybrids, the variety of flowers is infinite. So if it’s true for flowers, and if you believe in Oneness like I do, than creative expression must also be infinite.

 



Following are some other thoughts that dropped into my consciousness during my walk:

 

Stop Comparing. Each and every one of us is a unique expression of Spirit and on our own path. No one else has lived your life or had your sequence of experiences that made you the person you are today. Your wisdom, your insights, your expression, your ART, are yours and yours alone. 

 

Redefine Your Definition of Success. It’s easy to beat ourselves up if our career, art or otherwise, isn’t as far along or as profitable as someone else’s. But we can’t define our success based on what others are doing or have achieved. 

 

What are your hopes and dreams for your art? Do you continue to experiment, play, and try new things? Do you challenge yourself to take risks and do things that scare you? 

 

Also, think about where you and your art were this time last year, five years ago, even ten years ago. I’m willing to bet, if you stop to think about it, that you have grown, expanded, and have a lot to be proud of.

 

Make Art Just Because. Don’t make art with the sole intention of marketing and selling it. Make art just for you. Make art that you find beautiful and inspiring. Then you may share it with the world. But not because you have to, because you want to. 

 

A bonus blog deserves a bonus creativity prompt!

Bonus Creativity Prompt: Mini Vision/Inspiration Boards

 

Feeling creatively blocked or uninspired? I know if I go a few days without getting into my studio I get stage freight at the idea of putting paint to canvas. To get my creative juices flowing again I’ve started to make mini vision/inspiration boards.  

 

 

What You Will Need:

2-3 old magazines. A variety is best.
Scissors (or you can use your hands).
One 8-1/2 x 11” sheet of paper. I like to work with colored construction paper.
Glue or other adhesive. I use Tombow MONO Adhesive, permanent bond.
A timer. I use the alarm on my cell phone.
1 hour of uninterrupted time.

How it works: 

Set your timer for 20 minutes.

Grab a magazine and turn it upside down. Yep, you read that right – upside down. The objective here is to get a different perspective. 

Start quickly flipping through the pages. Don’t think, just feel. Tear out anything and everything that appeals to you and evokes a positive emotion. It might be a color, a pattern, a word, or the (upside down) composition. Don’t judge. Just tear! 

Continue to flip through your upside down magazines and set tear-outs aside until your alarm goes off. 

 

Once your alarm does go off, set magazines aside and reset your timer for 20 more minutes.

Spread your tear-outs of images and words in front of you, turning them right side up. Notice if there are any themes. This is when you can start to edit, keeping only those images and words that most appeal to you. 

Start trimming the images and words with scissors. Or, you might feel called to tear the pages with your hands, leaving the raw edges. 

When your timer goes off it’s time to start gluing, so re-set your timer for the last 20 minute increment. 

Grab your 8-1/2 x 11” sheet of paper. White will do, but I find it fun to use a piece of colored construction paper. You’ll also need your glue or other adhesive. 

Arrange and glue your torn out and trimmed images and words onto your paper.  

Once you’re done, you will have created a mini vision/inspiration board that is unique and beautiful – just like YOU!

 

Sleep and Solo Artist Dates

In this week’s Living The Artist’s Way blog series video I discuss the importance of sleep and share my favorite sleep aid. It’s a follow-up to my last video when I mentioned that I’m not sleeping as much these days because of all the creative projects I’m working on. I can’t stress enough how important sleep is (or how much I should follow my own advice)!

As promised in the video, today I went on a solo artist date. It's my first official one since I started the 12-month Living The Artist’s Way blog series 5 months ago! I walked a couple miles to pick my car up from the repair shop instead of using their shuttle service. Along the way, I snapped a few photos of my beautiful neighborhood.



 

 

Before I even made it out of the parking lot, I found this cute dresser/desk discarded at the dumpster. It’s proof that the Universe supports me! Once it’s cleaned up, it will be a great addition to my art studio for organizing the ephemera I use when creating mixed media pieces.

 

Other updates:

I signed a 6 month contract with gallery24seven.com. I’m super excited to be partnering with them! The new online art gallery launches in June. More details to come!

My first 3 recycled flowers got accepted into the recycling show at 40 West Arts! Details can be found on my Events page.

I’m working on four more recycled flowers. They’ll be available for purchase through my new etsy shop soon!

I registered for Flora Bowley’s next “Bloom True” intuitive painting e-course. It starts Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day). I’m SO excited I could pee my pants! You can learn about Flora’s awesomeness and register here.

And I read Jessica Swift’s e-book, Jump Trust Repeat. It’s an art business book FULL of inspiration and information for creative entrepreneurial types. One of my favorite quotes from her book is, “Do the things that scare you, and you’ll be shocked and amazed at what happens when you do!” Jessica’s book can be purchased here. While you’re at her site, check out her cute rain boots!

Phew! I’ve been a busy artist…

June is the 6th month (and it’s almost here!) so I’m starting to read Chapter 6, “Recovering a Sense of Abundance,” in Julia Cameron’s classic, The Artist’s Way. Until my next post on Wednesday, June 5, merry art making!

The World Needs Your Creative Ideas

In addition to discussing chapter 5, “Recovering A Sense of Possibility,” in Julia Cameron’s classic book, The Artist’s Way, this week I announce exciting news about the advancement of my art career since my last vlog post just two weeks ago! And, I reveal the gritty truth about what lead me onto a creative path. That part has not been a secret. But I’ve been keeping the announcement under my hat for two weeks so I’ve been bursting at the seams to share my exciting news with you. So please watch!

  Watch this and other videos on my YouTube channel.

Following are pictures of the recycled flowers I created for the Recycled Art and Vivid Colors show at 40 West Arts in Lakewood. The flowers in this series are made from buttons, corrugated cardboard, egg carton, envelope, foreign language book, gift wrap, paper towel used to clean paint brushes, plastic food packaging, plastic shopping bag, and Styrofoam. Oh, and they DID get accepted into the juried June show! :)

"Recycled Flower 1." Mixed media on wood.



"Recycled Flower 2." Mixed media on wood.

"Recycled Flower 3." Mixed media on wood.


And, in case you missed it in the video, my reflection, "Feel It To Heal It," was published in the June 2013 issue of Creative Thought magazine. The little girl on the cover is a perfect reflection of my inner child! She's even at the ocean, where I will live someday... 

 

As for the top secret announcement... Well, you'll just have to watch the video to find out! ;)

How I Live The Artist's Way

In response to the wetcanvas.com forum question, “Have you done The Artist’s Way and did you find it creepy?” I’ve up-leveled my blog and included a video. Below is my very first vlog!

In this first, of more (shorter) videos to come, I share how I have customized Julia Cameron’s 12-week course in “Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self” to support me and my creative endeavors. I also address Julia’s reading depravation tool presented in chapter 4. And I give a mini book report on Brave Intuitive Painting by Flora Bowley.

Vloging is new territory! If you know me, you know I’m not a techy person. I rely on my husband to upload music to my ipod. So please be gentle with your comments. I promise, with more practice my future vlogs will be more laser focused so they’re shorter.  Because, really, who has time to watch a 15 minute video?!