Saturday, January 16, 2010

the artist's way


i have started reading the artist way's by julia cameron, again. i have to admit the first time i started the book, which is really a 12 week course, i didn't give it i fighting chance, at all. i skimmed through the first few chapters, thinking, that's not me, or that's sort of dumb, i'm not doing that, etc. i put up a ton of obstacles. but lately, i have been caught in these waves of artist's blocks and divine inspiration. and when i am inspired i have not been able to act upon the spark. i am in need of a way out of this cycle. something to help me get my creative process on track.

so, when cameron's book, which was buried in my reading pile at my bedside, had some how made it to the top during one of my cleaning, purging moments i started to think i might give it another chance. it sat there begging me to open the cover and try again. so with nothing to lose i decided to give it another chance.
last night, i read chapter one again, and commitment myself to start the daily journal writing process, she calls the morning pages. my notebook sits open beside the computer and the cup of coffee patiently waiting for me to stop blogging and get down to the unblocking. the sun is shining and my day is full of potential (and things to do) so i need to get moving on this, before the motivation is gone.
during the next few weeks, i will keep you posted on the progress, for good or naught, the book may bring. i would love to hear what other people had done, are doing to kick start their creative self, to nurture the artist within, to unveil the potential. or if you have read ms cameron's book, liked it, hated it, what have you. wishing you a creative, joyful day!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

contemplating joy


i recently had a conversation with a friend about joy. and a life filled with joy is crucial to a person's emotional, spiritual and physical well being. idea is not huge or earth shattering. everyone should live a joyous life, but still it is something some of us struggle with.

so the question was raised how do you find happiness? how do you pl
ant the seeds of hope and get prosperity and fortune to blossom? how do you start to possess the things you desire or that which you delight in? what brings joy and happiness into your life?

to answer this question for myself, i started to think about made me happy, brought a smile to my face, what did i rejoiced in. a mental list started to bubble up in my mind, images and events made me smile to think about them. Simply the action of thinking about them, gave me pause and made me realize there is so much potential in the world and in myself.

so here we are the second week of the year, thinking about the joys of life and how to embrace them. I ask you, what my friend asked me, what brings you happiness? what brings you joy? what does it look like in your life?

this is what it looks like in mine.

-a long walk in the woods with my dog
-tucking my son into bed and he says to me, "I love you Momma."
-the sunlight creeping through the bedroom window and across my face in the morning
-sitting on the screen porch at the end of the day drinking a glass of wine in the dark listening to the creek, the owl and and the wind in the trees
-thunderstorms and pouring rain in the summer with the windows open
-sitting on the beach at twilight
-how it felt to catch my first trout and then let it go
-driving down the highway with the radio blasting and the windows down
-nightfires
-the stillness of the snow covered mountains
-memories of marching and playing brass all summer long
-sewing costumes for theatre (the bigger the better)
-leonidas belgian chocolates
-tackling a new recipe and having it come out right the first time
-seeing duran duran live- any time
-starting a new piece of artwork
-finishing a new piece of artwork
-browsing the library for the next book to read
-watching a favorite film that i know all the words to, like dune, highlander, blue velvet or rocky horror
-traveling to places i have never been to before
- holding my child's hand as we cross the street
-a good cup of coffee
-an un-opened jar of gel medium
-new york
-vermont
-montreal
-art museums
-listening to tori, kate, sarah or annie
-crisp clean sheets right out of the dryer
-ben and jerry's creme brule
-pims
-kermit the frog
-x files
-ferry rides
-the wind in my hair
-sunsets
-peppermint
-foxglove
-beets
-teaching
-dancing
-having a beer with good friends
-your smile










Monday, January 4, 2010

unaltered


this past weekend it snowed here in vt, and snowed and snowed. burlington had a recorded 3 feet. i must have i shoveled about 2 1/2 off my back porch. (and to think taiwan was sunny and 65 degrees two weeks ago.)

the snow makes everything feel so quiet and calm. (atleast, when i take it in from inside my home or when i am talking the dog for a walk.) the sun has yet to really break through the clouds, so today, although the snow has stopped falling, there is a sense of stillness and white that envelopes everything.

yesterday as the snow was letting up and the sun was going down a beautiful blue light spread across the front yard. to my surprise, my very simple, unreliable camera, actually caught the moment. without photoshop, without any manipulation, the blueness and beauty i saw with my eyes came through the lens.

i suppose some things are just meant to be.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Welcome 2010!

Happy New Year!
Looking forward to what wonders 2010 will unfold and extremely delighted to announce the winner of my inspiration giveaway....

Stacey Merrill
Art Snark!

Stacey will be receiving a very special handmade heart as the winner of the drawing.

Thanks Stacey and everyone else who responded and left me tips and links for a designed filled new year. I've spent the last few days reading blogs and getting inspired. Time to start putting it all into work.

Here's hoping you have a creative day.