Graduation advice....after the fact

tents in the back yard and the simple act of creativity

Everday is a gift. Especially days like this...Days when my youngest is discovering the joys of tents made of sheets and blankets thrown over whatever will hold them up.

I remember that....do you? I remember the simple joy of creating my own space, the peace within it. There was a feeling of quiet joy...peace...limitless hope...

She gathers her favorites toys as her companions...her dog is her audience...her art supplies...and her favorite blanket as her super hero cape... and she creates... She smiles...proud of her artwork...and in that moment...she reminds me of the beauty and wonder life that we often forget as adults...such a gift...

Color is our friend - outdoor table project

When it is warm enough...

WE GET OUTSIDE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!...

Sometimes we just play, run around, or dig in the garden. 

Sometimes, we PAINT!

 At one point in time, being the recycling sort that we are, we found an old hardwood pallet and a metal frame. 

( We have no idea what the metal frame was originally use for or taken from, it has been a source of great mystery for the entire time we have had it.) 

When, put together, these two items have been given new purpose in life by becoming  our outdoor table. I have been dying to paint this table for a very long while now. So, since the youngest likes to paint, I like to paint, this was a no-brainer. We were just waiting for the weather to cooperate to let our outdoor creativity explode. (Thank you Spring Break for some lovely weather!)

For the Love of Artists

https://www.facebook.com/events/601057069908095/

Opening reception for this exhibit Saturday 2/ 16, 7:00 - 10:00pm

This is my piece hanging at Kettle Art right now for this show. Take your sweetie and go support the arts!

where does my work come from?

I have done a lot of work....sometimes I get the urge to make all kinds of stuff. my head gets full of creative possibilities...so much so that i feel like i could just burst! I know that in my lifetime i will never complete all of the projects in my head... but that is neither here nor there...

Where does my work come from?

After much hemming and hawing...dabbling in various styles, genres, and subjects....the work i am the most connected with all comes from a very emotional place...a place that is all about the effort it takes to simply "be present" no matter what...to push through the darkness and face the sun...

And because my work is based on simply being present, I create from what i know, experiences i have had, life I have lived. I have had to make peace with this through the years. Sometimes it can be straight from the heart and leave me very drained from thinking too much about it...Sometimes, it can make me laugh, as i think of the beauty in each moment. This is what i do. Sometimes people understand it when they look at it...usually those kindred spirits who are looking for meaning and feel the empathy necessary to relate to some of my work.  And then, sometimes people just don't....awww...such is life...

Like, I said, I have done a lot of work...the problem is...when it doesn't come from the heart....or the place in my soul that needs to be freed, it simply doesn't resonate....it is just a drawing...it is just a painting...it is just a design project...with no heart, soul or feeling...it is meaningless...i choose to create work with soul...work with emotion...work that reminds me, if no one else, the importance of simply "being present."

mind mapping

At least once a year I make a mind map collage. I have one that is HUGE from over 5 years ago...and I have some that are smaller...I hang them up in places that i have to see them on a daily basis. Usually in my bedroom, or near my desk.

Today i felt the need to create. I was feeling restless and overwhelmed by thought of everything i need to do. I usually collage them onto a canvas...but today, I just randomly, quickly, pulled things out of my two magazines I just got in the mail and haven't even read yet...then organized the words on my desk...snap..digital collage...

I like doing this from time to time...it helps me get my head organized, focused, clear...
I go back and I check in with them to remind myself of what it was I was trying to do or wanted to do and see if I got off track...or better yet...to see what I can mark off as having done...that's a good feeling...

We'll see where this one leads...

lessons from 2012

So, Officially, Today is still 2012, at least for a few more hours... I had high hopes of one of those cute blog posts that so many of the beautiful blogs do, celebrating each and every holiday and major social event...um....yeah, well...about that...

Ok, so, i don't have that...what i do have is what i learned this year.....

I keep hearing that 2012 was a really hard year for a lot of people. And, truthfully, there were some rough patches for us as well. But, i guess the thing that keeps things in perspective is the life lessons along the way...

The big lesson, for me, this year was to simply be present...When things feel weird, just go with the flow, believe that things will get better, be fine, and roll with it... I can't say I always do this...in fact, I have to be reminded of this quite often....

So, instead of coming up with a bunch of resolutions I think I'm just going to stick with one thing...

Be Present...If i can stick to this, i'm pretty sure everything else will fall into place...