Creativity, Crafts, Books, Movies, Greyhounds & Favorite Things

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Freedom, Casper and Nikki, for the most part, are extremely well-behaved…but there have been moments of naughtiness.

I’m quite confident I’ve never done anything wrong.

Currently, we’re not in a “digging” phase, but shortly after Freedom and Casper joined our family, they both were in full-out excavation mode. I was worried that with all the holes in the yard, we were headed for a broken leg, so my husband came home with 4 bags of top soil to fill in the holes. He hauled the 4 bags to the back deck, opened one and filled in a hole. Freedom and Casper were very interested in their filled in hole, and I could see that this was not going to work. If they started digging up that deep, rich top soil, I was going to have a big mess. So, we covered up the hole with a bucket and went back to thinking.

Is this the face of a naughty boy?

A couple days later we had a cold, rainy day. I let Freedom and Casper out for a bathroom break, and I went and did something inside the house. When I returned to let them in, there were two black dogs, standing on my black deck, waiting to come in. It was one of those moments where what my eyes were seeing and what my brain was trying to process weren’t quite together. Then, I caught sight of a piece of white plastic and realization dawned…THEY HAD DUG UP THE BAGS OF TOP SOIL! All 3 of the remaining bags.

I have only had this feeling once, but at that moment, I wished I didn’t have any dogs. Especially those two black dogs on my deck.

There was nothing else to do but get the hose, hook it up and hose down Freedom, Casper and the deck…in the now pouring rain. Needless to say, we don’t store bags of top soil on the deck any more. Lesson well learned.

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Here’s what’s happening in my studio…

I want to paint some larger paintings. This past week, I purchased four 12″ x 24″ canvases and started some new paintings.

This Week’s Inspiration

In 2013, I’m doing Inspiration Mondays and Results Thursdays. Every Monday, I’ll post a painting “inspiration” and then on Thursdays, I’ll post how I’m interpreting that inspiration.

Last week’s inspiration was from Lynne of Dip-Dip and The Bridge…SPRING FLOWERS. This is the girl that came out of that inspiration…

This week’s inspiration comes from my boss, Susan…NATURE, THE WOODS, TRILLIUM.

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I’m reading Creating A Life Worth Living by Carol Lloyd. I picked this book because I’m trying to figure out the place I want painting to play in my life.

This week…Chapter 11, “Building a Bridge You Can Jump On,” guides you in building an emotional and practical support system through friendships and creative alliances.

This chapter gives you ideas on how to set up a support system that keeps you in touch with both your dreams and the real world. Two of the ideas were of special interest to me…partnering and what the author calls, “Sweet Family of Ghosts.”

Partnering

The author identifies “partnering” as the crucial support technique. Partnering is “a formalized friendship that you set up with one other person to keep you focused on the best, most important parts of your life. The primary activity in this relationship consists of meeting with a person once a week to plan out your goals for that week and sometimes for that decade.” The author suggests meeting once a week for an hour and a half. She also gives you an agenda to follow. This is an exciting idea to me. Now, I just have to find a partner.

Sweet Family of Ghosts

Another support structure the author suggests comes under the heading, “Sweet Family of Ghosts.” She suggests deeply learning about people whose work and lives you respect.

“To develop your family of ghosts, read biographies, peruse bookstores, visit museums, write them letters–and make friends with a few dead people. Know their lives and their loves; become intimate with their creative process, their beliefs about art. Love them for what they have given you and they, in turn, will begin to live within you.”

This is intriguing to me.

This is support that I currently don’t have. I can clearly see how beneficial this support would be in keeping me on track, inspired and helping someone else to experience the same.

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Every Saturday, I share my weekly Artist Date.

Over the last four years, as I travel south to visit my daughter at Purdue University, I’ve noticed several small cemeteries along the route I drive. I’ve always wanted to stop and wander about, and my Artist Date gave me the perfect reason to slow down, pull off the highway and take a look.

Metea Baptist Cemetery, also known as Spring Creek Baptist Cemetery, lies behind the Metea Baptist Church in Lucerne, Indiana.

The cemetery is still in active use, but it has graves dating back to the 1840’s.

It is a country cemetery, with farmland on all sides.

As I walked among the graves, I felt a mix of feelings and emotions…reverence, curiosity, sadness, regret, peace and a little of the macabre.

I felt both welcome and an intruder.

All the lives and stories, now silent.

Some remembered, some forgotten.

It was interesting walking through a cemetery for an Artist Date. It actually spoke more to the writer in me than the painter. I was intrigued, and I will do it again.

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Every Friday, I share a poem. Friday is also the day I post a prompt of something you can do to make the world a kinder place. I call this the Kind is Kool challenge.

I offer both the poem and the kindness challenge without any obligation, so “Comments” are turned off every Friday. Enjoy.

 

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Progression

To each progressive soul there comes a day
When all things that have pleased and satisfied
Grow flavourless, the springs of joy seem dried.
No more the waters of youth’s fountains play;
Yet out of reach, tiptoeing as they may,
The more mature and higher pleasures hide.
Life, like a careless nurse, fails to provide
New toys for those the soul has cast away.

Upon a strange land’s border all alone,
Awhile it stands dismayed and desolate.
Nude too, since its old garments are outgrown;
Till clothed with strength befitting its estate,
It grasps at length those raptures that are known
To souls who learn to labour, and to wait.

 Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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Kind is Kool Challenge

Week 11 Challenge – Go above and beyond with one little thing.

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Every Monday, I’m posting a painting “inspiration.” Every Thursday, I’m posting how I interpreted the inspiration. I decided to do this to keep myself painting, to strengthen how I go from an idea to a painting, and to give myself permission to play and try new things. For the next several weeks, I’m taking my inspiration from the great ideas you sent me.

This week’s inspiration is from Lynne of Dip-Dip and The Bridge…SPRING FLOWERS. Here’s the girl that came out of that inspiration…

I’ll probably work on her a bit more. I’d like to beef-up her bouquet and perhaps add more definition to her hat. When I’m working on a painting, the longer I work, the more I find myself focusing on small things. I like to stop, then come back to it. Often, after a bit of a break, I can more clearly see the details or colors I’d like to add.

How to be HAPPY!

Every Thursday, Jay of The Depp Effect, posts something that makes her happy, and I’m playing along. She encourages us to look around and notice the things that make us happy. I enjoy this challenge because it makes me consider the things that make me happy, but are easily overlooked. It’s a wonderful exercise in attention and gratitude. Please grab the badge and join in.

Here’s something that makes me happy…COMFORTABLE SHOES.

I’ve always been particular about my shoes, mainly because I have a wide foot and medium-width shoe (read cute and inexpensive) are excruciating on me. A few years ago, I decided I would try my best to ONLY have comfortable shoes in my closet. I still have a few “ouchies” I need to get rid of, but for the most part, I have pretty happy feet.

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This list comes from the book Lists to Live By compiled by Alice Gray, Steve Stephens and John Van Diest. Last year, I did a similar post, 25 Ways To Get & Stay Creative. I like lists.

1. Right away, write it down.

Record ideas as soon as you think of them. Keep paper and pen handy at all time–in your car, by your television, on your nightstand.

2. Listen to music.

Listen to whatever sparks your imagination, whether it’s Bach, the Beatles, or something you’ve never heard before.

3. Exercise.

Go for a run, shoot some hoops, do jumping jacks–anything that starts your blood pumping and keeps your mind sharp.

4. Brainstorm with a friend, co-worker, or six-year-old.

Talk with someone who looks at the world a little differently than you do. Chances are he or she will inspire a new approach.

5. Do it poorly.

If you’re a perfectionist, don’t be. Create something that isn’t necessarily your best work, but that gets the job done. Then go back later to fix it or redo it.

6. Watch people.

Go downtown or to the mall, sit on a bench and observe the passersby. Imagine what kind of life they lead.

7. Keep a journal.

Write about your life and what’s important to you, then revisit your old thought when you need new ideas.

8. Pray or read the Bible.

Putting life into spiritual perspective can take the pressure off and jump-start the creative juices.

9. Free-write.

Sit down at the computer or with pen and paper and write whatever comes into your mind. You might be surprised at what comes out.

10. Change your locale.

Find a new quiet place–a park, the beach, a library, or just a different room–and let your mind wander.

11. Wash the dishes or mow the lawn.

It’s easy and it gives you a feeling of accomplishment while you’re trying to think.

12. Sleep on it.

If nothing is working, your best bet may be to give up for now. Let your subconscious create overnight and you’ll have fresh ideas tomorrow.

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Does this look familiar?

My husband usually takes care of the window glass on those rare occasions that we take care of it, but it often includes a lot of HBO language, and I fear for the glass. So, I searched the internet and found these three suggestions for cleaning doggy nose smears:

Kaboom

Microfiber Cloths

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

The winner…

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. It works with water and without a lot of elbow grease. Easy peasy and no HBO language.

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Here’s what’s happening in my studio…

PROCRASTINATION! I’m working on an e-course demonstrating how to make fabric flowers. I got my video camera last week, but I haven’t tried it out yet. I don’t like learning new technology and equipment, so I’m going to have to kick myself in the butt and make myself do it.

This Week’s Inspiration

In 2013, I’m doing Inspiration Mondays and Results Thursdays. Every Monday, I’ll post a painting “inspiration” and then on Thursdays, I’ll post how I’m interpreting that inspiration.

Last week’s inspiration was from Sue of Graceful Greyhounds…LOVE. This is the girl that came out of that inspiration…

Sue thought of her inspirational word for March because March 10 was Mother’s Day in the UK and March is her mother’s birthday month

This week’s inspiration is from Lynne of Dip-Dip and The Bridge…SPRING FLOWERS.

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I’m reading Creating A Life Worth Living by Carol Lloyd. I picked this book because I’m trying to figure out the place I want painting to play in my life.

This week…Chapter 10, “Magic at Work,” reinvents your workday. You’ll be asked to analyze your current lifestyle and build a new model for your everyday creative process.

Here’s how the author begins:

“Up until this point we have been basking in the expansive views of “eagle vision”: identifying dreams, setting long-term goals, and making plans. Now it’s time to return to the world of the squirrel, where all the real work gets done, step by step, day by day. You have created a goal and developed an action plan, now how will you bring the project to fruition?”

This chapter deals predominantly with establishing a daily creative process.

The author states that your creative process is a mixture of four elements:

1. Your Routine

2. Your Attitude

3. Your Motivation

4. Your Emergency Plan

Here’s my creative process:

Routine: 

I’m very flexible when it comes to painting. I don’t have an “ideal” time. For me, the key is sitting down every week and planning my week. Without a plan, my default is to spend more time than I should watching television or playing on the computer. I like a balance of routine and variety, so a weekly plan works best for me.

Attitude:

Here is what I believe…

I’m not responsible for my work’s meaning or whether anyone likes my work; I’m only responsible for making the work and putting it out there.

The people who respond to and want to own my art will find it, if I do my best to be accessible.

It is my responsibility to do my work with honesty and heart.

Motivation:

Here is what motivates me…

My work comes from a desire to express myself and to honor the gifts I’ve been given.

My painting springs from the sheer joy of painting and creating something that evolves and surprises me.

My work comes from the desire to see what comes next…the joy of my journey through life.

My work is there to help others see their strength and to help them discover their art. It offers kindness and friendship.

Emergency Plan:

Here’s what I do when things aren’t working…

Make sure I have balance in my life.

Spend time with family & friends.

Pray.

Help someone.

Two of the most important things the author reminded me of are…”your creative process is never ‘finished,’ it is in constant flux,” and “processes evolve slowly.” These are things I have come to know as I’ve gotten older, but reminders never hurt because we can be terribly hard on ourselves.